Know how to repack wheel bearings? Let’s face it – it’s not very often that we even think about automotive repairs like this, yet alone routine maintenance. We just drive and take our cars or trucks to be serviced if something goes wrong.

But did you know it’s actually still considered routine maintenance on many makes and models to service or repack wheel bearings every 30,000 or so miles? While even the dealer is only apt to cover this preventative repair perhaps only when doing brake jobs and the like, bad bearings can make for a heck of a problem later on if they go unchecked.

I’ve previously had bearings go bad before on my old Ford truck, but that’s been some time ago. When the same thing happened recently with my Chevy Silverado (you won’t miss the telltale shriek from the wheel), I figured I’d just drop it by the dealer and let them handle the problem.

Guess what? They wanted almost $900 to just replace the two front wheel bearings. No thanks! I was determined to do the repack myself. Now I’ve got to admit that I’m pretty frugal and fairly handy at the same time. I do some of the maintenance on my car when I can to save a buck or two.

If you’ve confident enough to do your own brake work, you won’t have much trouble learning how to repack wheel bearings. I know I didn’t.

In a nutshell, here are the steps:

· Remove the wheel.
· Remove the brake caliper.
· Remove the dust cap.
· Extract the cotter pin and dislodge the retainer ring.
· Loosen and remove the nut from the spindle.
· Pull away the hub assembly.
· Remove bearings and inspect.
· If they’re damaged, then replace.
· Otherwise, clean with a recommended solvent.
· Repack the bearings with grease (use a cone wheel packing tool)
· Begin reassembling in the reverse process of disassembly.
· Make sure everything is properly greased along the way.

To save time and getting grease all over yourself be sure to invest a wheel bearing packing tool. It is an inexpensive tool that can be picked up for under $10-$15.

It is a simple tool that consists of a hollow threaded shaft with a fixed cone on the bottom and a removable cone that screws up and down the shaft.

When it comes time to repack your bearings, you unscrew to top cone and place the bearing on the bottom cone. You screw to top cone down until it comes in contact with the bearing.

Next you attach a grease gun to the fitting on the top of the shaft. You squeeze the grease gun until the grease comes out of the roller bearing. You spin off the cone and apply grease to the outside of the bearings and you are done.

Be sure to cover the packing tool with a cloth or place it in a plastic bag to keep it clean.

If the steps don’t make much sense to you, that’s okay too… Just look for an automotive technician that works at affordable rates. While it’s a complicated job unless you’ve had some hands-on experience, it’s an easy routine task for most mechanics.

Had to jump start a battery lately? Yep, it’s that time of year again – seems that every time the temps fall, dead batteries happen more and more often. They’re like the plague.

Apparently, batteries struggle more in the colder weather. That’s why when we buy car batteries, we’ll hear the term “cold cranking amps” time and time again as a measure of how they stand up to the dropping mercury and the strains resulting.

But did you know that many of the problems experienced have a lot to do with the way we jump start a battery? It’s true, jump starting batteries is very hard on the battery’s life due to the high surge of voltage entering the otherwise depleted battery cells.

Needless to say, I was rather surprised when my mechanic explained this to me. I mean, who would think that jump starting a dead battery actually reduces its life.

As a side note, jumping another vehicle’s battery can also cause severe damage to the sensitive circuitry of today’s modern car electronic systems. It’s just best to avoid the scenario altogether when possible.

How can the problems be avoided? Well, dead batteries just happen – it’s a fact of life. Basically, I would guide you towards using a trickle charger to slowly charge a dead battery overnight, or for a few hours even, to bring it back to life instead of causing yourself to have to buy a new one sooner than later.

Even though it’s a hassle, that’s exactly what I do. I’m frugal and would rather avoid having to replace things completely, but I worry even more about possible permanent damage to my car’s sensitive circuitry due to a battery jump start. I can slow charge a battery, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin when it comes to repairing a car that’s completely internally fried!

It is best to avoid the battery jump start and opt for slow charging instead – your battery and your wallet will thank you later!

Surely you’re familiar with WD-40. It’s lubrication in a can for all kinds of things from bicycle chains to squeaky door hinges to – well, just about anything imaginable. I guess you could say it’s like duct tape in a can, but only sort of the polar opposite.

I’ve used the product for just about as long as I can remember for a whole plethora of household tasks, but it was only a couple of years ago that I discovered one of my favorite uses of WD-40 yet. As winter is rapidly approaching, you might find yourself appreciating this discovery too.

