Road trips are fun if Car doesn’t break down. Partsavatar presents maintenance tips that will keep you on right track!

Conducting proper maintenance on your vehicle can extend the life of your car and save you a lot of money down the road. ~ Care for your car at parts avatar Auto replacement parts!

Proper maintenance of car is very essential for hassle free trips.  It is often frustrating to encounter any form of car trouble particularly when you are in hurry or are far away from auto repair shop. Regular car maintenance can help prevent the possibility of you being stuck in such situations. Let’s take a look at some of the car maintenance tips suggested by parts avatar.

Choose proper Fluids for brakes, cooling and transmission systems

It is very important to use manufacturer’s recommended fluid for your vehicle for it is better performance. Be careful while you choose car’s coolant/antifreeze or automatic transmission fluids as fluid contamination can affect a car’s performance adversely.

Transmission and other components often tend to become noisy and perform poorly if you use bad quality fluids for your vehicle.

Make sure while filling coolant that the radiator is not contaminated. If you see burning smell or dark brown color of coolant, then you might need to flush out the radiator and fill it with new clear coolant. If ignored, it will cause engine overheating problems.

Check the tires

Tires act as interface between car and ground. If your car’s tire is not having enough tread, you won’t be able to stop quickly or handle slippery roads. Check the tires regularly for proper inflation. Under inflation not only damages the tire but also causes accident on the road if you keep on driving. Under-inflated tires are also a risk for your car’s fuel economy. It is better to install TPMS sensors to check tire pressure as tires are very expensive to replace.

There is also a short trick by which you can determine whether your car’s tire needs replacement. Place a dime in one of the tire’s grooves, with the bluenose’s sails pointing down. If you can see all of the sails, then tires probably need replacement.

Check vehicle’s recall status

Recalls identify potential safety issues. So, visit your automakers website and check each vehicle’s recall status.

Automakers provide free repair services for the recalled vehicles, and most of us are oblivious of this fact. About 20 percent of car owners do not take advantage if there vehicle is in recall list because they don’t know such clause.

This is not advised to get a free maintenance. You will also get to know why the vehicle was recalled and which auto part is faulty.

Replace your Brake fluid every two years

Brake fluids help lubricate the moving parts within braking system, protect metal components from rusting and corrosion and also ensure that the hoses and seals remain in good condition.

It is one of the most neglected fluids in cars yet it is very important for a safe drive. The water contamination inside the brake system often leads to brake failure. Check your owner’s manual for instructions and bleed your car’s brakes by replacing brake fluid timely.

Check your car’s battery

Without battery, your car just won’t start. It would be even harder for you if you have to drive in extreme cold region. On an average a car battery lasts for four years. This average lifespan will fluctuate depending upon extreme temperature exposure or whether or not it goes through full charge cycles.

Check your car’s battery and replace it timely for better driving especially in cold weather.

Use premium quality fuel

Some sportier models require grade quality fuel which ignites more evenly in their higher compression engines. Regular fuel will result in sluggish performance of vehicle.

So choose premium quality fuel for optimal performance of engine.

Listen to your car’s noises

You can easily notice issue with any auto part by judging the noise coming from car. If you hear grinding, squealing noise coming out of brakes, then check and replace car’s brake system parts .

Clunking noise can be heard when you turn the steering wheel or it can be noisy exhaust. Your car’s wheel bearing is demanding lubrication if you hear humming noise.

So, the bottom line is, decipher the noises and act accordingly. Ignoring the noise will only increase your repair bill so think wisely.

Go long

Engine cannot heat up enough to remove condensation during short trips of car. If the engine won’t heat up properly then engine oil won’t be able to lubricate and protect the moving parts. As a result engine auto parts will start showing signs of premature damage.

If you take a drive lasting at least 45 minutes and change your car’s oil every three months, it would be best for your engine’s health.

Wash your car

If you are living in cold regions like Canada then do yourself a favor and use a self serve car wash to remove salt from your vehicle’s underside until the water runs clear after every winter.

Otherwise buildup can corrode the electric wiring or brake lines.

