I NEED All Wheel Drive (Pros and Cons of AWD)
October 20, 2024
So winter has arrived and you don't feel confident in how your 2-wheel drive vehicle does in the snow and ice. You envy all those people with all-wheel-drive (AWD) and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) cars, trucks and SUVs. You start thinking, "I need one of those. I'll be able to go anywhere without any w... More
Give it the Boot (Ball Joint Boot Replacement)
October 13, 2024
Your vehicle may be wearing boots right now and you might not even know it. They're called ball joint boots. They're actually protective, flexible things that protect parts of your suspension (called ball joints) from all the hazards the road can fling at them. If one of those ball joint boots... More
A Non-Starter (Alternator Problems in Cold Weather)
October 6, 2024
As the temperatures dip, we all know there could be problems starting our vehicles. After all, batteries can grow old and not hold a charge as well as when they were newer. Or starters can go bad. But there's one more component to keep an especially sharp eye on during winter: your alternator. T... More
Procrastination Prevention in Mesa
September 29, 2024
Every one of us has a little procrastinator inside us. Some put off getting our teeth cleaned. Others put off answering our emails. Yet others put off calling friends and family (sorry, Uncle Joe). And there are those of us who put off getting our vehicle's service done, whether it's a repair or ... More
(Timing Belt)
September 22, 2024
You may have heard about an important part of your vehicle's engine called a timing belt, and many know that if that belt breaks, it can cause some very serious engine problems. Not all vehicles have them, and the ones that do generally have smaller engines. The timing belt keeps the engine sy... More
Keeping Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)
September 15, 2024
No matter what the temperature is outside, it's important for your vehicle's engine to remain cool, calm, and collected. Well, cool, anyway. If your vehicle has a gasoline engine, it's powered by a bunch of explosions involving spark plugs, pistons, gasoline, and air. And the by-product of all ... More
Is Your Mesa Driving Severe?
September 8, 2024
People near Mesa, AZ, often ask Tuffy Mesa how often they should have a particular service done. It's a great thing to ask. You can look at your owner's manual or have your Mesa, AZ, service advisor at Tuffy Mesa look up your vehicle in a service database. What you find is often a surprise to peo... More
Differential Service in Mesa, AZ - What You Need to Know
September 1, 2024
Scratching your head? Don't worry, if you don't know what a differential is you will in a moment. That fact is that if you drive a car anywhere in Mesa, AZ, you have a differential. Whether your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, you have a differential. Some Me... More
TCB your PCV (PCV Valve Replacement)
August 25, 2024
Your gasoline engine goes through some exhausting work. Yes, it's truly exhausting, as in: it produces exhaust! And when your engine starts behaving like it's exhausted, such as running poorly or getting lousy fuel economy, the trouble may be something called a PCV valve. Did you know it's a ser... More
Them's the Brakes (Brake Rotor Resurfacing)
August 18, 2024
Your vehicle's brakes wear out. It's inevitable. You'll notice it when you step on the brake pedal and feel it harder to stop, or there's vibration when you are braking. Most modern vehicles have disc brakes that each use a brake pad that press on a disc (disc brakes!) called a rotor. The fric... More