Steve Cooper 
When cars first began to be capable of faster speeds, a major problem arose, no pun intended. As the air flows over a car, it forms a low pressure area at the back of the car. This, in turn, can cause the back of the car to lift off of … Read more
Torque wrenches are most often used in automotive applications, but can also be applied in tasks where a certain amount of torque is required on a bolt or nut. Knowing how these tools work and selecting the right one for your tool cabinet can be a very rewarding endeavor. The … Read more
Let’s take a look at one automotive item we take for granted that has changed a lot since it was first created. In an increasingly digital age, car keys have gone from something totally foreign to us today to fobs that can start a car from inside your home on … Read more
There are many things we see in our day to day life but rarely give much thought to. This is a shame, because what we take for granted today was often not even imagined throughout most of history. One really good example of this is roads. We walk on them, … Read more
A vehicle’s ignition system is made up of numerous components, each of which plays a pivotal role in facilitating an engine’s combustion process. The failure of one or more of these components can severely hamper engine performance as a whole, even potentially leaving one stranded along the side of the … Read more
Automotive OBD2 scanners and car code readers are the easiest and least expensive ways to find out why your engine light is on and get it to turn off. Even a basic car code reader under $50 will give you most of the same basic information you’d get from the … Read more
Probably the most important routine maintenance any vehicle needs is an engine oil change. Many consider changing oil an easy “do it yourself” auto maintenance task that anyone can take on, but you might wonder why you should bother. Is there a benefit to doing an oil change at your … Read more
Motorists have been modifying their vehicles’ exhaust systems for decades, in hopes of enhancing performance and achieving the desired exhaust note of their liking. However, not all exhaust modifications are one and the same, with certain upgrades achieving more noticeable results than others. One of the simplest and most common … Read more
The average motorist is relatively familiar with their vehicle, quickly realizing when something is amiss. While this level of awareness is of significant benefit when attempting to minimize the impact of issues as they arise, it can also lead one to fret endlessly until the source of such issues is … Read more
There are many pests that can infest your home: ants, cockroaches, termites… and most guides are geared towards treating these pests indoors. But sometimes pests crop up elsewhere, and dealing with the infestation may require a very different touch. Such is the case with cars. Whether you own an SUV, … Read more
Today’s internal combustion engines are far more equipped to sustain consistent operation than engines of yesteryear. Most notably, modern internal combustion engines come equipped with a host of specialty control modules, sensors, and intelligent devices, allowing them to adjust key operating criteria on the fly. Of all sensors found on … Read more
Some of the most critical, yet often overlooked of all mechanical components are those contained within a vehicle’s steering and suspension systems. These components are not only key to efficient vehicle operation, but serve an essential role in ensuring safe travels. However, in order to operate as intended, each of … Read more
As motorists, we often think about the value of our vehicles’ engines and transmissions. After all, a critical malfunction related to either of these essential components can quickly leave us stranded without recourse. However, we seldom give the same consideration to various structural components that are responsible for supporting the … Read more
There is little arguing against the notion that today’s vehicles are far cleaner for the environment to operate than those of yesteryear. Of course, reaching this level of cleanliness was not achieved overnight. In fact, efforts to reduce the internal combustion engine’s carbon footprint began in the early 1970s, when … Read more
Back in the 1980s, cars and vans began to employ darker window tints as a means of boosting privacy and adding a little more insulation to the single-pane windows. Gone were the days of having to hang actual curtains in your station wagon or van, and the improved affordability meant … Read more
The purchase of tires for any vehicle comes as a significant investment, requiring consumers to part with a fair sum of cash in any event. In order to make the most of such an investment, one must go to every length possible to maintain the condition of their vehicle’s tires. … Read more
Today’s family livery is often a three-row utility vehicle, represented by more than one dozen crossover models. The Nissan Pathfinder is in the thick of things, a model that seats up to eight and delivers class-leading towing capabilities. For 2023, the Pathfinder gains a Rock Creek edition, a special grade … Read more
You pull your car out of the driveway, then notice something unusual in the spot your car just left. There’s a small dark spot there, a small puddle of some vehicle fluid, and you don’t know what. Is it normal? Is it bad? There are a few different types of vehicle … Read more
Today’s internal combustion engines are relatively complex in nature, featuring some critical components, none any less valuable than the last. The vast majority of these components, as well as the systems they make up, have evolved significantly from what there were just 20-30 years prior. Perhaps no automotive system has … Read more
Our vehicles’ airbags are easily forgotten until their use is required to prevent significant injury in the event of a collision. This, of course, is an easy oversight to make. The vast majority of a vehicle’s airbag system is hidden away until it is deployed at a moment’s notice, leaving … Read more
Today’s vehicles are finely tuned pieces of equipment, featuring a wide array of individual components, all of which must function flawlessly to facilitate proper operation. If any one of these components were to fail, a number of serious mechanical issues could arise. One such component of value, which must function … Read more
A vehicle’s transmission is extremely vital to its overall operation, ultimately facilitating the delivery of engine-produced power to a vehicle’s drive wheels. Luckily, most of today’s transmissions are rather hearty by design, often lasting for the entire service life of a vehicle itself. However, achieving this level of longevity requires … Read more
There are few safety-sensitive automotive systems as vital as a car’s brakes. A vehicle’s brakes allow us to reduce our speed whenever necessary and stop quickly to avoid collisions. This is why it is essential that our brakes function flawlessly, under a wide array of circumstances. Unfortunately, like any other … Read more
Today’s vehicles come equipped with an ever-growing number of safety appliances, intended to keep motorists out of harm’s way. Many features and functions of this type are government mandated, and now come standard on virtually every vehicle manufactured. Few of these safety features and functions are as prevalent as the … Read more
There is little as alarming to the average motorist, as coming to the realization that their vehicle has begun making an odd noise. This is especially concerning if the source of this new noise is not easily distinguished. One cannot help but feel as if their vehicle is falling apart … Read more
Most motorists at least partially understand the function of a vehicle’s spark plugs, recognizing the importance of these pint-sized engine components. After all, a spark-ignition engine would be of little real value without a reliable source of spark. However, a spark plug is only able to function as intended, if … Read more
A vehicle’s engine is composed of parts too numerous to count, each of which plays a pivotal role in ensuring streamlined and efficient operation. On top of that, many of these individual components work in relation to one another, to perform a specific function. If any one of these components … Read more
A vehicle’s front end is composed of many different steering components, each of which plays a pivotal role in providing ample maneuverability. However, these components must all be in satisfactory condition to operate at an optimal level. This bears consideration, due to the fact that each of these components is … Read more
Over the last couple of years, fuel prices have skyrocketed, placing additional financial pressure on motorists far and wide. Even those driving smaller, compact cars have begun feeling a significant amount of pain at the pump. This has caused many to forgo their typical Sunday afternoon drive, in favor of … Read more
As most motorists are well aware, tires are anything but cheap to purchase and continue to increase in cost with each passing year. For this reason, it is easy to justify going through a little additional effort to ensure that your tires are maintained in the best way possible. This … Read more