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.
How Much Is a Transmission on a Car? In 2025 in the U.S., a complete transmission replacement typically costs $2,500–$6,500 installed for most mainstream cars, with manual gearboxes on the lower end ($1,500–$3,000 total) and modern automatics, CVTs, or dual‑clutch units often $3,500–$7,000+. Luxury, heavy‑duty, AWD/4WD, hybrid, and EV drive units can run $6,000–$10,000+ installed. …
What Factors Affect a CO2 Car’s Speed CO2 car speed is driven primarily by the thrust from the CO2 cartridge, aerodynamic drag, total mass, rolling resistance (wheels/axles), alignment and stability, and environmental conditions such as temperature and air density. In school competitions and engineering challenges, small changes in these areas can make the difference between …
How to Get Your Car Title After Paying Off a Vehicle in Ohio In Ohio, once your auto loan is paid in full, your lender releases the lien—either electronically through the state’s Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) system or by signing the paper title—and you can obtain a clear (lien-free) title from your County Clerk …
Are ignition coils on top of spark plugs? In most modern gasoline cars, yes—ignition coils often sit directly on top of each spark plug in a “coil‑on‑plug” (COP) setup. However, not all vehicles use this layout; some employ coil packs or a single coil with plug wires, and diesel engines don’t use spark plugs at …
Can You Add Water to a Radiator Instead of Coolant? Yes—but only as a short-term, emergency measure. For normal operation you should run the correct coolant (antifreeze) mixed with water—typically a 50/50 blend—because plain water lacks corrosion inhibitors, boils sooner, can freeze, and may damage modern cooling systems. If you must top up with water …
How Much It Costs to Replace a Stabilizer (Sway) Bar Link Expect to pay about $120–$280 per link installed in the U.S., or $220–$500 for both front links together; larger SUVs, trucks, and premium brands can run $300–$600 per link. Parts typically cost $20–$150 each, and labor is usually 0.5–1.0 hour per side at $80–$220 …
What is the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)? The anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents wheels from locking during hard braking by rapidly modulating brake pressure, helping drivers and riders maintain steering control. In practice, you press the brakes firmly and steer around hazards while the system pulses the brakes dozens of times per second; stopping distances …
Which car has the highest crash rating? There isn’t a single “highest” crash-rated car worldwide—several models currently tie for top marks depending on the safety program and market. In practice, the highest rating means earning the maximum score from the major testing bodies (IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA 5-Star in the U.S., and 5-Star …
Why Tail Lights Work but Brake Lights Don’t Most often, tail lights still work while brake lights don’t because they run on different circuits: a burned brake filament in dual‑filament bulbs, a faulty brake light switch at the pedal, a blown “STOP” fuse, or a wiring/ground issue can disable the brake lights while leaving the …
How to Stop Coolant from Leaking If coolant is leaking, safely stop the vehicle, let the engine cool completely, locate the source, and repair or replace the failed part—often a hose, clamp, cap, radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, or gasket—then refill and bleed the system with the correct coolant. Temporary sealants can slow minor leaks …
What car gets 70 miles per gallon? In the United States today, no new gasoline car is rated at 70 miles per gallon (mpg) under current EPA tests. The closest you can buy is the Toyota Prius, which reaches up to 57 mpg combined. Historically, the 2000–2006 Honda Insight carried a 70‑mpg highway label under …
Which side of the road does China drive on? Mainland China drives on the right, while Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left; Taiwan also drives on the right. In other words, China as a whole does not use left-hand traffic, except in the two Special Administrative Regions where British and Portuguese-era rules persist …
Why PCV Is Used in Engines Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) is used in engines to route harmful blow‑by gases from the crankcase back into the intake to be burned, cutting emissions, preventing sludge and moisture buildup, controlling crankcase pressure to avoid oil leaks, and improving durability and fuel efficiency. In short, it’s a critical emissions …
How Often You Need an Oil Change (in Kilometers) Most modern gasoline cars using full-synthetic oil need an oil change every 10,000–15,000 km or about once a year; if you drive in severe conditions, aim for 5,000–8,000 km. Always follow your owner’s manual or the vehicle’s oil-life monitor for the final word. Why the Right …
What Is Photo Transmission? Photo transmission is the process of sending photographic images from one location to another over communication networks, encompassing everything from historical wirephoto systems to today’s instant, encrypted sharing via mobile, web, satellite, and professional media pipelines. In practice, it covers capture, compression, metadata handling, secure transfer, reception, and verification across a …
