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Cars have become increasingly complex in their design and engineering over the years. This is made worse by parts or features that should never be complicated being complicated. Things like door handles , windshield wipers and headlights don’t need to be reinvented.
Lately, I’ve been getting questions from our #sheCANic community and friends wondering if they should buy a device to read the codes set off by the dreaded check engine light. There is so much confusion about the check engine or malfunction indicator light (MIL) that many drivers don’t understand why it is there and how it works.
When you’re a true car enthusiast, you learn to appreciate every part of a vehicle. But when you’re looking over these small details on a car, sometimes you come across things that seem to have been unnecessarily designed by… Read more.
An oxygen or O2 sensor keeps an eye on the air-fuel mix in your engine to boost fuel efficiency and minimize those nasty emissions. When it goes bad , your engine’s performance will take a nosedive, potentially damaging parts like the catalytic converter. This can result in engine misfiring , rough idling, and stalling.
Frustrated that your engine won’t crank ? Don’t worry — we’ll get your car revving into life with our breakdown of the starter solenoid replacement steps, diagnostic procedure, and associated costs. To locate it, a mechanic may trace the positive cable from the battery to where it connects to the solenoid in the engine compartment.
The service engine soon light usually pops up to give you a friendly reminder that something’s off with your car. We’ll explain what a “service engine soon” light means and why it turns on, so you can identify which carpart needs a little love. This Article Contains: What Does a Service Engine Soon Light Mean?
Timely engine air filter replacement ensures your engine breathes easy and performs efficiently. So how do you replace an engine air filter? Keep reading to get an idea of what the engine air filter replacement process looks like and how much it costs. How Often Should You Change the Engine Air Filter?
Explore the possible reasons why your engine might be squealing when starting your car and how you can fix it. This Article Contains: 10 Reasons Why Your Engine Squeals When Starting Your Car Is it Safe to Drive with a Squealing Sound? How Much Does it Cost to Fix Your Car’s Squealing Noise?
Your engine is the heart of your vehicle; if it isn’t working properly, you can be sure you’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Proper engine maintenance also ensures that your engine doesn’t overheat while on the road, or cut out at an intersection. Keeping it Clean: Your engine does a lot for your vehicle.
What is Inside A Car’s Muffler and Catalytic Converter? Mufflers reduce the amount of sound out of an engine, then also slow the exhaust gas down as it travels to the back of […] Why do people delete a muffler? What about a muffler vs a straight pipe? Oh and no, it’s not a muffler bearing.
These cars are popular targets because they may be easier to steal and have valuable parts that can be sold on the black market. The value of these cars’ parts is partially due to how common these vehicles are. So even if a thief isn’t able to sell the entire car, they can fence its parts and still nab a quick profit.
My gift to myself for graduating as an engineer was a new car! My goal was to help other women learn from my mistakes and to change their perceptions about cars. Part of being an adult is taking care of the expensive things you must buy to live. Therefore I only drove her for quick trips around campus.
Catalytic converters can last many years, but when they become faulty, they can lead to sluggish engine performance and even complete engine failure. Catalytic converters are important to every vehicle because they convert harmful compounds from your engine’s emissions. A horrid smell Do you smell rotten eggs?
Additionally, some vehicles have the crankshaft position sensor in hard-to-reach areas, such as behind the engine or near the transmission, which can increase labor costs. OEM vs aftermarket parts: Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are usually more expensive than their aftermarket alternatives but offer better quality.
Does your car sometimes smell like a gas station or splutter and cough ? Well, your car might be struggling to breathe — all thanks to a clogged air filter. A clogged air filter can affect your engine performance, bring down your fuel economy, and damage other important carparts. But here’s the catch.
This unassuming little device detects abnormal vibrations in your engine, helping prevent any damaging knocking sound that can lead to severe performance issues. However, like any carpart, the knock sensor can wear out over time, leading to the question: how much will it cost to replace it?
Hopping in your vehicle, turning over the engine, and hitting the road is almost automatic for most drivers. Sure, you know some parts like brake pads wear out over time. What you dont expect is for a defective part to be installed on your vehicle. You rarely think about anything going wrong with your vehicle.
3 Alarming Causes of Oil in Spark Plug Well Oil often seeps into spark plug wells due to external engine problems such as leaking valve gasket cover, worn O-rings, or overfilled engine oil. Leaking Valve Cover Gasket A valve cover gasket sits between the valve cover and the top of the engine cylinder head.
Factors Affecting Cost A few factors that can influence your expenses include: Vehicle model and make: Luxury cars need specialized or high-performance fuel pumps, which are pricier than standard ones. Gasoline vs diesel engine: Modern gas cars usually have one fuel pump, but diesel cars have two pumps. Certainly!
Whether you’re a seasoned grease monkey or a curious car enthusiast, grasping the causes , symptoms, and fixes for oil on spark plugs is key to keeping your engine humming at its best. When oil has reached your spark plugs, it’s likely due to a leaking seal or an engine malfunction. But don’t panic just yet!
The camshaft position sensor (CMP sensor) ensures the engine’s valves open and close at the correct times for smooth engine performance. Illuminated Check Engine Light When the camshaft sensor fails, the Engine Control Unit detects an irregularity in the camshaft’s position data and activates the check engine light.
A fan clutch is one of the unsung heroes that keeps your engine cool and road trips smooth. But if you have a bad one, it can cause everything from an overheated engine to an out-of-control cooling fan. As a result, the engine may heat up even at low speeds or stay heated for a long time — leading to engine overheating.
