A bubble in the sidewall is one tire problem you should take seriously. At first, it may look like a small raised spot, almost as if someone pushed outward from inside the tire. In reality, that bulge usually means the tire's internal structure has been damaged. The tire may still hold air, and the car may seem to drive normally, but the sidewall is no longer as strong as it should be. Unlike a simple tread puncture, a sidewall bubble can't be safely plugged or patched. Once the internal cords are damaged, replacement is the proper repair. A Hard Pothole Hit Can Damage the Tire From the Inside One of the most common causes of a sidewall bubble is hitting a pothole hard enough to pinch the tire between the wheel and the edge of the hole. The outside rubber can look almost untouched afterward. Inside the tire, however, impact force can break or weaken the reinforcing cords that give the sidewall its strength. Air pressure then pushes against the weakened area ... read more

Your engine needs a steady supply of clean air to burn fuel properly. The engine air filter sits at the entrance to the intake system and traps dust, pollen, sand, insects, and other debris before they can reach the throttle body, sensors, cylinders, and other internal components. There is no single replacement interval that works for every vehicle. Some manufacturers recommend a specific mileage, while others call for checking the filter periodically and replacing it when needed. Where you drive, how often you drive, and the design of the intake system can all change how quickly a filter becomes restricted. Start With the Manufacturer’s Schedule The owner’s manual is the best place to find the recommended service interval for your particular vehicle. Depending on the model, the filter may be scheduled for replacement somewhere around 15,000 to 30,000 miles, although some vehicles can go longer under favorable conditions. Mileage is only part of the pic ... read more

Fuel delivery problems rarely begin with a complete failure. A vehicle may take a little longer to start, hesitate during acceleration, or feel weaker when climbing a hill. Because the engine still runs, those early changes are easy to blame on old spark plugs, poor fuel, or normal wear. The fuel pump and fuel filter work closely together, so their symptoms can overlap. One supplies pressure and volume from the tank, while the other keeps dirt and debris from reaching the injectors. Finding out which part is causing the problem takes more than judging how the car feels. How The Fuel Pump And Filter Work Together The fuel pump draws gasoline from the tank and sends it toward the engine at a controlled pressure. On many modern vehicles, the pump is located inside the fuel tank and is cooled by the fuel around it. The engine computer and pressure regulator then help manage how much fuel reaches the injectors. The fuel filter catches contamination before it can enter t ... read more

Coolant does more than keep the engine from overheating. It also helps protect the radiator, water pump, heater core, hoses, seals, and internal engine passages from heat, corrosion, and buildup. When coolant gets old or contaminated, the cooling system can lose some of that protection. A coolant system flush can help when the fluid is dirty, weak, rusty, or past its service life. It is not a magic fix for every cooling system problem, but it can be an important part of keeping the system clean and better protected. The key is knowing when a flush makes sense and when the vehicle needs repair first. What A Coolant System Flush Does A coolant system flush removes old coolant and helps clear out contamination from the cooling system. Fresh coolant is then added in the correct type and mixture for the vehicle. The goal is to restore better corrosion protection, heat transfer, and coolant quality. Over time, coolant can become acidic, dirty, or weak. It can collect rus ... read more

Heat has a way of finding the weak spot in a car. The same vehicle that felt fine in mild weather can start creeping toward the hot side in traffic, especially with the A/C running and the pavement cooking beneath it. That is usually not bad luck. High outside temperatures make every part of the cooling system work harder. If the coolant is low, the fan is weak, the radiator is restricted, or a hose is close to failing, summer driving will usually expose it. Why Heat Finds Cooling System Weak Spots Your engine already creates plenty of heat on its own. The cooling system’s job is to remove that heat, move it through the radiator, and keep the engine within a safe operating range. Hot weather gives the system less room to recover. Traffic makes it worse. At highway speed, air moves through the radiator naturally. At a stoplight or in slow traffic, the cooling fans have to do most of the work. If the fans are weak, the radiator is dirty, or the coolant is not ... read more