Stevinson Automotive

A flat tire can instantly change a fun and fulfilling road trip into a nightmare. With your car disabled on the side of the road, you become a hazard for other motorists and their passengers, so you should change your tire as quickly as possible. A little determination, a few helpful tips, and speed can get you and your car back on the road in a short time, so you can safely enjoy the rest of your trip. Preparation If you have never changed a tire on your car before, schedule some time to practice so you can become familiar with the tools and the procedure. This way, a flat tire will never catch you off guard. Even if you know how to change a tire, the time spent preparing for an emergency can minimize the effect of a flat tire on your trip. Start by locating and inspecting your essential equipment and supplies. A jack, spare tire, and lug nut wrench come with every car, so make sure these items are in your car. Always check the air pressure in your spare tire to avoid unn...

Q. The warning light came on my dashboard, should I panic and drive straight to the mechanic? A. First, don’t panic. The “check engine” warning light is simply a general alarm. How it looks and what it means varies from car to car. It might be a yellow or red light or just a little engine symbol. No matter what it looks like, all it lets you know is that the computer that monitors your car has determined that some component of your car is not working properly. That problem can be a minor one or a major one. It could indicate something as simple as a loose fuel cap, especially if you’ve recently refueled. Stop the car in a safe place, turn off the engine, and tighten the gas cap until you hear two or three clicks. Sometimes, that does the trick. But if it doesn’t, you need to take your car in for a diagnostic evaluation. Don’t worry; they’re generally painless. As a Stevinson general rule of thumb, if your check engine light comes on and stays on, you should take your...