Our general FAQ section provides clear answers to the most common automotive questions that apply to all vehicles, regardless of make or model. From understanding routine maintenance schedules and oil change intervals to learning about warning lights, smog checks, brakes, tires, and general car care tips, this category is designed to help every driver. Whether you’re new to car ownership or just want reliable advice, our general FAQs give you the knowledge to keep your vehicle safe, reliable, and road-ready.
What a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) Looks Like A dual overhead cam (DOHC) engine has two camshafts mounted on top of the cylinder head; visually, you’ll see a wide, flat valve cover (often labeled “DOHC” or “16V”) and, when the cover is removed, two long, parallel camshafts with lobes running the length of the head, …
What Happens When a Torque Converter Blows When a torque converter “blows,” the vehicle can suddenly lose drive, slip severely, shudder, overheat, or stall; metal debris may flood the transmission, and continuing to drive can destroy the gearbox. The safest response is to pull over, shut the engine off, and have the vehicle towed for …
Examples of Biofuels: What They Are and Where They’re Used Common examples of biofuels include bioethanol, biodiesel (FAME), renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA), biogas/biomethane, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from several certified pathways, biobutanol, biomethanol, bio-LPG (biopropane), and solid fuels such as wood pellets and charcoal. These fuels are derived from biological material—crops, residues, organic wastes, and algae—and …
Why Most Countries Drive on the Right Most countries drive on the right because of historical standardization led by France and the United States, reinforced by Napoleon’s influence across continental Europe, early American traffic laws, and the global spread of left-hand-drive cars in the 20th century. Over time, trade, cross-border harmonization, and vehicle manufacturing norms …
How to Fix a Stiff Steering Wheel The fastest path to fix a stiff steering wheel is to verify tire pressure, check power-steering fluid (if equipped) and look for leaks, inspect the serpentine belt, and, on vehicles with electric power steering (EPS), check fuses and battery voltage or scan for fault codes. Most stiffness issues …
Which suspension parts go bad first? Typically, anti-roll bar (sway bar) end links and bushings, control-arm bushings, outer tie-rod ends, ball joints, and struts/shocks (including their top mounts) are the first suspension parts to fail. The exact order depends on mileage, road quality, climate, vehicle weight (including EV battery mass), wheel/tire size, and driving style. …
Identifying the Italian Manufacturer of Luxury Sports Cars Ferrari is the Italian manufacturer of luxury sports cars. Based in Maranello and founded by Enzo Ferrari, the marque is synonymous with high-performance road cars, an illustrious Formula 1 legacy, and a brand identity rooted in Italian design and engineering excellence. Background and Identity Ferrari emerged from …
Torque Converter Parts: The Components That Enable Smooth Automatic Shifts The main parts of a torque converter are the impeller (pump), turbine, stator (reactor) with a one-way clutch, the lock-up clutch, and the sealed cover/housing, all working with automatic transmission fluid (ATF). Together, these elements transmit and multiply engine torque to the transmission input shaft, …
Are there sensors on the road at traffic lights? Yes. Many traffic lights use sensors—in or above the roadway—to detect vehicles, bikes, pedestrians, and even buses and emergency vehicles, adjusting signal timing accordingly; however, some intersections still run on fixed schedules without detection. This article explains what kinds of sensors exist, why they’re used, how …
What a Carburetor Does—and Why It Still Matters A carburetor’s function is to meter, mix, and atomize fuel with air in the correct ratio for combustion, then regulate engine speed and power via the throttle and enrichment circuits. In practice, it uses pressure differences (the venturi effect) to draw fuel into the incoming air stream, …
How the Emergency Brake System Works The emergency brake activates a separate, fail-safe way to stop or secure a vehicle when the primary brakes are unavailable or insufficient: in cars, the so‑called “emergency” or parking brake mechanically clamps (usually) the rear wheels, modern cars can also apply the service brakes automatically via sensors (Automatic Emergency …
How to Test a Leaking Radiator The fastest way to test a leaking radiator is to start with a cold system, visually inspect for wet spots and crusty residue, then perform a pressure test to the cap’s rated pressure and, if needed, add UV dye to pinpoint small leaks; for home radiators, inspect valves and …
Can You Overfill Your Gas Tank at the Pump? Yes. If you keep squeezing the trigger after the nozzle clicks off, you can overfill a modern vehicle’s fuel system. While the pump’s automatic shutoff usually stops at the correct level, topping off can force liquid gasoline into the evaporative emissions system, trigger a check-engine light, …
