Automotive expertise from NAPA AUTO PARTS
Check out the latest featured automotive articles from the NAPA Know How Blog. With over 90 years of experience NAPA wants to share our Know How with everyone.
Regardless of the type of vehicle you own, a blown head gasket ranks toward the top of the list of most-involved car repairs. Because of its complexity, you have to consider whether it’s worth doing or not. We’ve already examined the signs of a blown head gasket, so let’s take a closer look at what you should do when it comes time to…
While most push lawn mowers are pull-started, a few walk-behind and almost all self-propelled, riding lawn mowers feature electric starting, which makes it easier to start their larger engines. Just like batteries in cars and trucks, the lawn mower battery makes this convenience possible…
Proper winter wiper blade care will ensure that you don’t end up replacing your wipers again and again over the course of the winter season. Cold temperatures and harsh driving conditions are rough on the lifespan of winter wipers, but if you follow the right steps, you can go a long way toward getting the most value…
Routine oil changes are an essential part of keeping your engine happy and healthy. However, as manufacturers look to reduce costs and weight, more drain plugs are made of soft metals like aluminum that strip easily if you or your mechanic aren’t careful during even routine maintenance. A stripped oil drain plug can lead to major…
You change your car’s oil, replace the wiper blades, inspect the brake system and rotate your tires with near-religious zeal. As important as each of these tasks is, there may be a few overlooked maintenance items that you aren’t giving the care they’re due, which could possibly lead to hose failure…
Is your car heating system ready to deal with chilly winter temperatures? While it’s easy to forget about your heater throughout the summer months, you can’t just assume that it will be ready to leap into action once fall starts to give way to colder weather…
You depend on your car to get you where you need to go, so when it doesn’t start, it can be a pretty big problem. There are a number of reasons why this might happen, but one of the most common is that it isn’t getting enough electricity to start the combustion process. You may be tempted to blame the battery but…
Cars are complex machines that depend on an army of sensors to monitor components and provide feedback. The advanced technology in today’s vehicles demands near-constant supervision and management to ensure optimal performance and avoid disaster in many cases. With the push toward self-driving cars, there are…
Your engine’s accessory drive belt is tasked with a lot of responsibility. Not only does it have to connect several spinning pulleys at the front of your motor and keep them moving quickly enough to power important components like the alternator, the water pump and the power steering pump…
We have all passed by some sad sap on the side of the road, hood up, steam rolling out, driver just standing there with a hand on their head wondering how they got there. Usually, we just think to ourselves “phew, glad that isn’t me” as we glance at the gauges just to check and make sure they are all good. While breakdowns happen, there are things you can do…