We take the motto "Safety First" seriously around here. There's no reason working on a car should be dangerous, but somehow automobile-related structure fires are far too common. The steps you need to take to protect yourself, your shop and your loved ones from fire are simple and inexpensive. Having a fire extinguisher "somewhere around here" won't be enough if disaster strikes. Fire safety is as much or more about what you do to prevent than what you have laying around to fight fires with. It's a much better plan to avoid fire altogether than to have 10 different ways to put one out. A combination of preparation and safe work practices should keep you cool.

Keeping a clean work area is very important to your safety when working on your car. Tripping through your garage is a quick trip to injury. You are well aware of this, so you're sure to clean up after every job. All of your tools are in the box, your spills are cleaned up, and your rags are in the trash can.

Jacking your car up is no trivial matter when it comes to car safety. You're taking thousands of pounds and dangling it over your body while you tinker underneath. I've been lucky enough over the years never to have seen a horrific jack accident, but I have seen a car fall off a jack, and it ain't pretty. The force of the car hitting the ground is enough to get your attention, so much that it takes you a minute to realize you might have damaged part of your car. It's definitely a car safety and repair wake-up call!

Before you even pick up your screwdriver, you should have a safe work environment. Safety is synonymous with planning, meaning that if you plan your work area and task ahead, your safety will be insured. The basics are simple. Attempting to work on your own car without at least a basic level of safety is irresponsible. But like so many small tasks that produce big results, just a small amount of safety-conscious planning can mean you'll never be running inside for the ice pack unless you're trying to keep your lemonade cool.

If you're faced with a breakdown, a little preparedness can go a long way. MacGyver could fix anything with a roll of duct tape and a shoelace. He was a little optimistic, but he was onto something. There are everyday items all around us that can get you out of a pinch, and save you some cash in the process.

These are polyurethane suspension bushings. photo by matt wright, If your rear end seems a little more tumultuous than it used to, you might try changing your diet or taking a little Bean-O before meals. If that doesn't do it, you might need to replace your rear suspension bushings. Your shocks suspend your car softly in the rear, but the points at which the other supports attach to your car's frame in the rear have their own little shocks called bushings. These rubber bushings can wear out, and then they become much less squishy. This can cause your rear end to thump or creak.

If you've been hearing an extra clunk underneath the car, or if it looks like a sparkler at night thanks to a dangling muffler, you might have a broken exhaust hanger. Most exhaust hangers (aka muffler straps) are just thick rubber loops, kind of like really strong rubber bands. Like anything rubber, exhaust hangers eventually wear out, and that's when your muffler starts to suffer.

How to replenish the finish on your car's leather interior and care. Some leather car seats wear like iron, others seem more like paper mache over foam. Regardless, most will show their age over time. Proper maintenance of your leather interior will make it last a long time. Leather needs to be kept moisturized or it will dry and crack. Unfortunately, the guy who had the car before you didn't know this, and your leather interior is showing some serious wear. Thankfully, there is hope. A simple leather replenishing and repair can make them look close to new again.

What Order Do I Tighten My Lug Nuts?

Manufacturer's Site Is that aerosol can a true emergency flat tire repair tool or would it be better used to flag down a trucker via his windshield? Remember, if an auto repair product seems too good to be true, it probably is. Now forget you ever heard that for a minute. Fix-a-Flat is the real deal, and it's the original roadside flat tire helper. It really does temporarily repair tires, like a discount tire fix in a bright yellow can.