My Chevy van had keyless entry, but it was not exactly dependable anymore. I was always having to use the key to unlock the doors manually, but I found the locks are really rough and hard to work. When I started thinking about the problem and what any easy solution might be, I immediately thought of WD-40 with its straw spray applicator.

The straw practically fit right into the van’s key hole and one quick spray burst followed by a couple of practice turns with the key was just enough to make the locks as smooth as brand new. I don’t remember how the conversation came up, but when I mentioned this to my neighbor, he told me that he uses the same technique to keep his car locks from freezing in the winter. It really works.

Just one more piece of advice though. If you happen to get any overspray on your vehicle’s paint, do try and wipe it off completely with a clean rag as soon as possible. It shouldn’t really hurt anything if you do get some on the paint, but better safe than sorry, right?

Still wondering what the secret is? Although WD-40 maintains a list of over 2,000+ totally practical uses for the wonder product right on their website, those wanting to know exactly just what does WD-40 stand for anyway might be surprised that it was created for one purpose only. Invented in 1953, the product was intended to be a finish protectant used by the aerospace industry. “WD” actually means “Water Displacement” and the number “40” represents the number of tries it took to finally get the formula just right.

When your car breaks down, you expect to spend quite a bit of money to fix the problem. You don’t usually think of spending hundreds of dollars for maintenance but that’s what happens when you are buying car tires. To help you get the most from your investment, you should follow some basic tips.

Buying Car Tires: The Basics

Once a month you should be checking the wear and tear of your tires. You may not realize it but as your tires get older your car won’t handle in the same way as before. You’ll be more likely to slide, have a harder time stopping, etc. That’s why it’s important to change your tires periodically.

When you do get new tires, replace all four at the same time. The best way to extend the life of your tires is to make sure they all receive the right amount of wear and tear – if one tire is taking the brunt of the punishment it’s not going to last very long. By having new tires placed on your car and by having your tires rotated periodically during the life of those tires, you’ll be able to save yourself some money down the road.

Before buying car tires, however, you need to know which tires you need. Look at your current tires and you’ll find the information you need. You’ll see a P (that stands for passenger) followed by the tire’s width, height, and diameter. If you can’t find the number, take your car to a tire shop or auto repair shop. They’ll be able to tell you.

Make sure you get a warranty on your tires. Tires are vulnerable to punctures and damage so it’s nice to have that warranty to help you cover the costs if something happens to the tires. Go for the best warranty you can afford, but remember some warranty is better than none.

Buying Car Tires & Keeping Them in Good Shape

As mentioned above, one way to extend the life of your car tires is by having them rotated periodically. The cost is minimal, but you’ll be spreading the wear and tear over the tires more evenly. That also means when you do replace all four tires, all four tires will be in need of replacing.

Another tip is to keep your tires properly inflated. Invest in an air pressure gauge so you can’t make sure your tires are not under- or over-inflated. Both conditions can cause problems, including faster wear, increase “blow out” risk, and greater fuel usage. Tires with too much or not enough air in them also make the car unstable and harder to handle.

Finally, make sure to have your wheels aligned regularly. Wheel alignment just means the tires’ angles are adjusted. Alignment will reduce excessive tire wear and can even improve gas mileage for your vehicle. Your owner’s manual should include a recommendation for how often a wheel alignment should be done, but usually it’s once every 10,000 miles. The cost of the service is $50 to $100 for all four wheels but it will save you money in the long run.

Having good windshield wipers is essential to safe driving and proper visibility. The benefits of perfectly functioning wiper blades is especially important in the winter months as snow and ice often seem to plot against our ever important need to see where we’re going as we drive down the road.

Naturally, pre-winter is an excellent time of the year to go ahead and install replacement windshield wipers, whether they’re completely needed or not. Taking the precaution is well worth it before getting stuck in a snow storm with next to zero visibility due to windshield smearing and ice accumulation. If your locale really experiences heavy winter weather, you might even consider buying heated windshield wipers – they work wonders!

Let me assure you, installing new blades isn’t really all that difficult, even though the task does appear daunting if you haven’t figured out the right method for your car or truck. Even if you don’t know how, I think you’ll find they’re literally a snap to remove. Just look for a small button right where the blade meets the wiper arm and depress to release. Then, simply replace the old with the new by clicking them right in place.