Check air filter

For a better mileage and fuel economy, check your car’s air filter at every oil change. Dirty or clogged air filter will prompt the vehicle to use more fuel than usual. For better mileage install new air filter for car.

If you notice decrease in gas mileage or engine performance, you may have to replace your car’s air filter. If ignored your car may have to face the problem of engine misfiring in worst case scenario.

So, never let the air filter get dirty and check it regularly.

Checking Green Car

Eco friendly vehicles are best for fuel economy and emit less volume of carbon compounds in the atmosphere as compared to conventional cars but that doesn’t mean that they don’t require maintenance.

If you own a hybrid car which operates on both battery and gas, hybrid engines require oil changes like the regular cars do.

While electric cars don’t contain oil, you should have their brake System components and steering system components inspected at least once a year.

Check the belts

Broken belts are one of the most common reasons for roadside assistance calls. Visually inspect all the belts for any damage or crack. Replace the belts, radiator and hoses of car easily from any aftermarket store at affordable costs.

Check the exterior lights

Exterior lights are easy to check and inexpensive to replace. You can easily buy automotive lighting accessory from aftermarket auto store based on your owner manual specifications.

Operate the turn signals, brake lights and backup lights and check for reflection in the rear view mirror. Perform the same inspection on front turn signal lights, headlights, high beams and running lights. You should not avoid inspecting the lights especially if you drive mostly at night. Lights are not only for your proper vision and safety on the road but they also notify other motorists on the road of your presence.

Properly maintain your car and have a safe trip without any car issue. Update your car with aftermarket auto parts at parts avatar performance auto parts with free shipping.

Is your car making wierd noise? Decipher those noises and know what they exactly mean!

Learn to troubleshoot your car problems - pay attention to the sounds coming from your car and react accordingly. – Partsavatar Replacement Car Parts.

Car is usually made noise free so that we could experience a smooth drive. Mostly you can judge that your car is in good condition when there is no weird noise coming from the car. But if you hear your car making some unexpected noise – either under the hood or in the rear of the vehicle, this probably means that your car is trying to express you its problems through these noises.

Know when your car needs maintenance by troubleshooting the noises and save your cash from expensive repairs if you ignore these noises. These noises are the first signal that some malfunctioning is going on inside. Here is a list of sounds cars make and what those mean. Let us take a look!

Screeching Brakes

Problems with brakes top my list. And why not? Safety is priority.Sometimes you may hear screeching sound when you press the brake pedal.Squealing or screeching can be heard when you have worn brake pads.Screech can also be heard if the tires are wet and they also disappear once the surface dries.However, if the screeching noise persists, that means it is time to replace brake pads of your car. Grinding noises also indicate worn brake pads but sometimes it is the sound of metal scraping against metal which means brake calipers of car have gone wrong.

Thumping sounds can be heard when you have rusted brake rotors. So it is better to visit a certified professional and get auto brake rotors replaced if necessary. Brakes need attention. If they fail to work properly, your safety is at risk on road.

So, keep them in better condition by providing them with proper maintenance and replacement timely.

Car jerking and Popping sound in engine

Faulty spark plugs often cause popping sounds in engine.Worn, dirty spark plugs can cause the car to jerk at certain intervals along with the noise.Spark plugs are directly related to the ignition system of your car. You can buy spark plugs of car at affordable prices from any online aftermarket auto store and the good news is it is also a DIY thing to do. So, you can save the money you had to pay as labor cost.

You may notice that if there was probably a problem with spark plugs, then there would be no popping sound after replacing them. But if the sound can still be heard, then visit your mechanic.

Don’t worry! Replacing spark plugs is not a bad thing to do.

Whirring sound under the car

There are several causes that can cause whirring noise. If the vehicle is pulling to one side while drive along with the sound, there are chances that the wheel bearing of car is shot in one or more tires. Another causes include- need of lubrication, automotive U joints replacement and faulty transmission.

So, as soon as you hear this noise, take your car to your mechanic and let him decipher the noise for you by doing thorough inspection underneath.

Rattling beneath the car

It is quite hard to tell what a sound coming from underneath of a car means. Underneath of a car is quite complex system and may have different causes. But rattling is not hard to decipher. Generally, in each case, rattling means that there is something loose beneath the vehicle- exhaust pipe of car.

