Here in Florida, there is almost always a leak under your car – moisture from your air conditioner. However, you may have noticed stairs in your neighbor’s driveway – not so good.

Finding that fluid which is leaking from your car can be alarming. It is possible fluid leaking from your car could be normal, but other times leaking fluids are a symptom of a bigger problem with your vehicle. Before you panic, there are two questions you need to ask: 1) “Where is the fluid coming from?” and 2) “What does the fluid look like?”What is leaking from my car?

When determining where the fluid is coming from, first find out for certain whether the fluid is even coming for your vehicle and not the vehicle parked in the space before you. If you are unsure, just get down and take a good look under the car with a flashlight or your cell phone.

Once you have determined that the leak is indeed coming from your vehicle, stick a piece of white paper or cardboard under the leak to catch some of the fluid and determine its color. Depending on the color, the fluid could be several different things:

Red or Pink: Red or pink fluid is usually either transmission fluid or power steering fluid. You do not want these to leak and you need to take your car to the shop to have a hole sealed.

Orange: Orange fluid can either mean that rust is in your radiator is making your antifreeze or condensation appear orange or your car is leaking old transmission fluid. Neither one is a great sign, and you shouldn’t ignore orange fluid.

Yellow: Yellow fluid is usually coolant. Using the incorrect type of coolant for your radiator can make leaks more likely.

Brown: Dark brown fluid can come from several areas in your vehicle. Brake fluid is usually dark brown and so is aging motor oil. Light brown fluid is usually motor oil. In either case, you should see a mechanic.

Clear: This is the only one that is usually nothing to worry about – clear fluid is usually just condensation from your air condition system and it is completely normal!

This list covers most colors you will see leaking from your vehicle, but here is a big idea: If the fluid isn’t clear, you aren’t in the clear. Head to the shop right away!

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.

It used to be that changing spark plugs was a pretty simple thing to do, and car enthusiasts would change them themselves without much trouble. Now it  has gotten more complicated. Many of today’s cars have aluminum cylinder heads, coil on plug ignition systems and sometimes very hard to reach spark plugs. This does not, however, mean that this job is no longer possible for the novice mechanic. You just need a little more information first.

Should You Replace Spark Plugs Yourself?

Do It Yourself spark plug replacement is actually a pretty easy job that most people can do themselves. Keep in mind though that there are some cars that have the spark plugs in VERY hard to reach places.

The good news is that most newer cars (built after 2000) have spark plugs that are pretty easy to get to. Be sure to check your owners manual or service manual first so you know what you are getting into. After you do that there are just a few things that are absolutely essential to remember.

To troubleshoot, repair and maintain your vehicle, you’ll need diagnostic and repair information that is specific to your car or truck. With full manuals for over 30,000 vehicles online, you will find an exact match for your vehicle’s year, make and model.

Besides being cheaper than a factory manual, they also offer step by step repair instructions and detailed diagrams beyond what is found in most printed manuals. Click here for a sample of their diagnostic and repair information.

Tools Needed for Spark Plug Replacement

Changing spark plugs is a simple job which just requires a few basic tools. As mentioned above, use a compressed air duster to blow off dirt and debris around the cylinders before spark plug replacement. You should also have a spark park gap tool in case you need to adjust the gap between the electrodes.

Be sure that you have a spark plug socket. It is a socket with a rubber insert to keep the spark plug from breaking during installation and removal.

If you have a coil-on-plug system, then you will probably need either a small socket wrench or a screwdriver as most of them will be bolted on.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.