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 Kinds of Car Mechanics Are There? Broadly, car mechanics include general automotive service technicians and specialists who focus on systems such as engines, transmissions, brakes, steering and suspension, electrical and electronics (including ADAS), heating and air conditioning, tires and quick service, emissions/inspection, diesel, hybrid/EV high-voltage, body/collision and paint, glass, performance tuning, fleet, motorsport, and …
How long does it take for a car battery to recharge itself? A car battery cannot recharge itself; it needs the vehicle’s alternator while driving or an external charger. In typical conditions, a moderately discharged 12-volt lead‑acid battery can recover enough charge for normal use after about 30–90 minutes of continuous highway driving, while a …
ABS Malfunction: What Really Happens and How to Respond When an anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunctions, your normal brakes typically still work, but the ABS and related stability aids may be disabled—meaning wheels can lock under hard braking, stopping distances on slick surfaces can increase, and an amber ABS warning light usually appears; drive cautiously …
What Size Is the Oil Drain Bolt for an Oil Change? There isn’t one universal size: most passenger vehicles use a metric oil drain plug with a 13–19 mm hex head—most commonly 14 mm or 17 mm—and threads such as M12×1.25/1.5, M14×1.5, or M16×1.5; typical tightening torque falls around 18–33 ft‑lb (25–45 N·m), but you …
Do all cars have seat belt pretensioners? No. Most new passenger vehicles in major markets include front-seat seat belt pretensioners as standard equipment, and many 2020s models add them in rear outboard seats, but pretensioners are not legally required everywhere and are still absent in some older models, certain trims, many rear seating positions, and …
How Long Will a Catalytic Converter Last? In most modern cars, a catalytic converter typically lasts 10–15 years or roughly 100,000–150,000 miles, and it can often endure for the life of the vehicle if the engine is well maintained. Longevity depends on driving patterns, engine health, fuel quality, and whether the converter is original-equipment or …
What Size Socket Do You Need for an Oil Pan? You won’t find a single universal size. For most cars, the oil drain plug takes a 13–17 mm socket—14 mm and 15 mm are especially common—while some use 19 mm or an internal hex (often 6 mm or 8 mm). If you’re removing the oil …
How much does it cost to Supercharge? It typically costs about $0.25–$0.60 per kWh to use a Tesla Supercharger in the United States, with non‑Tesla pay‑per‑use pricing often 10–30% higher unless you add the optional Supercharging Membership (around $12.99/month in the U.S.) that lowers the per‑kWh rate. In practical terms, a 10–80% session on a …
What is the oldest luxury car brand? Mercedes-Benz is widely regarded as the world’s oldest luxury car brand in continuous operation, with roots tracing back to Karl Benz’s 1886 Patent-Motorwagen and the “Mercedes” cars produced by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) from 1901; the modern Mercedes‑Benz marque was formed in 1926 after the Daimler–Benz merger. While other early …
What Brand Is a Lowrider? A lowrider is not a brand—it’s a style of customized vehicle (often cars or bicycles) built from many makes and models. In motorcycles, however, “Low Rider” is a specific model name used by Harley-Davidson, including the Low Rider S and Low Rider ST. What “lowrider” actually means In automotive culture, …
Who Invented the Taximeter? German inventor Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn is widely credited with inventing the modern taximeter, which he patented in 1891. His device standardized how urban cab fares were measured and charged, paving the way for regulated, metered taxi services around the world. What the Taximeter Is—and Why It Mattered A taximeter is …
What Happens If Your Power Steering Fluid Is Low If your power steering fluid is low, steering becomes heavier—especially at low speeds—while the system may whine or groan when you turn the wheel; continued driving can overheat and damage the pump and steering rack, so check the level, top up with the correct fluid if …
How an Automatic Gearbox Works An automatic gearbox uses hydraulically or electronically controlled clutches with planetary gearsets (or variable pulleys) to change ratios on its own, based on vehicle speed, engine load, and driver input. In most modern cars, a torque converter transmits and multiplies torque at low speeds, while a computer-controlled system engages specific …
What Power Steering Consists Of: The Parts Behind Lighter, Safer Steering Power steering consists of a mechanical steering gear connected to the wheels plus an assist system—either hydraulic (fluid and pump) or electric (motor and control unit)—that reduces the driver’s effort. In practice, that means a steering wheel and column, a steering gear (rack-and-pinion or …
What It Means When Your Car Says “Brake Assist” It generally means your vehicle’s emergency braking support is either actively helping you stop faster or there’s a fault in the system that needs attention; a brief message during hard braking is normal, but a persistent “Brake Assist” or “Service Brake Assist” warning deserves inspection. This …
