Service

Coolant leaks aren’t always easy to find, as air blowing through the front of the car can spread coolant all over, and that means the puddle you see on the ground may not be directly under the leak.

Gasoline is very flammable, so if you smell it in or near your car, you should try to determine why before you start the engine.

Common sources of oil leaks are at the oil pan or oil filter, valve covers, timing cover or the crankshaft main seals.

Although the ideal way to check tire tread wear is with a tread-depth gauge, you can get by with what’s known as the “penny test” or just using your fingers.

While replacing a cracked windshield is the obvious solution, it’s also an expensive one. But it’s possible the windshield can be repaired — either by a professional or by yourself.

Your car’s wheels spin around a stationary axle, and in order for them to do so, something has to allow for “slip” between the two. That something is a wheel bearing.

While replacing a car battery used to be a fairly simple process, it’s often much more complicated in modern cars.

For some vehicles, you're advised to change the coolant every 30,000 miles. For others, changing the coolant isn't even on the maintenance schedule.

Among the best moves you can make to improve your car's chances of starting the next time the temperature plunges below zero are to make sure your battery and charging system are in good shape and that your engine is using the grade of oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

While there are several fluids in modern gas-powered cars (and some in electric vehicles) that can be checked and topped off, many would only be low if there’s a leak in that system.