A MAP sensor, or manifold absolute pressure sensor, is a type of engine sensor that measures the amount of air pressure present in a vehicle’s intake manifold. This pressure reading is used along with engine speed (measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM) to determine engine load, which allows the vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU) … Read more
Every internal combustion engine requires oil to lubricate its parts. Vehicles have different size engines, depending on the weight, size, or purpose. The amount of oil that goes into the engine typically depends on the size of the engine as well as the manufacturer service interval. For most cars, the engine holds about 5 and … Read more
It can be difficult to diagnose the reason for an engine misfire, but context gives major clues. Misfires are often intermittent and will sometimes only manifest with a specific type of fuel, environment, or engine load (how deep you’re into the gas pedal). Usually the vehicle can continue running with a misfire in one cylinder, … Read more
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 carbon monoxide (and other toxic 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? … 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