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Precision Tune Auto Care wants to help you stay informed on everything automotive, from the latest safety tests to exciting new vehicle reviews. Whether you want tips on keeping your vehicle in top shape or a sneak peek into Jay Leno’s amazing car collection, you can find everything you’re looking for in our resources overview.
When you slow down at stoplight, your vehicle's idle should be smooth as silk. But what happens when the engine is missing or idling roughly? That's your engine's way of telling you, "Hey, I've got something wrong with me and if you don't get someone to find out what it is, I may not start the next time you turn the key."
You can help your service facility if you can describe the problem in detail. Here's a list of things to make a note of:
When is the problem happening, when the...
The serpentine belt tensioner applies pressure to the serpentine belt, maintaining optimal tension to drive the accessories like the alternator and A/C compressor. At Precision Tune Auto Care we know that the service life of the belt tensioner is the same as the belt itself, so they should always be replaced together. A worn tensioner prevents the accessories from spinning properly, leading to premature wear and noise for drivers. Your vehicle manufacturer has a recommended mileage interval...
Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for people to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But proper transmission servicing keeps your vehicle running smoothly and helps you avoid repairs down the road. The transmission undergoes a lot of stress. The grit you can see in used transmission fluid is actually bits of metal...
Every vehicle on the road has a differential , and it is important to the proper operation of the vehicle. But most drivers don't have a clue what it is. The differential compensates for differing wheel speeds . For example, when you turn, the inside tire on the turn travels a much shorter distance than the outside wheel. So the inside wheel of the vehicle must move at a slower speed than the outside wheel. Without a differential, the wheels would hop and scrape while turning. Have you...
Today in our Precision Tune Auto Care blog, we're going to talk about following recommended service intervals . Your vehicle isn't the only aspect of your life with recommended intervals: What about six-month dental cleanings and regular physical exams? Then there's laundry, mowing the lawn, paying your electric bill, changing your furnace filter - you get the idea. Now, what would happen if you didn't follow these intervals? For one thing, your teeth may get more cavities. You...
There's a reason we use the word “ diagnose ” when we talk about fixing cars. Figuring out what's wrong with your vehicle has a lot of similarities to figuring out what's wrong with someone who is ill. Vehicles are a mass of complex systems that can produce a variety of symptoms when something goes wrong. As with human diagnoses, a specific symptom may be indicative of a number of problems, and figuring out the specific cause takes training and experience. Sometimes the diagnosis...
When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us drivers remember to get our oil changed. But services that occur at longer intervals — like transmission service — sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is part of car care. A poorly maintained transmission will fail and lead to repairs. The transmission transfers power from the engine to the drive wheels. When it's clean and well-lubricated, it gives maximum fuel efficiency. But when it gets dirty or...
Hey drivers, are your tires worn out? What is the standard for streets? How can you tell on your vehicle? While there may be legal requirements, there are safety concerns that go beyond meeting minimum replacement mandates. Two-thirty-seconds of an inch is the depth of the tire tread wear indicator bars that US law has required to be molded across all tires since August 1, 1968. When tires are worn so that this bar is visible, there's just 2/32 of an inch – 1.6 millimeters –...
It's important for drivers to know battery basics . First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold weather. Most drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine.
However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short trips because the alternator doesn't...
Today's vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you see your ABS warning light come on, it's important to find out what's causing the problem. It's a safety issue.
Often the problem when the ABS light comes on is a faulty wheel speed sensor. ...