- Maintenance April 19, 2024
The Essential Car Maintenance Checklist
Your car is one of the most expensive and important things you own! And how long it lasts depends on how well you maintain it. Your car will need services that you can DIY like checking fluid levels, vacuuming the carpets and waxing the exterior. It will also need services a repair shop will help […]
- Maintenance August 10, 2023
Do You Have to Replace Rotors When Replacing Brake Pads?
Choosing the right brake service for your car can be overwhelming-and that’s before you consider the price! When you are considering having your brakes serviced, there several questions you should ask: When you replace the brake pads, do you need to change your rotors as well? What’s the difference between resurfacing and replacing your rotors? […]
- Maintenance February 7, 2023
Wheel Alignment vs. Balance: What’s the Difference?
If you own a car, you’ve probably heard about the importance of wheel alignment and wheel balancing. Both services extend tire life and improve steering/handling performance, but they shouldn’t be confused for the same thing! So, what is the difference between wheel alignment and balancing? Keep reading to find out. What is wheel alignment and balancing? Wheel […]
- Maintenance February 1, 2023
Common Car Noises and What They Mean
We know it can be hard to try to describe the strange sounds your car is making: “It sounds like a squeaky see-saw when I turn.” “First I hear clicks, then it starts clacking.” “My car sounds like Chewbacca—HERRNNNGGHHHH.” Some car noises are normal—tires hum, windshield wipers swish, and mirrors whistle in the wind. But […]
- Maintenance November 14, 2022
Preparing Your Car for a Road Trip: Tips for a Stress-Free Adventure
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a steep decline in air travel, most Americans preferred to road trip instead of fly. While air travel is projected to reach 84% of 2019 levels this year, airline staffing shortages and increased airfares mean that many families are still choosing to take an old-fashioned American road trip instead […]
- Maintenance October 27, 2022
Why Car Maintenance Is Crucial for NoVA Commuters
You don’t need to work in a car maintenance shop to know that life in Northern Virginia is tough on your vehicle. After all—we’ve got a lot of traffic. How much traffic, you ask? More, in some places, than you will find anywhere else in the United States. And commuters in Northern Virginia spend a […]
- Maintenance August 22, 2022
Virginia State Inspection Checklist
On any given day, millions of cars and light trucks operating in the United States are due for state inspections. You probably have plenty of experience sitting in line for your Virginia state safety inspection days before your sticker expires! One of the worst things that could happen is that you sit in line for […]
- Maintenance June 16, 2022
The Best Way to Improve Gas Mileage
We’re all feeling pain at the pump these days, and with gas prices continuing to rise, getting better gas mileage is top of mind. Fortunately, one of the best ways to improve your vehicle’s gas mileage is also the least expensive: keeping your tires properly inflated! With just a few minutes of your time and […]
- Maintenance April 29, 2022
What Happens When a Fuel Pump Goes Out?
The fuel pump in your vehicle does exactly what you would think— it pumps fuel from the gas tank to the engine to power your car. (There are some other steps in between, but we’ll get to those.) Given the crucial role of the fuel pump in making your car move, it’s a car part […]
- Maintenance April 5, 2022
Why Is My Car Shaking?
If you notice your car shaking, vibrating, or making any unusual movement, it’s good to diagnose the problem early. Preventative maintenance will usually save you from bigger (and more expensive) repairs down the road. Don’t brush it off as something you can ignore, even if the shaking is subtle or only occurs intermittently. Here […]