Even if you have a roadside assistance membership, knowing how to change your own flat tire is valuable information. At Northtown Honda, we publish our blog to help you drive better, so we gladly share with you today our tips for changing a flat.

If you discover a flat while driving, resist the urge to immediately stop. Instead, engage your hazard lights, slow to a cautious speed and seek a firm, level stopping place. Next, locate your jack, lug wrench and spare tire. Before raising your car, partially loosen your flat's lug nuts. With the car raised, finish the…

After you wash your car, you apply one or two layers of wax to the finish to resist dust buildup, resist water, and to make the next wash easier. You know this because you have experienced it. What you did not realize is that the wax serves as the final cleaner of the bits of dirt and grime from the pores of your paint job and seals those pores to reduce further damage. The same concepts apply to your headlights when you restore them.

As the finishing touch to your headlight restoration, you should wax the lights. The wax fills…

When an auto recall happens, a manufacturer or possibly NHTSA will reveal that a car or different models sharing the same part will have problems. These are called safety recalls. In some cases, the recall may never be necessary because it was a small error on a safety score, but any type of problem can lead to a recall, big or small. The automaker will alert owners of these vehicles to show them what the problem is and how they can repair it. Sometimes, this means that the vehicle will be replaced, though typically only repairs are covered.

Most companies…

While learning about the different components of your engine may seem intimidating, having some basic knowledge of how your car functions can come in handy and save you money. Learning to spot issues before they become full-blown problems will save you aggravation as well.

A differential is a small box located between your wheels that works together with your transmission to help your wheels spin. One clue your differential is malfunctioning is a breakdown of the lubricating fluid it contains. You'll hear a grinding noise that over time will cause damage and cost more money to repair.

 

Your gas mileage appears low. Little do you realize that underinflated tires create the issues decreasing your miles per gallon. Poor mileage might not be the worst issue. A poorly inflated tire could suffer a blowout. The same would be true of a dry-rotted tire. A blowout involves a tire literally coming apart as the rubber breaks. Severe accidents may result.

Don't assume all is well with your tires. Checking all four out regularly makes sense. Otherwise, you place the tire at risk for damage. A basic tire gauge tells you whether you need more air. Use it.

 

Vehicles of any age require routine maintenance to keep them running and to keep them safe. One maintenance item that a lot of people forget about is replacing wiper blades. Wiper blades are needed in order to keep your windshield clear from snow, rain, ice, slush and much more. If you don't have good visibility while on the road, then you aren't driving responsibly or safely. Here are some common signs that you should replace your wiper blades:

• If your wipers are skidding and jumping all over the windshield when you turn them on, they may be worn…

Viscosity is a common word, but many people do not actually know what it is. Viscosity is basically what the numbers and letters stand for on motor oil bottles. One example of viscosity is 10-30.

Understanding viscosity is important for many reasons. The viscosity can ultimately determine whether or not the motor oil is going to be able to resist flow. It is important to know and understand that low viscosities are ideal for cold temperatures while high viscosities are ideal for when the weather is hot.

Viscosity is an important concept to understand because it will help you make…

We here at Northtown Honda want to be sure you know all about proper debadging of your car so you can be an informed consumer. There are two main schools of thought with how to get a badge off of the body of a car.

The first is by using heat to melt the adhesive and then slowly work the badge off. This can involve either hot water being poured on the badge or by using a hair dryer to heat up the area. Once it is properly heated, you should be able to slowly peel the badge off of…

These tips should help to decrease the chances of trouble on the roads when you are towing.

To ensure another vehicle does not strike the back of the trailer, you'll need to have someone visually inspect the lights after the harness has been connected. Check that the brake lights, turn signals, and parking lights, are all working. Adjust the mirrors, and purchase blind-spot mirrors to help increase the views all around the sides.

Before the load is placed on the trailer, take your lug wrench and tighten the lugs on all the trailer tires. 

 

Here are a few things you should consider bringing to your next tailgating party to ensure the fun times never end.

Pack a good pair of jumper cables in your truck bed. Not only can you help another party goer if their battery goes dead, chances are you'll be playing your radio, have a TV plugged in, or using all the mobile charging stations. If your battery does die, you have the cables ready for anyone nearby to offer some assistance.

Keep a large clear plastic tote in the bed to haul home all your dirty plates, and cooking…