The blog
Advice, written to be used.
Straight answers to the questions drivers ask before they pull in: what it costs, how long it takes, and when it can wait.
- Nail in Your Tire? What to Do
Found a nail in your tire? Whether you can drive on it, when it can be fixed, and what a plug or patch costs.
- How Much Does It Cost to Patch a Tire?
What a tire plug and a tire patch cost, and why the patch costs more.
- How Long Does a Tire Plug Last?
How long a tire plug and a tire patch last, and whether plugging a tire is safe.
- Nail in the Tire Sidewall
Why a nail in the sidewall or shoulder usually means a new tire, and how close to the edge a plug can go.
- Can You Plug a Run Flat Tire?
Whether a run flat tire can be plugged or patched after a puncture.
- How Much to Recharge Car A/C
What a car A/C recharge costs, and why the newer refrigerant costs more.
- R1234yf vs R134a
The difference between R1234yf and R134a car refrigerant, and what it means for the price of a recharge.
- How Long Does an Alignment Take?
How long a wheel alignment takes, how often you need one, and the signs your car is out of alignment.
- Check Engine Light Flashing?
What a flashing or solid check engine light means, and what a diagnostic test costs.
- How Long Does a Car Battery Last?
How long a car battery lasts, why heat shortens it, and the signs one is dying.
- How Much Is an Oil Change?
What an oil change costs, and how long you can go between changes.
- Brake Fluid Flush Cost
What a brake fluid flush costs and how often brake fluid should be changed.
- How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?
How often to rotate your tires, including Tesla tire rotation.
- Timing Chain Replacement Cost
What timing chain replacement costs, the difference between a belt and a chain, and when to replace them.
- Control Arm Replacement Cost
What a control arm replacement costs and what moves the price.
- How Often to Change Transmission Fluid
How often transmission fluid should be changed, and what happens if it isn’t.
- Differential Fluid Change Cost
What a differential fluid change costs, plus transfer case fluid and how often to change both.
- Why Is My Steering Wheel Shaking?
Why a steering wheel shakes, especially at high speeds, and what usually fixes it.
- Synthetic Blend vs Full Synthetic
The difference between synthetic blend, full synthetic and conventional oil.
- Clutch Replacement Cost
What a clutch replacement costs and the signs your clutch is going.
- Shocks vs Struts
The difference between shocks and struts, and the signs of bad struts.
- How Much Do New Tires Cost?
What new tires cost, and what replacing all four adds up to.
- Slow Leak in Your Tire?
The common causes of a slow tire leak and how each one gets fixed.
- Tire Balancing Cost
What tire balancing costs, and what mounting and balancing a set adds up to.
- Signs of Transmission Failure
The warning signs that a transmission is failing.
- Tesla Alignment Cost
What a Tesla wheel alignment costs and why it costs more than a regular car.
- Common Car Electrical Problems
The most common car electrical problems and the signs that point to each.
- Fleet Maintenance Checklist
A maintenance checklist for small business fleets, and what fleet maintenance covers.
- Convertible Top Replacement Cost
What a convertible top replacement costs and what moves the price.
- Air Suspension Repair Cost
What air suspension repair costs and why it varies so much by car.
- Tire Pressure in Hot Weather
How heat changes tire pressure and what Florida drivers should set theirs to.
- Cost of Rebuilding an Engine
What rebuilding an engine costs and how it compares with replacing it.
- Remote Start Installation Cost
What remote start installation costs and what moves the price.