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.
These days many people in the area are really committed to making their cars last a long time. First thing: you've got to start with what you've got. It'd be ideal if people started with a brand new car, never missed a scheduled service item, paid attention to the severe service maintenance schedule and had regular inspections. But if you've had the vehicle for a while, or bought it used, its maintenance history is what it is; and that's where you start. Go through the maintenance schedule...
Let's talk about something critical for all drivers: your brakes . Your vehicle weighs several thousand pounds and it takes a lot of muscle to bring it and your passengers to a safe stop so everything needs to be in good working order.
Here's an explanation on how your disk brakes work:
The wheel hub keeps your wheel attached to your vehicle. The brake disc – or rotor – is attached to the hub and rotates with the wheel as you drive around. Your ...
Most cars and trucks have automatic transmissions, yet a lot of drivers only have a fuzzy understanding about what a transmission does. Think back to the last time you rode a bike. You started out in a lower gear and shifted to higher gears as you went faster. Down shift for hills, stuff like that. Think of your legs as the engine – there's an ideal speed you can pedal and you change gears to leverage the work you're doing. Lower gears for power on hills or for starting...
Some drivers figure that anything they can attach to their trailer hitch can be towed by their vehicle. Nope. If you're going to do any towing around, you should be aware of safety issues, towing laws, and potential liability. Understanding tow ratings is important for safe towing. A tow rating is the weight limit that your vehicle can safely tow. They calculate the tow rating for every vehicle, but different options on the vehicle can affect that rating. Drivers need to read the towing section...
At Precision Tune Auto Care, we occasionally see severe tire damage that could have been prevented with proper wheel alignment. During a Precision Tune Auto Care alignment service , your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are inspected for problems. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the vehicle factory settings. Adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels moving in...
Most folks worry about running out of gas or having a breakdown on the side of the road. That is why we practice preventive maintenance on our vehicles — that and to keep our repair bills down. But one important part of preventive maintenance that may get overlooked by drivers in is a periodic alignment inspection . Poor alignment causes tires to wear rapidly, unevenly or both. This means they will have to be replaced early, and new tires are more expensive than an alignment...
When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Drivers often associate our wheels being “knocked” out of alignment with an event like a major crash, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object. While these can certainly take your wheels out of alignment, the bumps and bounces of everyday driving take their toll on wheel alignment as well. Your car can lose alignment over time with...
If you're reading this article, then you probably care about your car and how it runs. Even though you care, there is still that moment of dread when your professional service advisor at Precision Tune Auto Care tells you the manufacturer recommends some additional service . Your heart beats a little faster, your blood pressure rises. You worry about spending more money than you had planned. And you worry that if you say "no", you might be harming your vehicle or risking your family's...
Pop quiz: What is a cabin air filter?
A. A filter for your -- house? B. A fresh, piney scent? C. A filter for the passenger compartment of your car?
Clever you, it's C. A cabin air filter cleans the outside air before it comes into the passenger compartment of your vehicle. It filters out common -- air particles like dust, pollen, spores, bacteria, pollutants, exhaust gas, odors and even sparrows. These high tech filters can block particles larger than 3 microns. By contrast, a grain...
Car care is part of auto safety. But the most important thing we can do to improve safety on roads is to drive safely. Defensive driving begins with the proper attitude. Have in mind that you won't let anyone take your safety away from you. You'll be aware of your surroundings, road conditions, other vehicles and hazards. And the first person to be concerned with is you: start with your own environment. Don't leave without securing all occupants including children and pets. Watch for...