Trough personal experience though, I do have a few pointers to offer. Before even removing new blades from their package, make sure they exactly match the size and shape of the old ones. I learned to double check the hard way with my Venture Van – the only place to get a new rear wiper blade that fits is the dealership, even though the guide books in the wiper blade isle of any automotive section falsely promise the correct option.

I’ve also found that even brand new blades don’t quite do themselves justice if the windshield isn’t just as clean as the blades. Whenever I swap my wiper blades, I not only wipe the blades with rubbing alcohol swaps first to get any gunk off of them, but I also buff down the entire windshield with a half water, half rubbing alcohol solution. It’s truly amazing just how much grime will take off glass that I thought was already previously clean!

Nothing can be as frustrating as getting ready for work, going out to your garage, turning the key in the ignition, and not having your car start. That’s a stressful time because you’re wondering what’s wrong and how much you’ll have to spend for repairs and how long you’ll be without your vehicle. If you find out the problem is the battery, then you might feel relieved but changing the car battery is not the simple fix it seems . . . at least it’s not always that simple.

Buying a Car Battery

The first time I had to change a car battery I hauled the original out of my vehicle and drove it to the auto parts store so I could get a duplicate. Later, I learned that wasn’t the best choice. The battery that was already in the car when I purchased it (from a used car dealer many, many years ago) was not the best choice for the car. Thankfully, I was able to work with a human who could help me find the right battery – today that’s not easy since a lot of stores just direct you to a computer to find what you need.

Basically, just leave the old battery where it is for now and go in knowing the make, model, and year of your vehicle. Also, keep in mind that not all of the batteries are created equal. You want to look for the highest CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) and RC (Reserve Capacity) numbers you can afford – the higher you go the better. If you buy a battery that provides more power than what your car needs, that’s not a problem. In fact, during the winter months you’ll probably be thankful since the cold cuts down on your battery’s productivity.

Also, look for the best warranty you can afford. Normally, you’ll get some type of pro-rated warranty after a short free replacement period. With the pro-rated warranty, if something goes wrong, you can get a new battery but you’ll have to pay a portion of the costs based on how long you had used the other battery. Getting a longer free replacement period is definitely worth the money because often you’ll end up paying more for your battery under the pro-rated warranty than you did for the battery being replaced.

Other Things to Remember About Your Car Battery

If your car battery stops working, it’s often because of human error, such as leaving the lights on. When it’s not, you can sometimes get clues that your battery is almost at the end of its life by paying attention to how your car starts in the morning. If it’s becoming a struggle, then start thinking about a new battery.

You should also never assume the problem is the car battery. The problem could be with your car’s charging system which would mean a new battery won’t do you much good. Most auto part stores can do a diagnostic on your charging system so you can make sure that’s in good shape before you purchase the battery.

Remember it’s a good idea to get your battery and your charging system checked before winter so you don’t end up stranded in bad weather.

Cars, trucks, vans, SUVS – whatever you’re driving – all need to be prepared for the winter. We’ve all put a lot of money into our vehicles so we don’t want a little cold weather to cut the life of our cars short. I learned the hard way you have to winterize your car if you want to keep it running well all season. Here are some tips.

Winterize Your Car: Antifreeze & Snow Tires

One misconception some people have about their cars is that antifreeze is only important for winter. In fact, it’s not. You need to maintain a mixture of 50% antifreeze and 50% water in your vehicle all year long, but it’s particularly important in the winter. The best way to check the mixture is by purchasing and using an affordable antifreeze tester at an auto supply store (the testers cost a few bucks).

With antifreeze, you need to keep in mind that most antifreeze is lethal to animals, particularly dogs and cats. If you have pets or even small children, you need to keep your antifreeze safely away from them. A better idea is to purchase propylene glycol antifreeze. This type of antifreeze is considered much safer and is now available from a number of brands. It’s still a bit hard to find in stores though and it does cost a little more.

If you’re in an area where slick roads are the norm, then you should consider purchasing a set of snow tires for your vehicle. Snow tires won’t guarantee you’ll be accident-free all winter, but they do provide better traction on slippery roads, especially if your current tires are worn down.

Other Ways to Winterize Your Car

Your windshield wipers are one of the most important parts of your car’s safety, and we often forget that wiper blades aren’t meant to last more than one year. Getting in the habit of changing those blades every autumn is a good choice because no one wants to change them in the dead of winter. You should also check and refill your wiper fluid so you’ll have plenty when you need it.

