Auto News
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.
Hey area drivers, are your tires worn out? What is the standard for our 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...
There are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. It doesn't seem right. Fortunately a lot of those things can be taken care of in routine maintenance. They may not be easy to remember because it is a long list, but your service center at Precision Tune Auto Care can help you know what's scheduled to be taken care of. Some of us really don't look forward to going in for an oil change and then getting a list of the other things...
Did you know that most cars carry more computer power than the Apollo 121 Lunar Module that landed on the moon in 1969? New cars sold have as many as 12 networked computers and over five miles (eight kilometers) of wiring. In fact, for the last decade or so, auto computers have been controlling about 85 percent of your vehicle's functions. Cars have sensors for manifold air temperature, coolant temperature, manifold air pressure, airflow, throttle position, vehicle speed and...
So what is the most distracting food to have in the car while driving? Is it:
A Hamburger;
Coffee;
A Soft Drink, or
Gummy Bears?
Well, you may be surprised to learn that all but the gummy bears are in the top ten most distracting foods when you are driving. But if you chose 'coffee,' then give yourself an extra two points. Coffee is the number one food distraction for drivers around the country. Food distractions cause 25 percent of all car accidents; over a million...
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...
All those automotive fluids can be confusing for drivers. Recent years have brought new grades of engine oil, types of transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid. The right fluid protects your vehicle and helps it perform at its best. The wrong fluid won't work as well and could even cause damage. In addition to new grades of engine oil, many vehicles now leave the factory with synthetic oil . People should always use the grade recommended by their manufacturer.
All ...
Your fuel system needs to be clean to do its job properly . When it gets dirty, the results are lower engine performance, reduced fuel economy and impaired safety. It can even lead to costly repair bills for drivers. So keep your fuel system clean as part of your routine preventive maintenance. Fuel injectors have replaced carburetors in most of today's vehicles. These injectors deliver better fuel economy than a carburetor, but they can be compromised by rust, dirt and other contaminants. They...
Hello, let's talk about brakes. But the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There's also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes. Let's step back. A new vehicle or truck rolls off a local showroom floor. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and pump are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the tires are brand new, with...
We don't want to think about it, but each resident who drives or rides in a vehicle is potentially an accident victim. In the worst-case scenario, those people are unconscious and unable to communicate with rescue workers.
Rescue workers and police are well aware of this difficulty, even if the rest of us don't stop to think about it. They can all recount stories of searching through glove compartments, pockets, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for a person's name and for contact information...
Sometimes we hear people say, "What's up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don't break down." While it is true that today's vehicles are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most drivers don't realize how high tech automotive fluids have become, fluids such as engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and...