Possible Reasons Why Your Windshield Wipers Are Not Working Properly

Whether you’re driving during daytime or night time, it’s crucial that your windshield is spotless for optimal vision on the road. This is the reason why windshield wipers are there, so that they can immediately clear anything that may be blocking your view.

But like any other equipment, windshield wipers tend to stop working. When this happens, it’s important that you don’t take it for granted or try to drive even with your wipers not working. You never know when unexpected rain or dash of wind blowing dust or leaves on your windshield may happen, so your wipers need to be operation all the time.

Here are some reasons why your wipers aren’t working. If you know how to fix any of these issues then it’s easier to get your wipers back on track but if you don’t, you can always take your car to a car repair shops to solve the problem immediately.

Your Wiper Blades Are Torn

The rubber edges on your wipers are designed to be tightly in contact on the windshield for it to swipe dirt, water, or anything that will compromise the driver’s vision on the road. However, if those rubbers are torn or there are gaps on it, then it wouldn’t be able to work as effectively. Once you see that they’re already not in good condition, it best to replace them already than continue using when it’s not even working properly anymore.

The Windshield Wipers Have Ice Or Snow On Them

This may only be applicable to those places with winter season, but it’s worth noting. Although windshield wipers are capable of clearing snow off the windshield, they can’t when the snow is too heavy and wet. If it snows in your area it might be best to invest in winter wiper blades, but if you can’t try removing most of the snow first before you use the wipers.

The Wiper Motor Has Failed

Just like any other electric motor, wiper motors sometimes fails due to short circuit or the motor is really old and needs replacement. In these cases, your wipers won’t work. You can either try to take your car to a mechanic for car repair or it may be practical to just replace the wiper motor. That may be more cost-effective than trying to fix an already faulty motor. 

The Windshield Wiper Fuse Is Burnt Out

In any electrical device, there’s always a fuse that acts as a shock absorber or sacrificial device for the entire device. This way in case the motor overloads, the fuse will be the one to take damage not the entire motor. But even though the motor isn’t totally damage, the wiper still won’t work. So you should look for the reason why the motor overloaded, remove it and change the fuse. This should settle the problem if the only damage is on the fuse. But if your wipers are still not working, seek car servicing as this may be more complicated than just the fuse.

Wiper Pivot Nuts Are Loose

When these pivot nuts are loose, the motor will turn but the wiper themselves won’t move. There are also instances where they will move slightly but won’t wipe the windshield or only one wiper is working while the other one doesn't. If you notice any of these, there’s a huge possibility that the wiper pivot nuts are loose.  The first thing that you should do is try to tighten them, if they’re already tight but you still see the same ‘symptoms’ it may need more than just tightening. Better seek a professional help, drive to your trusted car repair shop tell the mechanic your observations and the steps you’ve taken to try to solve the problem and let him handle the rest.

How To Travel With Your Fur Buddy Safely And Stress Free

For dog lovers out there, there’s nothing better than seeing places and being able to share the experience with your dog. However, despite the picture perfect idea, you have to be realistic and know that there are challenges when traveling with a canine. To lessen the stress and make sure you enjoy the ride, here are some tips that may come in handy.  

Try To Find Out If Your Dog Is Up For It

To minimize stress as much as possible, it’d be best to do a dry run first. There are dogs that do fine even for their first time while others have trouble getting used to it though they've traveled with you before. So if you’re planning a long road trip, try to practice with your pet first. Short trips every day may help him ease up to it so that he’s more relaxed once you actually go on a long trip.

Prioritize Safety

Letting the dog move freely inside the car may seem better but not when you’re on a long trip and you need to focus on driving. It could easily tire you out by constantly checking on him or keeping him calm and may put the both of you at risk of getting into an accident. You have to make sure you and your dog are safe throughout the ride. So better if you can fix him in one spot buckled up using dog-specific seat belts or put him at the back in his dog carrier. This way you know he is safe and you don’t get distracted while driving as well.

Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone In The Car

It doesn’t matter if “you’ll be back in just a minute” or not. Don’t. Leave. Your. Dog. Alone. In. The. Car. This is especially when it’s really hot because a parked car outside can easily heat up in just a minute and leaving your dog in there could lead to heat stroke.

