Auto News
Precision Tune Auto Care wants to help you stay informed on everything automotive, from the latest safety tests to exciting new vehicle reviews. Whether you want tips on keeping your vehicle in top shape or a sneak peek into Jay Leno’s amazing car collection, you can find everything you’re looking for in our resources overview.
There are a lot of new features, both optional and standard, on all drivers' vehicles these days. One you may not have heard of is called a cabin air filter . Simply put, its job is to keep the air in the passenger compartment of your car nice and clean . A cabin air filter is similar to the filter you use on your furnace at home. Cabin air filters can catch particles down to three microns. By comparison, a grain of sand is 200 microns. So, cabin air filters are effective against...
Changes in vehicle design and manufacture have resulted in changed fluid requirements for our vehicles. With the sophistication of engines, transmissions, differentials, etc., it's best for residents to always use the proper type of fluid for their vehicle. Using incorrect fluids can actually damage your engine. As engines have become more sophisticated, new weights (or grades) of engine oil have been introduced. Today, there is a much wider range of weights for engine oil as well as a variety...
Have you ever seen a ballet performance? Have you wondered how all of those dancers manage to travel all over the stage jumping and twirling and never crash into each other? That's the job of a choreographer. Our auto engines are also highly choreographed. Pistons travel up and down inside cylinders. Valves at the tops of the cylinders open to let air and fuel in or exhaust out. These valves have to open and close at precisely the right time, or the engine will run poorly if at all. The movement...
Can you think of anyone who likes getting a flat tire? Of course not. But when one of your tires winds up with a flat or leak, whether it be from things like hitting a curb, running over a nail or picking up a sharp stone, it's time to have someone who knows what they're doing take care of it.
If you're thinking you'd like to avoid having to buy a new tire, you wonder if a patch or plug will suffice. It depends where the puncture is and how big the hole is. Most tire...
Those who know vehicles believe the steering system may be the most vital component of them all. Perhaps you've found over the years your steering has gotten loose. Or maybe suddenly, your steering wheel has gotten very hard to turn. Let's steer you in the direction of understanding why this may be happening.
First, loose steering. This can likely be the result of wear and tear on the components that connect the steering mechanism with the wheels. Those parts can be ball joints, Pitman arms...
It's one of those things that can happen on a multi-day road adventure or a quick trip to the grocery store. You hit a pothole, go too fast over a speed bump, nail a curb. When it happens, you think, "I wonder if that was hard enough to do any damage?" But things seem ok and you continue on your way.
Keep in mind that any blow to your vehicle's suspension can throw it out of alignment. It can be a hard knock from the road or from another vehicle, such as being involved...
You look at it every day, yet you don't really see it. We're talking about your vehicle's windshield, and if you're not seeing it at all, that's probably a good sign. The fact is that unless our windshields get fogged up, hazy or cracked, we don't pay all that much attention to them. Considering how vital front visibility is in a vehicle, paying a little more attention to your windshield will pay off in the long run.
Keep it clean! In ancient times when gas stations had...
Brakes really aren't optional equipment drivers' vehicles. And taking care of them isn't optional either. A regular brake inspection is on every driver's vehicle maintenance schedule. At PTAC, our team will check your brake system and let you know if there are any problems. Of course, if you're having trouble with your brakes, get your car into your local PTAC service center right away. And watch out for these problems:
Low or spongy brake pedal
Hard brake pedal
A brake warning...
It's happened to all of us. We're driving down a highway at night and over a crest appears a car with its high beams blazing. You are momentarily blinded, hoping the other driver will switch them to their low beam setting and restore your vision.
Not only do we not appreciate being blinded, face it; we don’t want to be that other driver, either. You know, the one who forgets to turn down their high beams.
Why do we want high beams in the first place? They can improve...
When you head down a straight road, does your vehicle pull to one side? Do you feel vibration in any of the wheels? If you've noticed any of these things, it's probably time for you to get your wheel alignment checked.
When your vehicle left the factory, its wheels were parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. That maximizes traction for good steering and braking. Every time you take your vehicle on the road, normal wear and tear will affect your alignment. Hit a...