Knowing when to change transmission fluid in your car varies between makes and models, so check your car manual to get an idea of when to change the fluid. Some cars will claim that the transmission fluid is good throughout the entire life of the car. If this is the case, you should still check on the fluid at least once or twice per year to be safe.

Testing Your Transmission Fluid

Testing your car’s transmission fluid is quite easy. New or good fluid should have a reddish-pink hue when blotted on a paper towel. If the fluid is tinged brown, it is a sign that you should change the fluid. Compare your car’s transmission fluid to new fluid on a paper towel. If the two colors seem exceptionally different, then you should probably change the fluid. You should also change the transmission fluid if it has a burnt smell.

Every car is different, so it is important to read the owner’s manual carefully before doing any maintenance on your car. If your transmission has a fluid dipstick, try testing the fluid levels about once per month to make sure you are not running low. You should also have the fluid tested every time you take your car to the mechanic for a tune-up.  Add fluid when levels are low and completely replace the fluid when there is a change in color or smell.

Get Your Transmission Fluid Tested and Replaced

If you would like to get your car’s transmission fluid tested or changed, TalkLocal can find a local, high-quality mechanic for you. We’ll connect you with up to three auto repair shops in your area, saving you the hassle of finding one yourself.

Vehicle airbags are an essential part of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), and can save lives in the event of a collision. If the SRS in your car is malfunctioning, you will want to get it checked out by professional as soon as possible. All modern vehicles are designed to signal on the airbag light when there is a problem with the airbag system. The light is actually triggered by a trouble code that is set off at a sign of airbag malfunction.

Why Is Airbag Light On?

If your vehicle airbag light has turned on, it is important to have it examined by a trained technician. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself.  The airbag system is very sensitive and serious injury can occur if handled incorrectly.

Most technicians can diagnose the problem by scanning the trouble code stored in the vehicle’s computer. A scanning device can retrieve the code and diagnose the problem. The trained technician can then safely fix the problem.

Keep in mind that airbags are designed to deploy only once. You will need to replace the airbags if they have previously deployed.

Airbags are designed to save lives. If you notice that your airbag light has turned on, it is likely that the airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident. Make sure to get your vehicle checked out immediately to ensure the safety of you and your passengers.

Find A Quality Mechanic

If you are looking for a certified auto repair technician in your area, you should try TalkLocal. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three qualified auto repair professionals who are available when you need them. Just tell us your problem, location, and availability, and we’ll have you speaking to a local professional in just minutes.

If you have recently been stuck on the side of the road in soaring temperatures with an overheating car, you may be wondering why your car only overheats when driving. You may have let it idle for 10 minutes in the driveway before you left and yet here you are a few miles away with a steaming vehicle.

There are two areas on your vehicle that are likely the cause of your problem, though there are other reasons for a car to overheat that you may need to consider as well.

Engine Oil

Oil’s purpose is to lubricate all of the mechanisms to make sure there is as little friction as possible. Friction causes heat, and if your car is low on oil, or experiencing oil sludge, it may overheat due to excess friction.

Radiator

This system is designed specifically for cooling down your engine. If your car oil is full, your problem is likely here. Check that there is water by removing the radiator cap. To check for circulation, start the vehicle with the cap off and watch for water movement. If it is not moving, certain mechanisms such as the radiator fan, water pump, and thermostat could be the culprit. Debris or dirt could be clogging any one of them and will need to be cleared away.

Time To Call A Mechanic

To put it simply, if any one of these systems isn’t functioning, you may not notice problems while idling because idling does not put much strain on the engine. Driving does.

If you have checked all of your car’s cooling systems and, still, your car only overheats when driving, it might be time to call a professional. Thankfully, TalkLocal can hook you up with a well qualified auto mechanic in your area. The best part is that our service is completely free.  We can have you speaking to a professional close to your area in no time at all.

Windshield wipers are arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment on your vehicle. You might be able to live without air conditioning, but you simply cannot drive if you can’t see through the windshield. Just think how crippling it is when your windshield wipers are damaged or won’t stop running.

Like many other parts of your vehicle, windshield wipers require regular maintenance. Unfortunately, many people wait until it is too late to ask themselves, ‘When should I change my windshield wipers?’

When To Change Your Windshield Wipers

Most wiper manufacturers will suggest replacing them once a year, though, some may say every six months. It is important to note what time of year you are replacing the blades and the climate in which you live.