Pack A Travel Kit For Your Pet

Especially on longer road trips, bring along a bowl, leash, food, pooper scooper, disposal bags, bottled water, their medications, grooming supplies, and any vaccination records if traveling across state lines.  Having your dog’s favorite toy, blanket or pillow along will also calm them down.  

Bring A Toy To Keep Them Busy

There are dogs who have anxiety issues or bark a lot, driving with either of them can be stressful and frustrating. But you can bring treats for them to chew or toys to play so that they have something to focus their attention to aside from the fact that they’re in the car traveling with you. Distracting them from the moving car helps soothe them so that you don’t have to worried sick the whole time.

Know Which Establishments Are Dog-Friendly

It would be a lot easier for you to travel with your canine if you know which establishment in your destination and even along it are welcoming dogs. This keeps you from stopping a couple of times to look for a place that allow dogs inside when you just want to buy a snack or need to use the bathroom. 

Be Careful What You Feed Your Dog

Always bring foods you know are safe for your four-legged travel buddy. This way you know you have something to feed him without running the risk of feeding him human food that’s actually toxic for him. Aside from that, if your dog has a tendency to jump on your food, make sure you keep it out of his reach to avoid any accidents.

Put An ID Tag With Contact Information On Your Dog’s Collar

It’s a scary thought, but you have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. If you know you have to do a lot of stops, especially in a crowded place, know that it’s possible for the two of you to get separated from each other. But if you do this tip, in case your furry friend ever gets separated from you, it will be easier for anyone to return him back to you.

You see, car repairs aren't the only headache-inducing thing that can happen when you’re traveling and kind of in the middle of nowhere. A scared or non-stop barking dog can be just as challenging. But being prepared and knowing what to do, especially during tricky situations, is always how you can overcome these bumps on the road.

9 Best Gift Ideas For Your Dad Who Baby His Car For Father’s Day

Whether you’re close with your dad or not, coming up with a gift for him can still be challenging sometimes. But, one thing is for sure, if he is the car-obsessed type, getting him a car related gift isn’t only guaranteed that it would be really appreciated but it will also ensure that you won’t run out of gift ideas for the years to come!

1. Auto Care Gift Card

Car owners understand how important being up-to-date with their car maintenance but a lot of them either don’t do it unless something is seriously broken or just couldn’t do it regularly because they’re short in cash. It doesn’t matter which side your car loving dad belongs to or if he maintains his ride religiously, receiving an auto car gift card will still be an awesome treat for him because car servicing can really be costly. Aside from that, what’s great about this is that a gift card lets him handpick the service or repair he want, right when he wanted it most.

2. An Interior Tech Gadget

I’m telling you, no car owner can get enough of interior tech gadgets! If they can, they’d buy every gadget there is. But we all know how some of these gadgets can be pricey so that’s probably unlikely for your dad unless he spends his entire pension on his car. Consider things like GPS trackers, a phone mount, a car charger, or a Bluetooth kit. One tip though, sneak a peek inside his car to make sure you don’t get him something he already has!

3. Paintless Dent Repair

Dents are bummer no matter how small they are. When this happens to your dads car or any car enthusiasts for that matter, know that it bothers him a lot whether he admit or show it or not  Repainting and replacing the entire side of the car that’s affected may be easy but can be expensive. But there’s an affordable option like paintless dent removal that will surely surprise him and be appreciated by your father without drilling a whole in your bank account.

4. Window Tinting

Adding window tint film will cool the interior of the car, change the look of the car, and add security by making it more difficult for car thieves to get into the car by breaking a window. Unlike the other repairs that will only help, this is a present that you will want to check with dad first because window tinting is a personal preference changing from driver to driver. If he’s okay with it, there’s no doubt that this gift will benefit your dad a lot!

5. Handpicked Car Care Kit

Many stores sell pre-made car care kits, but you can make this idea even more thoughtful by putting together a custom kit for your car lover. For a dad who often takes the road less traveled, things like flares, flashlights, non perishable snacks, and tire sealants might come in handy. You may also wanna consider things like leather cleaner, car wax, scratch remover, and so on.

