Camber refers to the angle of the wheel and tire relative to a perfectly flat road. The tops of the wheels can lean either towards or away from the center of the car when viewed from behind. The ideal camber balances tire traction and tire wear, and thus varies for each vehicle depending on how … Read more
The components of an engine have gaskets that are placed between them before they’re assembled. These gaskets act as a seal between the components so they can do their jobs properly. You’ll find gaskets are usually made out of metal, rubber, paper, or all three combined together. Out of all the gaskets in the engine, … Read more
When you were learning to drive, your parent or driving instructor probably told you to only use one foot between the brake and gas pedals. Back then, chances are good that most vehicles you saw came with a three-pedal manual transmission (which is why it was known as a “standard transmission” back in the day). … Read more
Catalytic converters (not cadillac converters as some like to say) help remove toxic carbon dioxide gasses that a car produces from entering the outside air that we breathe. While it’s likely you will never need to repair or replace yours, sometimes they fail. So what are the symptoms of a bad catalytic converter? Can a … Read more
A vehicle’s suspension geometry has three common measurements, which can often be adjusted, called caster, camber, and toe. Caster is measured on the steering wheels (i.e the front wheels) as an angle which evaluates the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis when viewing the car from the side. This axis connects the lower … Read more
There are certainly more hybrid cars on the road than ever before. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the United States has seen an increase in the number of hybrid cars being sold to consumers. In case you didn’t know, hybrid cars work via a combination of an electric motor that is powered by … Read more
Imagine traveling at one speed throughout your journey. It’s not an appealing thought. The transmission is the part of your vehicle that helps you change speeds smoothly. When a specific gear is selected, the transmission controls how much power feeds through to the engine. It doesn’t matter if it’s an automatic or manual transmission; they … Read more
Brake fluid is something that all vehicles have, no matter if you’re driving a car, truck, or motorcycle. The job of brake fluid is to move the crucial components of your braking system which are responsible for slowing down your vehicle when you press on the brake pedal. Basically, the fluid causes the pistons in … Read more
A clutch master cylinder links your left foot to the clutch in a three pedaled vehicle with a hydraulic clutch. If the master cylinder has completely failed, it will likely leave you stranded, unless you can figure out a way to limp home without the use of the clutch. This is especially dangerous if the brake … Read more
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) is a sophisticated piece of machinery. It receives data from a range of sensors. The Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Control Module (TCM) are both examples of systems that the PCM monitors. Remarkably, the PCM also analyzes the data it collects. It uses that information to control the … Read more