Kimberlea Buczeke
Kimberlea Buczeke is an automotive expert at RepairPal, the leading online source of auto repair resources and estimates. With many ASE Master certified mechanics on staff who have decades of experience, RepairPal knows all the fine points of car repair.
Posts by Kimberlea Buczeke
Have you ever wished you could predict the true cost of owning a car before making the final investment? Or maybe you’re just curious if your spouse’s claim that the family station wagon is a money pit is valid? RepairPal’s newest tool gives consumers a way to compare vehicles based on a calculated “score” for the car in question. .
Have you ever wished you could predict the true cost of owning a car before making the final investment? Or maybe you’re just curious if your spouse’s claim that the family station wagon is a money pit is valid? RepairPal’s newest tool gives consumers a way to compare vehicles based on a calculated “score” for the car in question. .
In 1989, the California Air Resources Board created the Partial Zero-emissions Vehicle (PZEV) category. This was at the time more stringent than the federal laws concerning emissions.
In 1989, the California Air Resources Board created the Partial Zero-emissions Vehicle (PZEV) category. This was at the time more stringent than the federal laws concerning emissions.
Image Courtesy of Shutterstock We’ve all been there. After a long day, you walk up to your car in a crowded parking garage and try to unlock it – except, instead of unlocking your car, you pushed the panic button.
Image Courtesy of Shutterstock We’ve all been there. After a long day, you walk up to your car in a crowded parking garage and try to unlock it – except, instead of unlocking your car, you pushed the panic button.
For those lucky few whose tire repairs required a patch or plug rather than a complete replacement, you might be wondering "How long is this plug/patch going to last me?" Well good news for you, RepairPal has the answers you need. First off, it's important to understand whether your puncture needs a patch, plug, or to be replaced completely.
For those lucky few whose tire repairs required a patch or plug rather than a complete replacement, you might be wondering "How long is this plug/patch going to last me?" Well good news for you, RepairPal has the answers you need. First off, it's important to understand whether your puncture needs a patch, plug, or to be replaced completely.
Image Courtesy of Free Great Images Are you in the process of selling your vehicle, or maybe purchasing a new one? It sounds like you might need information on transferring the title of the vehicle. Depending on what state you live in, this process can be simple, or a bit more work to complete correctly.
Image Courtesy of Free Great Images Are you in the process of selling your vehicle, or maybe purchasing a new one? It sounds like you might need information on transferring the title of the vehicle. Depending on what state you live in, this process can be simple, or a bit more work to complete correctly.
Cruise control is a great feature on modern cars – especially for long road trips. You can turn it on, set your preferred speed, (under the speed limit, right?) and just cruise.
Cruise control is a great feature on modern cars – especially for long road trips. You can turn it on, set your preferred speed, (under the speed limit, right?) and just cruise.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Are you faced with car trouble and need to get a look under the hood? Follow our basic steps to figuring out to open your car’s hood. Many cars require you to “pop” the hood from the inside of the vehicle first.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Are you faced with car trouble and need to get a look under the hood? Follow our basic steps to figuring out to open your car’s hood. Many cars require you to “pop” the hood from the inside of the vehicle first.
What Are Brake Rotors and How Do They Work? Brake rotors are what give ‘disc brakes’ their name. They rotate with the wheel, and, when you press the brakes, they are squeezed from both sides by brake pads, forcing the wheel to stop.
What Are Brake Rotors and How Do They Work? Brake rotors are what give ‘disc brakes’ their name. They rotate with the wheel, and, when you press the brakes, they are squeezed from both sides by brake pads, forcing the wheel to stop.
Image Courtesy of Flickr (warrenski) Tire bubbles are a common issue among drivers. And though it may seem like going for a drive with a bubble in your tire isn't a huge deal, it can be extremely dangerous.
Image Courtesy of Flickr (warrenski) Tire bubbles are a common issue among drivers. And though it may seem like going for a drive with a bubble in your tire isn't a huge deal, it can be extremely dangerous.
Image Courtesy of Pixabay So you start your vehicle, prepare to drive, and realize your automatic transmission is stuck in Park. What now? While this is very alarming and can mean expensive repairs and diagnostics, depending on the vehicle, there may be something you can do about it right now.
Image Courtesy of Pixabay So you start your vehicle, prepare to drive, and realize your automatic transmission is stuck in Park. What now? While this is very alarming and can mean expensive repairs and diagnostics, depending on the vehicle, there may be something you can do about it right now.
A seldom considered part of any vehicle, the automotive vanity mirror rests on the upper side of the sun visor, or in the back of the headrest. They can be lighted, or not, or come with a protective cover, which is often used to retain notes, pictures, or anything else that fits in a car or truck vanity mirror cover.
A seldom considered part of any vehicle, the automotive vanity mirror rests on the upper side of the sun visor, or in the back of the headrest. They can be lighted, or not, or come with a protective cover, which is often used to retain notes, pictures, or anything else that fits in a car or truck vanity mirror cover.
One of the safety devices installed on manual transmission vehicles prevents the driver from starting the vehicle when the clutch pedal is not pressed is the Clutch Safety Switch. This component is called the clutch safety switch, or simply, clutch switch.
One of the safety devices installed on manual transmission vehicles prevents the driver from starting the vehicle when the clutch pedal is not pressed is the Clutch Safety Switch. This component is called the clutch safety switch, or simply, clutch switch.
The AdvanceTrac system is a Ford proprietary stability control and traction control system, designed to inspire confidence in operating the vehicle, without regard to road conditions. The AdvanceTrac warning light is there to tell you, the driver, that the AdvanceTrac system is negotiating a risky situation, and once the system stops blinking, the vehicle has recovered from a hazard.
The AdvanceTrac system is a Ford proprietary stability control and traction control system, designed to inspire confidence in operating the vehicle, without regard to road conditions. The AdvanceTrac warning light is there to tell you, the driver, that the AdvanceTrac system is negotiating a risky situation, and once the system stops blinking, the vehicle has recovered from a hazard.
The Society of Automotive Engineers was created over 100 years ago to connect automotive engineers with each other, and quality information. This means nearly nothing to most people until they see SAE written on a bottle of oil, or on a tool.
The Society of Automotive Engineers was created over 100 years ago to connect automotive engineers with each other, and quality information. This means nearly nothing to most people until they see SAE written on a bottle of oil, or on a tool.
Before purchasing a used vehicle, there are a few steps that every buyer should take to protect themselves from fraudulent sellers. Besides having a technician of your choosing perform a complete inspection of the vehicle, it is imperative that the vehicle is screened by vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate.
Before purchasing a used vehicle, there are a few steps that every buyer should take to protect themselves from fraudulent sellers. Besides having a technician of your choosing perform a complete inspection of the vehicle, it is imperative that the vehicle is screened by vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate.