The pressure in the car tires must be within a certain range to extend the life of the tread and avoid maneuvering issues on the highway. Keep in mind a few of these potential signs if the pressure falls out of the recommended range.

If the pressure falls below the recommended range, the tires tend to ride with more tread on the road. This under-inflated tire can wear the tread in outer areas and put the tire at risk of a blowout. That added friction makes it hard to steer your vehicle when driving at higher speeds. 

Transmission systems that are designed for cars generate a lot of heat when key mechanisms shift gears. If you want to protect your transmission, you can accomplish this task by seeking professional automotive maintenance services.

The weather and harsh environmental elements can harm transmission hardware. In order to protect and preserve the housing on key transmission components, you'll need to visit a professional shop for  inspections. When a seasoned crew implements transmission inspection procedures, many areas are checked, such as fluid lines and shifting components. 

Shifting into four-wheel-drive requires a unique mechanical device known as a transfer case. When that component breaks down, it must be repaired immediately if you want to avoid further damage to your vehicle. Here is a quick look at three signs that your transfer case might need to be serviced.

The first sign that you should keep an eye out for is a grinding noise whenever you shift into or out of four-wheel-drive. If the transfer case is badly damaged, then you might not be able to switch into four-wheel-drive at all. 

While you might know that your vehicle takes 10W-40 motor oil in the summer, do you really know what those numbers mean? Let's take a closer look at what oil viscosity rating are and how you can select the correct motor oil for your vehicle.

The viscosity is a measurement of how much of the motor oil resists flow. So in layman's terms, the speed in which the oil can be poured out of the bottle is the viscosity. The higher the viscosity, the slower the oil moves. The lower the viscosity, the faster it flows. 

Brake pedals wear out over time. They are one of the most heavily-used components in a car. Sometimes a brake pedal will feel soft or spongy. This could be from a variety of conditions.

The brake line could be losing brake fluid. Brake fluid is responsible for the hydraulic pressure. If the brake begins to lose its firmness, it might be losing pressure. Brake lines can crack and corrode over time. You might be able to see the leaking underneath the car. It’s a good idea to have it inspected as soon as possible. 

All you need to test the battery in your vehicle is a simple voltmeter and the understanding of how to test it safely. Let the Honda service technicians here at Honda of Serramonte get you started with testing your car battery at home.

Begin to test your car battery by making certain the light switch is in the off position and that the car ignition is turned off. If you have a small wire brush or a terminal cleaning tool, try to get the corrosion off the terminals before testing to get a more accurate reading. 

Having a car also means having basic mechanic skills because you never know when your car could break down. As such, understanding how the cooling system works is as important as learning how to drive your car.

In general, properly functioning cooling system are designed to reduce engine temperatures and prevent car overheating. There are five important components that you should take care of when carrying out a service repair of the cooling system, including the radiator, radiator cap, radiator hoses, thermostat and water pump. 

Reading the tire sizing code can be somewhat confusing. A series of letters and numbers doesn't mean much to the untrained eye without some sort of road map. Fortunately, it is not really all that difficult to understand. For example, if a tire sidewall reads P265/70R17, then that translates to:

• P = Passenger vehicle type tire.
• 265 = Tire width. This tire would be 265 millimeters wide. 

One thing that you can do to get ready for winter weather is to make sure you always have a full gas tank. There’s often a debate about the proper level to have in your fuel tank. Many of us have been in a hurry, and only grab a few dollars in fuel before heading on our way. However, filling up that tank can be beneficial in many ways.

By always operating with a full tank, you keep the fuel pump cooled (typically cooled by fuel). If you run low on fuel, it can expose the fuel pump and…

A major blunder that many Colma commuters commit during the winter is leaving water in the windshield washer reservoir. When you need to clear the windshield in colder weather, the system will fail as the water turns to ice and could damage all those moving parts.

Correct windshield wiper fluid is formulated to work in the winter because it contains antifreeze. These means that even if the temperatures are in the teens, you can still turn on your wipers and have the windshield wiper fluid clear the way effectively.