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.
Signs of a Bad Transmission: What to Watch For If your car’s transmission is failing, you’ll often notice slipping or delayed shifts, harsh or grinding gear changes, shuddering on acceleration, whining or clunking noises, a burning smell, warning lights, and red or brown fluid leaks. These symptoms indicate the gearbox isn’t transmitting power correctly and …
Where Seatbelt Pretensioners Are Located Seatbelt pretensioners are typically located in one or more of three places: inside the belt retractor (usually in the B‑pillar or within the seat), inside the buckle assembly at the seat base, and sometimes at the outboard lap-belt anchor near the vehicle’s floor or sill. Exact placement varies by vehicle …
Brake Lights Not Working: Can You Be Pulled Over? Yes. In most jurisdictions, driving with one or more inoperative brake lights is an equipment violation that gives police lawful grounds to stop your vehicle. Officers can issue a warning or a citation because traffic codes typically require working stop lamps for safety; the exact requirements—how …
Can I still drive if my power steering goes out? Yes, most cars remain steerable without power assist, but the wheel becomes very heavy—especially at low speeds—making quick maneuvers difficult and increasing crash risk. The safest move is to slow down, signal, and pull over as soon as it’s safe, then arrange a tow. If …
How Occupant Detection Systems Work Occupant detection systems use a mix of sensors—such as weight and pressure pads, seat-buckle switches, cameras, infrared, and millimeter-wave radar—combined with algorithms that fuse data to determine whether someone is present, where they are, and in some cases who they are and what they’re doing; the results trigger safety features …
What Are the Key Parts of an Engine? The essential parts of a modern internal-combustion engine include the engine block and cylinders; pistons, piston rings, and connecting rods; the crankshaft and flywheel; the cylinder head with valves and camshaft(s); the timing system; intake and exhaust systems; fuel delivery and ignition; lubrication and cooling circuits; and, …
Pretensioner Seat Belts: How They Work and Why They Matter A pretensioner seat belt is a vehicle safety device that instantly tightens the seat belt at the very start of a crash, removing slack so the occupant is held firmly in the optimal position. Typically activated by sensors through the airbag control module, pretensioners use …
What’s the cheapest good car you can buy right now? It depends on where you live, but as of 2025 the standouts are: United States—Nissan Versa (lowest-priced mainstream new car with decent safety and space); Europe—Dacia Sandero (the value benchmark); India—Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 for the lowest price, with the Tata Tiago as a stronger …
Are manual gearboxes being phased out? Yes—manual gearboxes are steadily being phased out in most new cars worldwide, though they remain in a shrinking niche of enthusiast models and in some cost-sensitive markets. Automatics, dual-clutch units, and electric powertrains have overtaken manuals due to efficiency, emissions rules, performance, and consumer demand, and that shift is …
How Long Can a Timing Belt Last? Most manufacturers cap the maximum service life of a timing belt at 90,000–120,000 miles (145,000–193,000 km) or 7–10 years, whichever comes first; a few engines allow up to about 150,000 miles (240,000 km) or 10 years, but this is uncommon and not a guarantee. In practice, the “maximum” …
Which side of the road does Russia drive on? Russia drives on the right-hand side of the road, with most vehicles featuring left-hand steering. This aligns Russia with the majority of continental Europe and means visitors should expect right-lane traffic nationwide, with no regional exceptions. The basics of driving orientation in Russia Throughout the Russian …
Which countries have left-hand traffic? Several countries drive on the left, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and many others across the Caribbean and Pacific. In total, about a quarter of the world’s countries and territories—and roughly a third of the global population—use left-hand …
What Happens When a Turbocharger Fails When a turbocharger fails, you’ll typically notice a sharp loss of power, unusual noises (whine, siren, or rattle), smoke from the exhaust, and a check-engine light—continuing to drive risks major engine damage from oil starvation, debris ingestion, or, in rare diesel cases, a runaway event. Below, we explain what’s …
What “octane” means in slang In slang, octane refers to energy, intensity, or potency—most often heard in the phrase “high-octane” to mean high-energy or adrenaline-fueled. The term borrows from gasoline’s octane rating and is used to describe people, events, music, workouts, coffee, or content that feels powerful and amped up; “low-octane” means the opposite, suggesting …
Are Carbureted Engines Reliable? Yes—carbureted engines can be reliable when properly maintained and used in consistent conditions, but compared with modern fuel-injected systems they are generally less consistent day-to-day and more sensitive to temperature, altitude, and fuel quality. Reliability depends heavily on upkeep, parts condition, and how the machine is used and stored. What Reliability …
