Automotive Articles
Filter Facts
If you’re a long-time vehicle owner, you’ve likely replaced your fair share of filters, but how many of them were necessary? Thanks to advances in technology, today’s cars and trucks can go much longer between...Read More
Engine Coolant 101: The Right Coolant for Your Vehicle
Most drivers don’t give engine coolant a second thought. It’s just another item under the “check fluids” service included with an oil change. However, engine coolant performs three vital jobs...Read More
Battery Basics
Today’s vehicles have more electrical demands than ever before, and batteries play an essential role in meeting those demands. The battery supplies the electrical current that the starter motor requires...Read More
Finding The Ideal Maintenance Frequency For Your Vehicle
There might be no worse feeling in the world than turning the key in your vehicle’s ignition switch and getting no response. With as much as you rely on your car, truck or SUV to get you and your family to...Read More
The Serpentine Belt: One Belt To Rule Them All
Did you know a single drive belt powers most of your vehicle’s engine accessories? It’s called a serpentine belt because it follows a twisting path to wrap around all the accessory pulleys. Serpentine belts are...Read More
The In And Outs Of Engine Oil
Auto maintenance can be daunting, even when it comes to something as seemingly basic as motor oil. Based on the make and model of your vehicle, you need to consider the oil’s...Read More
How To Deice Your Car's Windshield
One of the more bothersome challenges of winter is removing ice from your car’s windshield on frosty mornings. Here are some tips from AAA on how to prevent and remove windshield ice...Read More
ADAS Sensor Calibration Increases Repair Costs
Increasing numbers of new cars are equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Some of the more common ones include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and...Read More
When To Replace Your Car's Battery
There is no simple answer to the question of how long a car battery will last, but it is possible to offer some generalizations based on decades of industry experience. To begin with, we know that the life of a car battery varies based on three key factors...Read More
Flood Damaged Cars – Owners And Buyers Beware
Heavy rain, rapidly melting snow, rising rivers, and breaches in levees or dikes can cause vehicle flood damage and the need for difficult and expensive auto repairs. Once floodwaters rise above the vehicle door openings, extensive disassembly may be required for cleaning....Read More
Where Does Gasoline Come From
Gasoline was discovered nearly 160 years ago as a byproduct of refining crude oil to make kerosene for lighting. There was no use for gasoline at the time, so it was burned at the refinery, converted to a gaseous fuel for gas lights, or simply discarded....Read More
The Amazing Disappearing Spare Tire
It is always unexpected when your car gets a flat tire, but if a current trend continues you may face another surprise the next time a flat strands you at the roadside. AAA research found that over the last dozen years automakers have been eliminating spare tires from their vehicles....Read More
How To Maximize Fuel Economy
Gasoline prices rise and fall, but it is always nice to get the most for your dollar by achieving the best possible fuel economy. How many miles you can travel on a gallon of gas varies with personal driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and vehicle type. Optimize all three of these areas by adopting these suggested methods to increase your car’s gas mileage....Read More
Takata Airbag Recall Notice
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has mandated safety recalls for Takata airbag replacement in millions of vehicles from 19 automakers including Honda and Acura. Any owner of a vehicle who receives a recall notice regarding Takata airbag replacement should contact their local dealer to have the work done as soon as replacement parts are available....Read More
Changing The Cabin Air Filter In Your Car
Cabin air filters remove particulates, and sometimes odors, from the air that enters the vehicle through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HEVAC) system. A cabin air filter is more than just a way to improve air quality, it can also affect vehicle safety....Read More
Dictionary Of Automotive Terms
Have you ever read an article about a new car or spoken with a service advisor at a repair shop and ended up thinking to yourself, "I need a translator to understand what he/she was talking about!" You're not alone....Read More
How Often Should You Change Engine Oil
Every automobile engine needs oil, but not just any oil will do. Modern engines are designed and built to exacting standards and require oils that meet very specific industry and automaker specifications to ensure a long service life....Read More
Synthetic Oil Better Than Conventional
Making an informed choice about oil changes just got easier, thanks to new research on the quality of engine oil. AAA found that synthetic oil outperformed conventional oil by an average of nearly 50 percent...Read More
Tread Tells When To Shop For New Tires
The tires are the only parts on your car that have direct contact with the road, which means they have a major effect on ride, handling, braking, and safety. For optimum performance, tires must be properly balanced and inflated...Read More
