QuickTips Index

Tire Pressure and Your Gas Mileage
Did you know that your tires can directly affect your gas mileage? Gas prices are too high to ignore the little things you can do to get the most for your money at the pump. Check out this and other tips to optimize your fuel consumption and save a little green.

Checking & Removing Your Wheel Bolts
You should check the tightness of the lug bolts on all four wheels on a regular basis. If you have had any work done on the car, be sure to double check after 10 or 20 miles. Properly checking them will make your car safe.

A Work Shop Essential - The Fluorescent Work Light
Lighting your work space is very important. Any auto maintenance done in the dark is risky. A proper shop light is a must. You could buy any shop light, but knowing which one works and which one stinks will help you in the long run. Whatever you do, don't try to work without a work light under the hood.

Inspect Your Brakes!
Brakes are pretty much the most important safety device on your car. If you've even partially lost your brakes in the past, you'll remember the change of underwear that followed. Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers while saving you money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.

A Third Hand For Wrenching
Haven't you even needed a third hand? Here's a tip that can help you out of some tight auto repair situations.

Ford 3.6 Liter V6 Cylinder Firing Order and Timing Marks
Firing order for Ford 3.6 liter V6 engines. Also timing marks location.

Used Auto Parts: Good Idea?
When is it ok to buy used auto parts for auto maintenance or repair? That's a good question. Used auto parts can save you lots of money, but choose carefully or you might be doing the same repair twice.

Dash Lights: The Battery Light on Your Dashboard
The dash lights on your car all mean something, and the battery light is no exception. Be sure you know what to do if your battery light comes on while you're going down the road.

Dash Lights: The Oil Light on Your Dashboard
Dash lights carry important messages. If you see your dashboard brake light or oil light illuminated, you should start troubleshooting the reason behind the light to avoid expensive repairs.

Dash Lights: The Brake Light on Your Dashboard
Your car's dash board is full of lights. Some are important, some are decoration. When you are troubleshooting an issue based on a warning light be sure you know what's important.

Car Sounds: Grinding Brakes
Listen to the sounds your car makes. If it's making a grinding sound when you stop, it's not something to ignore. Brakes can be expensive to repair if you wait too long.

Support Your Car Safely!
If you're taking one of your wheels off to perform a repair, it's important to securely support the car while you work underneath. A jack is not enough. If you've never used a jack stand, you need to become familiar with them, it's the only way to fly. Car safety should be top priority when performing auto maintenance.

Performing a Timing Belt Inspection
A visual inspection of your timing belt is always a good idea. Checking your timing belt every 10,000 miles is important, and changing your timing belt at the manufacturer's designated mileage intervals is a must. Failing to do so can result in bent valves and other expensive engine damage.

Cure For Sudden Poor Radio Reception
If you suddenly find that your car radio is giving you more fizz and pop than music and news, there might be a simple solution to your woes. For most of us, the car stereo is the peacekeeper of the interior of the car.

Eco Friendly Gas Saving Tips For Drive-Thru Windows
Gas mileage is more important than ever, and you'd be surprised at how much your gas mileage can be affected by things you never thought of. The impact of small eco friendly driving changes can make a difference.

Did The Repair Shop Do The Work They Said They Did?
Believe it or not, there are people out there who are trying to rip you off. When it comes to auto repair shops, most of them are 100 percent honest. But every bunch has a bad apple or two, including repair shops. If you know what common auto repair shop ripoffs to watch for, you can avoid becoming the victim of a scam at the repair shop.

Do You Really Need a Chassis Lube?
Back in the day your car was designed with lots of nooks and crannies that required an auto repair shop to perform what they called a chassis lube. What happens when a repair shop lubes a chassis? Is a chassis lube needed anymore? Does my repair shop need to do a chassis lube?

A Little Help to Loosen a Tight Bolt or Lug Nut
If you're in the middle (or beginning) of an auto repair project and find a stuck bolt, you may need a third hand to loosen it. Breaking a bolt or nut, such as a lug nut, can be easier if your third hand has some extra leverage. Great tip for wheel hubs, bearings or brakes.

Check Your Car Tire Wear
It's important to keep up with your car tire wear. Worn car tires can be very dangerous. The penny test is as old as car tires themselves, but it still works!

My Car Key Won't Turn!
Ever get in your car and you can't even turn the car key? Everything seems stuck. There's an easy way out of this jam, and it won't cost you a thing. You won't break your car key in half, either.

The Famous Pepper, No Salt, Radiator Repair
If you're taken by surprise by a breakdown, it doesn't mean that you have to be stranded or call for the tow truck. Being prepared for a side-of-the-road repair can save you time and money. Radiator repairs can be a bummer. You might not be able to fix everything with a packet of pepper, but I'll tell you one radiator repair that calls for just that.

Emergency Roadside Radiator Hose Repair
If you're stuck on the side of the road needing radiator repair or staring at a blown radiator hose, you'll do anything to get things moving again. If your car has overheated due to a blown radiator hose, there's a good chance you can do a roadside radiator repair using things you may already have in the car or can purchase just about anywhere.

What is the Shelf Life of Radiator Coolant or Antifreeze?
If you've been wondering what the shelf life of car radiator coolant is, you've come to the right place. Your radiator isn't too picky, it seems.

Rattle Rattle Tick Tick
When your car is making strange sounds, it might be trying to tell you something. Before you make an auto repair or take your car to the repair shop, do some troubleshooting. You'll save time and money by knowing these sounds.

Removing A Seriously Stuck Wheel
Whether you're doing routine maintenance or changing a flat, nothing's worse than a wheel that won't come off. It can be corrosion, gunk, goop or just general tightness, but none of these things can keep your wheel on with this handy trick.