Car Connection Workshop

As we continue our Fall?winter Vehicle Maintenance Series, we're tackling tie rods and steering safety. Your driving habits , speed, road conditions and sudden lane changes all matter. But here's the kicker: suspension and steering problems don't always give you a warning before something lets go. Get your suspension and steering inspected by a qualified automotive service technician every six mon...

Three Listeners. Three questions. One Mystery! Denise, Julie, and Tony are looking for answers, and their questions have something in common. Can you figure out what connects all three? Listen to this Saturday's Q&A, then send your best answer to Nile by email or leave a comment. No spoilers here! The answer comes Monday on Motormouth's Morning Drive. Five shows remain before Season 4 Buckle U...

Fun Friday is here, and today we're putting your winter vehicle preparation to the test! You might think your vehicle is ready for winter, but are you sure? Motormouth Nile Jenkins has five winter-readiness points to ponder. Consider this your mini quiz: five questions every vehicle owner should be asking before the temperature droops and the snow starts flying. Some of the things we're taking for...

A worn ball joint doesn't come with a warning light. And if it separates while you're driving, the consequences can be serious. This Morning Drive nugget breaks down the signs and symptoms of front - end suspension wear, what causes components to deteriorate, and the chain reaction that can follow when worn parts are ignored. Your vehicle's computer won't warn you that a ball joint is ready to let...

Your control arms aren't there for decoration. They help keep your suspension and steering components working where they belong. But what happens when the ball joints and bushings wear out - and what happens if a ball joint fails? From modern vehicles to our old 1967 Chevy pickup, we're looking at why road conditions, driving habits and components quality matter. I've seen ball joints so worn they...

What do your shocks and MacPherson Struts actually do, and why do they matter so much as w head into the fall winter driving season. This morning on Motormouth's Morning Drive , we're busting common suspension myths and explaining how shock absorbers, MacPherson struts, and springs work together to control spring oscillations and maintain tire contact with the road. Your springs support the vehicl...

Winter is coming, and your vehicle needs to be ready! This Saturday on Motormouth's morning Drive, we tackle three listener questions to help you prepare for the cold, make smarter vehicle - buying decisions, and protect your investment. ❄️ Question 1: is Your Vehicle Ready for Winter? April is thinking ahead to the changing of the weather. We discuss what to check before winter arrives and why pr...

It's Fun Friday at the Car Connection Motormouth Workshop, and we've got FIVE things to ponder, plus a bonus tip that'll make you wonder what some drivers are thinking! Cold weather has a nasty habit of exposing neglected maintenance. The time to preapre is BEFORE the temperature drops, not when you're standing i na frozen parking lot wondering why your vehicle won't cooperate! Here's what's on th...

Shocks and Struts aren't there just for comfort-they have a critical job to do. In today's Suspension & Steering: One Nugget at a Time, Motormouth breaks down what shocks and struts actually do and why they're so important to vehicle stability and control. Whether your vehicle has MacPherson Struts, conventional shocks and coil springs, coil-over assemblies, or a combination of suspension desi...

Your brakes are only part of the equation when it comes to controlling a vehicle. As we continue our Fall-winter Vehicle Maintenance-One Nugget at a Time, we're moving into suspension and steering and why the entire system must work together with a properly performing brake system. From the front of the vehicle to the rear, every component has a job in keeping the vehicle stable, predictable and p...

The Brake series is complete! Today we wrap up everything we've covered and put the entire brake system together. We've looked at 11 Major components that have to work together properly to give you reliable, balanced braking and allow the vehicle's safety systems to do their jobs when you need the most. Missed part of the series? No Problem. This episode gives you the roadmap to go back and catch...

Time to beat the drum, friends🥁 Drum brakes may be simple in design, but they can get complicated when maintenance gets ignored. And yes- there are still plenty of vehicles on the road using rear drum brakes, either on their own or as part of a disc/drum braking system. NOTE: drum brakes require a manual adjustment performed by your auto service technician. Today we're talking about drum barake s...

