Blog

There is a myriad of roadside emergency kits on the market today all designed to prepare you for any driving situation or travel disaster. When putting together a basic kit, be sure to include jumper cables, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and triangle reflectors and roadside flares. Additional items that might prove helpful include a blanket, bottled water, tools, survival essentials such as matches and emergency radio, extra antifreeze and motor oil, and tire repair items.

The auto and emergency preparedness experts and enthusiasts at Piazza Honda of Springfield are eager to...

The biggest sign that there's a problem with your brake pedal is a spongy feeling when you press against it with your foot. The soft feel is an important sign that something might be seriously wrong with your brake pad. There can be a lot of reasons for it, and they should all be addressed seriously.

A soft brake can be a sign that your brake line is damaged. This can be due to rust forming on steel parts. A soft brake can also signal that there's a common problem like air in the brake line. This interferes…

To help you understand how your car works, we often provide useful posts. Today, we want to inform you about your auto's gaskets.

Every automobile features gaskets, and most of those are found in and around the vehicle's engine. Gaskets form a seal between two surfaces, and they prevent liquid and gas leakage. Typical gaskets include the head gasket, the intake manifold gasket, and the exhaust manifold gasket. Made of thin, layered steel, rubber or copper, gaskets experience wear and aging, and they will eventually require replacement. While pinpointing a mileage limit on gaskets...

Replacing a flat tire can seem like an intimidating task, but it doesn't have to be if you are prepared for the eventuality of having a flat tire while driving down the road. If you have the correct tools and have practiced changing a tire prior to it actually happening, you can be confident in your ability to change a tire.

To practice, make sure you have the proper items: a spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench. Loosen the lugs on the wheel slightly and then use the jack to lift the car. Remove the lug nuts…

At Piazza Honda of Springfield, car shoppers sometimes ask us about the difference between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive transmissions. We are happy to share our knowledge in this brief post.

In a front-wheel drive car, the transmission transfers the engine's power to the front wheels, which then pull the car. This setup puts most of the car's weight over the front tires. As a result, FWD cars produce good traction on rain or snow. In fact, families can find reliable winter transportation in a front-wheel drive car with snow tires.

All cars and trucks require oil to work and function properly. While visiting your local automotive store, you may have noticed oil labeled synthetic next to conventional oil on the shelf. Have you ever wondered what makes synthetic oil different from conventional oil?

Synthetic oil comes from the ground like conventional oil, but that's where what's the same about them ends. Instead of being refined, synthetic oil is distilled. The purifying process for leaves synthetic oil in a state where it can be designed for particular uses. For instance, it can be customized to meet the...

When you're driving a vehicle, an important component is a braking system. One of the parts of this system is brake fluid. This fluid is important to have in the vehicle because it allows the different parts to stay lubricated and moving in a smooth manner so that you can stop the vehicle.

Brake fluid moves through the system lines and delivers force when you depress the brake pad. This force is sent to each of the brake rotors and the wheels. If there are issues with the brake lines, then the fluid can leak out of the vehicle…

Almost everyone has been told to change their oil at the 3000 miles mark. For years, it's been go-to for many people. Many people have always changed their oil at this point -- but what no one tells you now is that 3,000 miles are far too soon.

With the many advancements in oil and car technology, newer cars can often go twice as far without needing an oil change. While it is, of course, always best to consult your owner's manual -- or, alternatively, consult with your local dealer. So if the 3,000 miles myth is moot…

If you are going anywhere in your car, you should always do a pre-check. Check your fluids, your tire pressure, and make sure that you have plenty of gas. There is nothing worse than running out of gas or getting a flat tire because you just didn't take the time to do your pre-check before you left. A little bit of maintenance goes a long way.

Before you head out for your trip be sure to bring your vehicle to us here at Piazza Honda of Springfield so that we can get your vehicle tuned up and ready to…