Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring expert auto care tips from industry professionals. One of the aspects mentioned was the maintenance of shocks—a crucial yet often-overlooked vehicle component. To learn what makes shock maintenance so important, watch this video by Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Walee Gon, owner of Faxon Garage in San Francisco.

  Read more

As a vehicle owner, you’re likely familiar with routine maintenance tasks like oil changes and tire rotation. However, there are many lesser-known aspects of vehicle maintenance you may not be aware of. To expand your knowledge, we asked five Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to address some often-overlooked vehicle components and their maintenance needs. Read more

The hassles and headaches of dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has become a trope of American comedy. But like all comedy, it’s based on a nugget of truth. Often, a trip to the DMV really does mean long lines, crowded waiting areas and labyrinthine paperwork requirements. Unfortunately, navigating this bureaucracy is necessary any time you need to renew your driver’s license, buy or sell your car, or have a problem with your vehicle’s registration. Read more

California takes air quality seriously, which is why all vehicles in the state (even hybrids) are required to pass regular smog tests. California’s emissions standards are some of the strictest in the country, and about 10 percent of vehicles fail. If you’ve been driving your car for years, it can be a shock when your vehicle suddenly doesn’t pass its smog test. But don’t despair—this is an opportunity to improve your car and make sure it’s not contributing excessive pollution to the environment. Read more

Want to get the most out of your vehicle’s tires? Of course you do. However, you may not realize all that this entails in terms of ongoing care and maintenance. To help you, we’ve created this comprehensive, “rubber meets the road” guide to tire care. In it, we’ll cover the following aspects:

• Why tire care is important
• Maintaining proper tire pressure
• Rotating your tires
• Wheel alignment and balance
• Tire repair
• Knowing when to replace your tires

Read more

Most of the cars and trucks you typically see on the road today were built within the last 25 years. With modern vehicles, maintenance tends to be pretty simple, thanks to improved technology and designated preventative maintenance schedules. In contrast, when it comes to premodern vehicles (whether vintage, classic or just plain old), maintenance can be a real challenge. Read more

For many people, a car represents more than a mere means of conveyance. It might be a status symbol, a passion project or simply the result of long-term hard work and frugality. If any of these applies to you, you’re likely as concerned about your car’s outward appearance as you are about its internal components, in which case you’ll want to know how to effectively maintain it. To that end, we’ve asked six Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to provide their auto body care tips. Read more