car repair

A car alternator that's going bad from age, heat, or wear presents several symptoms. And if you're unsure if the battery or alternator is at fault, you can test them.

Your car's alternator keeps its 12-volt battery charged up and powers its lights and electrical accessories once the engine is running by generating an electrical current.

With so many people willing to give advice when it comes to basic car maintenance, it's hard to know what to trust. Here's five examples of common myths in car repair.

Oil changes, tires, and fluid checks are the essential car maintenance items to help keep you out of the repair shop.

Avoid these eight bad maintenance habits that can cost you more money in car repair costs in the long run.

Before you try to replace your tire pressure sensors, you have to consider your TPMS type, part numbers, radio frequencies, and your wheels. And that's before they're installed and reset.

If you're changing your oil every 3,000 miles on a modern car, you're basically burning money. Here are some other maintenance items you may be doing too much!

Learn the the lifespan of your average spare tire and the maintenance tips you need to maintain and replace a spare.

Although not every car transmission has a friction-disc clutch like manual ones do, even race cars rely on some form of clutch.

Shock absorbers, or shocks, are technically called 'dampers,' because they dampen the motion of the springs, which really absorb road impacts. And while struts function as and contain shock absorbers, they do work more work as part of the suspension.

A quality set of coilovers is more expensive than just replacing your factory shock absorbers or struts, and not everyone wants the lower ride height. But if you spend the cash, they can improve handling and performance. Whether or not that's worth the upcharge depends on where and how you drive.

Although you can't bring an entire toolbox on your motorcycle, a compact emergency tool kit can help you back to riding after a minor roadside inconvenience. But you don't just need to consider what tools to put in your kit--you also need to know how to use them.

Whether you're on the road or just running errands, no one wants to be stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck over a minor issue. To prevent that, consider keeping an emergency tool kit in your car--here's how to construct one.

Having to schedule an appointment with your local auto mechanic and then take your car in for repairs is a hassle. Can you schedule a mechanic to repair your car at home instead?

Many mechanics still swear by the Italian tune-up, whereby you try to remove carbon deposits in your engine by redlining it for a bit. And while it doesn't necessarily help all engines, there is at least one kind that seems some noticeably benefits.

Although some car repairs are better left to the experts, replacing your PCV valve isn't one of them. So, if you're noticing oil leaks, excessive oil consumption, or any of the other failure signs, know that swapping out a bad valve only takes a few minutes.

Many quick lube mechanics and auto shops will recommend flushing your car's engine. But is this service really necessary?

Working on your own car at home can save you a lot of money on labor rates. However, there are some repairs that are better left in the hands of a qualified mechanic.

While there are plenty of honest mechanics out there, there are also a lot of shady ones. Here are the top five car repair scams that every driver should know about.

While everything seems to be going up in price, switching to an electric vehicle can save you money in service over an internal combustion vehicle according to this latest study.