What is a road train? A road train is a heavy truck pulling two or more trailers in a single, articulated combination to move large loads efficiently over long distances; most common in Australia, they also operate in parts of Canada, the United States, and the Nordics under strict permits. In practice, a powerful prime …
Will a timing belt last 20 years? Usually not. Most automakers specify timing belt replacement by both mileage and time—typically 60,000–105,000 miles or 5–10 years, whichever comes first. Even with low mileage, rubber ages and the belt’s internal cords fatigue; by 20 years, the risk of sudden failure is high and the potential engine damage …
Why Californians Say “Freeway” Instead of “Highway” Californians favor “freeway” because, in state law and everyday practice, it precisely describes the controlled‑access roads that dominate the state’s urban network—roads without cross streets or driveways—whereas “highway” is a broader legal term that includes everything from small rural routes to multi-lane arterials. The word “freeway” took root …
How a Taxi Meter Calculates A taxi meter calculates fare by combining a base “flag fall” with distance-based charges while the vehicle moves above a set speed and time-based charges when it is slow or stopped, plus any surcharges such as tolls or night rates. In practice, the meter converts movement (from a vehicle speed …
What Is an Auto Engine? An auto engine is the machine in a car that converts energy into motion—traditionally a heat engine burning fuel (gasoline or diesel) to spin the wheels, while today many vehicles also use, or are powered solely by, electric motors. In everyday usage “auto engine” most often refers to an internal …
What Is the Largest Truck Size? The largest trucks in existence are off-highway ultra-class mining dump trucks, led by the BelAZ 75710, which is about 20.6 meters long, 8.16 meters tall, 9.87 meters wide, and carries up to 450 metric tonnes of payload. On public roads, the biggest legal combinations are Australian road trains—on designated …
Why your transmission makes a sound when you shift into Drive In most cases, a noise when you shift into Drive points to fluid/pressure issues, worn mounts, or slack in the driveline; occasionally it’s normal engagement clunk on an incline as the parking pawl releases. The character of the sound—clunk, grind, whine, or click—helps pinpoint …
What Is Considered Major Damage to a Car Major damage generally means harm that compromises a vehicle’s structural integrity, safety systems, or economic viability—such as frame/unibody deformation, significant suspension or powertrain failure, airbag-triggering crashes with structural intrusion, fire or flood exposure, high‑voltage battery damage in EVs, or any incident that results in a total loss …
What “FI DOHC” Means in Automotive and Motorcycle Specifications It means fuel-injected, double overhead camshaft. In plain terms, “FI” indicates the engine uses fuel injection rather than a carburetor, and “DOHC” means the engine has two camshafts mounted above the cylinders per bank. Together, the designation signals a modern, efficient engine designed for better performance, …
Can You Still Drive With a Bad ECM? Yes—sometimes you can drive briefly with a failing Engine Control Module (ECM), but it’s risky and not recommended. Depending on how it’s failing, the car may run in “limp” mode or stall unexpectedly, and continuing to drive can damage the engine, transmission, or catalytic converter. If severe, …
What Are Turn Signals? Turn signals are the blinking lights on vehicles that indicate a driver’s intention to turn or change lanes, helping others anticipate and react safely. Found on cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles (via hand signals), and increasingly on e-bikes and scooters, they are legally required in most countries, standardized for color, brightness, and …
How to go through a carwash in an automatic car For most conveyor tunnel car washes, keep the engine on, fold in mirrors, close all windows, disable automatic wipers and braking assists, select Neutral (or use your vehicle’s Car Wash/Free Roll mode), keep your hands off the wheel and foot off the brake, and follow …
What does the ignition coil do? The ignition coil converts a vehicle’s low-voltage battery power (typically 12 volts) into high-voltage energy—often 20,000 to 40,000 volts or more—so a spark can jump the spark plug gap and ignite the air‑fuel mixture in the engine. Without a properly functioning ignition coil, combustion becomes weak or fails entirely, …
What Tells Fuel Injectors to Open? The engine control unit (ECU), also called the powertrain control module (PCM), commands fuel injectors to open by sending rapid electrical pulses timed to crankshaft and camshaft positions; the pulse width (duration) determines how much fuel is delivered. In modern engines, the ECU continuously adjusts those pulses using data …
What Is the Assembly Line of a Car? A car assembly line is a coordinated, step-by-step production system in which a vehicle moves through a sequence of workstations where parts are added, software is loaded, and quality checks are performed until the car is complete. In modern plants, this process marries human skill with robotics, …