6. Rooftop Cargo Bins

If you’re trying to buy a gift for your outdoorsy type of dad who likes to drive everywhere when he travels, this is a good one. Most often than not, he struggles with cargo space since he tends to carry a lot of stuff around, all the time. So getting this as a gift will make his life easier by having more space in his car.

7. A Dashcam

A car dashcam is a fantastic gift. On a good day, it can be used to capture and commemorate particularly beautiful and memorable drives over the hills and through the woods. On a bad day, it can be used as evidence in a car accident – the recording can prove who was (and wasn't) at-fault. Make sure that A) mounted dash cams are legal in your state and B) the camera isn’t one that will obstruct their view of the road. Then keep your fingers crossed that it only gets used for the fun stuff!

8. Portable Tire Pump

Who hasn't had a moment of frustration with a flat tire before? Basically anyone who drives a car can relate to this. This makes portable tire pump available, whenever the situation calls for it, a heaven sent. Car repair shops aren't always available, so it’d be better if a car owner can fend for his own tires.

9. Battery Jumpstart Kit

Just like getting a flat tire in the middle of the road, being stranded with a dead battery sucks. Having these bad boys in your father’s vehicle will save his day. Getting this as a gift will definitely be appreciated because it will at least let him get by and look for the nearest car repair if the case of his battery is more complex. 

4 Things That May Be Causing Your Car To Idle Too High After The Throttle Body Has Been Cleaned

There are a lot of DIY videos out there to help car owners do simple car repairs and detailing. When it comes to these DIYs, it seems like the easiest and least risky are those cleaning ones. However, what you may not realize is that even those things, when done without proper tools and training could actually lead to expensive damage. Just take your car throttle body for example. It may look simple to clean but you may end up with high engine idling when not done right. So if you just did that and now wondering why that’s happening, here are some possible reasons you’re experiencing that car problem.

1. Computer Readjusting

When you take apart the throttle and clean it, your car’s physical system resets. This means it’s taking more time to do its job which is to regulate fuel and air mixture in your engine than usual because your car’s computer is recalibrating. When this happens, extra fuel is being added to the system causing your idle rpms to rise.

To fix this and make your car’s computer re-calibrate quicker, follow these two steps:

Step 1: Put your car on drive and wait for two or three minutes for the idle to come down.

Step 2: Turn on your air conditioner, with the blower set on high. Do this for three minutes.

Doing this will allow your car’s computer to get a feel of the general throttle parameters of driving. If this trick didn't work, then the throttle wasn't even properly cleaned to begin with.  

2. Not Cleaned Properly

DIY videos online are good for many reasons but they also come with problems such as car owners being too self-confident that they can do car servicing themselves flawlessly. The thing is, not every tiny but critical detail about car repair and car detailing can be relayed and explained properly on those videos.

So if you did DIY your car’s throttle cleaning, it’s possible there’s still some debris left in the throttle bore. You could have missed it since you haven’t had prior experience with it before so you didn't know what a properly cleaned throttle actually looked like. This may result to your plate moving erratically instead of smoothly.

If this is what happened, you’ll have to redo the whole thing. You’ll have to remove and clean both the front and rear of the throttle bore again. When you’re done, expect it to idle since it is readjusting and re-calibrating like mentioned above. However, if you think the throttle body looks pretty clean to after removing the whole thing again, don’t try to reinstall it right away. Check the air control valve as this might be the one causing the idle.

3. Air Control Valve

With standard cleaning, the idle air control valve usually don’t get cleaned properly since it’s difficult to do so without removing it from the throttle body. So it’s possible that the debris causing high idle is stuck in there.

What you can do to make sure this component is cleaned thoroughly is to remove the air control valve and the plate to clean them individually. This should do the trick. But if it doesn’t and your car is still idling too high despite doing all these methods, you might be looking at a damaged throttle sensor.

4. Throttle Sensor Damage

The throttle sensors may have experienced damage while you or your mechanic cleaned the motor. It is possible the damage could have occurred from other causes as well, but if you noticed the change right after the cleaning, there is a good chance the sensors were damaged in this process. This can happen when the plate is opened and closed repeatedly and quickly. You need a computer scan tool to check the throttle activity and position to determine the kind of damage and what kind of replacements may be necessary to fix your high idling problem.

