Signs You Need a Wheel Repair

There is no doubt that one of the best ways to guarantee your safety on the road is by making sure your wheels are always in good condition. You need to make sure that your wheels are inflated with the standard PSI recommended for your car's make and model. You need to make sure that your wheels will not put you at risk while you are on the road, especially if you are going on a road trip. Aside from perfectly inflated wheels, it is essential that your wheels are perfectly aligned; your car should balance evenly on both sides without drifting. As wheel problems are not common, when a symptom shows that you have one, it is best to repair it as soon as possible.

Misalignment in wheels can be caused by many different factors. If you recently drove and hit a pothole or sunk a wheel inside an open manhole, there is a huge chance that your car's suspension was knocked its balance. Wheel alignment and your car's suspension are related to one another. If there is a disturbance caused to your suspension, alignment issues in your wheels naturally follow.

You can detect a wheel misalignment when your car swerves to the right or to the left even if you are just driving on a straight road. If it is hard to keep your steering wheel centered and still, you need to have an auto technician check it before it puts you at risk. Although these are generally manageable to handle, you will never know how your wheels will behave because there's just very little can you identify from the outside. Wheel alignment repairs do not take long, given the technology that auto repair shops utilize today. By making sure that your wheel's angle to the ground is correct, you can ensure a safe and sound trip with your car.

Also, if you feel like your car is pulling its weight on one side, it can be a sign that your wheels are not balanced as it is supposed to be. Have wheel repair done immediately to avoid stress from developing further. Wheels are expensive to buy, especially if you have to replace all the old ones with a new set.

Wheel imbalance can be attributed to heavy spots that affect the way the tire spins. An imbalance can cause unnecessary vibration and noise to your car when you drive it. Unlike wheel misalignment which has to do with the wheels' angles in relation to the ground, wheel imbalance refers to unequal distribution of your car's weight on the wheels.

Acting on your wheel repair requirements immediately is simply part of what it takes to be a responsible car owner. Even though it is a fact of life that wheels undergo natural wear and tear, it does not necessarily follow that you let it advance to its expiration date. The life and quality of your wheels can be extended significantly by simply taking wheel repair seriously.

Tru - Line Frame and Wheel, Inc. - the go to for all your wheel repair, wheel alignment and suspension needs. New location is in the heart of Bellevue for the convenience of their growing customer base. Click here for your very own service request.

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The New Volvo S60 in Action

Press start and we are off. Offering great handling, natural driving dynamics and legendary Volvo comfort, the sense of driving pleasure is readily apparent as we take to the streets of Zaragoza, Spain, in the Volvo S60.

Common Mistakes That Can Ruin A Car Engine

Car engines are fairly complex machines that require many different parts to work in tandem in order to keep a vehicle moving. There are many minor things that can cause the motor to stutter or not start. There are certain problems, however, that can actually cause the motor to stop functioning and to potentially break permanently. These problems can be triggered by common mistakes that drivers or owners make. These are very serious automotive problems that can really only be solved by looking for replacement engines for sale.

No Motor Oil

Cars that have been sitting in storage or that have not been used in a long time can sometimes lose fluids due to a number of reasons. There are also situations where the fluids have been drained from a car and are then not replaced before attempting to start the engine. Just a few seconds of running an engine without the proper amount of fresh motor oil can cause the pistons to start grinding away the inside of the motor. This can cause heat and physical damage that can stop the pistons from working properly until repairs have been made. If this problem occurs in a car that has been dry for some time, then one of the only solutions will be to look for rebuilt engines to install as a replacement.

Overheating

The radiator on a car can sometimes sustain physical damage from debris on the road. It can also run low on water or antifreeze. An improperly maintained radiator can trigger a chain of events under the hood that will result in several key components overheating. If the car is pushed to run even when overheating, then the heat that is generated is hot enough to actually damage the interior of the engine and some surrounding parts. Severe cases of overheating can completely destroy car engines in as little as a few minutes when the circumstances are right.

