Lights, camera, action! Ok, we're only really gonna talk about lights today. Specifically headlights. Do you ever find yourself driving down an unlit street at night squinting to see just a few feet in front of you? You may have a burned out headlight. They're usually fairly easy to replace, though sometimes you may have … Continue reading Tech Tip Tuesday: Headlight Bulbs
Some of my ASE certifications
I've done several tech articles over the past few months but I thought I'd start something new. Some of you might want to know a little more about me. I've been an ASE certified technician since 2003, before I graduated from the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman (now the Tennessee College of Applied Technology). ASE … Continue reading Some of my ASE certifications
Why Change Your Oil?
I think we can all agree that the oil needs to be changed even though there is often some debate about when it needs to be changed. Have you ever thought about WHY you need to change your oil? There are several reasons, but the importance of changing your oil regularly has increased exponentially in … Continue reading Why Change Your Oil?
Tech tip: gasket installation
If you work on cars very long at all, sooner or later you will replace a gasket. Whether it's a thermostat, water pump, oil pan, timing chain, or any number of other items it is likely to have a gasket. I will address the many different types of gaskets in another post, but this time … Continue reading Tech tip: gasket installation
Decoding Tire Sidewalls
Tires are often unsung heroes of the automobile. If you really think about it, they have an enormous responsibility. They put all the power from the engine to the ground, they do all the steering, and all the braking. You could have a million horsepower, but without a decent set of rubber, all that power … Continue reading Decoding Tire Sidewalls
New Year
Well, it's a new year. People are making resolutions and recovering from binge eating after the holiday weekend. Last year, I had a few decent posts, and things kinda petered out because of school, work, etc. All the usual excuses you hear for people not doing what they're supposed to do. Well this year I … Continue reading New Year
Basics: Air Filter Inspection
Air Filters. How complicated can they be? Honestly, not too complicated, but you need to know what to look for in an air filter and know when it should be replaced. There are certain quick lube places and other shops that try to sell you an air filter nearly every time you go there (usually … Continue reading Basics: Air Filter Inspection
In the Shop: The Basic Oil Change
Really? An oil change? Sure! It's probably where most mechanics start, and maybe where YOU got YOUR start. Changing the oil in a vehicle is pretty simple and basic, but I think it's wise to develop a system and follow it for every oil change you do to make sure you don't forget something. There … Continue reading In the Shop: The Basic Oil Change
Basics: Belt inspection
If you get a horrible banshee-esque shriek from under your hood when you start your car on a cold morning, you may need a new belt! Sometimes you can get away with just tightening the belt a bit, but most modern cars have a non-adjustable spring loaded belt tensioner. When this tensioner wears out, it … Continue reading Basics: Belt inspection
In the Shop: Windstar Belt, Tensioner, and Alternator
In the shop today, we had a 2001 Ford Windstar come in with a bad alternator. Normally, alternators fail by NOT charging. Not this one! Nope...this one was overcharging! Hooking up the voltmeter showed the alternator was putting out over 15 volts (normal is about 13.5-14ish)! Obviously there was a strong sulfur odor under the … Continue reading In the Shop: Windstar Belt, Tensioner, and Alternator
The Service Station Blog 