As fall slips away, and winter begins, frigid temperatures take hold over much of the country. This is the point at which most motorists come to appreciate their vehicle’s heat. That is, of course, if their vehicle’s heat is functioning as anticipated. After all, a lack of heat during the winter months can make for … Read more
If you’ve heard anything that sounds like a gunshot when on a walk along a busy street, and it wasn’t from a firearm, then you’ve probably heard a car backfiring. It might just be one solitary *pop*, a series of pops followed by a crackle, or a long string of loud, rapid pops if you’re … Read more
Overfilling your cooling system is not a good idea. In this article we will discuss what can happen if you overfill your coolant, how to remove excess coolant, and how to correctly top off your coolant. But first let’s look under the hood and examine the two different types of coolant tanks that might be … Read more
When resting at a stoplight, you might notice your car making slight pops and burbles through the floorboard. If you look at your tachometer, you may see the needle move up and down periodically even if you’re just idling in your driveway. Sure, it normally runs weird when it’s cold out, but it’s a 20 … Read more
When you hit the throttle you expect your car to move. And while you might not realize exactly what’s going on, the throttle body is what starts that entire process. But over time your throttle body can wear out or just get plain dirty. So, how do you know it’s time to clean or replace … Read more
Today’s vehicles rely upon an intricate web of electronic controls to increase operating efficiency, and to reduce emissions output. Such technology initially arose in the 1970s, under regulatory pressure from the US government, in a bid to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. Modern vehicles are now able to monitor their own performance, thereby making on-the-fly … Read more
For the average motorist, few circumstances are as frustrating as that which surrounds the sudden appearance of oily residue on the driveway. This, of course, is the tell-tale sign of a fluid leak, which indicates that your vehicle is experiencing a mechanical issue of one sort or another. Be this as it may, one must … Read more
Do you need a large truck because you are a “mountain man”? You’re just looking to get out there in the wilderness, do some 4 x 4 driving, and haul cords of lumber because you live out in the country and a truck is the only way to get it done. If you want to … Read more
Try as we might, it is simply impossible to wish away all that can potentially ail our vehicles. If one drives enough miles, they will eventually face mechanical hardship of one sort or another. However, not all mechanical issues are the same, either in type or severity, which creates a “luck of the draw” type … Read more
Today’s vehicles are designed to operate in the most efficient manner possible, making the most out of each combustion cycle. This is accomplished through the monitoring of engine-related data, by a dedicated engine computer, known as an ECM. This computer relies upon feedback from various sensors when determining appropriate fuel trims and throttle plate positioning. … Read more