{"id":954,"date":"2023-05-07T07:27:02","date_gmt":"2023-05-07T14:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gwrench.com\/?p=954"},"modified":"2023-04-27T17:43:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T00:43:47","slug":"5-ways-you-could-be-hurting-your-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwrench.com\/5-ways-you-could-be-hurting-your-car\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways You Could Be Hurting Your Car"},"content":{"rendered":"
You\u2019re driving down the highway when you notice the gas<\/a> needle creeping toward empty. Do you pull off at the next rest stop, or do you push your luck and see how far you can go?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a fan of \u201cgas-gauge chicken,\u201d consider this: It may actually be damaging your car.<\/p>\n True, modern cars<\/a> are more dependable than their predecessors, but some common behaviors can put unnecessary wear and tear on a vehicle. \u201cA car is an investment,\u201d says Richard Reina, product training director at CARiD.com. So not only should you perform\u00a0regular maintenance, he says, but you should also avoid the following.<\/p>\n \u201cWith automatic transmission cars,\u201d says Reina, \u201cpeople presume that they don\u2019t need the parking brake.\u201d But that isn\u2019t so. Putting the car in park engages the parking pawl, a small metal pin that disengages the transmission\u2019s output. This can put (literally) tons of weight on that little metal pin, especially on an incline\u2014an unintended distribution of pressure that can cause premature wear on the pawl. The job of the parking brake is to immobilize the wheels, easing the burden while also providing a measure of protection for the pawl.<\/p>\n Each new vehicle today must, by law, have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which alerts the driver when one of the tires gets low. Some drivers assume they don\u2019t have to\u00a0check their tires\u00a0unless the TPMS light goes on. But this is a mistake, says Reina. Before the threshold for the TPMS is even reached, driving with an underinflated tire can affect your vehicle\u2019s performance. \u201cEven being a few pounds off,\u201d says Reina, \u201ccan affect your fuel economy, as well as how the car handles and brakes.\u201d<\/p>\n Reina says he used to run his fuel tank down near empty before he learned how much it was damaging his fuel pump, an electric tool designed to remain immersed in the car\u2019s fuel. When gas runs very low, the fuel pump can be exposed and begin to overheat. It cools again when the tank is full, but over time, that cycle of cooling and heating can cause damage. \u201cI try to refill my tank when I get to one-quarter or one-eighth of a tank, to extend the fuel pump\u2019s life,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Failing to\u00a0change your wiper blades\u00a0can result in diminished performance and even in scratched windshields, which in inclement weather can pose serious safety risks due to distorted visibility. \u201cI recommend changing your wiper blades once a year,\u201d says Reina. \u201cJust before winter, when you want the blades to really clean the windshield well.\u201d Consider changing them sooner if your car usually sits outside, or if you live in a warm climate.<\/p>\n Have you ever noticed the way your car lurches when you shift from reverse to drive without coming to a complete stop? This abrupt change in direction puts unnecessary strain on your transmission and driveline components, and it can cause that uncomfortable shudder. If you\u2019re not in the habit of coming to a complete stop before changing gears, give it a try\u2014your transmission will thank you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Golden Wrench Automotive is one of the reputable Vista auto repair shops. We’ve been providing quality transmission repair services in Vista for more than 25 years. The mechanics are ASE certified, continuing with advanced educational courses in up-to-date technology. Call (760) 940-6060<\/a> now and experience a hassle-free service!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You\u2019re driving down the highway when you notice the gas needle creeping toward empty. Do you pull off at the next rest stop, or do you push your luck and see how far you can go? If you\u2019re a fan of \u201cgas-gauge chicken,\u201d consider this:…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":816,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[155,68,70,28,173,69],"class_list":["post-954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auto-repair-shop-vista-ca","tag-auto-repair-in-vista","tag-gas-tank","tag-transmission","tag-vista","tag-vista-transmission-repair","tag-wipers"],"yoast_head":"\nForgetting The Parking Brake<\/h2>\n
Letting Your Tires Get Low<\/h2>\n
Keeping The Tank Near Empty<\/h2>\n
Ignoring Your Windshield Wipers<\/h2>\n
Shifting Abruptly From Reverse To Drive<\/h2>\n