Service Articles
Your free library of information on car care, maintenance, and service
Servassist Basics
An overview of basic service proceduresSome Wheel Drive
One of the first questions many consumers consider when qualifying new vehicles for purchase (especially those of us lucky enough to see sub-zero temperatures for extended periods on the calendar), is what type of drive train a car has. Read on...
What Do You Really Pay For Your Car?
Even though for many the financial transaction that is the automotive purchase is one of the largest they may ever make, it's actually fairly straightforward when you boil down all the rebates, financing, tax, title, registration and any other intangible fees that may trip you up. Whether you lease, purchase, or choose some other specialized arrangement, auto dealers often create complexity to some degree per their advantage. Read on...
Check Engine Light, General Manager of Your Car
The Check Engine or Service Engine light on modern vehicles has taken on several different responsibilities to become a bit of a catch-all in automotive service. Like the general manager of a company, the check engine light can diagnose many potential problems. Read on...
Driving Citrus: A Guide to Lemon Laws
As a general rule we take great pride in our rides: we insure them; we wash them; we service them; we even just plain "cruise" in them. So it's no wonder nothing makes us sour faster than when the car we worked so hard for, and saved so long for, is (grimace) defective. Read on...
At Your Service: Getting to Know Service Schedules
Major. Minor. Normal. Severe. There are any number of ways to categorize automotive service, so many in fact that you might prefer to gloss over the details of each and leave things in the hands of your service advisor. But as you'll see, understanding automotive service schedules is as important as sticking to one. Read on...
Automotive Glass: Seeing Things More Clearly
Just because you gaze through it every time you drive, doesn't mean you see it. Any way you look at it, the glass components of the modern-day vehicle are often taken for granted. While the windows (and systems for keeping them clear) are crucial for both the safe and efficient operation of your car, with the exception of an occasional squeegee, their maintenance is often "overlooked." Yet this area is one ripe for do-it-yourself care, and should be considered as often as one might check their tire pressure or oil. Read on...
The High Octane Truth about Gas
After oil change intervals, gasoline grades (Regular, Mid-Grade, and Premium) are about the most widely misinterpreted automotive concept -- and for good reason. When gas was still selling for a buck or so a gallon, ratings didn't receive that much press. At today's prices, however, there is a renewed interest and financial incentive in finding out which fuel is best to burn. Read on...
Modern Day Tranny: Shifting Gears
Most people realize that essentially every vehicle, from the smallest electric moped to the largest Semi-tractor, employs some sort of transmission. Aside from knowing to label it either "manual" or "automatic," however, this automotive system is often misunderstood. Actually, with today's Tiptronics, Manu-matics, Direct Shift Gearboxes (DSG), Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG), and F1 transmissions, it has become even more difficult to get that far. Read on...
Choosing a Mechanic (aka: Finding the right "Wrench")
Finding a good mechanic to either maintain or repair your vehicle can be tricky business and is often a task left until the last possible moment. After all, how is a mechanic different from a doctor, with the exception of a slightly different type of patient? And just as with our health, too many of us wait to visit until something seems to be wrong. Read on...
The Breakdown on Your Brakes
When you break it all down (no pun intended), a car can really only do three things: accelerate, turn, and stop. No wonder brakes require the amount of attention that they do. Brakes are arguably the most critical component of your automobile, for obvious reasons. Read on...
Lube, Oil and Filter: A Slippery Slope
Oil to your car's engine is like blood to your heart, so it's little wonder that changing your oil and filter is the single most important maintenance service you'll have done (or do) to your car. Even if you don't do anything else to maintain your vehicle other than fill it with gas, this is the one place where you really shouldn't cut corners. Read on...
Tread Lightly: The Importance of Tire Rotation
Think for a moment about the improtance of your tires. With all of the technology incorporated into your vehicle, the only thing that touches the road is four patches of rubber roughly the size of your hand. Here, you'll find an overview of what's probably the simplest automotive service procedure, while also being one of the most important. Read on...
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