A fan clutch is one of the unsung heroes that keeps your engine cool and road trips smooth. But if you have a bad one, it can cause everything from an overheated engine to an out-of-control cooling fan. As a result, the engine may heat up even at low speeds or stay heated for a long time — leading to engine overheating.
Additional repairs: Any extra repairs, such as fixing the alternator , voltage regulator, or other carparts, can increase the overall cost. Damaged car battery terminals are ill-equipped to conduct electricity between the battery and the car’s electrical system. How Long Do Car Battery Terminals Last?
This system is the heart of your vehicle’s engine startup. These parts work in unison to convert the battery’s energy into the spark required to ignite the fuel in your engine. However, just like any other machine part, these can be severely affected by cold weather. Plus, it boosts the fuel efficiency.
Is your car squealing or has the air conditioner lost its cool? That’s your car crying for a new alternator belt. This unsung hero is a single belt that helps power key carparts, like the alternator, power steering, and air conditioning. Wondering how much an alternator belt replacement costs ?
Part It Out Yourself Having mechanical skills and time to spare enables you to earn significantly more money by dismantling your vehicle than selling it as one piece. Here’s what to focus on: Functional engine components retain high market value. The transmission stands out as one of the costliest parts to replace.
Driving without the filter won’t impact engine performance. 4 FAQs on Cabin Filters What’s the Difference Between the Cabin Air Filter and Engine Air Filter? Driving without a working cabin air filter won’t significantly affect the engine performance. What’s the Difference Between Cabin Air Filter and Engine Air Filter?
Noticed a fuel smell from your engine? Well, if it’s accompanied by a rough idle and other engine performance problems, then you might need a purge valve replacement. This system traps and reroutes fuel vapor to the engine, reducing harmful emissions and improving fuel efficiency. What Is the Purge Valve and What Does it Do?
Sustainable Materials in Your Car Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword in the auto industry. Manufacturers are looking at ways to improve the durability of carparts, using natural fibers and recycled materials and designing components that decompose faster. However, electricity isn’t the only green energy source out there.
Reviving an old car can be rewarding yet challenging. But, before starting the engine, it’s crucial to clean the fuel lines , clogged fuel injectors, and gas tank. Skip these steps, and you risk complete engine failure. Refill the tank with fresh gas and crank the engine to check for proper operation.
Below are mistakes to sidestep if you want to keep your car in tip-top shape: 1. Avoiding Recommended Oil and Fluid Changes Your vehicle’s fluids, like engine oil and brake fluid , are essential for maintaining car performance. It’s vital to check your car’s fluid levels as recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
Finding the Cause of Part Failure Can Be Tough Sometimes, for warranty reasons, it’s essential to understand why a carpart has failed. This is because many replacement parts offer a limited warranty against manufacturer defects. One great example is the coolant flush.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) vs. aftermarket parts: An OEM air conditioning condenser will cost more than an aftermarket one. Additional repairs: If carparts, such as a radiator, evaporator, or any other AC component, are damaged, your mechanic will include their repair cost in the final bill.
Torque converter clutch solenoid: This controls the torque converter lockup clutch, a component that enables a direct mechanical link between the engine and transmission. This limits your engine RPMs and driving gear (on automatic transmission vehicles) to prevent damage to other carparts.
Check Engine Light On along with VTM 4 Light (Displays P0171/P0174 Code) These trouble codes indicate your ECU (Engine Control Unit) has detected a lean fuel mixture in your vehicle, activating the check engine light. How Much Does Honda AWD System Diagnosis and Repair Cost?
Salt used on the roads during winter is very abrasive and can cause early rusting on the outer part of the fuel tank. How to Treat a Rusted Subaru Fuel Tank You should not hesitate if you see signs of a rusted fuel tank including fuel smell, leakage, or poor engine performance. Why accept disruptions to the reliability of your Subaru?
If not fixed, they can wear out critical drivetrain parts, like the rear differential, driveshaft, and front axle shafts. Try turning the engine off or reverse your vehicle for a short while, then put it back on the drive. Plus, a stuck 4WD mode uses more gas. So, how can you disengage the 4WD mode?
When a car is new, it takes about 5,000 miles before you should begin routine maintenance. This first check-up is important because the carparts are "breaking themselves in." If it is becoming hard to see the tread pattern on any part of the tire, have it double-checked by a mechanic.
Besides these, some other causes are: Worn power steering pump seal A cracked power steering hose Loose or broken steering system clamps Deteriorated power steering rack parts like the input shaft end and its seals A damaged, corroded, or leaking pump Overfilled power steering fluid reservoir Is It Hard to Fix a Power Steering Leak ?
How to Perform Transmission Shift Cable Replacement : Step-by-Step Transmission shift cable replacement requires you to access and dismantle critical carparts, like the center console , which can be tricky and time-consuming. Let’s break down the replacement process to find out why. Here’s how a mechanic will replace a broken cable.
Like most carparts, the camshaft can wear out over time. It plays a crucial role in engine function, controlling the flow of air and fuel into and out of the combustion chambers. We’ll give you the lowdown on the expenses and some signs that indicate it’s time for a trip to the car repair shop. Yes, absolutely!
From dim headlights to unusual engine stutters , a malfunctioning alternator can disrupt your everyday commute and strain your wallet. We’ll delve into the details of alternator replacement costs, warning signs to watch for, and tips to keep your car running smoothly without spending on expensive repairs. But fear not!
Starting a car may seem simple, but there’s more that happens under the hood to get the engine running. So, if your car won’t start , several factors could be at play. Whether it’s an empty fuel tank or a dead battery , identifying the cause is crucial to getting your car back on the road.
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