Pretty inconvenient right, not to mention troublesome when you’re practically just trying to avoid all those problems in the first place. So next time you want to do something to your car, that you have zero knowledge or experience about, you may wanna reconsider DIY-ing it no matter how easy it may seem and just seek a trusted car servicing shop in your region. 

3 Ways It’s Better To Park In Reverse In Perpendicular Parking Lots

Parking doesn't seem as important as driving but working on your parking skills is a crucial part of driving and maintaining a dent-free car. So even though paintless dent removal can be done in car repair shops or even on your own, it would still be better to avoid dents all together to save money and hassle. When it comes to parking there are different ways to do it, unless the establishment you’re parking to states their preference. But otherwise, here are some reasons why it may be a better option to park in reverse when you’re in perpendicular parking lots whether you’re a newbie or already a seasoned car owner. 

1. Calculating Distance From The Car Beside You Is Easier When Backing Up

Newbie drivers who are still working on their parking skills actually try to park away from other cars as much as possible. This is because of the fear of bumping and damaging other vehicle since their control on maneuvering and ability to accurately measure distance are still a bit off.

This is where parking in reverse makes your life easier. Due to how side mirrors are designed to work for cars, backing into parking spots makes it easier to see you side panels and avoid bumping into anything. Not to mention how reverse parking also works best for other car features for safety like rear view cameras and sensor.

2. Backing Up Into Your Parking Spot Requires Lesser Space To Maneuver

In a packed parking lot, the space gets tighter which means you may not have enough to maneuver your car into a spot without hitting another car. But with reverse parking you only have to worry about your front bumper possibly hitting what’s in front of it because your rear wheels will be your pivot point. Therefore, even with a lot less wriggle room, reverse parking will allow you to park damage-free.

3. Compared To An Open Traffic, Backing Into An Empty Spot Is Safer

Granted, maneuvering in reverse is difficult due to reduced visibility (and because we naturally drive forward). That’s why, backing into an empty spot is much safer, as opposed to backing into what essentially is open traffic.

Now, in the latter situation, if your car has considerable blind spots due to narrow rear windows, and isn’t equipped with rear-cross traffic alert system, you will need someone to assist you. Otherwise, it’s risky for your car, other cars, and road users like pedestrians, cyclists, stray pets, etc.

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4 Common Culprits Of A Bumpy Ride

4 Common Culprits Of A Bumpy Ride

Driving doesn't seem like a life-threatening activity because you’re essentially just going from one place to another. But even when you’re already at your destination and parking your car, an accident can still happen. Doesn't matter if it’s a minor accident or not but the point is, as a car owner, you’d want to avoid it as much as possible. Not only because your life and others life can be put at risk but also because it may mean hefty car repair cost as well as other damages. So if you start noticing any of these problems. Stop hesitating and take your vehicle to your mechanic right away.

1. Tire Problems

Tires heat up and wears faster on long trips, add that to a hot weather and you’re a sure candidate for blowouts. So you better see to it that you’re not driving with really worn tires, if you are then replacing them before you leave is a must. Doing visual inspection will also keep you aware of wear, cracks, slipped belts, bulges or other abnormalities when it comes to your tires that can affect your driving.

2. Suspension Problems

If your car is bouncing a lot before stopping, you’re experiencing especially harsh impact when driving over potholes and bumps, or if you notice the vehicle leaning to one side then you’re most likely dealing with suspension problems. Go and visit your trusted car servicing center to get your springs checked out and whatever repairs or replacements to be done.

3. Transmission Problems

When it comes to transmission, you want it to go into gear like it should without any delay or difficulty. Otherwise, you’ll really feel bumpiness while driving like you’ve never before. Don’t let this problem go unattended for too long if you don’t want to spend on an expensive new transmission.

4. Brake Problems

Brake pads are the ones that grip the rotors so that the car slows down or come at full stop when you hit the brakes. On the other hand, the rotors are the surface that the pads rub against. If these two are too damaged, it could not help slow or stop the car while you’re driving which can be a great risk to your life on the road.