Driving Through Water

Small amounts of water that can appear inside of an engine or gas tank because of condensation do not usually cause any serious problems. One exception to this rule is when a large amount of water is allowed to enter into the engine. This volume of liquid can flow in through the intakes if a car is driven through a sufficiently high level of water. It can also occur if water is somehow directly placed into the gas tank. The influx of water can prevent the pistons from moving properly and can result in a condition known as hydrolocking. This can cause serious damage to an engine and can require extensive repairs. Replacing hydrolocked motors with rebuilt engines is one of the only ways to restore flooded vehicles to an operational state.

Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like more information about engines for sale, visit http://accurateengines.com/.

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The New BMW 4 Series Convertible.

The new BMW 4 Series Convertible heralds a new era in the premium mid-size range of open cars offered by BMW. The new BMW 4 Series Convertible is setting new standards in terms of dynamics, elegance and extraordinary driving pleasure -- with the top up or down. In addition to having its own distinct design, the BMW 4 Series Convertible sets itself apart from its BMW 3 Series cousins through a number of distinguishing technical features.

The new BMW 4 Series Convertible is visibly larger in width, track and wheelbase than the BMW 3 Series Convertible.

Tooned: Oil's Well That Ends Well

It's the 6th and final episode of Mobil 1 presents Tooned. Join the professor and the team as they share a musical performance to highlight everything they have learned.

Volvo Cars Puts Consumers at the Heart of the Connected Car Debate

Leading officials and automotive experts gathered in Washington, DC on Thursday to discuss "The Safety Benefits of Connected Cars". Hosted by the Embassy of Sweden and Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars), the seminar explored the safety advantages of connected vehicles and the challenges faced by an industry keen to align on a vision for driverless cars. Speakers in the video are Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Cars, and Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, Swedish Minister for Infrastructure.

H2O International 2013 VW Car Show in Ocean City, MD | Volkswagen of America

At the H2O International car show, Ocean City, Maryland was once again taken over by thousands of VW owners and enthusiasts from around the world, showing off their Volkswagen pride.

Tooned: Inside an Engine

The Professor talks engines in episode 5 of Tooned. The Tooned team learns how Mobil 1 motor oil keeps engines running like new.

Mercedes-Benz TV: With the new S 63 AMG into the Alps

Fuel consumption (combined): 10.3-10,1 l/100 km;
CO2 emissions (combined): 242-237 g/km*
Mercedes-Benz Reporter Amanda Stretton has put the new S 63 AMG to the acid test in the Austrian Alps.

Product may vary after press date on 01.10.2013.

 *The data do not relate to a specific vehicle and are not part of the specification, but are merely for the purpose of comparing different vehicle types. The figures are provided in accordance with the German regulation "PKW EnVKV" and apply to the German market only.

How to Take Proper Care of Your Transmission

You probably already know that the automatic transmission of your car is one of the most critical components that keeps your vehicle moving forward. And something as intricate as that needs proper maintenance in order for it to keep going for the long haul. Automatic transmissions are a little more complex than its manual counterparts so it needs a little more care than one might expect.

As you should already know automatics rely heavily on transmission fluid in order to keep it running strong. The fluid is critical in that it lubricates and cools the many various components that lie within your vehicle and it is important to maintain that fluid at a reasonable consistency. Old, dirty fluid can cause a number of problems including slipping gears, loss of acceleration, and of course failure. The last thing you want to have is a transmission failure that can cost a whole heap of money to repair let alone replace. The biggest reason why transmissions fail or develop problems is because owners forget to maintain it on a regular basis.

Heat is your worst enemy. Heat is the main cause for short car lifespans and I will explain why. Transmissions rely on fluid to keep it running smoothly. As I have said fluid is what lubricates and cools the many parts in your car. The harder your transmission works the more heat it produces and the more heat it is exposed to causes it to eventually develop problems. When fluid temperatures rise above 215 degrees Fahrenheit varnish forms; higher and seals harden, plates slip, seals and plates burn out, and carbon forms. If fluid temperature rises above 315 degrees Fahrenheit than expect your car to last less than 800 miles. If kept at 175 degrees Fahrenheit than your car will be able to drive over 100,000 miles. See how much difference that makes? Even a 20 degree drop from 220 to 200 degrees in fluid temperature can double the lifespan of your transmission! So of course this is why fluid is critical to the health of your transmission.

