PCV Valve: What Is It? Most Tucson drivers know something about preventive maintenance on a vehicle. We know we should routinely replace the oil and wiper blades and other fluids. But have you heard of a PCV valve ? This little car part needs to be replaced regularly or it can cause some serious problems […]

That Vexing Vapor Venting (Vapor Coming out of Vents) You may have noticed sometimes on a hot and humid day, vapor will come out of your vehicle’s vents when you have the air conditioning on. Is that something to be concerned about? Well, it depends. Sometimes that steam or vapor can be caused by water […]

A Door No One Can Step Through (Fuel Door Repair and Maintenance) Your vehicle has lots of doors including that one usually near the back on the vehicle’s side. That’s the fuel door, something you use every time you gas up. These endure hundreds of open-and-close cycles, usually without any problems. But when they act […]

Not-So-Common Sense (Sensor Failures) So your vehicle won’t start. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas? Well, those are all reasons that make sense. But your vehicle may be refusing to start because one of its computers is being warned that to do so might […]

The New Blade in Town If your windshield wipers are streaking and chattering when you turn them on in the rain or snow, it’s time for a little “blade renewal.” And when it comes to new wiper blades, there are some new designs that are worth a look. One of the latest is called the […]

Chilly Warning (Diagnosing a Noise in Cold Vehicle) When the weather gets colder, sometimes the noises your vehicle makes will change. For example, you may notice a whining sound when you get going in the morning. It may go away when the vehicle warms up, but it’s best not to ignore that sound because it […]

A Real "Pane" (Window Maintenance and Repair) It’s pretty frustrating when your driver’s window won’t work. You can’t get your food at the drive-thru without opening the door, have a tough time using the ATM from your vehicle, can’t have that fresh breeze blowing through your hair as you listen to your favorite road tunes. […]

Differential Service at Advantage Auto Repair & Transmisson: Viva la Difference Every vehicle on AZ roads has a differential, and it is important to the proper operation of the vehicle. But most Tucson residents don’t have a clue what it is. The differential compensates for differing wheel speeds. For example, when you turn, the inside […]

A Turn for the Worse (Using Turn Signals) Distracted driving is bad, you know that. Daydreaming, talking on the cell phone, putting your makeup on in the rear view mirror. All bad. But there’s something else that causes more than twice as many accidents, according to a recent study. And that’s people who don’t use […]

I Had No Idea! (Four Things You Didn’t Know About Vehicles) Bet you didn’t know: Some of the earliest rearview mirrors were marketed as “Cop Spotters” so drivers would know when police were following them. Who wants a ticket, anyway? According to eBay Motors, Elmer Berger first patented a rearview mirror that was mounted on […]