Anything that is hanging beneath your car can be easily identified. If you find exhaust pipes loosened then you can easily tighten them using screw drivers. Do not ignore this sound further, as the exhaust pipe may get damaged by getting scraped along the ground or in the worst case it may just fall off. Exhaust pipe repairs are quite expensive so watch out.

Flapping Noise

Broken fan belt in the car engine may produce these noises. Pay attention to the flapping sound and get the fan belts repaired and replaced immediately as any delay can cause the engine to overheat. This is because the fan belt help keep the engine cool.Engine Overheating will result in expensive repairs. So avoid overheating and follow preventive measures to be taken when the engine overheats.

Comparing the repairs, fan belts are quite inexpensive as compared to other parts. So do not ignore them and get them replaced timely.

Hissing sound under the hood

Don’t get scared when you hear hissing sound. There is no snake nearby. Hissing indicates that there is some leakage in the engine and liquid is falling on engine parts, thus creating hissing sound. There might be leakage of fluids like Automatic transmission fluids and automotive coolant. Loss of cooling agents would definitely cause overheating and ultimately damage to the engine.

Alternatively, you can check underneath your car for black, red or green fluid pooling on the ground. Get your driveway checked immediately by a certified mechanic.

Loud Banging Noise

If you notice black smoke coming from exhaust pipes and hear a banging noise like that of a gunshot when you start your car, then there might be chances of car's engine backfiring and malfunctioning catalytic converter.

Auto Catalytic converters are quite expensiveto repair and replace.It’s not a good sign though. So, if you notice any problem with catalytic converters, then get them repaired from very start as future repairs are quite expensive.

Knocking in the engine

Always use high quality gasoline in your car. Knocking sound is often produced when there is low quality gasoline used in the car. Low grade gasoline ruins the spark plug which leads to piston moving erratically and ultimately a knocking sound is produced.

Don’t worry. Once you fill your vehicle with high quality or manufacturer recommended gasoline, the knocking sound would disappear. Just go through your car’s owner’s manual and buy the gasoline that is equivalent to those standards.

There is also no need to waste your money on mechanic for inspection. Just do it yourself and the problem is solved.

Clicking sound beneath the hood

Clicking sound is often caused due to low oil level of engine. Add the oil and keep the engine properly lubricated for better performance.

If still the clicking sound persists, there may be chances that oil pressure is less somewhere and something is hindering the circulation of oil properly. Lastly, inspect the valve train and adjust it accordingly.

Roaring sound at high speeds

Sometimes roaring sounds can be heard when you press on the pedal and accelerate. There could be many faulty components like faulty exhaust system or transmission problems. Transmission problems are very expensive to repair.

In case manual transmission, there could be problems while switching gears as the clutch or the gear could be slipping. So whether it is exhaust or transmission problem, both are expensive to repair.

You can shop for aftermarket car's transmission parts and exhaust auto parts at Parts Avatar online parts store for cheap prices. On the ending note, just watch out for the noises and get your car repaired whenever you hear them accordingly.

So, you hear weird noise coming out of your car while driving? Diagnose Symptoms of a failing wheel bearing @ParstAvatar.ca

It is not safe to drive with bad or missing wheel bearing. So, check out the symptoms and other measures @PartsAvatar Canada.

Wheel bearing is an important component of vehicle’s suspension system. It helps the car roll smoothly. A failing wheel bearing may cause loose steering wheel and uneven tire wear.

Like tires, wheel bearings are also overlooked. But, you will not experience smooth drive with bad wheel bearing as they work collectively with tire, hub and wheel to run the car smoothly. Not only bad wheel bearing affects driving but also your safety is at stake. If neglected, they can cause the wheel to get locked because wheel bearings function is to enable the wheel to rotate as the car moves along.

Wheel bearings are highly susceptible to wear and tear over time. A faulty wheel bearing will cause your wheel to wobble. Loud noisy wheels are also considered as the first sign of a failing wheel bearing. But sometimes, tire’s noise and wheel’s noise is often termed as same so, you should make a correct judgment.