How to Properly Set Trailer Wheel Bearings The proper way to set trailer wheel bearings is to seat the tapered rollers by tightening the spindle nut while rotating the hub (typically to about 50 ft‑lb), back the nut off to zero torque, then retighten lightly (about 10–15 ft‑lb) and back off just enough to align …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Transmission Clutch? In the United States in 2025, a typical manual-transmission clutch replacement costs about $1,000–$2,500, with economy cars sometimes as low as $700–$1,200 and AWD, luxury, performance, or dual‑clutch (DSG/DCT) vehicles often running $2,000–$4,000+; heavy‑duty trucks can reach $4,500 or more. Pricing varies widely by vehicle …
How bad is air pollution from cars? It’s serious—especially in cities. Cars are a leading source of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and a significant contributor to fine particles (PM2.5) and ozone, driving respiratory and cardiovascular harm and climate change. Passenger cars alone are responsible for roughly 10% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, and traffic pollution is …
How Much Horsepower Does a Stock Turbo Add? It depends: in most cases, a “stock turbo” setup adds roughly 30–70% more peak horsepower versus a comparable naturally aspirated engine, while tuning an already turbocharged car on its stock turbo typically yields an additional 10–30%. Adding a turbo to an otherwise stock, naturally aspirated engine at …
What Are the Sensors on a Windshield? Most modern cars have a cluster of sensors and cameras mounted at the top center of the windshield, typically behind the rear‑view mirror. These usually include a forward-facing ADAS camera (for lane keeping and automatic emergency braking), a rain/ambient light sensor (for automatic wipers and headlights), and often …
What Happens When the Ignition Control Module Goes Bad When an ignition control module (ICM) fails, the engine may misfire, stall unexpectedly, become hard to start or not start at all, and often triggers check-engine codes; continued driving can damage the catalytic converter and pose safety risks. The ICM (sometimes called an igniter) controls when …
How a Dual-Clutch Transmission Works A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) uses two separate clutches to control odd- and even-numbered gears on two concentric input shafts, preselecting the next gear and then swapping clutches to deliver near-continuous torque during shifts. In practice, that means very quick, efficient gear changes with a direct, manual-like connection, managed entirely by …
Rack-and-Pinion vs. Power Steering: What’s the Difference and How They Work Together No—rack-and-pinion is a type of steering gear, while power steering is an assist system that reduces steering effort. Many modern cars use a rack-and-pinion gear with power assist, but the terms are not interchangeable. Understanding the distinction helps clarify how your steering feels, …
Do you really need to replace all four tires on an AWD? Often yes—AWD systems generally perform best and last longest with four matching tires—but it isn’t always mandatory to replace all four. If the remaining tires are nearly new and the difference in tread depth or rolling circumference stays within your vehicle maker’s limits, …
How to Tell if a Torque Converter Is Locking Up A quick way to tell if a torque converter is locking up is to watch for a noticeable RPM drop—typically 150–500 RPM—during steady cruising above 40–55 mph (65–90 km/h), and for a slight RPM rise when you gently tap the brake pedal. In more detail, …
What are swan doors on a car? Swan doors are side-hinged car doors that open outward while sweeping slightly upward, lifting the trailing edge as they swing—an elegant motion meant to resemble a swan’s wing. In practice, they improve clearance over high curbs and tall door sills on low-slung sports cars, while preserving the familiar …
How Cooling Seats Work in a Car Car “cooling seats” move air through the seat to remove heat and moisture from your body—most use small fans to ventilate air through perforations, some route chilled HVAC air into the seat, and a few use thermoelectric (Peltier) modules to actively cool. In practice, they create a drier, …
How to Fix ABS on a Car: A Practical Guide to Diagnosing and Repairing Anti-lock Braking Systems The quickest way to fix an ABS fault is to read the ABS trouble codes with a scanner that supports the ABS system, inspect the basics (battery voltage, fuses/relays, brake fluid level), check wheel speed sensors, tone rings, …
The Most Bought Car of the 1960s The Volkswagen Beetle was the most purchased car worldwide in the 1960s. While national best-sellers varied by market—Chevrolet’s Impala in the United States and Ford’s Cortina in the United Kingdom—the Beetle’s global reach, massive cumulative production (surpassing 10 million units by 1967), and assembly on multiple continents made …
What the “V” Means in an Engine The “V” in an engine (as in V6 or V8) indicates that its cylinders are arranged in two banks set at an angle to each other, forming a V shape around a common crankshaft; the number (6, 8, 10, 12, etc.) is the total cylinder count, and the …
The one trick that gets the best gas mileage Drive slower and smoother. Keeping a steady, moderate speed (around 55 mph/90 km/h on open highways), anticipating traffic, and avoiding hard acceleration and hard braking deliver the biggest real-world fuel savings—often 10–30% better mileage than aggressive driving, according to U.S. Department of Energy and EPA guidance. …
What Are Tyre Marbles? Tyre marbles are small balls and strands of rubber that tear off racing tyres under high heat and load, then accumulate off the ideal racing line; they drastically reduce grip if a car or motorcycle runs over them and can influence race strategy, safety, and overtaking in series like Formula 1, …