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.
Where Did “Suicide Doors” Get Their Name? They were nicknamed “suicide doors” because early rear-hinged car doors could fly open at speed and, caught by the airstream, pull occupants out or make closing them dangerously difficult—risks heightened in an era of weak latches and no seat belts. The term arose as motoring slang in the …
Does 0% Oil Life Mean No Oil? No—0% oil life does not mean your engine has no oil. It indicates the engine’s oil has reached the end of its calculated service life and should be changed immediately. Most vehicles still have oil in the pan at 0%, but the oil’s protective additives are considered depleted. …
Which car is the most unsafe to drive? There isn’t a single universally “most unsafe” car, because safety depends on model year, region, equipment, and who drives it. In recent U.S. data, however, the Mitsubishi Mirage stands out: an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) analysis released in 2023 found the Mirage had the highest …
How Much Is an Engine System? 2025 Price Guide Across Vehicles and Industries It depends on the application: a typical passenger-car engine system replacement runs about $4,500–$12,000 installed, hybrids and EV powertrains often cost $8,000–$20,000+, marine and aircraft engines range from tens of thousands to millions, and industrial generator engines span $10,000 to $1 million+. …
What “2000cc” Means in a Car It denotes engine displacement: 2000 cubic centimeters, or 2.0 liters, which is the total volume swept by all the pistons inside the engine’s cylinders. It indicates engine size, not power output, and is often written as “2.0L.” Below, we explain what displacement measures, how it relates to performance and …
How Much It Costs to Replace a Differential in 2025 For most mainstream cars, SUVs, and light trucks in 2025, a differential replacement typically costs $1,500 to $4,000 all-in; heavy-duty trucks and high-end AWD or electronic limited-slip systems can run $3,000 to $8,500. A professional rebuild can be cheaper—roughly $800 to $2,500—if the housing is …
Why Lowriders Resonate in Mexican and Mexican American Communities Many Mexicans—especially Mexican Americans—are drawn to lowriders because the cars function as moving works of art, expressions of identity and pride, and hubs for family and community life. The tradition grew from postwar barrios in the United States, spread through car clubs and culture across the …
How Many Horsepower Is a 2.4‑Liter Engine? There isn’t a single horsepower figure for a 2.4‑liter engine. Depending on design and tuning, outputs commonly range from about 150 to over 300 horsepower. In recent models, naturally aspirated 2.4‑liter engines tend to make roughly 160–200 hp, while modern turbocharged versions often produce about 220–310+ hp, with …
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Car Wiring Issue? Most car wiring repairs range from $150 to $600 for common faults, while complex jobs like replacing a dash or engine harness can run $1,000 to $3,000 or more. Prices vary with the vehicle, the location of the fault, parts availability, and shop labor …
What Happens When a Coil Goes Bad on a Car A failing ignition coil typically causes engine misfires, rough idle, loss of power, hard starts or no start, and a flashing or steady check-engine light; continued driving can overheat and ruin the catalytic converter, so the fix is usually to replace the bad coil (and …
How to Spot a Chop Shop Look for clusters of telltale signs: damaged or high-end vehicles arriving at odd hours, mismatched or missing plates, piles of stripped parts (wheels, airbags, catalytic converters), the sounds of grinders or torches, chemical fumes, cash-only parts sales without paperwork, and operators who refuse IDs or receipts. If you notice …
What “Vehicle Condition” Means Vehicle condition refers to the overall state of a car—mechanical, structural, cosmetic, electrical, and documented history—that determines how safely and reliably it operates and how much it’s worth. In practice, it’s a holistic assessment that covers how the vehicle looks, runs, stops, and has been cared for, including any damage, repairs, …
What’s Inside an Exhaust Muffler An exhaust muffler usually contains a metal shell housing a network of perforated tubes, baffles and chambers, sometimes with sound-absorbing packing (fiberglass, basalt, or steel wool), and often a tuned side-branch resonator; some modern designs add vacuum- or motor-actuated valves to change sound. Together, these elements reflect, cancel, and absorb …
What Car Is a Lowrider? A lowrider isn’t a single model of car—it’s any vehicle that’s been intentionally modified to ride very close to the ground, usually with hydraulic or air suspension that can raise, lower, tilt, or “hop” on command, paired with distinctive custom paint, wire wheels, and detailed interiors. In practice, most lowriders …
How Much Does a Daytona 500 NASCAR Cost? A race-ready NASCAR Cup Series “Next Gen” car prepared for the Daytona 500 typically costs about $300,000–$450,000 for the hardware alone, and fielding it for the event (engine lease, tires, spares, crew, travel, and logistics) often brings the single-race outlay into the $500,000–$1 million range for competitive …
