Maintenance
All articles
Disc brakes are more modern and effective than drum brakes, which date back almost to the beginning of cars themselves.
By Rick Cotta
October 24, 2021
While it’s tempting to squeeze in as much gas as possible when you fill your tank, filling it past the pump’s first automatic shut-off can damage your car to the tune of hundreds of dollars.
By Rick Cotta
October 10, 2021
Run-flat tires can be driven on — at least for a short distance — even if they lose all their air pressure.
By Rick Cotta
October 3, 2021
A flywheel is a heavy disc attached to the end of a rotating shaft that helps smooth out the engine’s power pulses and store energy through rotational momentum.
By Rick Cotta
September 26, 2021
Actuators work behind the scenes in vehicles to convert energy into a physical action or force, and they perform a variety of performance and convenience functions.
By Rick Popely
August 29, 2021
The radiator is a key component of the cooling system whose main responsibility is to cool the mixture of antifreeze and water that circulates throughout the engine.
By Rick Popely
July 18, 2021
AFS stands for adaptive front-lighting system, or headlights that swivel in the direction a vehicle is turning to illuminate more of the road where the vehicle is heading instead of straight ahead.
By Rick Popely
June 20, 2021
Vehicle service costs are unpredictable, but a new report from data analysis firm We Predict aims to add a little clarity.
By Jennifer Geiger
May 19, 2021
These six tips from AAA and Universal Technical Institute experts will help you save gas while driving until you can safely find an open station to refuel.
By Cars.com Editors
May 12, 2021
The alternator powers the starter motor for the engine and the various computers, lights, power windows and locks, wipers and other electrical accessories.
By Rick Popely
April 25, 2021