Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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When the cold weather rolls around and the first slippery days confront drivers, it's tempting to say, "I need an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle to deal with the weather." Well, maybe you don't. Maybe there's another solution that is much more economical and may even have better results for you. There are a lot of people who think having power at all four corners of the vehicle is the answer to all winter can throw at you. True, you can get going more quickly in an all-wheel-drive...
Ever wonder where they came up with the term "dashboard" for that part of your vehicle that sits behind the steering wheel? That name began back before cars were even invented. People used to travel by horse and buggy, and streets weren't as well built as they are today. On a muddy road (which was sometimes just a couple of ruts alongside a field), it wasn't unusual for those inside the buggy to have mud and stones "dashed" (knocked, thrown, or hurled) in their direction. So those who built carr...
You push a few buttons or turn some knobs, and voila! You have air blowing on your feet or cool air chilling your face. But how does all that happen? Well, it's all thanks to the air blend box. This box lives behind your dash and helps direct the right temperature of air where you want it. Let's break it down. First there is the blower fan that circulates air through the heating/air conditioning system. The fan can blow at different speeds, depending on how much hot or cold air is comfortable....
When your vehicle doesn't start, the first thing you think of might be the battery. That may be the culprit, but it also might be that your alternator has gone bad. An alternator sends power to your vehicle's electrical systems and accessories like your entertainment system, charging ports, and so on. Any extra electricity goes to re-charge the battery. So, your battery is what gets your engine started, but once the engine's running, your alternator is what's turning out the power. A failing...
Brakes that work properly are essential to your safety. You want to carefully maintain your brakes. In vehicles equipped with drum brakes, the brake components are housed inside a drum that rotates with the wheel. When you step on the brake pedal, brake shoes push out against the inside of the drum, slowing the wheel. Now brake shoes just wear away with use from rubbing on the drum as you brake. When it's time to replace brake shoes, it's a straight-forward repair. If you hear squealing or...
It is pretty amazing how auto makers have been able to consistently build more powerful engines in vehicles that get better fuel economy while at the same time meeting increasing environmental standards. One of the little miracles that helps make this happen is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve. The EGR valve routes some exhaust back into the air intake system in both gasoline and diesel engines. The exhaust gas takes up some space in the engine cylinders, replacing some of the...
In cold weather, you may notice your windows fogging up. Then you can't see where you're going, and suddenly you and those around you are in danger. So, what causes your windows to fog up in cold weather, and how can you stop it? Fog is simply moisture condensing on a cold surface. When the air inside your vehicle is moist and warmer than the outside air, it hits the glass that's cooled by the outside temperature, and you get fog. If your windows fog up, you probably already know to try the...
California air quality affects Tehachapi drivers wherever we are. Many decades ago, people began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle? Cabin air filters are now coming standard on most new vehicles since the 2000 model year. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment. They can filter particles down to three microns, so that's good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants. If you suffer from...
Steering is one of the things we take for granted in our vehicles. Let’s break it down into two areas: first, the power assist and second, the actual parts that steer the vehicle. Most people under 40 have never driven a car or truck without power steering. Most vehicles today have a hydraulic power steering pump that provides boost to help you steer. The pump is usually driven by the serpentine belt, but some newer vehicles have an electric pump. Some vehicles even have an electric motor t...
Let’s face it, vehicles are complex machines, and hats off to the ProTech Auto Service technicians who can diagnose and repair them when things go wrong. Here are four tips to follow when you take your vehicle in, according to service advisors and technicians. 1. Describe the problem thoroughly and accurately. When you tell friends how your day at work was, you probably go into a fair amount of detail: the boss yelled at you because you were late, the computer froze up and lost five reports y...
In the sloppy weather months, many drivers rely on protective mats to keep moisture, grime, ice and snow from making a mess of a vehicle’s interior. But if your vehicle has a mat it could become a hazardous mat if you don’t follow some safety precautions. Here are some things to avoid with your vehicle’s mats in the driver’s footwell. Make sure your mats aren’t creating a safety problem by jamming the pedals. One way this can happen is by a driver buying an all-weather floor mat and putting i...
When you take a corner in your car, the outside wheels have a slightly longer distance to go than the inside wheels. That means that the outside wheels must turn a bit faster than the inside. The piece of mechanical wizardry that makes this possible is called the differential. The differential allows the drive wheels to rotate at different speeds in turns without the wheels binding or hopping. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the differential is on the rear axle. You’ve seen that bulge in...
Most drivers in Tehachapi know ball joints are an important part of the suspension system. Visualize a ball attached to a spindle with the ball enclosed in a cup. This allows the joint to move in several directions, kind of like how your hip works. Most vehicles have two or four ball joints on the front, depending on the type of suspension system. The joint allows the wheels to move up and down as the tires go over bumps, as well as allowing the wheels to turn as you steer. The ball joints are...
