It’s easy to tune out news about automobile recalls—most aren’t serious, and they usually don’t apply to a vehicle you own. However, my ears perked up when my 2003 Toyota was among millions of cars being recalled. Vehicles of many different makes (Honda, BMW, Subaru, Mazda, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Mitsubishi, Nissan) have Japanese-made airbags that could explode upon impact and injure drivers and passengers with flying shrapnel. That’s pretty scary. I called my local Toyota dealership right away to schedule the “fix” specified in the recall. The free repair was completed with minimal hassle earlier this year. Read more

Let’s face it: in this day and age, a vehicle is more than just a means of transportation—it’s an investment, and a substantial one at that. From the price of engine repair and body work to ongoing fuel and insurance costs, owning a vehicle constitutes a major financial obligation, which is all the more reason to be proactive about maintenance. With this in mind, we asked five Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to weigh in on key areas where maintenance matters most. Read more

Shock replacement continues to be one of the most commonly neglected aspects of vehicle maintenance. Most people put off replacement until their shocks are completely worn down or leaking fluid, but the average lifespan of most shocks is only 50,000 miles, so they should be replaced proactively rather than remedially.

The fact that shock replacement is so frequently overlooked may be due to a lack of appreciation for the role they play in vehicle operation. The primary function of shocks is to control a vehicle’s suspension system. As shocks become worn, however, their ability to fulfill this role becomes diminished, resulting in more movement of the suspension and its related components. Read more

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 have small children? Watch this video for some helpful tips on making sure they’re safe in their car seats. Read more

Did you know driving with cruise control on wet roads can be dangerous? Watch this video to find out why. Read more

Does your car have a manual transmission? Chris Bjorklund has some tips for minimizing wear-and-tear. Read more