You're working on your brakes, or installing new shocks and you need some help. Loosening a bolt, you look on the back and the nut is spinning. No problem, you'll just put a wrench on it. The problem is that you don't have an extra hand to hold the wrench on so you can wrap up the brake job.

Used auto parts can be great, but unless you're in Cuba sometimes they're better left sitting in the stinking yard of the used auto parts junk spot than installed on your car. Any used auto parts outlet with any integrity wouldn't sell you these parts used without at least letting you know that it might suck.

There are a number of used auto parts that are OK to use for a repair, but only sometimes. Sometimes? How are you supposed to know what times are the righttimes to buy such a used auto part? The parts listed below can be re-used if they're still good, but that's the rub - are they still good? That's where the sometimes comes in.

Used for the right repair, a used auto part can really save money, and often some time if it's a rarely stocked part at the auto parts store.

To check them for tightness, you don't need to follow any sort of pattern like you do when you are tightening them for the first time. Just check that they are all nice and snug. What's snug? With the wrench on the bolt, lean over and put most of your body weight on the lug wrench. When it stops moving, you're snug. I like to start at the top every time so that I know where to stop.

Spark plug wires are pretty durable. They aren't a moving part so they don't wear out too often. A careful inspection of your plug wires can avoid any problems. The only thing that can really go wrong with a plug wire is a break in the insulation. The insulation keeps the electricity where it needs to be so it sparks on the inside of your engine, not someplace else before it gets there.

Most cars still have a spark plug or 8 in there someplace, and even today's technology hasn't stopped them from wearing out. It's an easy maintenance procedure that can make your car run more smoothly and increase your gas mileage.

Radiator coolant actually raises the boiling point of the water, allowing it to carry more heat away from the engine, and that means cooler running. If you're running low, things can get steamy fast. Think of your coolant as a spring dance chaperone, there to keep things nice and cool even when you're doing a lot of moving around.

You should never let anything come between your car and a good battery connection. If you want the day to come to a grinding halt in a hurry, driving with corroded battery posts is the way to do it. It takes only a millimeter of crunchy white residue to keep your car from starting.

If you had to pick one thing your car can't be without (please don't say the cupholder) it would be the brakes. A perfect running car that starts on the coldest mornings and purrs like a milk-faced kitten doesn't amount to much if you can't stop when you need to. That's why you should be sure to take good care of your car's braking system.