What Is the Left-Hand Signal for Traffic? The left-hand signal used by drivers and cyclists to indicate a left turn is to extend the left arm straight out horizontally, level with the shoulder, pointing to the left. This universally communicates the intent to turn left; related hand signals include raising the left arm upward at …
Can I Still Drive My Car If It Says “Oil Change Required”? Usually yes—for a short distance and briefly—if the car is running normally and the message is a maintenance reminder. However, if you see a red oil-pressure warning, hear unusual engine noise, or the engine feels rough, you should pull over and stop driving …
What color wire goes in L1 and L2 on a light switch There isn’t a single universal color for L1 and L2. In the UK and much of Europe, L1 and L2 are the two “strapper” or “traveler” cores between two-way switches and are typically the black and grey conductors in modern 3-core-and-earth cable (with …
Direct vs. Indirect Gasoline Injection: Which Is Better? It depends on what you value: direct injection (GDI) typically delivers better efficiency and power density, while indirect (port fuel injection, PFI) tends to be cheaper, simpler, quieter, and lower-maintenance; many modern engines combine both to balance trade-offs. What These Technologies Do Both systems meter gasoline into …
How much does it cost to repair a power steering fluid leak? Most power steering fluid leak repairs cost between $150 and $600 for hoses, $300 to $900 for a pump, and $900 to $2,500 for a rack-and-pinion or steering gear, plus $50 to $150 for diagnosis; prices vary by vehicle, part quality, and labor …
What happens when the throttle position sensor goes bad When a throttle position sensor (TPS) goes bad, the engine computer loses accurate information about how far the throttle is open, leading to symptoms like rough or fluctuating idle, hesitation on acceleration, surging, stalling, poor fuel economy, harsh or erratic shifts (in automatics), illuminated warning lights, …
How to Raise the Suspension on a Car You can raise a car’s suspension by installing taller springs or adjustable coilovers, adding strut top spacers, fitting spring spacers, adjusting torsion bars (if equipped), or switching to air suspension with a higher ride-height setting; afterward, a professional alignment and safety checks are essential. Below is a …
What Is the Purpose of a Sequential Manual Transmission? A sequential manual transmission is designed to deliver faster, more consistent, and more reliable gear changes by allowing shifts only in sequence—up or down—enhancing performance and driver/rider control while reducing the chance of missed shifts. Common in motorcycles and competition vehicles, it prioritizes speed, precision, and …
What was the original biker gang? There isn’t a single, universally agreed “original biker gang.” The earliest continuously operating outlaw motorcycle club is widely recognized as the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, founded in 1935 in McCook, Illinois. In the post–World War II era, the Pissed Off Bastards of Bloomington (1945) and the Boozefighters MC (1946) helped …
How Traffic Lights Work Without Power They generally don’t—unless they have a built-in backup. When the grid goes down, most signals either go dark or switch to a fail-safe flashing mode powered by a cabinet battery backup (UPS). Where no backup exists, the intersection must be treated as an all-way stop, and agencies may deploy …
How TicketsatWork Handles Movie Tickets: Access, Savings, and Redemption Explained TicketsatWork sells discounted movie eTickets and gift cards through employer-backed perks portals; once you log in with your company credentials, you purchase theater-specific eTickets or codes at a reduced price and redeem them online or at the box office—often with a small service fee and …
Can you drive a car with a bad ABS module? Yes—most cars will still brake without ABS, but you’ll lose anti‑lock protection (and often stability/traction control), which lengthens stopping distances and raises crash risk, especially on wet, icy, or loose surfaces. If the red brake warning light is on, the pedal feels abnormal, a wheel …
How Long Does a Car Radiator Last? Most modern car radiators last about 8–12 years or roughly 100,000–150,000 miles; with proper maintenance and mild driving conditions, they can exceed 15 years, while harsh climates, heavy towing, or neglected coolant service can cut lifespan to 5–7 years. This article explains what influences radiator longevity, how to …
What Your Car’s Brand Says About You Your car’s brand typically signals your values, priorities, and lifestyle more than it reveals your personality. In practice, people and markets read brand badges as shorthand for things like status, practicality, eco-consciousness, performance, or tech-savviness—but these signals vary by region, model, and price tier. As automakers increasingly compete …
How air cooling works in a car—engine cooling and cabin A/C, explained In cars, “air-cooled” can refer to two different things: some engines (especially older or specialty models) shed heat directly to outside air using fins and a fan, while the air you feel inside the cabin is cooled by an air-conditioning system that chills …