Along with wheels they also tend to damage braking system if neglected. Let us read some of the signs of a failing wheel bearing here.

Uneven Wearing of Rotor or Brake Pad

A bad or failing or even missing wheel bearing can cause severe looseness which in turn would result in premature wearing of brake pads or rotors. A defective caliper can also cause uneven wear on the rotor and brakes. Excessive run out, due to looseness may cause the brakes to pull. So if you feel such symptoms, then make sure to get your car's rear or front brake rotor, auto brake pads and brake system auto parts replaced if needed along with wheel bearings of car.

Vibrating Steering Wheel

A vibration in steering wheel can be caused with worn out wheel bearings. You can observe this problem at low speeds and it may even get worse when the vehicle accelerates. It is quite unsafe itself, as the vehicle may go out of your control with the shaky steering wheel. So get your wheel bearings checked by the mechanic.

Uneven Tire wear

There are many causes of abnormal tire wear. The most common factors are improper inflation, misalignment, failing shocks and struts or damaged suspension components. A bad wheel bearing can cause you to shop for tires sooner i.e. uneven tire wear will happen. Economically thinking, replacing a bad wheel bearing is better and cheaper as compared to replacing tires. Take a wiser decision, if you suspect such problem get it solved immediately. However, they need to be changed together on the same axle.

Grinding when the vehicle is in motion

This is the most common symptom of the bad wheel bearing. Grinding noises or loud strange noises can be heard coming from tire or wheel side of your vehicle. As the vehicle goes faster, the sound will also go louder. The noise is caused due loss of lubrication on the wheel bearings which is caused due to excess heat built inside. So, if you hear any grinding noise contact a professional before it becomes a safety issue for you.

Missing Wheel Bearing

It is advised not to drive if the wheel bearing is missing from your wheel. This is because at some point, while the vehicle is in motion, the wheel can fall entirely causing an accident. Wheel bearing keeps the wheel attached to the vehicle. You cannot take chances with missing wheel bearing because you can get into dangerous situation if you are driving down the highway as you can lose control of your car and will cause obstruction to the other drivers.

Knocking or clunking Noise

Excessive backlash in different gears may cause damage to CV Joints or U joints. It can normally be heard while turning and shifting from changing directions. You can get aftermarket CV joints of cars or automotive Ujoints at Partsavatar at cheap prices.

Snapping or clicking

Damaged CV joint can cause the vehicle to produce snapping or popping noise. Inadequate clamping and excessive bearing endplay can cause this problem. Drivers can hear this noise while taking sharp turns. CV joints can be replaced at cheap aftermarket prices.

Replacing and Cleaning Wheel Bearing

With caution, you can easily change the wheel bearing yourself without spending money on the mechanic. Let us take a look at some steps to do so.

1. Park your vehicle securely and lift the vehicle using jacks.

2. Unscrew the lug nuts and remove the wheel.

3. Using socket and ratchet remove the brake caliper.

4. Now remove castle nut, dust cover and automotive rotor sequentially.

5. To gain access to the bearings, you will need to take apart the hub.

6. After removing the races, clean the inside of the bearing assembly around knuckle.

7. Finally after setting the new automotive races in the assembly with the help of hammer, install the new greased wheel bearing in the assembly.

8. Now that you have changed the wheel bearings, you can now re install all the parts in reverse order.

Note that it is recommended to use manufacturer specified grease to repack new or used bearing. If you run into any problem while doing the task yourself, it is better to call the mechanic rather getting any other part damaged. It is wise to watch the mechanic do the practical, rather performing yourself for the first time.

On the ending note, it is advised not to neglect the problem of bad or missing wheel bearing as you may be putting your and other driver’s life at risk. So get it replaced as soon as you detect it.

If you want to replace your suspension system components or wheel bearings then Partsavatar is better option. You can also get the benefit of free shipping on all orders over $99. 

Infographic- Is it safe to drive with a Wheel Bearing Gone?