Smart Car vs. Regular Car: What Really Sets Them Apart A smart car is a software-defined, connected vehicle that leverages sensors, onboard computing, and over-the-air updates to add features and improve over time; a regular car lacks persistent connectivity and advanced software, relying primarily on mechanical systems and the driver. In practice, smart cars integrate …
Can You Drive With a Bad Electronic Throttle Control? Yes, you might be able to drive briefly if your electronic throttle control (ETC) is failing, but it’s not recommended; many vehicles enter “limp” mode with sharply reduced power, and faults can lead to stalling or unpredictable acceleration, creating a safety risk. In most cases, the …
Who Is the Greatest Racer Ever? There’s no universally accepted “greatest racer ever,” but if one name must be chosen across modern motor racing, Lewis Hamilton presents the strongest all-around case based on record portfolio, longevity, and depth of competition; within their own disciplines, Sébastien Loeb (rally) and Valentino Rossi (motorcycles) stand as the most …
Should I turn off regenerative braking on the highway? No—most drivers should keep regenerative braking enabled on the highway. For steady cruising, choose a low or adaptive regen setting (or a “coast” mode if your car offers it) to maintain momentum, but leave regen available for unexpected slowdowns and long descents where it recovers energy …
How often does a car need an oil change? Most modern cars using synthetic oil need an oil change every 7,500–10,000 miles (12,000–16,000 km) or about every 6–12 months, whichever comes first; if you drive in severe conditions—frequent short trips, extreme heat or cold, heavy stop‑and‑go, towing, or dusty roads—plan on 3,000–5,000 miles (5,000–8,000 km) …
Which sensor do you need for a traffic light circuit For a simple hobby traffic light circuit, an infrared reflective proximity sensor (e.g., TCRT5000 module) is usually the easiest and cheapest choice; for real-world, vehicle-actuated intersections, an in‑pavement inductive loop detector is the industry standard, with microwave radar or video analytics used as modern alternatives. …
What a Harmonic Balancer Does: Protecting Your Engine from Torsional Vibration The harmonic balancer—also called a crankshaft damper—absorbs and dissipates harmful torsional vibrations in an internal combustion engine’s crankshaft, preventing fatigue, maintaining smooth operation, and often doubling as the front pulley and timing reference. Mounted on the nose of the crankshaft, it stabilizes the rotating …
How Expensive Is Drive Roadside Assistance? Expect most roadside assistance to cost $75–$150 for simple, one-off services (jump-starts, lockouts, tire changes), $100–$350 or more for tows depending on distance, and $50–$200+ per year for memberships; insurance add-ons typically run $5–$20 per month. Prices vary by location, vehicle type, time of day, and whether you choose …
Should You Change Your Oil at 30 Percent? What That Dashboard Number Really Means In most cases, no—you don’t need to change your oil immediately at 30% oil life remaining. That reading usually means you still have usable life left, and you can plan the service within the next few weeks or 1,500–3,000 miles, depending …
What Is the Cheapest Car Right Now? It Depends on Where You Live There isn’t a single global “lowest price” car, because new-car pricing varies by country, taxes, safety rules, and what qualifies as a car. As of 2024–2025, the least expensive new, road‑legal models typically include China’s mini EVs (such as the Chery QQ …
How fast can you legally drive on Germany’s Autobahn? On unrestricted sections of Germany’s Autobahn, there is no fixed top speed for cars and motorcycles; drivers are advised to keep to 130 km/h (81 mph) but may go faster if conditions permit and no limit is posted. Many stretches, however, do have posted or dynamic …
What the engine system light means The engine system light—often labeled “Check Engine,” “Service Engine Soon,” or the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)—means your vehicle’s computer has detected a problem affecting emissions, engine, or powertrain operation; a steady light typically indicates a non-urgent fault you should diagnose soon, while a flashing light signals a severe misfire …
Who is the famous car racer? There isn’t a single, definitive “the famous car racer.” Globally, the names most people mean are Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher in Formula 1, with Max Verstappen dominating recent seasons; in the United States, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty define NASCAR fame; and Mario Andretti remains a cross‑discipline icon. …
How to Know If It’s Time to Replace Your Car If your car is unsafe, costs more to keep on the road than it’s worth, or can’t reliably meet your daily needs, it’s time to consider replacing it. In practice, that decision hinges on safety red flags, a clear-eyed cost comparison (repairs and running costs …
ECU Replacement Cost: What Drivers Should Expect to Pay in 2025 Replacing an engine control unit (ECU) typically costs $600 to $2,500 in the U.S., including parts, programming, and labor; economy models may come in under $1,000, while European luxury and performance vehicles can exceed $3,000 to $4,500. The exact price depends on the vehicle, …