Windshield Repair And Replacement
Did you know your car's windshield is a safety device? In addition to its primary role of protecting vehicle occupants from wind, water and debris, a windshield can help reduce crash injuries and could even save your life...Read More
Automatic Transmission Fluid Service
An automatic transmission is second only to the engine as the most complex and costly mechanical component on your car. To work properly, an automatic transmission must be filled with a specific fluid...Read More
How To Talk With A Shop About Auto Repair
If your car has a problem, you may hold the key to unlocking the solution. After all, you know your car better than anyone, and will be first to notice if its performance changes...Read More
Planning For Auto Maintenance And Repair Costs
According to a new AAA survey, 64 million American drivers (one in three) would be unable to pay for unexpected car repairs without going into debt. This indicates that many drivers underestimate the ongoing costs...Read More
Don't Confuse Gasoline Octane And Quality
If the manufacturer of your car recommends regular grade gasoline, you may wonder if premium will provide added benefits. On the other hand, if the automaker says premium gasoline is "recommended" or "required," you may have...Read More
Auto Repair Labor Rates Explained
Auto repair labor rates vary widely across the country, and even within the same city. As of January 17, 2017, mechanical repair shops in the AAA Approved Auto Repair network charged between $47 and $215 per hour, based primarily on the shop’s cost of doing business...Read More
How Often Do Cars Need Service
This guide explains modern vehicles and diagnostics, offers tips on communicating with repair shops, explains the benefits of written estimates, explores the qualifications of technicians, and helps you choose an auto repair facility you can trust...Read More
Insist On A Written Repair Estimate
Many states require that auto repair facilities provide customers with written repair estimates. Even when written estimates are not required by law, quality shops are happy to provide them...Read More
How To Find An Auto Mechanic You Can Trust
If you think the technician servicing your late-model car is a “grease monkey” or someone who lacked other career options, your assumption is more out-of-date than a carburetor. Auto repair today is a demanding, high-tech industry that undergoes constant change...Read More
Vehicle Warranties Offer Low Or No Cost Repairs
This guide explains modern vehicles and diagnostics, offers tips on communicating with repair shops, explains the benefits of written estimates, explores the qualifications of technicians, and helps you choose an auto repair facility you can trust...Read More
Understanding Modern Auto Repair
This guide explains modern vehicles and diagnostics, offers tips on communicating with repair shops, explains the benefits of written estimates, explores the qualifications of technicians, and helps you choose an auto repair facility you can trust...Read More
Quick Tips For Checking Vehicle Fluids
Vehicle fluids require attention more often than the 5,000- to 10,000-mile service intervals common today. Incorrect fluid levels can cause breakdowns or even serious damage. Here’s how to...Read More
Changing Your Cars Engine Air Filter
Do you replace your engine air filter too often? For years, service technicians and the Environmental Protection Agency encouraged motorists to change their car’s engine air filter frequently to...Read More
Not All Gasoline Is Created Equal
New testing from AAA has uncovered significant differences in the quality of gasoline sold at fuel retailers in the United States. The independent laboratory testing compared gasolines that...Read More
The Importance Of Proper Tire Inflation
For a safer car that’s less costly to operate, keep your tires inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressures...Read More
Give Your Car A Brake
The brakes are the most important safety system on your vehicle. Proper maintenance and prompt attention to suspected problems ensure that your brakes will perform as designed...Read More
Prepare Your Car For Summer Travel
Car trouble can ruin your day, or worse yet, a long-awaited vacation. Follow these maintenance tips to help keep your travels safe and trouble free...Read More
What Does It Cost To Own And Operate A Car
If someone asked you what it costs to drive your car, the first thing that might come to mind is the price of your last fill up at the gas pump, followed closely by car payments and insurance bills. Those are definitely major expenses of vehicle ownership...Read More
What To Do About Cloudy Headlights
The next time you walk up to your car, take a moment to look at its headlights. If the lenses are cloudy or opaque, you have a problem that could impact your health and welfare - and that of others. Cloudy headlights provide...Read More
Finding an Auto Repair Shop You Can Trust
AAA believes the best way to maintain a vehicle is to choose a quality full-service repair shop and have the vehicle serviced by professionals trained to identify potential problems...Read More
Selecting Automobile Replacement Parts
Parts are parts, right? Well, maybe in chicken nuggets, but not when the subject is replacement auto parts. Whether you service your own car or have a facility do the work, you can sometimes be faced with a confusing array of part alternatives...Read More