My Auto Shop Info Hub

Is a mobile mechanic the same as a workshop?

- 2 mins read

If you’ve got a million things on the go and zero time to make it happen, then the convenience of a mobile mechanic can’t be understated.  In fact, they’re a lifesaver.  If you’re in need of some basic servicing, a mobile mechanic works a treat.  They’re able to work to the exact same standard as […]

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Expert’s guide to handy car tools and accessories

/ - 4 mins read

One of the exciting things about heading out on a road trip is the idea of being in uncharted territory, responding to the conditions and circumstances as they arise.  Part of being a smart driver is having your bases covered if anything goes awry.   You wouldn’t be the first person to be caught out in […]

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Roadtripper’s guide to NZ’s best apps for drivers

/ - 4 mins read

With technology featuring in almost every corner of our lives, from making our love lives easier to getting takeouts, our smartphones are always there to help guide us our decision-making. If you’ve ever been out on the road and found that your phone battery was on red and quickly dwindling in its charge, you’ll no […]

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Do airbags have an expiry date?

- 3 mins read

Thankfully, I’ve never been in a situation where airbags have been needed, although it’s reassuring to know I’m always equipped if there is an accident.   I had a guy bump his SUV up against the back of our little hatchback last week, and it got me thinking, do airbags have any expiry date?   So I […]

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Bad driving habits that are costing you money

- 5 mins read

Without a doubt, everyone has their own special brand when it comes to driving.  From the pedantic to the problematic, we’ve seen it all here at My Auto Shop.   Whether you’re riding the clutch, resting your hand on the gearstick or overloading your vehicle, there’s a limit to how much we can put our cars […]

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What is a mass airflow sensor and how does a maf work?

/ - 4 mins read

To keep your engine running you need air to combine with your fuel, at the set air fuel ratio. This mixture is what gives your engine the potential energy to combust. What amount of air and what amount of fuel though? Well you have a fuel injection map to scale up and down depending on […]

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What is a muffler and what does a muffler do?

/ - 4 mins read

Your internal combustion engine does many interesting things. Most noticeably, it powers your car. To do this it needs fuel and air. When it has combusted the mixture, it needs to get rid of the byproduct – exhaust gas. These exhaust gasses are passed through the exhaust valves when they open, through exhaust pipes to […]

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What’s a crankshaft and how does it work?

/ - 3 mins read

Your car’s wheels spin around, the pistons go up and down. So the question is how you take the lateral movement of your pistons and turn it horizontal to make it rotational energy? The answer is your crankshaft. It takes all the energy from the pistons and sends it to the transmission. This is super […]

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What’s a camshaft and how does it work?

/ - 4 mins read

Your car idles at about 750-900 revolutions per minute, rpm, this requires the valves to open and close 750-900 times a minute. Without the camshaft you wouldn’t have a working engine. It is what allows air into, and exhaust out of, the engine via the intake and exhaust valves. What is a camshaft? What a […]

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What happens if I put the wrong fuel in my car?

/ - 3 mins read

Your car needs a certain kind of fuel to run smoothly. If your car requires premium fuel, that usually means above 95 octane. If it needs diesel then it needs, well, diesel. What it doesn’t need is petrol when it runs on diesel. That is not an ideal situation to be in. DO NOT PUT […]

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