Whether from force of habit or misinformation, many drivers still think it’s necessary to let their cars idle and warm up before driving in the morning. While this may have been important 30 years ago, modern technological advancements have made warming up a car before driving a thing of the past.

Prior to the 1980s, the fuel delivery systems in most cars were regulated by carburetors. With a carburetor, an engine needed to be warm in order to get the correct fuel mixture, which was why letting a car idle for several minute before driving was so important. By the end of the ’80s, however, a new kind of system was introduced: fuel injection. Read more

Do you know all your options when it comes to repairing or replacing a used car? Watch this video for some helpful tips. Read more

Most people know they have to regularly change the oil in their cars, but many vehicle owners don’t realize that regular tune-ups are equally important. For example, getting your transmission flushed every 18 months costs about $150, but ignoring this service can eventually cause the transmission to break, and new transmissions can cost up to $2,000. Read more

Do you know what the #1 reason is that cars don’t pass their smog check? According to Diamond Certified smog check experts, a “check engine” / “service engine soon” light ON and/or high tail pipe emissions are the main reasons. The state sets the maximum allowed limits for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, referred to as “NOX”. A worn out catalytic converter can also be one of the many causes for not passing.

Each smog check station has its own policy as to whether they charge you for a failure. The state does not regulate that. In general, shops set their own prices for all smog checks, other than the state regulated $8.25 for the Smog Certificate.  Read more

Did you know that any repair shop can perform regular maintenance on your new car, not just the dealership? Some people mistakenly think that their warranty can be voided unless the dealer does the servicing, but federal law (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975) allows you to have the work done at the shop of your choice. It even says so (sometimes in small print) in the manual that comes with your new car. The key is to document all the work performed. Save the receipts and have the repair shop stamp and date your owner’s manual. It’s important to follow the service intervals as recommended by the manufacturer, especially if you’re leasing a vehicle. That’s because if you can’t prove that the service was performed at specified intervals, Read more

When you hear an unusual noise coming from your car (usually a whine, creak or squeal) it’s a warning that its normal operating methods have changed—often for the worse. By paying close attention to these sounds, you can catch minor problems before they become too serious and expensive. Consider the following tips:

Squealing brakes
If you hear high-pitched squealing when you apply your brakes (especially lightly), it’s probably caused by vibration in the brake pads. Minor squealing won’t affect your braking performance and is usually nothing to worry about. If you take your car to an auto repair shop, a mechanic may be able to apply a lubricant and quiet the vibration. Read more

When a check engine light goes on, and won’t turn off after re-starting the engine, you know it’s time to have your mechanic check out the car. You can’t get any real useful advice over the phone. I was dealing with a problem like this and called a number of shops to find out what it would cost me for a diagnosis. Some wouldn’t give a price, another quoted a flat fee of $100, and finally a Diamond Certified shop said to bring it right in for a free evaluation. They ran a computer check on the car that lasted only a few minutes and said they couldn’t find anything serious wrong with the car. Read more