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 the odometer is used today Today, odometers are used to record a vehicle’s total distance traveled for maintenance scheduling, legal documentation, resale valuation, fleet operations, insurance pricing, and emerging road-usage charging programs; most modern vehicles employ digital odometers integrated with onboard electronics and, increasingly, telematics systems. Beyond cars, odometers also guide upkeep and utilization …
What Is a Rack and Pinion? A rack and pinion is a gear mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear motion (and vice versa) by meshing a round gear (the pinion) with a straight, toothed bar (the rack). Common in vehicle steering and industrial automation, it provides precise, efficient, and reliable linear movement from a …
Will a Bad Wheel Bearing Make Noise in Reverse? Yes—an ailing wheel bearing can make noise in reverse, typically a humming, growling, or rumbling sound that rises with wheel speed. The character and loudness may change slightly when backing up because the load direction on the bearing flips, but a faulty bearing usually makes noise …
Does the United States have left-hand traffic? No. The United States uses right-hand traffic in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; the notable exception within U.S. jurisdiction is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where vehicles drive on the left. Most other inhabited U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American …
The four main types of automotive suspension systems The four commonly recognized types of automotive suspension systems—categorized by the spring medium that carries the vehicle’s weight—are: coil spring suspension, leaf spring suspension, torsion bar suspension, and air (including hydropneumatic) suspension. These categories describe how the vehicle is supported and how bumps are absorbed; in practice, …
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Car’s Suspension System? For most vehicles, common suspension repairs cost roughly $300–$1,500, while more extensive work runs $1,500–$5,000+. Luxury, air, or active/hydraulic systems can reach $2,000–$8,000+ depending on what fails. Prices vary by vehicle, parts quality, and local labor rates. Below is a clear breakdown of what …
What order should you jump‑start a car? Connect the cables in this order: red to the dead battery’s positive (+), red to the donor battery’s positive (+), black to the donor battery’s negative (−), and black to an unpainted metal ground on the dead car. Start the donor, wait a minute or two, then start …
The Advantage of a Two‑Stroke Diesel Engine The principal advantage of a two-stroke diesel engine is its higher power density—each cylinder produces a power stroke every crankshaft revolution—delivering more power and stronger low‑speed torque from a given size. In large, slow‑speed marine applications, two‑stroke diesels also achieve world‑leading fuel efficiency and can drive propellers directly …
Are Cars Still Made Out of Steel? Yes. Most cars are still largely made of steel—especially the structural “safety cage,” frames, and crash components—but modern vehicles are now multi‑material, combining high‑strength steels with aluminum, plastics, and composites to balance strength, weight, cost, efficiency, and repairability. The mix varies by model and segment, with electric vehicles …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Power Steering Rack? Replacing a power steering rack typically costs $1,000–$2,500 in the U.S., including parts, labor, alignment, and fluids. Mainstream sedans often fall around $900–$1,600, trucks and SUVs around $1,200–$2,500, and luxury or European models $1,800–$3,500. Prices vary based on whether the system is hydraulic or …
Identifying the Lowrider in Pixar’s Cars The lowrider in Cars is Ramone, and he’s modeled on a customized 1959 Chevrolet Impala—famous in real-life car culture as a quintessential platform for lowrider builds with hydraulics and bold paintwork. Ramone runs the body shop in Radiator Springs and embodies classic lowrider aesthetics throughout the franchise. Who Is …
How to Get Air Out of an Engine Cooling System The most reliable way to remove air from a cooling system is to vacuum-fill it with a cooling system vacuum tool; if that’s not available, bleed it by parking nose-up, setting the heater to hot, filling with the correct coolant using a spill-free funnel, and …
What Usually Fails on a CVT The parts that most often fail in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are the steel belt or chain and the pulleys (variators), followed by hydraulic control components (valve body/solenoids), bearings, seals and pump, the launch device (torque converter or start clutch), fluid coolers and lines, and—less commonly—speed/temperature sensors or …
How to Fix a Car That Has Sugar in the Gas Tank If you suspect sugar was put in your gas tank, do not start the car; have it towed, drain and remove the tank, flush the fuel system, replace filters, and inspect or replace the fuel pump and injectors before refilling with fresh gasoline. …
What Is a Mechanical Issue? A mechanical issue is a problem arising from the physical components of a machine—such as moving parts, fasteners, bearings, seals, or structures—that prevents it from operating as designed. In practical terms, it covers failures caused by wear, misalignment, breakage, deformation, poor lubrication, corrosion, or contamination, distinguishing it from purely electrical, …