Another vulnerable part of your car is the battery. Cold temperatures can reduce your battery’s power anyway, but if it’s not working well before winter then you could end up getting stranded in a bad situation. Many auto shops and mechanics can check the status of your battery in just a few minutes. If you’re already a reliable customer, then they may not even charge you for the service.

And that brings us to a final important way to winterize your car: have an emergency kit. You never know when bad weather, an accident, or mechanical failure is going to leave you stranded somewhere and that can be deadly in winter. Sure, your cell phone may be useful but you may still have to wait hours for help. Make sure to keep warm blankets, flashlights, extra food and water, jumper cables, flares, a first aid kit, a snow shovel, an ice scraper, and abrasive kitty litter (for traction) in your car. Hopefully, you’ll never need it but you’ll be thankful you had it in case you ever do.

Car tire wear marks are intended increase our awareness.  But unfortunately, they’re all too often ignored.  Do you know where to look?

Until recently, I’ve always been a subscriber to the old penny tire test – you’ve probably heard of it –stick a penny with Lincoln’s head pointed down into the tire tread.  If you can see the top of his head, your tires definitely need replacing.

But just recently, while trying to determine if I needed to take the plunge and pop new tires on my wheels, I discovered the car tire wear marks.  Just look for a small rubber extension that usually goes across the gap in between sections of tread.  Each tire has an indicator.  If it’s getting close to level with the rest of the tread, it’s new tire time.

I know buying new tires is not  cheap.  In fact, the prices are often a real drag on the old budget, even if you’re able to score a good discount.  But it is important to understand that you usually get what you pay for.  I say this because I learned the lesson the hard way.  Just last year, I decided to go with less expensive tires on my car.  I figured what the heck – they’re worth a try, right?

Wow, was I ever mistaken.  Just a year later and about 14,000 miles, my new rubber is completely shot.  Now, part of the problem is also my fault.  My car wasn’t in perfect alignment, so the tires did wear unevenly.  Even so, I still didn’t exactly end up getting the great bargain I anticipated at the time.

The moral of the story?  Well now that I’m ready for new tires again, I guarantee I’ll be reading the car tire reviews to find the best possible car tire for my wheels before I change them out.  Granted, the tire warranty usually gets better with the more money spent, but I’m also confident I can score a deal after shopping around and getting few quotes.  After comparing ratings and prices, I’m hoping I’ll never have to deal with cheap tires again!

If your car tire wear marks are telling you it’s time, read the car tire reviews to be assured you’re getting the best car tire.

I needed to check the engine oil on our Volkswagen Jetta. I should have done earlier in the day but I kept forgetting. I had to do it but it was now dark and night time.  When I checked the oil I couldn’t see the oil level very good.

What I did to see the oil level better was I moved the dip stick so the oil reflected off the street light. This way I could see the oil level better. Also it is an effective method to check the oil level when you have new clear oil that you can’t see very well on the dipstick.

Another tip is to shut off the engine and wait 5 minutes or more to check the oil level. This way the oil has time to settle down into the oil pan and you will get a more accurate reading. When you go to get gas and the attendant asks to check your oil and you say yes and he checks it, it’s not an accurate reading so you might want to check it later at home. You don’t want to put too much oil in your car.

Have ever wondered if your car lights are working properly and not burnt out? Having a burnt out light bulb can cause a serious accident and annoy other drivers because they don’t know what you are going to do. You can also get a ticket if your lights are not working right.

A couple of easy tips you can do to check your lights by yourself without getting out of your car. You can do this if you have a truck, car or if your vehicle has LED (light emitting diodes) lights. Next time you’re at a shopping center or strip mall park in front of the glass windows. This will reflect your lights so you can check to see if they are working. Check your turn signals and headlight on normal and high beams. Also check your parking lights and if you have fog lights or any other cool lights you can check them too.

If you like you can reverse or back into a parking spot to check your back lights or next time you are shopping you can do it then. Look in your rear view mirror to see if the lights are working. Go from left to the right turn signal, step on the brakes to see if the brake lights are working, turn on your headlights to check the parking lights and put your vehicle in reverse to see it the back up lights are working. Make sure to apply the parking brake and have your foot on the brakes when checking the reverse lights.

Avoid a ticket and check your light on a regular basis.