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
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
We take our cars for granted. When you think about all the moving parts that work together, they are amazing inventions. What we find the most interesting, though, is how the cars handle vibration. We’re talking about thousands of small parts that are rattling around in the body of the car continually. You’d think that … Read more
With a vehicle, there’s a lot of power under the hood. We’re not talking strictly about horsepower, but rather energy output in general. The energy that the car needs is supplied by the fuel and by the battery. You need plenty of power to keep the engine running. For smaller systems in the vehicle, you … Read more