Cool Cat Boogey… How Your Air Conditioning System Works

If you are old enough to remember long summer car trips without air conditioning..sweaty thighs on vinyl upholstery…siblings crawling all over you to get some relief from the heat…your dad, or mom threatening "to pull this car over if you don't stop arguing"…yuck!  you can truly appreciate today's auto air conditioning systems. 

Have you ever wondered how your air conditioning works? Why would you? Press a button and cool air rolls out of your vents. If you're like most people, you probably haven't wondered where that cool air comes from …until it's stopped working. This article explains the basics of how air conditioning works, what the components are called, and how to best maintain your system.  

Death, Taxes and Auto Repair Bills….Why is My Bill So High?

You bring your car into your favorite shop for a diagnosis, you are handed an estimate, and the air goes out of the room…How could a simple repair cost so much?  People ask all the time how the price of a particular is determined, usually phrased something like, "Holy cow! Why does it cost so darned much?" (usually using language quite a bit  more colorful). This question is a good one,  and is one that you should ask whenever it isn't clear to you.

There are two components to a repair bill:

·      The first is the labor rate, or what the shop charges for the time that goes into repairing your vehicle.

·      The second is for the parts themselves, and whatever other shop support materials are used in the process of the repair. 

Stop! In the Name of Love…Before You Break Your Brakes…How Your Disk Brakes Work

It's a little known fact that Diana Ross was very, very careful with her brakes…and she actually knew how they worked…Well, here is how they work…

There are two basic types of brakes: Drum and Disk. Most modern cars use disk brakes, but drum brakes are still in use on many models. Some cars have disks on the front, where most of the hard work is done,  and drums on the back. Here's the major parts of a disk brake system:

I've Got a Flat Tire. Now What?

It's summertime. You're heading down the highway…looking for the love getaway…heading for the love getaway… You see a faded sign by the side of the road that says 15 miles to the … Love Shack! You turn up the volume,  and sing along: "Bang, bang, bang on the door baby! Knock a little louder baby! Bang, bang, bang on the door baby!"

All is well in the world, and then you feel a vibration and hear a flopping noise. Agghh! Flat tire!