Joanne asks what, if anything, should go into the fuel tank over the winter. David wants to know whether fuel system service is actually a thing- or just another shop upsell. And Rosemary asks the age -old winter question: should you keep the fuel tank full? Three great questions, one common subject: your vehicle's fuel system. We'll break down what actually matters, what doesn't, and why fuel - r...

It's Fun Friday with Motormouth! Today we have a little fun, a few questions, and a look ahead at what's coming on the Motormouth Morning Drive as we continue getting our vehicles ready for what ever winter decides to throw at us. Monday morning at 8AM, we're back with Drum Brakes, maintenance and service, as we continue wrapping up our Fall/Winter Vehicle maintenance-One Nugget at a Time. Coming...

Brake maintenance is today's Fall/Winter Vehicle Maintenance Nugget. We're talking about what brake maintenance really means, why it matters, and why "maintenance" and a "brake job" are NOT the same thing. We'll also look ahead to Monday, when we start our next nugget: charging, starting and cranking systems- because. a weak battery, starter or alternator can leave you waiting in the freezing cold...

Brake calipers are a major player in how your vehicle stops - and just because you press the brake pedal and the car slows down doesn't mean the entire braking system is working properly. Today on Dems the Brakes, we finish up the parking-brake discussion and talk about the habit change that needs to happen before an unused parking brake can safely become part of your routine. Then we get into bra...

Your parking brake isn't just there for parking - and your rear brakes aren't supposed to sit around looking pretty. In today's Parking Brake Debrief, Motormouth takes another run at the subject because sometimes we're listening to the words but we're not actually hearing the message. The parking brake needs to work, and it needs to be used. More importantly, the rear brakes need to be serviced so...

Is your parking brake just there for emergencies? Nope. And that little " P" on the automatic transmission isn't a substitute for using it. Today we're putting the parking brake myth to bed and explaining why use your parking brake every time you park is an important part of proper vehicle operation. We look at what actually holds the vehicle when it's in Park, why you don't want the entire weight...

Three questions, three important maintenance lessons on this Saturday Q&A! Allison asks: My engine oil needs topping up between oil changes-is that norma? We look at oil consumption in today's high - revving engines and where "normal" ends and a problem begins. Dianne is finding dark engine oil underneath her vehicle. What could that leak mean, and what could that leak mean, and what can happe...

What exactly is a Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection (MPVI), and why should you care about it ? On today's Fun Friday , Motormouth breaks down what an MPVI is really supposed to do - and why it's much more than somebody giving your vehicle a quick once -over. A proper inspection looks at the vehicles as a complete system: brakes, tires, steering and suspension, fluids ,belts, lights, wipers, battery c...

Brake calipers matter - and their condition can make the difference between a properly functioning brake system and one that creates problems down the road. This morning , Motormouth takes a close look at brake calipers: what they do, what needs to be inspected, what tells us a caliper can be cleaned, serviced and reused, and the warning signs that mean it's time to replace it. A caliper may look...

Your brake system is far more than pads, rotors, and calipers. Today we're continuing our look at the hydraulic side of the braking system, focusing on the pressure differential valve and the critical job it performs when you put your foot on the brake pedal. We're talking about how hydraulic pressure is distributed through the system, why the rear brakes need to begin doing their job as the vehic...

Your Vehicle's Anti-Lock Braking System is an important safety system-but it isn't magic, and it can only do its job properly when the rest of the braking system is working as it should. This morning, Motormouth explains what ABS does, wha tit feels like when it activates, and why every driver should understand that sensation before they actually need it in an emergency. When ABS engages, the peda...

ABS can be an incredible safety net when things go sideways-but it can't overcome a brake system that isn't working properly. Today we continue our conversation about ABS braking systems and the part the driver plays when ABS activates. Do you know what your vehicle feels like and sounds like when the ABS kicks in? More importantly, do you know what you're supposed to do when it happens? Your ABS...

Three great questions, three very different sides of the vehicle ownership, three very different sides of vehicle ownership - and plenty to chew on over the weekend. Jackies asks the big one: is a new vehicle or a used vehicle the better choice? We break down what to consider before we spending your hard- earned money. Elizabeth wants to know whether rustproofing an older vehicle is worth it. Befo...