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Few things typify the holidays like hitting the road to share the magic of the season with family and friends. But with the road choked with other drivers, winter weather hazards, and long empty stretches of sleepy asphalt, a holiday road trip can quickly turn ugly. Keep the joy meter pegged by taking a few precautions to prepare for your trip. 1.  Get Your Pre-drive ZZZZZs - Drowsy driving is a largely unheralded hazard, taking a back seat to more socially active no-no's like texting and drink...

North American roads cover millions of miles of landscape through habitats that vary from desert and grassland to mountain or forest and everything in-between. While we enjoy the freedom of the open road, we are nearly always crossing through the homes of wild creatures which may venture out on the road at the worst time possible.  Follow these tips to avoid a collision with our natural neighbors. 1.  Pay Attention - It may seem like the most basic of instructions, but in our tech-crazy world t...

Some vehicle owners don’t even realize that there is an intricate electrical system within your car.  It consists of a battery, starter, and alternator.The heart of your vehicle's electrical system is the battery.  Nothing is worse than getting up on that first cold winter morning, going to your car, turning the ignition, and then, nothing. Your car battery is dead, and you are left in the cold.Cold Temperatures Affect Your BatteryIt is widespread for car battery&rs...

The Alignment Center in Anchorage, Ak wants to make sure our customers know the essential auto maintenance prevention steps.  Just like we go to a dentist to have our teeth cleaned and checked, we want to make sure our vehicles are in good shape too. Why waste hard earned money on expensive auto repairs when a quick regular maintenance check at Alignment Center could save you time and money. Here is a quick rundown of regular maintenance items offered at Alignment Center. Wheel alignment- essen...

Driving your car through an automated car wash for a quick suds-up is a quick way to knock the dirt off the outside of your car, but a drive through wash doesn't do a very thorough job.  If you want that new car look and feel for your car, set aside about an hour and follow Alignment Center's step-by-step deep cleaning guide. Before you get started you need to get some supplied together.  Here is what you need:   Automotive soap - Use a brand name wash that is made for cars.  Don't use dish d...

Summer is a great time to head to the movies and what could be more American than heading to the local drive-in to take in a movie while enjoying a piece of classic Americana?  But don't head to the drive-in unprepared.  Follow these quick tips to make the most of your viewing experience. 1. Check Your Battery - Drive-in theaters these days pipe the audio through your car stereo and you won't be able to leave your engine running for a two hour plus cinematic experience.  Your battery will be do...

Alaska is one of the most naturally beautiful places on the planet and a great place to explore from your recreational vehicle (RV).  Our incredible state can also be a bit of a challenge, offering rough terrain and remote destinations with little in the way of modern comforts.  That's why Alignment Center suggests these RV tips with the great state of Alaska in mind:   1.  Check Your Tires - Unlike your car tires, RV tires have to should a massive amount of weight and a rather top heavy vehicl...

You notice that suddenly your vehicle seems to be getting worse gas mileage than it did awhile back. Why? What happened? Like with most things on your vehicle, there can be numerous problems at the root of poor fuel economy. Let’s start with the simple ones and work our way to the more complicated issues: Tires: This one’s easy. Underinflated tires mean more rolling resistance (think about riding a bike with a low tire), and more rolling resistance means poorer fuel economy. Check your tire ...

So you got a new set of wheels – congratulations! You’re going to want to hang onto it as long as possible, so you’ll want to keep it maintained as well as you can. Here are some suggestions:First, read the owner’s manual carefully and stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations for service intervals. There are certain things that are critical enough that failure to adhere to recommendations can void a new car warranty. Don’t let that happen!For instance, just...

In the old days, a tune-up was necessary about every 35,000 miles. It would usually consist of setting the ignition timing, replacing the mechanical breaker points in the ignition, cleaning and adjusting the carburetor and replacing the plug wires and spark plugs. Today, of course, the carburetor’s job is done by fuel injection and the ignition timing and spark are controlled by the engine computer. Few vehicles still have plug wires anymore either, as the distributor was replaced by the compu...