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Six Car Smell That You Should Get Rid Of Right Away

Six Car Smell That You Should Get Rid Of Right Away

Do not underestimate odd smells in your car. More often than not, it’s not just because of dirt that you haven’t had the time to clean. This usually indicates that something is not right with your car, especially if you’re getting a burnt smell. Moreover, these odors can not only be irritating but also harmful for your health. So try to pay more attention to your car when it starts giving you all these odd smells and act accordingly. Here are the usual culprits behind the smell your car is giving off and what you can do about them.  

1. Cigarette Smell

Cigarette smoke isn’t only stinky, it’s also quite sticky in that it forms a resin on surfaces. That resin is called tar, and though it’s not the same stuff that’s used to pave roads, it does share a couple of similarities. The first step to removing this smell is to stop smoking in the car. Next, open all the doors and windows on a nice, warm, windy day. Then go over every surface with a 50/50 water and vinegar solution. That should be able to cut through the resin. If you have trouble, add a couple of drops of dish soap to the mix. Allow to dry completely before closing the doors

2. Mildew

The distinctive smell of mildew flooding out of your air vents is usually caused by a buildup of bacteria and mold. This can happen to older cars that have had bacteria growing behind the dashboard for years and in cars that rarely run the air conditioning, as they don’t enjoy the drying effects that it provides to excess water on the coils. So if you do your own car cleaning, make sure you clean your car AC vents too.

Moldy or mildew smell is often due to A/C evaporator. But sometimes it can also come from leaky heater core especially when you see fog on the inside of your windows or water leak if the fog is accompanied by a musty smell. Strong indication of this is when your seats and carpeting are also wet.

3. Food

Spilled drinks or food you had while driving creates odor that can really make your head hurt. Everyone is guilty of eating in the car because of busy schedules this can’t be helped. However this is one downside of that. So if the smell that’s bothering you smells like spoil food, check under the seats first. There’s a fair chance your groceries or fast food that fell managed to roll under those. While you’re at it, you might wanna do an overall check for snacks that may have been in there for a while or any trash that causing foul odor and start cleaning. If you don’t have time, you can always take your vehicle to car servicing here in Singapore for a thorough car cleaning.

4. Leaky Organism

Dribbling oil on the exhaust manifold won’t just cause bad smell but can also create thick blue smoke which often indicates that the leak is really bad. They key is to find out why you’re having oil leak and where it’s coming from to get it fixed accordingly. If you have no idea how to do this yourself, you can always seek car servicing here in Singapore.

If you haven’t had any sweet drink or food in your car and accidentally spilled it but you’re getting a sweet scent it’s probably your antifreeze. If the smell is concentrated inside the vehicle accompanied by a filmy fog form on the windshield when the heater is on and you’re seeing antifreeze on the floor inside your car, you’re looking at the heater core. You might want to look for car heater alternatives if bypassing the leaky core would be too much on your budget at the moment. 

5. New Car Smell

New car smells are sort of poisonous; it is not something to be idolized in the form of a scented tree. Those so called “new car smells” are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and they are the same smells common in refinished rooms and new houses. Carpet glue, chemicals from making vinyl, drying paints, and hardening plastics all do something called off-gassing. You really don’t want to breathe that stuff; it’s one of the things that causes sick building syndrome, and it is potentially carcinogenic.

However, don’t make the mistake of using an air freshener in an attempt to eliminate this odor. Using air fresheners doesn't eliminate the foul odor, what it does is overpower that smell. So the bad smell is still there but it’s simply being masked by the air freshener. The problem is that the scent that air freshener produces, though pleasant, can be dangerous to your health because they’re made up of chemical compounds. So you’re practically just layering another smell that’s just as harmful. You can make your own air freshener but if you’re not interested in air fresheners and you simply wanna get rid of the awful car smell, you can use coffee beans or baking soda. They may not make your car smell flowery or fruity or those kind of smell that store bought air freshener produces, but they absorb bad car scent.

6. Smell

If your car is carburetor it’s normal to smell a hint of gas but if your drive fuel injected vehicles you shouldn’t be able to sniff any. So, getting a really strong gas odor should send you into investigation mode to look for the culprit because this smell is not good in any way. Leaky fuel lines, stuck injectors, bad fuel pressure regulator, and other issues can cause leaks which can get to the entire engine and brings raw gas scent. Take your car to car servicing right away when this happens to get the problem fixed.

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