Keeping track of the age and condition of your oil is an essential part of being a car owner. The oil’s job is to keep everything inside the engine lubricated and happy. As the oil is used, its lubricating properties fade, leading to increased wear on the engine components. The new synthetic oils...

No matter at the front or rear, the condition of your brakes is incredibly important, especially on your large, heavy Volvo XC70. On all cars, the brakes will be larger at the front to prevent the rear of the car slowing quicker than the front, causing you to lose control. The reduced force...

Just like the oil in your engine, the fluid in the Haldex all-wheel drive (AWD) system is critical in keeping the components lubricated. Volvo doesn’t specify any maintenance on the Haldex system but higher mileage cars will benefit from a fluid change. Higher mileage Volvos can also suffer from...

The ignition system on your Audi B8 controls one of the three essential functions needed for its engine to run. Failing plugs or coils will produce a weakened spark at best, resulting in poor ignition of the fuel/air mixture in the cylinder. Without the spark, the engine will make significantly...

The transfer case in BMW 4x4 vehicle is what gives the vehicle its namesake capability. The transfer case is responsible for dividing the drive from the engine and sending it to all four wheels, rather than just two. Transfer case designs differ between makes, but all are designed to add another...

PCV valve (also known as air/oil separator) issues are not uncommon in late model Volkswagens. The constant strain of regulating the vacuum in modern engines wears at the internals of the PCV system, leading to a variety of different symptoms of varying degrees of severity. The PCV valve...

It's well known that the BMW N20 and N26 engine have timing chain problems. So much so, that BMW has acknowledged this and issued a recall. Along with this, there's an extended warranty for the issue. If you car is already out of warranty, that leaves you with the options of bringing it to a...

The P3 Volvo has struts in the front suspension and shocks in the rear suspension. Comparatively, the shocks are far easier to replace. The job doesn't require spring removal and can be done relatively quickly with simple hand tools. Drive through a reasonably populated town and you’ll see at...

The rear trailing arms on the BMW E90/E80 are made from stamped steel. These arms are fine for daily driving but can deflect under hard driving, causing dynamic changes in toe. Aluminum trailing arms, available from companies like Revshift, are made from more durable materials and are solid...

A steering system is only as good as the condition of its parts, and every part of that system needs to articulate freely but in a controlled manner. When bushings and joints wear out, tolerances weaken, and the steering feel becomes diluted. For cars designed with high performance driving in...