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.
The Downsides of an Open Differential: What Drivers Should Know An open differential’s main drawbacks are poor traction when one wheel loses grip, “one-wheel” spin under power, reliance on brake-based traction aids, inconsistent performance on snow, mud, or off-road terrain, and potential extra brake and tire wear. In everyday terms, an open diff is inexpensive …
Why Dodge Is Not in NASCAR Dodge is not banned from NASCAR; it is simply not participating. After withdrawing its factory program following the 2012 season, the automaker has not re-entered under current rules, which remain open to any manufacturer that completes NASCAR’s approval process. As of the 2025 season, the Cup Series fields cars …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an ECU Unit? Expect to pay roughly $500 to $2,500 for an Engine Control Unit (ECU) replacement in the U.S., including parts, programming, and labor. Mainstream vehicles often fall between $600 and $1,200, while premium European or performance models can run $1,500 to $4,000 or more. In the …
Is It Smart to Buy a New Car Right Now? For many buyers, yes—if you can secure a below‑MSRP price or subsidized financing on a vehicle that fits your needs and budget. New‑car inventories are healthier than during the pandemic and discounts have widened in several segments, but financing rates and insurance premiums remain elevated …
What Makes a Clunking Noise When Reversing A clunk when reversing is most often caused by drivetrain slack (in the differential, CV joints, or U‑joints), loose or worn mounts, brake pads shifting in their calipers, or play in suspension bushings and joints. In many cases it’s a single thunk as load reverses; persistent or loud …
Were cars common in the 1930s? In the United States, cars were broadly common by the 1930s, though the Great Depression slowed new sales; in much of Europe and the rest of the world, car ownership was expanding but still limited to a minority. Many people—especially outside North America—continued to rely on public transport, walking, …
Symptoms of a Sticking Caliper Slide Pin A sticking caliper slide pin typically shows up as uneven brake pad wear (often the inner pad wearing much faster), the vehicle pulling to one side under braking, brake drag that makes a wheel run hot, a burning smell or smoke from one corner, squealing or grinding noises, …
What Is a Fuel Gauge in a Car? A car’s fuel gauge is the instrument that indicates how much gasoline or diesel remains in the tank, typically via a dashboard needle or digital display connected to a fuel-level sensor in the tank. In modern vehicles, the reading is filtered by the car’s electronics and may …
How much does it cost to replace a steering pump? Expect a typical power steering pump replacement to cost $300–$1,200 at a repair shop in the U.S., with most common vehicles landing around $450–$800. Parts usually run $150–$700 and labor $150–$600, depending on the vehicle, pump type, and local labor rates. Note: many newer cars …
Is Fixing Power Steering a Big Job? It depends: minor fixes like topping up fluid, replacing a belt, or swapping a leaking hose are quick and relatively inexpensive, while major repairs such as replacing a steering rack or an electric power steering (EPS) unit can be labor-intensive and costly. In practical terms, small repairs can …
What vehicles did Ford make in 1975? In 1975, Ford built a broad lineup that in the United States included cars like the Pinto, Mustang II, Maverick, Granada, Gran Torino, Elite, LTD, Thunderbird, and LTD-based wagons; trucks and vans such as the F-Series (with the newly introduced F-150), Bronco, Ranchero, Econoline/Club Wagon (all-new generation), and …
What Triggers Traffic Lights Traffic lights are triggered by a combination of programmed timing and real-time inputs: sensors in or above the roadway detect vehicles and bicycles, push buttons register pedestrian calls, and special systems grant priority to emergency and transit vehicles. A signal controller then sequences the phases within strict safety rules—minimum green, yellow …
Does Australia Drive on the Left? Yes—Australia drives on the left side of the road, with vehicles typically having the steering wheel on the right. This means you overtake on the right, travel clockwise through roundabouts, and keep left on multi-lane roads unless overtaking or directed otherwise. Where and Why Australia Drives on the Left …
What Is the Most Reliable Budget Car? The Toyota Corolla—particularly the 2020–2024 models and the 2020–2024 Corolla Hybrid—stands out as the most reliably “budget” car for most buyers, thanks to consistently excellent reliability ratings, low ownership costs, strong safety performance, and wide parts/servicing availability. In markets where pricing varies, the Corolla typically stays within the …
What Is an Automotive Assembly Line? An automotive assembly line is a coordinated production system in which a vehicle is built step-by-step at sequential workstations as it moves along a conveyor or guided path; in modern factories, this includes a mix of human labor, robotics, and digital controls. The concept, pioneered for cars by Henry …
