A few weeks ago I had a rear passenger unexpectedly break off the rear roof handle as he was leaving the vehicle. We all had fun with it saying he was trying to do a chin-up on the way out but we also were all surprised it broke off to begin with. None of us have ever seen something like this...

The half axle is rotated by the transmission, and transfers the transmission movement to the wheels. The half axle is composed of two different mechanisms. The inner side has three roller bearings, which move in and out of the cup in relation to the suspension movement. The outer end has a rzeppa...

The drive belts on the BMW e39 engines are regular maintenance items, but the pulleys and tensioners need careful attention once a car passes 100,000 miles. The job is not particularly difficult if done it at the same time as a cooling system service, like a water pump or thermostat. Whenever...

I admit that I have had a fascination with Land Rovers. Though I have never owned one, I constantly search them on Craigslist. I have a few logins to the forums. And I have done enough homework on the Discovery to come close to buying one—but the mechanical horror stories always stop me. "I’m a...

The difference between professionals and amateurs is the level of preparation.  This holds true in many arena, from business to sports, and especially auto racing.  Our second endurance race exploited the fact that we weren't as prepared as we had hoped for. Leading up to the race, there was so...

The Saab WIS doesn’t indicate a service schedule for changing the brake fluid (also known as bleeding the brake system) but this is something that should be done as preventative maintenance. I usually do this every 3-5 years as hydraulic brake systems will be less effective since the fluid...

You’ve always dreamed of driving out of your garage on a beautiful day in something that turns heads at every stoplight. With horns honking and others giving a thumbs up, you simply grin, give a gentle wave and nod your head in acceptance. Your ego purrs in restrained dignity as a crowd gathers...

Oil by the barrel, oil in abundance and oil in short supply, like it or not, it is a vital part of our lives and a vital part of our cars engine. Without oil, not enough oil or improper oil pressure, your engine will suffer very quickly from lack of lubrication. Not only does oil provide a...

The Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) is something considered to be an item that needs periodic cleaning. The sensor measures air velocity for the car’s computer to determine the right air/fuel mixture. The MAF can get dirty over time from debris, oil, air filter fibers, dust and pollen which can result...

While we don’t often pay enough attention to our tires after we have them installed, we certainly do spend hours trying to pick the best looking tire. This great social experiment was had recently at a large regional tire center. Being tenth in line, allowed for plenty of people watching and...