Auto Repair

You can tell when your brakes aren't working as they should. You can probably even describe what they're doing that you don't like -- pulling to the right or left, soft brake pedal, shuttering -- but do you know how to take that information and translate it into a repair diagnosis? Check out this comprehensive brake troubleshooting guide and you'll have a much easier job of trying to figure out what to fix. It's better than replacing a part that's not actually part of the problem!

If you suddenly find yourself in a lights-out situation, or the music seems to stop for no reason, you may have blown a fuse. Your fuses are meant to protect your car or truck's electrical system from damage due to overloads or short circuits, so if you have a fuse that blows regularly, you need to take a look at your electrical system. Sometimes a fuse will blow for no terrible reason, in which case you can simply replace the fuse. Be sure to check ahead of time so you can buy the right replacement fuses!

It can be dauntingly expensive to put together your first set of mechanic's tools. There are so many things to buy and each item can be so pricey. Some of the consumer stores sell starter kits that can save you some money (I prefer Craftsman anyway), but you're still shelling out major cash. Every saved dollar can make you feel better. I was recently helping a friend put together her first tool kit and checked into the deals available at Sears through their Craftsman Club. If you join and watch the specials (in addition to the discounts you get just for being a member!) you can save some serious cash on what I consider to be the best entry level tools available. Check it out!

You wouldn't think of a perfectly healthy car or truck overheating while driving a snowy road, but it happens all the time. What can make a well maintained engine heat up like that? Driving in the snow can present problems to your car or truck outside of the obvious traction issues. In low temperatures, snow and ice can build up and actually clog your car's cooling system. It doesn't clog it from the inside, but rather blocks the air from flowing over the sytem from the outside. It's important to keep your cooling system clean with a regular radiator flush, but don't forget to simply clear the snow and ice from your front grill and underneath your bumper -- that will keep cool air flowing where you need it most.

If you've been thinking of getting snow tires and are putting it off until the first coating of white stuff, you might want to get with the program and buy them soon. As reported recently on About.com's Tires Guidesite, there's a good chance that tire prices will be going up not just once in 2012, but many times over the course of the year. Tires Guide Sean Phillips explains it well in his article, Why To Swap Tires Even Before the Snow Comes. Its worth checking out. Saving ten percent on your set of snow tires is surely worth the effort of getting it done now. If you aren't sure about snow tires, check out my discussion, The Difference Between Snow Tires and Summer Tires for lots of info and answers.

With snow season upon us, more and more people are asking me about snow tires. They want to know whether their all-season tires are good enough for winter driving, or if they should spend the extra dough for a set of proper snow tires. The decision is yours. I swap my summer tires for snow tires every winter, on both my car and my wife's AWD wagon. Opinions on snow tires tend to be like snowflakes, no two are alike and trying to catch the truth on your tongue can drive you nuts. To make it easier, check out this simple explanation and you'll make the right choice.