How Often Do You Really Need to Change Your Oil? For most modern gasoline cars using synthetic oil, plan an oil change every 7,500–10,000 miles or about once a year (whichever comes first), or simply follow your vehicle’s oil-life monitor; if you drive in “severe” conditions—lots of short trips, extreme heat/cold, towing, dusty roads—shorten that …
How Much Does a Car Ignition Coil Cost in 2025? For most cars in 2025, a single ignition coil typically costs $30–$180 for quality aftermarket parts or $120–$300 for OEM/dealer parts; coil packs are usually $100–$400. Installed, the total job commonly runs $150–$900 depending on access and labor rates, and more if multiple coils and …
What “Check Injection System” Means on Your Car It’s a dashboard warning that the engine control unit has detected a fault in the fuel/air injection and emissions system—often related to injectors, fuel pressure, sensors, EGR/DPF components, or wiring. While the car may still run, continued driving can cause damage or trigger limp mode; read fault …
How Long Does It Take to Fully Charge a Car Battery? For a typical 12‑volt car battery, a smart charger takes about 4–8 hours at 10 A, 8–12 hours at 6 A, and 24–48 hours or more on a 1–2 A trickle/maintainer; an alternator can recover a partial discharge with 30–120 minutes of driving but …
Where Most Vehicle Fires Start Most vehicle fires start in the engine compartment—specifically the engine, running gear, or wheel area—according to repeated analyses by U.S. fire-safety agencies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These areas combine combustible fluids, high heat, and complex electrical systems, making them the most common origin points for highway …
Can You Buy a NASCAR? What’s Possible, What It Costs, and How to Do It Yes—you can buy a NASCAR race car, but most listings are retired or decommissioned stock cars (often missing current-spec parts), not turnkey entries for today’s NASCAR Cup Series. Buying a modern “Next Gen” Cup car that you can actually race …
How Much It Costs to Fix a Catalytic Converter in 2025 Expect to pay roughly $900 to $2,800 to replace a catalytic converter on most gasoline cars in 2025, including parts and labor. Prices are higher for luxury models, trucks with multiple converters, hybrids, and vehicles in states that require CARB-certified parts; those jobs often …
What the Battery Light on Your Dashboard Really Means The battery symbol on your dashboard is a charging-system warning: it means your vehicle’s 12‑volt battery is not being charged properly—usually because of an alternator, belt, wiring, or voltage‑regulator issue—and the car is running on limited battery reserve. If it illuminates while driving, reduce electrical loads …
Do insurers total a car when airbags deploy? No—airbag deployment by itself does not automatically mean a car is totaled. Insurers declare a total loss when the estimated repair cost plus associated costs and the vehicle’s salvage value meet or exceed the vehicle’s actual cash value under state rules and company policy. Because replacing airbags, …
AWD Viscous Coupling: The Simple, Self-Acting Device That Sends Grip Where It’s Needed An AWD viscous coupling is a sealed, mechanical torque-transfer unit that uses interleaved plates submerged in silicone fluid to automatically route power between axles when they spin at different speeds; it needs no sensors or software, engages progressively as slip occurs, and …
Car Engine Basics: How Internal Combustion Engines Work Today A car engine converts the chemical energy in fuel into mechanical motion by drawing in air and fuel, compressing the mixture, igniting it, and harnessing the expanding gases to drive pistons that turn a crankshaft. The core pieces include cylinders, pistons and rings, connecting rods, a …
Can a Car Run Without an ECU? Yes—but only certain vehicles. Older cars with carburetors or purely mechanical diesel injection can operate without an electronic control unit (ECU), while modern fuel‑injected vehicles will not run at all without one. In contemporary cars, the ECU (often called ECM or PCM) is central to fuel, ignition, emissions, …
What are the three main biofuels? The three main biofuels are bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas (often upgraded to biomethane). These fuels are produced from biological materials such as crops, agricultural residues, and organic waste, and are used primarily in transportation, electricity generation, and heating. Below, we explain how each is made, where it’s used, and …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Fuel Injectors? In 2025, replacing fuel injectors typically costs $200–$600 for a single port-fuel-injection (gasoline) injector, $400–$1,500 for a single direct-injection (GDI) injector, and $700–$1,800 for a single diesel injector. Replacing a full set generally runs $600–$2,000 (port fuel), $1,200–$4,000 (GDI), and $2,500–$6,500+ (diesel), depending on vehicle, parts …
Why a Carburetor Acts Like a Toilet: The Float-and-Valve Analogy Explained A carburetor acts like a toilet because both use a float and a valve to keep a reservoir at a set level: when the level drops, the valve opens to refill; when the level rises, the valve shuts to prevent overflow. This simple control …