To prevent your car's tires from blowing out, be sure to check them on a regular basis for proper inflation and for signs of damage. Tires that are not properly inflated can be subject to greater friction with the road. If a tire is not properly aligned, it could experience uneven wear.

This could manifest itself as a bubble on the sidewall or as a cut or scratch on either the inside or outside of the tire. Properly rotating tires can also make sure that they wear evenly. Vehicle owners will ideally have this done at the same time…

Our auto service team at Subaru of Spokane wants to inform residents of the proper tires that should be on your car as the warmer weather approaches. While all-season tires are ideal for most of the year, the summer tires give drivers an advantage this time of year.

The summer tires will help to improve stopping distance, increase handling, and allow the vehicle to ride better when cornering. The grooves you see on the all-season tires are not as important in summer. In fact, the fewer grooves mean more tread coming in contact with the road. 

Packing and keeping a roadside emergency bag in your vehicle will ensure you are not stranded helplessly on the highway with car issues. Road flares should be in the kit and set a few hundred feet up the road from the car so traffic has a chance to slow. Keep at least two flashlights in the vehicle, one to flag for help and the other for making repairs. Be sure you have plenty of spare batteries in your kit.

Tire fix-a-flat can be a lifesaver if your tire is down. It will get the tire up off that rim long…

When you buy a new car or a certified used car, you may be given a choice about warranties. It is important to know what the different types of warranties cover so that you can make an informed choice. A powertrain warranty typically lasts for a longer period of time than a bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Powertrain warranties cover most of what is under the hood. They exclude items of wear, such as the battery. A bumper-to-bumper warranty doesn't actually cover the bumpers, but it covers the exhaust, electronics, audio, heating, cooling, engine, transmission and more. 

When it is raining heavily outside, the water can quickly build up and pond on the roadways. When the roads have a lot of water on them, it is possible for you to hydroplane with your vehicle. However, hydroplaning can be avoided by some safe practices.

When it is raining outside, drive slower than you normally would. Some recommend that drivers go at least five miles under the speed limit in wet road conditions. Don't use the cruise control when its raining. 

Vehicles made after 2007 come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. This system is designed to tell you when the tire pressure in one or more tires is either too high or too low. Both under inflation and over inflation can cause problems, so it is important to pay attention to the warning light.

Just because your tire pressure monitoring system light comes on doesn't mean that you have a puncture, and your tire is about to go flat. Air pressure in the tires can fluctuate. 

Drivers who want their vehicles to run at peak performance should have a thorough understanding of how their battery works. As a general rule, the battery provides power through chemical reactions that occur inside of it. When the temperature gets above 80 degrees or so, it can cause those reactions to happen too quickly.

When the temperature gets below 32 degrees, it is possible for batteries to become sluggish because the chemical reactions occur too slowly. 

When your vehicle is driving, it is moving because of the four tires that are beneath it. Those tires need to be in good condition if the vehicle is going to drive as you want it to. You need to understand how you can tell if your tires need to be replaced or if they are good to be used going into the future.

If you notice that your tires slip as you drive, that they no longer keep you in control of the vehicle like they used to, those tires may have worn smooth and they may need to…

No, a serpentine belt isn't a snake that sits inside your vehicle's motor, however it is named after one. The serpentine belt is a long and winding belt that transfers power from the main drive shaft to many different parts of your motor. The belt can become stretched or worn over time, causing it to slip and for different parts of your vehicle to lose power. If you notice this start to occur, we can replace your serpentine belt at Subaru of Spokane.

The serpentine belt helps many different parts of your car function. From power steering, the…

Every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, your vehicle needs to have its cabin air filter changed as well as the engine air filter. These filters are extremely affordable and are actually the most affordable item of maintenance on your vehicle that you will ever need. These air filters can easily be changed out yourself if you are somewhat handy and knowledgeable when it comes to vehicles, but we here at Subaru of Spokane are more than happy to take care of this for you as well.

Changing the air filters on your vehicle will help your vehicle in a…