Mercedes-Benz of Santa Fe Video Gallery

The brake pedal in your vehicle can identify serious brake issues if you know what you should be looking for. Here are a few things to look for with a weak brake pedal.

The soft brake pedal might be an indication that fluid is leaking from the master cylinder or the brake lines. This is a problem because the car could fail to stop if not addressed in time. Bring the car in to have the technician look to see if a leak does exist.

Another issue with a soft brake pedal is that air may be trapped inside the…

With more than 1.2 million crashes happening annually in rainy conditions, it is crucial to be prepared to drive safely in the rain this summer. This starts with making sure your car is ready to hit the road and having it serviced regularly.

Before you get behind the wheel in the rain, you should check the tread on your tires. Turn a quarter upside down between the tread in your tire. If the head shows on the coin, then your tread is probably worn down to the point that you need new tires. This will help you keep your…

• Once you have the two vehicles close to one another, be sure they are both in park and cut the engine off. Now it's safe to open the hoods.
• Take a minute to get familiar with which side of each battery is the negative or positive end. The jumper cables should be red for positive and black for negative.
• The rest is simple, connect red positive cable to red positive dead battery. The other red to positive on charged battery.
• Black jumper…

Chances are you get regular oil changes and maintenance checks, but when was the last time you had your brakes looked at? One of the most important safety features your car has to offer are its brakes, so it's important to keep these in great shape.

If you notice you're struggling to stop quickly or that your tires have been sliding a lot, it's possible that your brakes have started to wear out. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems with driving and can create an unsafe environment. 

Before you test the car battery, be sure you have a good pair of work gloves to protect your hands and protective eye-wear for working anywhere near the car battery. Once the car engine is off, open the hood and locate the battery compartment.

The voltmeter will have just two cables; a black is negative, and the red is the positive end. The red cable will connect to your car battery positive end first; then you can safely secure the black cable to the negative end of the battery.

Once the meter is on, the reading will fall in the…

Flat tires are a common occurrence, and it is important to know how to take care of one, so you don't get stranded. Keep a tire changing kit in your car's trunk, including a full-size or compact spare tire. Consider practicing using the tools so that you're prepared if and when you get a flat tire while driving.

Before changing a flat, engage the car's parking brake. Prevent the car from rolling by putting blocks, chocks or rocks behind the wheels on the opposite side. Loosen the lug nuts, jack up the car, remove the nuts…

Although a common cause of a vehicle not starting is a dead battery, this is not the only reason why a car may not be starting. Often it is the vehicle's starter that is the culprit.

One of the first visible signs of a malfunctioning starter is the presence of smoke that may also be accompanied by a burning smell. An audible grinding noise or whining sound can be additional signals that the starter is not functioning properly. A starter that is taking on oil due to engine leaks is also a major sign of imminent malfunction...

All kinds of myths about motor oil abound. If you continue to believe in them, you could end up spending needless money. The technicians in the service department at Mercedes-Benz of Santa Fe are on top of the latest motor oil trends. Here is some of the latest information available.

If you switch to synthetic motor oil, switching back to regular oil won't harm your engine. A myth persists that once you go synthetic, you have to stay with it. Another myth about synthetic oil is that it causes leaks. When synthetics were...

Due to the intensity of the heat that your engine operates it requires its own cooling system in order to prevent it from overheating and causing lasting damage. But in order to keep your engine running correctly, you will need to perform periodic maintenance on your cooling system to keep that in good working order.

Over time you will notice the coolant in your radiator become dirty and less effective. Once that happens you will want to do a coolant flush to the system. This involves first draining and disposing of all of the old dirty fluid. A hose is…

Your car's muffler is the last step of its exhaust system. This part does the job of muffling the noise of processing and releasing exhaust gases. A rusted fastener, loose pipe or hole in the muffler could cause it to make a great deal of noise when you drive.

A muffler that is too loud could also be a sign of a more serious issue with your exhaust system. In many communities, a loud car could result in a fine or a ticket, along with a requirement to get it repaired. When your car starts to sound loud, an…