What a Car’s Suspension Does—and Why It Matters A car’s suspension keeps the tires pressed to the road, absorbs bumps, controls body motions like roll and pitch, and sets the balance between comfort, handling, and braking. In practice, it’s the system of springs, dampers, and linkages that supports the vehicle’s weight, manages how forces move …
The Correct Order to Replace a Car Battery Disconnect the negative (–) terminal first, then the positive (+); remove the hold-down and the old battery; install the new battery; reconnect the positive (+) terminal first, then the negative (–). That order minimizes short circuits and sparks. Below, we explain why the sequence matters, what tools …
Which country switched from left to right driving? Sweden is the best-known example: the country switched from left- to right-hand driving on 3 September 1967 in a meticulously planned national changeover known as “Dagen H” (H-Day). Several other nations have made similar shifts—most notably Iceland (1968), Nigeria (1972), Ghana (1974), and Myanmar (1970)—usually to align …
Australia’s Longest Road Trains: What the Law Allows Up to 53.5 metres (about 176 feet) is the maximum length generally permitted for road trains on public roads in Australia; in limited cases and on specified routes—mainly in Western Australia and the Northern Territory—authorities may approve longer combinations of around 60 metres under special Performance‑Based Standards …
How a Transmission Works in Simple Terms A transmission lets the engine stay in its “happy zone” while the car speeds up, slows down, and climbs hills by changing gear ratios between the engine and the wheels; in simple terms, it multiplies torque at low speeds and reduces engine revs at high speeds so the …
What Are the Parts of Car Brakes? The main parts of car brakes include the friction components (disc rotors and pads or drums and shoes), hydraulic and power-assist units (pedal, booster, master cylinder, fluid, lines and hoses), control modules and sensors (ABS/ESC, wheel-speed sensors), and parking-brake mechanisms; hybrids and EVs also add regenerative braking but …
Best Car Brand for Technology in 2025 The most compelling technology leaders today are Mercedes-Benz for certified, road-legal automated driving and safety integration, and Tesla for software-first design, fast over-the-air (OTA) updates, efficiency, and a best-in-class charging ecosystem; for value-driven innovation, Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai, Kia, Genesis) is hard to beat. The right choice depends …
What the Battery Symbol Means on Your Car’s Dashboard The battery symbol on a car’s dashboard is a charging-system warning light. If it illuminates and stays on after the engine starts—or comes on while driving—it signals that the alternator or charging circuit is not supplying enough voltage to keep the vehicle powered, and the car …
What Is a Pinion on a Car? A pinion on a car is a small gear that meshes with a larger gear or a linear rack to transmit motion or torque; most commonly, it refers to the steering pinion in rack-and-pinion steering and the drive pinion inside the differential, though the starter motor also uses …
What is an engine and what are its types? An engine is a system that converts an input (such as fuel, heat, electricity, or data) into useful output (mechanical power or computed results). In the physical world, engines primarily produce motion or torque; in computing, “engines” are core software components that perform specialized tasks like …
Is a higher gear ratio faster or slower? It depends on what “higher” means: a higher numerical gear ratio (more reduction, like 4.10:1 vs 3.55:1) makes the wheels turn slower at a given engine/cadence but increases torque; a higher/taller gear (like 6th vs 3rd), which is a numerically lower ratio, lets you go faster at …
Do all African countries drive on the left? No. Only 14 African countries drive on the left; the vast majority—roughly three-quarters—use right-hand traffic. Left-driving nations are clustered in Southern and Eastern Africa, plus two island states, reflecting colonial and regional influences. Most of North, West, and Central Africa drive on the right, aligning with continental …
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Electronic Throttle Control? Most electronic throttle control repairs cost $100–$300 for cleaning or a relearn/calibration, while replacing the throttle body typically runs about $350–$900 on mainstream vehicles and $800–$1,500+ on larger trucks and luxury models, including parts and labor; diagnostics usually add $120–$200 if not applied toward the …
What are the components of the brake system on a truck? In brief: a truck’s brake system is built around an air supply (compressor, dryer, reservoirs), control valves and pedals, foundation brakes at each wheel (drum or disc with chambers and actuators), parking/emergency spring brakes, electronic controls like ABS/EBS, trailer brake interfaces, and driver monitoring …
The Different Windshield Wiper Settings, Explained Most modern vehicles offer these primary windshield wiper settings: Off, Mist/Single Wipe, Intermittent (INT) or Automatic (AUTO) rain‑sensing, Low (LO), High (HI), and Wash/Wipe; many also include separate rear wiper modes. These settings control how often and how fast the blades sweep to match conditions from light drizzle to …