Now you can check your car's brakes yourself with simple tips and buy brake system parts at cheap prices only at Parts avatar

You can ignore some issues, but car's brakes are not one of them. Learn to diagnose faulty brake system.

car Brakes are very important part of an automotive system but still people take it for granted. But not to forget, it may take your life if you keep it away from maintenance. This article prioritizes in giving information about brake and bearing repair and to spot trouble before it occurs.  Braking system is quite complex. It needs proper maintenance over the lifetime of your car. Brake system should be kept in good condition because it is very important for your safety.

Bearing hold important place in breaking system. loose bearing will cause the wheel to run in negative camber. Uneven wear of brake lining would not prevent your car from stopping. brake boosters, drum brakes, disc brakes, brake pedal, car brake shoes and anti lock braking system of car make a braking system.

its best to check each part of your brake system for wear and proper performance. you should have enough knowledge so that do not have to pay much expense for the repair to the mechanic.

There are several braking issues that can indicate your brakes need repair. Some of the symptoms are:

1. Strange noises and vibrations during braking.

2.  Brake pedal presses farther than usual.

3. When you apply brakes, vehicle pulls to other directions.

4. Squeaking, grinding or increased stopping distance.

5. When applying brakes, warped rotor will give pulsing feeling.

CHECKING YOUR BRAKE SYSTEM

Check your brakes every 10000 to 20000 miles. If it is taking longer, your vehicle pulls to one side and brakes squeal when you try to stop, check them immediately. Next, we would discuss the checking and repairing of parts of brake system.

BRAKE PEDAL

When you step on the pedal and press it down, you can easily feel and evaluate the sensation you feel.                                                                                                                                                             Start the engine.  Apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. If you feel spongy, then you may be having air in your car’s brake lines. When you apply pressure on the pedal, if it seems to be sinking slowly to the floor, your master cylinder may be defective this time. You need more brake fluid if pumping the pedal makes the car stop when the pedal is higher up.    

  

BRAKE LINES

If the inner surfaces of your tire are wet, it could be a leak in the brake lines. Put the vehicle up on a hydraulic hoist, raise it over your head, walk under it and examine the lines.  Feel the rubber parts for the signs that rubber is becoming sticky, soft or worn. If brake lines look bad, have a professional take a look at them.

DRUM BRAKES

car's Brake drum may contain dust in it. Brake drums are classified as hubbed or floating. You can see grooves on inner walls from wear. If the grooves look deep, have them checked by professional. For even braking performance, brake drums must be replaced with the drums of same size.

DISC BRAKES

Most vehicles have four wheel auto disc brake. You should check disc brakes and disc brake linings every 10000 miles.  If the lining is down to the thickness of the steel braking plate, the pads should be replaced. If your disc is badly worn, then let the professional decide whether to replace or reground it. If the brake pads inside the disc look much thinner then have them replaced.

WHEEL BEARINGS

car Wheel bearings usually come in pairs of outer and inner wheel bearing. They allow the wheels to turn thousands of miles by cushioning the contact between wheel and the spindle. It is important to check the bearings when you check the drum brakes to make sure that the grease hasn’t become fouled. If the bearings look cruddy, repack them. You must replace the bearings if the grease has sparkling silver particles on it. If you can almost slip rollers out of their place then replace the bearing. If your vehicle is quite old and you hear grinding noise from vicinity of your rear wheels, then get the bearings checked and replaced.

BRAKE FLUID

Brake fluid should be restored to its proper level. Always use top quality brake fluid from a good manufacturer. Brake fluid has an affinity for moisture and air. Adding fluid contaminated with water vapor to your brake system can rust the system. It may cause the brakes to work either poorly or not at all. Keep the fluid away from painted surfaces. Use plastic turkey baster to remove old dirty fluid.

ANTI LOCK BRAKES

If the warning light installed in the anti lock brake system, still goes on while you are on the road then your vehicle seems to be using only normal braking system. Get the ABS repaired as soon as you can. if you hear some clicking and feel some pulsing when pressing the pedal, get it checked.

These techniques not only help your brakes live longer but you too. If you keep in mind even the basic knowledge about braking system you could save a lot of money by getting your vehicle checked before things go out of your hands.

For more cars related products and brake system products visit Partsavatar.ca.