Car maintenance and modification guides
Practical guides on keeping a car maintenance log, documenting builds, and holding onto the service records that matter when you sell. Written for owners who do their own work, the same people Wheelscribe is built for.
· Maintenance
TPMS Maintenance Guide: Sensors, Resets, Cost
A TPMS maintenance guide covering sensor battery life, resetting the warning light, replacement cost, and the relearn procedure after new tires.
· Modifications
ECU Tuning Maintenance: Care After a Tune
An ECU tuning maintenance guide covering stock file backups, watching for knock, retuning after mods, and logging tunes for warranty and resale.
· Maintenance
Key Fob and Keyless Entry Maintenance Guide
A key fob and keyless entry maintenance guide covering battery replacement, reprogramming, fading range, and protecting your fob from relay theft.
· Maintenance
Cargo Van & Box Truck Maintenance Guide
A tiered maintenance schedule for cargo vans and box trucks that stay in daily service, covering PM intervals, brake wear, and DOT inspection basics.
· Modifications
Body Kit & Aero Modifications Guide
A practical guide to body kit and aero modifications: what splitters and spoilers actually do, fitment basics, and what to log for resale.
· Maintenance
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balancing Guide
A wheel alignment and tire balancing guide covering what each service fixes, signs you need one or the other, how often, and typical cost.
· Modifications
Project Car Build Log Template
A project car build log template with the columns, cost tracking, and before-and-after photos every build needs, so nothing gets lost to memory.
· Record keeping
Fleet Vehicle Onboarding & Retirement Guide
A fleet vehicle onboarding checklist for intake inspection, insurance, and title, plus a retirement checklist for decommissioning one out.
· Maintenance
DIY vs Shop Car Maintenance Cost
DIY vs shop car maintenance cost compared by job: oil changes, filters, fluids, and brakes, plus when paying a shop is actually the smarter call.
· Maintenance
CV Axle & Driveshaft Maintenance Guide
How to catch CV axle and driveshaft problems early: what a clicking noise when turning means, how to inspect a boot, and when to replace one.
· Maintenance
Sunroof & Moonroof Maintenance Guide
Sunroof maintenance that actually prevents leaks: cleaning drain tubes, checking seals and tracks, and catching failures before water gets in.
· Record keeping
Who Pays for Repairs on a Leased Car
Who pays for repairs on a leased car: what the manufacturer's warranty covers, what happens after it expires, and why the paper trail matters at lease-end.
· Modifications
Dash Cam & Vehicle Security Installation
Installing a dash cam or aftermarket security system: power options, wiring basics, insurance angles, and documenting the install for later.
· Record keeping
Fuel Economy & MPG Tracking Guide
How to track fuel economy accurately: calculating real MPG, what a sudden drop actually means, and keeping a fuel log alongside your maintenance record.
· Modifications
Car Interior Upgrades: Lighting, Seats & Trim
Car interior upgrades that are worth the money: ambient lighting, seat upgrades and reupholstering, trim and pedal swaps, and what to document as you go.
· Record keeping
Tracking Extended Warranty & Service Contracts
How to track an extended warranty or service contract: coverage terms, expiration dates, mileage caps, and the maintenance records a claim requires.
· Maintenance
Power Steering Maintenance Guide
Power steering maintenance for both hydraulic and electric systems: fluid checks, leak signs, the whining-noise diagnosis, and when to call a shop.
· Maintenance
Charging System & Alternator Maintenance
Alternator maintenance and charging system checks: how to test voltage, tell a dying alternator from a dying battery, and when replacement is due.
· Maintenance
Exhaust System Maintenance Guide
How to check your muffler, catalytic converter, and exhaust pipes for rust, leaks, and worn hangers. A practical exhaust system maintenance guide.
· Maintenance
Wiper Blade and Washer System Maintenance
Wiper blade maintenance and windshield washer system care: replacement intervals, streaking fixes, fluid type, and clogged nozzle repairs.
· Maintenance
Car Maintenance Cost by Vehicle Type
Car maintenance cost by vehicle type: how sedans, SUVs, trucks, luxury cars, and EVs compare on yearly upkeep, and why the vehicle you buy sets your baseline.
· Maintenance
Medium-Duty Truck Maintenance Schedule
A medium-duty truck maintenance schedule for dump trucks, flatbeds, and work trucks: PM intervals, hydraulic fluid, brakes, and DOT basics for Class 4-7 rigs.
· Record keeping
Is Maintenance Included in a Car Lease?
Is maintenance included in a car lease? Rarely by default. What your payment covers, what manufacturer programs add, and who pays if something breaks.
· Record keeping
Fleet Maintenance Cost Tracking
How to calculate cost per mile and cost per vehicle across a small fleet, spot a money pit early, and track it without buying fleet software.