Probably one of the most common and most effective ways in prolonging your transmission is by getting a fluid change as recommended by the car manufacturer. Most automotive experts suggest getting a fluid change every 30,000 miles or 2 years, whichever comes first. It really all depends on your driving habits and the type of fluid used though. A fluid change can be done by yourself but it is recommended that you take it into a repair shop where the technicians are knowledgeable in car maintenance. The service is quite simple and consists of dropping the pan to remove the old fluid as well as to inspect for contaminants. The filter gets changed accordingly and fluid is then added to the proper levels. The main reason why you want to bring it into a repair shop is because the technicians will know if there is a problem with the transmission by looking at the old fluid. However a fluid change does not insure that ALL of the old fluid is removed. A lot of fluid can still remain in cooler lines and the torque converter which is why the next method explained is generally a better option.

Another common car maintenance routine is to get a transmission flush. A transmission flush is where all the fluid is removed and the system gets thoroughly cleaned. The process involves connecting a pump to the cooler lines to remove all the old fluid. New fluid is then replaced at the same time so that the old fluid is not able to contaminate the new fluid. A flush is much more effective than a change because ALL of the old fluid is replaced. This allows the new fluid to do a much better job at cooling and lubricating the transmission. Costs for a flush can run a little higher than a fluid change but many say it is well worth it for how much it helps to extend the life of the tranny.

If you are not sure how long or how many miles it has been since you have had a fluid change or a flush then a good way to know when to get your car serviced is by checking the fluid. Automotive experts recommend checking the fluid level and condition every month regardless of whether you are experiencing problems or not. You can find many detailed tutorials online about how to check the fluid but I will give you a quick synopsis about how it is done.

The process goes something like this. For most makes and models the car needs to be running in order to get accurate results. Usually the car is taken for a drive in order to warm up the engine and fluids. Transmission fluid actually expands quite a bit when it is warmed up so checking the fluid while the car is cold can have misleading results. Once the car is warmed up it should be put in park or neutral on a level surface and then the hood needs to be popped. Most cars have a fluid dipstick near the transmission; you can find where it is located in the owner manual. After you have found the dipstick you will want to remove it and wipe it on a clear paper towel or a rag of some kind. This will be where the color and condition is inspected. Normally fluid should be a bright, clear red. A dark red or light brown are okay colors if the fluid has been used for some time but darker colors can mean it needs to be serviced, especially if it is a dark brown. Colors closer to black may mean that your transmission has a problem. Also if the fluid smells burnt then this can also mean that it has problems. If there are metal shavings or large particles floating about then that may mean that the filter has failed to do its job or it may mean bigger problems. To check whether the fluid has oxidized wipe some of it on a paper towel, if it does not spread then this means it has oxidized. If the fluid shows any of those symptoms - dark colors such as brown or black, a burnt smell, large particles or metal shavings, or fluid oxidation -- then it means your car needs to be taken in to be serviced. If everything seems okay then at this point you will want to check the fluid levels. Simply re-insert the dipstick after wiping it down and then remove it again. The fluid should be somewhere between the two marks. If it is below the second mark then you will want to add the specified transmission fluid suggested in the owner manual in small quantities, checking periodically until the levels reach in between the two marks.

If you stay on top of maintenance procedures then your car will last much longer than average. It is vital to take care of your car unless you want to face expensive repairs or the purchase of an entirely new car later on. Be sure to properly maintain your car on a regular basis because it works tirelessly for you, the least you can do is to keep it in good running condition.

If you would like to learn more about the transmission flush you can visit http://transmission-flush.com

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