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Question My friend just had a very expensive transmission repair.  How can I avoid transmission trouble? Answer Next to your engine, your transmission is the most expensive component in your vehicle – so you want to do all you can to avoid transmission repairs. You may have noticed a trend of engines becoming more and Read more...

We've all heard a car or truck in our New Brunswick neighborhoods that needs a new muffler. But there's more to the exhaust system than just the muffler. The exhaust system has three main functions: Safely get hot exhaust gas from the engine out the tailpipe Treat the exhaust to remove harmful pollutants Muffle the Read more...

Your brakes are extremely important as you drive around Somerset, NJ. Having good brakes just keeps you out of trouble. You'll want to carefully maintain your brakes. With disc brakes, brake pads rub on a disc – or rotor – to slow the wheels. The brake pads are attached to a caliper that squeezes the Read more...

You’ve probably seen auto parts delivery trucks in Somerset making their rounds. Every part has a story behind it. Unfortunately, some of the stories are tales of repairs that could have been prevented. One stop may be to deliver an engine air filter and a mass air flow sensor for a customer’s pick-up. His service Read more...

Let's debunk some of the myths about diesel powered vehicles. 1. Diesel Burns Dirty This was true years ago. Since 2006, however, U.S. diesel vehicles have been required by law to use ultra-low-sulfur diesel or USLD. Modern diesels are soot-free and have a smaller carbon footprint. 2. Diesels Are Sluggish Not any more. They are Read more...

Question: What is a differential and why do Somerset drivers need to have it serviced? Restas Car Care & Rental Answer: First of all – your vehicle does have a differential. If it's a rear wheel drive, your differential is on the back. If it's front wheel drive, your differential is built into your transaxle Read more...

As your engine runs, the intake valves need to open up to allow air into the engine. They remain closed while the air and fuel is compressed and ignited, powering the piston. Then the exhaust valves open to release the exhaust. This all has to be timed very precisely. It is the job of the Read more...

Question: What's the harm in putting off replacing my engine air filter a little longer? Restas Car Care & Rental Answer: That's a fair question from Somerset drivers because the harm takes a while to manifest. Let's take a small step back and talk about what an engine air filter does. The air all around Read more...

Question: I need new tires. How do I know which tires to get? Restas Car Care & Rental Answer: Let's look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: NJ weather conditions, New Brunswick terrain, Somerset temperatures, etc. Most Read more...

Today's 
Restas Car Care & Rental post contains a quick overview of the fuel system. It starts with the fuel tank. The fuel pump is located inside the tank and pumps fuel out to the engine. Somewhere along the way is a fuel filter whose job is to filter out dirt before it hits the Read more...