There are some parts of a vehicle that, when failing, do not need to be immediately replaced. A water pump is not one of those parts. Due to the vital role the pump plays in cooling the engine, if it stops working, there will be fast consequences including possible all-out engine failure. Replacing a bad water pump will save you from the worse job of having to replace your engine. Know the signs of when you have a bad water pump on your hands. Unhealthy circulation The water pump moves coolant...
Do you know what kind of braking system you have on your vehicle? It matters. Do you think you should pump your brakes to get them to stop better on a slippery surface? Or are they the new computerized ones that pump the brakes for you? The most common brakes on today’s vehicles are anti-lock braking systems, or ABS for short. They employ a computer and sensors in the wheels to give you a big edge over the older systems. ABS began to be regularly installed on vehicles in the 1970s but w...
Soft brakes, meaning a brake pedal that no longer offers the same reassuring pressure it normally does, can be an alarming thing to encounter while driving. This is especially true if your brakes go soft all at once, without any advance warning. Also known as spongy brakes, this brake pedal feel is almost always an indication of a problem with your vehicle’s brake fluid system, and it has several potential causes. Check out these tips for dealing with a soft brake pedal as safely as possible. 1. Try to pump the pedal Soft brakes arise because y...
Much like the human body, your car relies on a series of interconnected systems working together for optimal efficiency. These systems exist in a complex environment where individual parts undergo varying degrees of stress, movement, age and failure for all kinds of reasons, causing larger breakdowns as they do so. Much like the body, this doesn't always happen overnight and it isn't always immediately noticeable. For this reason, annual car maintenance and checkups are important in much the...
Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) have arrived. Today, ADAS is one of the fastest-growing segments in automotive electronics. In the United States today, 60% of vehicles sold are equipped with some level of ADAS availability with that number expected to increase significantly by 2025. Expect a proliferation of sensor parts with the number of sensors required per car to triple over the next 10 years. Most auto parts stores will be ready for the changes ahead as will reputable automotive...
It's important to know how to tie a Christmas tree to your car before you set out to find the perfect pine or fir. Whether you're venturing to a tree farm to chop one down yourself or are simply picking one up that's ready to go, you need to know how to secure it to your car safely. Follow these tips and you'll have your tree ready to decorate in no time. Protect your car Before you even try to figure out how to tie a Christmas tree to your car, you'll need to protect it from damage. Live trees...
Make each gallon of gas last with these fuel economy tips. In these difficult times with gas prices soaring, making each gallon of gas go farther is crucial. Budgeting for these increased prices can be difficult, sometimes leading consumers to carefully consider their next vehicle. But purchasing a new car isn’t always a practical or an affordable solution. Fortunately, fighting rising costs don’t require taking drastic action, as fuel-saving solutions are always within easy reach. Save fuel, save money 1. Keep tires inflated and control the...
Your car is composed of multiple moving parts with many dependent on fluids to keep them lubricated. Likely, you know the importance of changing your oil, replacing the battery and checking tires on a regular basis. But there are three top car problems you may overlook, especially if you don’t familiarize yourself with your owner’s manual. These car problems often suffer from a case of “out of sight, out of mind” but once they rear their ugly heads, your wallet can feel the consequences. Easily overlooked car problems 1. Coolant flush – Also...
An air filter wrap isn’t part of the standard equipment on a typical car or truck, but it is something you can add to your air filter to help keep it free of dirt and debris. Do you need one and do you know which kind to use? Here’s what you need to know about using an air filter wrap. What is an air filter wrap? First, let’s start with your air filter — it does exactly what its name implies. A filter wrap fits around your air filter and provides an extra layer of filtration to keep the air com...
You may not be familiar with all of the items on Protech Auto Service’s menu board, so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your friendly and knowledgeable Protech Auto Service service advisor about other possible needs or services. Protech Auto Service fuel system cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way. Headlamp r...
Understanding proper tire rotation can go a long way toward extending the life of the rubber wrapped around your wheels. In fact, rotation is so important that it’s something you should do at least twice a year – typically with the changing of the seasons – as part of your automobile’s regular maintenance. So why is proper tire rotation a crucial part of keeping your car on the road? It’s all about understanding the link between tire wear, suspension setup and alignment. Wearing down, wearing out As you roll on down the road, the rubber on...
What does an oil change do and why is it important to get one as a part of routine maintenance? Something as simple as an oil change might not seem critical to keeping your car running, but neglecting your oil can cause big problems. Here’s why you need to make sure you get an oil change at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. With summer travel here, you will want to make certain your oil is in good shape before departing on that road trip. What does an oil change do? There’s a difference between adding oil and changing oil. If you check...
