Snake in the Engine (Serpentine Belt)
July 23, 2023
There's a belt that snakes through your engine. It's even named for a snake, the serpentine belt. It'll bite you when it breaks, possibly leaving you stranded. So, it's good to know a little about this snake-like belt. In early engines, there were lots of belts. They were used to convert the r... More
Put the Brakes On! (Brake Caliper Replacement)
July 16, 2023
Keeping your vehicle's brakes in top shape is one of the most important things you can do for your safety and those on the road with you. Most drivers know a little about brake pads and rotors but maybe not so much about another brake component called the calipers. Disc brakes work by a mechanica... More
Heat and your Tires (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
July 9, 2023
With hotter weather and brutal heat waves becoming more common, the pressure in your vehicle's tires goes up. After all, heat causes air to expand, and the air in your tires follows the laws of physics. Overinflated tires can reduce your vehicle's traction, cause a hard, punishing ride and make ... More
Oh, Stop! (Disc Brake Service)
July 2, 2023
Every time you drive your vehicle, you wear down your brakes just a little bit. And after a while, that adds up. Gradually, your stopping power isn't like it used to be. Since brakes are one of your vehicle's most important safety features, it just makes sense to keep them performing well. Mos... More
Automotive Tips from Tuffy Grand Rapids: Causes of Wheel Misalignment
June 25, 2023
When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Grand Rapids drivers often associate our wheels being knocked out of alignment with an event like a major crash, hitting a pothole, curb or some other objec... More
Follow the Bouncing Vehicle (Bad Struts and Shocks)
June 18, 2023
If you hit a bump in the road and your vehicle just keeps bouncing up and down for a lot longer time than it used to, you may have bad struts and shocks. They're the things that help to keep your vehicle's wheels and tires planted to the road surface. But they don't last forever. With care and ... More
A Hot Mess (AC System-Compresser)
June 11, 2023
Air conditioning used to be a real luxury in a vehicle, but now it's standard in most. Your vehicle's air conditioning system is built to last a pretty long time, but like anything mechanical, sometimes it fails. It helps to know a little about how the A/C works. There's a compressor that press... More
Let's Clear Some Things Up (Headlight Restoration)
June 4, 2023
You know how exposing your skin to sunlight can cause sunburn and other unhealthy things. Sunlight can also create major problems for your headlights. After they've been exposed to ultraviolet light, acrylic headlights can yellow and fog due to oxidation. And when that happens, less light can ... More
Oil Times are a-Changin' (Oil Change Synthetic)
May 28, 2023
When it comes to oil changes, things are really changing. Most newer vehicles require synthetic oil, and while it costs more than conventional oil, it doesn't need to be changed as often. When conventional oil was the only game in town, you changed your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km. But as tec... More
Such a Little Part (Climate Control Resistor)
May 21, 2023
You expect your heater/air conditioner to work like it should. You have a control for temperature and one for fan speed. You even have a control for what vents the air comes out of. Don't be surprised one day if your blower fan develops a mind of its own and starts going crazy. Most of the ti... More