Car Repair Help and Answers
One way to tell when it is time for new tires is to check the tread wear indicators, which will appear when your tires have only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining. These indicators are flat spots between the treads.
Why should you get a front end alignment? Improper front end alignment is a major cause of premature tire wear. Over years of driving, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to the life of your tires. Most tires are replaced because of premature wear caused by the front end being out of alignment.
Inspect your serpentine drive belt every 10,000 miles. Look for cracking. Small cracks are normal. Large, deep cracks are a sign that the belt should be replaced.
Rotate tires every 6,000 miles. See this picture for proper procedure. On many late model Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Cadillac and Oldsmobile cars and trucks, the Tire Pressure Monitor(TPM) system must be relearned so the system will know where each tire is located.
In order to scan your car for codes, you must first locate the diagnostic connector. It will be under the drivers side dash. Here is an example of its location. Your vehicle may be in a little different spot. If you do not have a code reader tool, many of the large national parts store chains will scan your cars computer for free.
This is a pictures of plug and ignition coil with 75,000 miles on it that misfiring normally. No large deposits, not discolored. Reddish or green deposits indicate burning coolant. Black, sooty deposits indicate burning oil.Also check for hairline cracks in the white porcelain insulator.
Use a small screw driver or even a dime. Look for a small indent in the bottom of the remote between the two halves. Some remotes have this indent, others do not. Use the screw driver to pry the top and bottom apart.
Example- P 235 / 60 / R-16 97S
(P) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire- The United States version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P as the first character in the tire size means a passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association.