Automotive News & Information - Lake Ridge Automotive

At Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, VA, we know your car, truck, or SUV is far more than just a vehicle. It’s a lifeline...getting you to work, your kids to school, carrying groceries, and taking you anywhere you need to go. It’s also a huge investment, and one worth protecting.

Unless you use your vehicle to tow every day for work, odds are you haven’t paid much attention to your truck, SUV, or crossover’s towing capacity. Maybe you’re looking to buy a boat for some summer fun or just need to rent a trailer to get your belongings from one dwelling to the next. Whatever the reason for pulling something behind your vehicle, it’s important to get a firm grasp on what exactly your towing capacity means. Understanding how each of the components in your vehicle contributes to your overall tow rating can keep you from putting undue stress on your rig and keep you and your family safe.

At Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, cars are our passion, so naturally, we like to keep up with new technology on the market. At the moment, surprisingly the current trend is moving towards a goal you may not expect; self-driving vehicles. You’ve probably heard about self-driving cars a little bit here and there on the news, but it likely still seems somewhere in the realm of science fiction to you. However, the reality is that self-driving cars are on the way and maybe here sooner than you think. Already, almost all major automobile manufacturers are dumping billions of dollars into research and development for self-driving cars, and even companies like Uber are jumping on board.

Who created the world’s first car is actually a matter of debate; since the invention of the engine, people had been installing them on horse carriages to make them self-propelled. Even when automobiles specifically designed for engines came around, they were hardly recognizable as a car by today’s standards. However, the first patented automobile, a vehicle specifically designed to be propelled by an engine, was built by Karl Benz and completed in 1885.

You’ve noticed an issue with your transmission, or you simply want to make sure the fluid is still at the correct level and looking good. But, you can’t seem to find the dipstick anywhere…what’s the deal? Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge is here to help!

The transmission in your truck works harder than any other on the road. A fully loaded semi weighs about 40 times as much as a normal passenger vehicle, and racks up twice the mileage. As such, it’s essential to keep your transmission in good shape and regularly maintenanced. Fortunately, Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge has you covered.

All trucks, from a Chevy S-10, to the largest, heavy-duty trucks on the road, are classified into categories. Trucks are categorized by weight into classifications 1-9, and each grade comes with its own set of regulations and license requirements. Here’s a quick guide, from Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge.

Vehicle belts aren’t that different than the belts that hold up your trousers. They need to fit properly and stay in place, and if they break, sag, or wear out, you’ll probably wish you were wearing a different belt that day. The same goes for the belts in your car. Your engine compartment is a punishing environment, and while all auto belts are made of materials designed to be both flexible and tough, even the toughest materials will eventually wear out due to the extreme temperatures under the hood.