If you have mild summers but cold winters and are replacing the blades before summer, you should be fine for a year. Here are some things to consider:

Finding Someone To Install Your Windshield Wipers

If you are unsure about your current blades, or you are still lost when it comes to installing some new ones, try contacting a local professional mechanic. He or she can explain the benefits of a particular type of blade and will tell you how long they should last in your specific climate.

The best way to get in touch with a local professional is through TalkLocal. We’ll match you with the perfect mechanic quickly, easily and for free.

Motorcycle chain replacement can get pricey, since good chains are not cheap. If you find yourself needing a motorcycle chain replaced, you want to make sure you know what you’re doing and how to do it. The following are step-by-step instructions for motorcycle chain replacement:

Motorcycle Chain Replacement

1. Use a stable jack stand to lift the rear tire off of the ground. Make sure the jack is firm and steady.

2. Use a crescent wrench to remove the lug nut on the rear tire. Also, pull off the square-shaped axel spacer.

3. Softly use a hammer to tap on the lug bolt so you can push it out slowly. When you can’t tap anymore, pull it out on the other side. You may use a glove or wash rag to get a better grip and avoid getting grease on your hands.

4. Repeat for the other square axel spacer.

5. There is a “master link” on the chain link. It is slightly thicker than the other links and it has a clip on its side. Find this link, remove the clip, and pull the link apart. Then, you can remove the entire chain.

6. Put your new chain on the sprocket of the tire and slowly guide it around the inner sprocket.

7. Connect the new chain and put the new clip on the master link.

8. Align the tire again.

9. Return the square axel spacer and lug bolt by placing the spacer on the side of the tire and pressing the lug bolt back through the axel area.

10. Put the second spacer around the axel bolt so you can replace the axel nut.

11. Use a crescent wrench to tighten.

Call A Professional For Help

You have now replaced your motorcycle chain. If you need help finding professionals in motorcycle chain replacement, try using TalkLocal. Our state-of-the-art system connects you automatically to the auto repair professionals you need to get you back to riding down a country road with the wind at your back.

If something has recently gone wrong with your car and you purchased a power train warranty, you may be wondering just what is the power train? In short, as the name implies, the power train is any part of the system that makes your car go and gives it power. This is not to be confused with power options, such as power locks or windows. Instead, it includes:

If you have a power train warranty and any of these parts have stopped working on your vehicle, you should be entitled to free repairs. Depending on the terms of your warranty, you may have a deductible you must first meet.

This type of warranty is generally the most inexpensive to obtain. While it only covers these basic items, a transmission alone can be a very costly expense should you need to replace it. Depending on the age of your vehicle, it may certainly be worth the money you spend on the warranty. It will at least provide you peace of mind that you will always have a reliable vehicle.

If you believe any of these pieces have stopped operating correctly and would like to have your warranty provider pay out, you will typically have to take your vehicle to a reputable mechanic. A skilled mechanic won’t look at you quizzically and ask “What is the power train?”

Often, warranty providers need proof from one of these professionals. Mechanics can confirm if a part of the power train is at fault. This might be a pain, but at least you will be covered in the long run.

But, There Are So Many Mechanics To Choose From!

The best way to find a local professional mechanic in your area is through TalkLocal’s free service. We will connect you quickly and easily to someone who can help you. You’ll be talking to someone in your area within 90 seconds of using our free search engine.

If you’re looking to replace the oil in your car, you are certainly doing it a big favor. Low car oil can cause your vehicle to overheat. Your transmission can also seize up. These issues will bring your auto repair expenses from double to triple digits in no time. That is why it is important to maintain your vehicle with the right oil.

You could probably ask ‘Which car oil is best?’ in five different mechanic shops and get five different answers, depending on the type of oil they primarily sell. Car junkies all have their own opinions, as well. With a little insight into the world of car oil, you can make a more informed decision on your own about which car oil is best for your car.

First:

Types of Oil:

Another thing to consider is the thickness — or “viscosity” — of the oil. Older vehicles may need 5W-30, while a new vehicle needs 10W-30. These numbers indicate how thick or thin the oil will be.

Professionals Can Always Help

If the age-old question ‘Which car oil is best?’ still stumps you, check with a professional. TalkLocal can hook you up with a qualified mechanic to not only find the right oil for your car, but change it for you, too.