What Cars Were Like in the 1930s In brief, 1930s cars blended bold new styling and important mechanical advances with the last gasp of prewar simplicity: think streamlined fenders and integrated trunks, straight‑six and V8 engines on body‑on‑frame chassis, four-wheel drum brakes (often still mechanical early in the decade), 6‑volt electrics, and cabins that were …
How Truck Air Brakes Work, Step by Step Truck air brakes use compressed air instead of hydraulic fluid: an engine-driven compressor builds and dries air, stores it in dual reservoirs, and the driver’s foot valve meters that air to relay valves that rapidly apply brake chambers at each axle, rotating S-cams or actuating disc calipers …
How to Fix White Smoke From an Engine White smoke from an engine usually means coolant is entering the combustion chamber—often due to a head-gasket, cracked head, or EGR-cooler failure—and the fix is to confirm the source, then repair or replace the failed component; if the “smoke” is only thin vapor on a cold morning …
Is Your Car Radiator Working? How to Tell Your radiator is likely working if the temperature gauge stabilizes near the middle after a few minutes of driving, the cabin heater produces steady heat, the coolant level stays consistent without frequent top-ups, the cooling fans cycle on and off as expected, and the upper radiator hose …
Open vs. Limited-Slip Differentials: What’s the Difference? An open differential lets left and right wheels turn at different speeds but can only deliver as much torque as the wheel with the least grip; a limited-slip differential resists excessive speed difference between wheels to send more torque to the wheel with better traction. In practical terms, …
How much does a brake job cost for a car For most cars in 2025, a standard brake job—replacing pads and rotors on one axle—typically costs $300–$800 at an independent shop, $450–$1,000+ at a dealership, and $600–$1,500+ for luxury, performance, heavy-duty trucks, or some EVs. Pads-only service runs about $150–$300 per axle, a brake fluid …
What “22” Means in Biker Culture Among bikers, “22” most commonly signifies the letter V—the 22nd letter of the alphabet—used as shorthand for the Vagos Motorcycle Club on “Support 22” gear; it’s also widely recognized in charity rides and patches referencing “22 a day,” a long-used statistic about veteran suicide. The meaning isn’t universal, though, …
What Are the Four Types of Combustion? The four types of combustion are rapid, slow, spontaneous, and explosive. These categories describe how quickly a fuel reacts with oxygen, whether an external spark is needed, and how the energy is released—as steady heat, visible flame, or a sudden pressure wave. Understanding these types helps explain everyday …
Will a Bad Spark Plug Still Spark? Yes—many “bad” spark plugs will still spark in open air or on a basic tester, but they can misfire under real engine conditions where pressure, heat, and fuel mixture demand a stronger spark. A completely failed plug (cracked insulator, internal short, or no gap) may not spark at …
How a Spark Plug Works A spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture in a gasoline engine by creating a high-voltage spark across a tiny gap at precisely timed moments, forming a flame kernel that grows into full combustion. It does this by channeling tens of thousands of volts from the ignition coil to jump the …
Why Your Car Smells Like an Animal Most “animal-like” odors in cars come from one of four sources: rodents nesting or dying in the HVAC/engine bay, pet residue trapped in fabrics, mold/mildew that mimics a “wet dog” smell, or organic contamination from food or wildlife. Start by checking the cabin air filter and HVAC intake, …
Why Nitrous Is Banned in Racing Nitrous oxide systems are banned or tightly restricted in many racing series primarily for safety, competitive parity, and enforcement reasons, though they remain legal in a number of drag-racing classes under strict rules. The decision varies by sanctioning body, but the common thread is reducing risk, containing speeds and …
What is the purpose of the occupant detection system The occupant detection system is designed to sense whether and where people are present, then use that information to control safety and comfort functions—most notably to enable, disable, or adapt airbag deployment and to trigger seatbelt reminders in vehicles, and to optimize lighting and HVAC in …
Why Some Countries Drive on the Left People drive on the left largely because of historical customs that were codified into law—most notably in Britain—and then spread through empire, trade, and engineering influence; today, roughly a third of countries (home to about 35% of the world’s population) still keep left, with no clear safety advantage …
What Happens When an Engine Thermostat Is Bad A failing engine thermostat can make an engine overheat if it’s stuck closed or run too cool if it’s stuck open, leading to warning lights, poor heater performance, worse fuel economy, higher emissions, and potential engine damage. The thermostat regulates coolant flow to keep the engine in …