If you have a car, truck or sport-utility vehicle that has a four-wheel-drive function, then your vehicle has a transfer case. We here at Fox Grand Traverse Lincoln want you to know what a transfer case is, how it works and why it's important.

All vehicles, even those with four-wheel drive, only use either the front or rear wheels for normal driving. For those with four-wheel drive, some of the energy needs to be transferred from either the front or back wheels to the other two wheels so all four can move at once. That's where the transfer…

If you've never owned a vehicle before, then you might not be clear about what kind of warranty coverage you have. Most manufacturers provide powertrain coverage for your engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshaft, etc. This coverage generally lasts for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Bumper-to-bumper coverage is beneficial if you're looking to have service completed on areas of your vehicle that are somewhere between your two bumpers. In essence, you can reap the benefits of coverage for most repairs made to your air conditioning, heat, safety features

If you're new to owning a vehicle or just haven't had many problems on the vehicles that you've had, you might not know all of the potential signs of exhaust and muffler problems. Knowing when you might have a problem with your exhaust system can help you give yourself a heads-up to potential problems with your vehicle that might be in the works. It's always better to fix things sooner rather than later, and watching for these signs can help you take your vehicle into the mechanic sooner.

When you notice that you tailpipe or entire…

A device that is part of your vehicle’s drivetrain design, a transfer case will split power from your engine to be directed over to the front and rear axles of your automobile when you have a four wheel drive model. This transfer case can be found directly behind your transmission, with the front and rear drive shafts connected to it. It’s physical design typically includes a series of gears / a chain drive system.

A transfer case has the potential to change between a two wheel drive function and four wheel drive high range and low range. 

Jumper cables can be a vital tool for drivers to have in their trunks for an emergency, but if you don't use them correctly, you might invite an entirely different kind of trouble.

To use jumper cables safely, you must first make sure that both vehicles' ignitions are switched off. Now, you can safely put the first red clamp onto the positive end of the working battery; this will be larger than the negative terminal. Next, clamp the other red cable onto the dead battery's positive end and the first black clip next to it on the negative…

Whether you will drive around Traverse City or far from here this winter, we should discuss your tire choice. After all, we are tire experts at Fox Grand Traverse Lincoln.

Commonly, you will see all-season tires and winter tires on local vehicles. All-season tires handle a wide spectrum of road conditions sufficiently. They even displace slush, but these tires are insufficient for gaining traction on snow and ice. Even if your vehicle features all-wheel drive, you need the enhanced traction provided by winter tires. These tires help your AWD system grip slick surfaces...

If you hear a squeaking sound when you brake, you shouldn't wait until it's too late. Squeaky brakes are one sign that you need to get your vehicle into the mechanic so that they can change the brake pads and possible the rotors before you have even bigger problems. At Fox Grand Traverse Lincoln, we know how important brake maintenance is, and we would love to share with you our knowledge.

Vehicles will have recommendations on how many miles you can go before the first brake change. After that, you'll make a choice on what kind of…

Most people have heard about waxing a car, but not everyone actually does it. Washing your car gets rid of contaminants on the surface of your car, but without a coat of wax, those same types of contaminants will be on the body of your car after the first drive. Wax is key in protecting your vehicle from rust, and we at Fox Grand Traverse Lincoln are happy to tell you more about it.

Wax is mixed with a solvent to give it a little more pliability, but the solvent evaporates so that the wax can dry hard. 

Your car's battery can drain quickly. Factors like the weather and the battery's age lead to it losing power and not being able to start your car when you attempt to turn over your engine. To keep this important part ready to use, try these tips for charging a car battery today.

To charge your battery, you need to make sure that you have a battery charger on hand. These chargers are inexpensive and readily available to buy. Next, find the positive and negative terminals on the top of your battery. They should be clearly marked with a…

When it comes to matters regarding your car maintenance, motor oil is your utmost responsibility. Fat will allow various parts of the engine to interact with little friction smoothly, reduced wear and tear, lower temperatures, and meager chances of seizing.

However, when it comes to matters of oil usage and refilling, there are different types of myths and misconceptions that have always invaded the general knowledge. Sometimes back, they used to be correct, but they are no longer are. It is, therefore, time to set the records straights.