My Auto Shop Info Hub

Manual transmission vechicle

Should I buy an automatic or a manual?

/ - 2 mins read

There are a lot of pro’s and con’s to each option. Put simply, if you love driving, love being involved in driving, and like to work out both legs – then a manual is for you. If you like to get in your car, turn the key, put it in drive and then switch off […]

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When do I get my car serviced?

/ - 3 mins read

Nearly all modern cars have different service intervals, this is to do with different engine constructions and different engineering requirements. If your car needs a service, or any other work, click here. For example a higher performance European car like a Mercedes, BMW, or Audi, will require more oil changes, filter changes and maintenance to […]

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The importance of engine coolant

/ - 2 mins read

Your engine is called an ‘internal combustion engine’. This means that while running there’s a lot of, well, internal combustion occurring. Thousands of explosions a minute, these create a lot of heat. How do you stop all this heat from ruining your engine? Coolant is pumped through the cooling channels, carrying heat away from the […]

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Is it safe to drive with a broken clutch?

/ - 2 mins read

We recommend you absolutely do not try to drive with a broken clutch. It isn’t a good idea, in fact, it probably won’t even work. Your clutch is what connects the engine to the transmission. Your clutch is what mates and transfers the power from the engine to the wheels. If it isn’t working then […]

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Why do I need to replace my timing belt?

/ - 2 mins read

Your timing belt doesn’t run the clock in your car. It runs a way more important part – your engine. Like many other engine components, it wears out. When your car is running, it’s spinning at extremely high speeds, in a very hot place. I don’t really like running in a very mild place, imagine […]

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What is a manual transmission and how does it work?

/ - 3 mins read

The manual is a sacred thing among car people. More of an annoyance to everyone else. Fair enough, anyone who’s been stuck in rush hour for an hour in a manual will also be question the reason for its existence. Connecting car and driver, in such a raw and engaged way however, is the main […]

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What is an automatic and how does it work?

/ - 2 mins read

In your car you’ll either have a manual transmission, or an automatic transmission. Each of these takes the revolution per minute of the engine, and transfers it to the wheels via the drivetrain. As your engine needs different gears to move the car at different speeds, your transmission determines at what speed the engine moves […]

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A thief breaks into a car... you don't want this!

Expert’s guide to storing valuables in your vehicle

/ - 4 mins read

We’ve all seen the signs telling us not to leave valuables in our cars, but we sometimes assume it’s more probable that something will be taken if we take it to the beach, amusement parks, or on a hike through the woods. There will be occasions when you forget something in the car before leaving, […]

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Merging lanes on the motoroway

Zen guide to merging lanes

/ - 6 mins read

Lane merging might be viewed as a pain in the neck, and not to be too reductive, but sometimes it literally is a pain in the neck having to twist your head to see what’s happening around you. That said, it’s an excellent way to exercise your patience muscle, one of those challenges that leads […]

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Car battery replacement in New Zealand

Expert’s guide to choosing your car battery

/ - 3 mins read

Ah, the ol’ battery change – it sounds so simple doesn’t it? When it comes to getting a new battery in your vehicle, you’re probably focused on two things. The first being the obvious, is this going to mean my car actually starts up? And secondly, how long is it going to last? For a […]

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