Windshield wipers are the devices attached to the front window screen of your car.  They remove rain, debris, and loose snow from the windshield.  These wipers are a very important part of your car because they keep the visual area for you clear while you are driving.  When your windshield wiper blades won’t turn off they can become annoying.  Not only do you look ridiculous driving down the road, but it exhausts your car battery.  Windshield wipers also make a lot of noise if they are constantly moving and there is too much friction on the windshield.

Potential Reasons

1)     Fuse malfunction

2)     Park switch failed

3)     Loose cable

Why Windshield Wiper Blades Won’t Turn Off

There is a possibility that the fuse in your car is malfunctioning.  The fuse is the safety device that breaks the electric circuit if it exceeds the safe level.  If your fuse blows then there will be no way to stop the electricity from reaching the windshield wipers.  This will cause your wipers to constantly keep going.  You will need to install a completely new fuse because there is no way to repair a blown fuse. You can purchase a new windshield wiper fuse and have it shipped overnight from Amazon starting at $1.99.

If this does not stop your windshield wipers from going your park switch may be failing.  This device is located in the wiper motor.  When the park switch fails the car’s battery does not recognize that the car is off and not running.  This is the reason a current is still sent to the wipers and they keep running.  The replacement piece for this should cost about $80. You can purchase a new windshield wiper motor and have it shipped overnight from Amazon starting at $36.98

In some cases the negative cable could have come loose at the post.  You can easily tighten it and the wiper problem should be resolved.  If any wires in the wiper system have become loose or have a bad connection, then your wipers will immediately react.  You should examine the entire wiring system to make sure nothing is wrong.

Additional Help

If you have more questions about your windshield wipers not stopping you should try to talk to a professional so that you can get the best help possible.  The easiest, fastest way to get in contact with reliable local auto repair shops is to use Seva Call. We will connect you with up to three mechanics in your area who will be available to help you when you need them.

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The temperature gauge measures the temperature of your car’s engine coolant. It is important to take note of this gauge because it will tell you if your engine is overheating. Typically, the gauge should read “cold” when you start the car and get warmer as you drive.

Why is Temperature Gauge High?

1. You have lost coolant. This may mean a small leak or gradual evaporation. Check your engine to make sure you have enough coolant and add more if necessary.

2. The thermostat is broken. A malfunctioning thermostat may not be letting coolant into the engine.

3. There is a water pump or a water pump gasket failure. This failure may cause the engine to overheat.

If you notice the temperature gauge is reading higher than average, and it is not particularly hot outside, you should have your car’s cooling system checked out as soon as possible. If the temperature warning light comes on or the gauge reads higher than average while driving, you should safely pull over to the side of the road. It is likely that your car’s engine is overheating and further driving may cause severe engine damage.

You can turn on your car’s heater to cool down the engine as you pull over. If it is hot outside, you can also roll down the windows and direct the air vents away from passengers. This is a quick way to cool down the engine as you look for a place to pull over to check the engine’s coolant and water levels. You should never open a hot radiator. If needed, you can add water through the overflow tank.

Additional Help

It is important to seek professional help to repair a malfunctioning cooling system. TalkLocal is the place to go for reliable local auto-repair professionals! Just tell us what the issue is, and we will connect you with up to three professionals in just minutes.

Your transponder key for your car makes your driving experience a lot easier.  Most can remotely unlock and lock your car, and some transponders offer that ability to open your trunk or even start your engine!  They’re also extremely important for those vehicles with key-less entry and ignition.  However, in the rare case that your transponder key no longer works, it can become a huge inconvenience.  Fortunately, transponder keys are fairly simple and there are really only a couple of issues to troubleshoot.

Transponder Key Not Working? Check the battery

Since the transponder needs to be able to emit a certain frequency in order to work, it needs to have a requisite amount of electrical power.  If the power is low, the transponder may emit a signal of a different frequency that your car does not recognize, and, therefore, will not react.  You may want to replace the battery in the transponder; contact your local dealer or manufacturer to find the necessary type of replacement battery.

Chip Damage

For one reason or another, your transponder chip may have become damaged and now is no longer working.  If this is the case, you may need to actually buy a new transponder key from your dealer.  The main reason you’ll want to talk to your dealer (even though it may be more expensive than going to a local locksmith) is because they can deactivate your old key so it will no longer give any unauthorized person access to your car.

 Additional Help

You should call your dealership as soon as possible so that you can get your transponder key replaced.  Even though it may be expensive, remember that your transponder key is extremely important for adding another layer of security to your car.  However, if you have any other car problems or troubles, TalkLocal can help you find a high quality local auto-repair shop to take care of your problem within minutes!