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 Is the Most Common Cause of Car Fires? The most common cause of car fires is mechanical failure or malfunction, especially in the engine compartment, according to recent analyses of U.S. highway vehicle fires by fire agencies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). While electrical faults also rank highly and crashes are …
Is 70,000 Miles a Lot for a 10-Year-Old Car? No—70,000 miles on a 10-year-old car is generally considered low mileage. That averages to about 7,000 miles per year, well below the typical U.S. range of roughly 12,000–15,000 miles annually. While that makes the car attractive on paper, the real decision should factor in maintenance history, …
What Is the 5-Step Seat Belt Test? The 5-Step Seat Belt Test is a quick checklist used by child passenger safety experts to decide whether a child can safely ride using the vehicle’s built-in seat belt without a booster. The five checks are: the child sits all the way back, knees bend naturally at the …
What the “blinker stick” is called in a car The “blinker stick” is commonly called the turn signal lever or turn signal stalk; in many countries it’s known as the indicator stalk. It’s part of the steering column’s multifunction (combination) switch used to signal left or right turns and often to control lights and other …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Distributor? Expect to pay roughly $300 to $900 total in the U.S. to replace a distributor on most older vehicles, with parts typically $150 to $600 and labor $100 to $300 (about 1–2 hours). Rare or European applications can reach $1,000–$1,200+. Many modern cars don’t have distributors …
Are traffic lights sensored or timed? Both. Many intersections run on fixed schedules, many use sensors to react to traffic, and an increasing number use adaptive systems that adjust in real time. In practice, cities mix these approaches by location and time of day, so one corridor may be coordinated on a timetable during rush …
Does the battery light mean a bad battery or a bad alternator? The battery warning light usually signals a problem with the charging system—most often the alternator or its voltage regulator—not the battery itself. However, a weak or failing battery can also trigger the light, especially under heavy electrical load or in cold weather. Understanding …
What is a “crossover”? Definitions, uses, and why context matters A “crossover” generally describes a point where two things intersect or combine, or a design that splits and routes elements into distinct paths; the exact meaning depends on the field—ranging from media mash‑ups and genetic DNA exchange to speaker filters, crossover SUVs, and financial chart …
What “Clutch Up” Means: Definition, Origins, and How to Use It Clutch up means to perform exceptionally well under pressure at a critical moment, often securing a win or decisive outcome. You’ll hear it most in sports and video gaming, but it also shows up in workplaces and everyday conversation whenever someone delivers when it …
What Was a Popular Car in the 1960s? The Ford Mustang stands out as one of the most popular cars of the 1960s, especially in the United States, while the Volkswagen Beetle was a global best-seller throughout the decade. Popularity varied by region and market segment, but these two models became defining symbols of the …
Understanding the Gears on an Automatic Transmission The gears on an automatic transmission are the selector positions—typically P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive)—with many vehicles also offering additional ranges or modes such as L/1/2/3, S (Sport), M (+/−), OD (Overdrive), or B (engine braking). While the driver chooses a range, the transmission …
What Are the 7 Circuits of a Carburetor? The seven fundamental circuits of a conventional automotive carburetor are: idle, off-idle (transition), main metering (high-speed), power enrichment, accelerator pump, choke (starting), and float/needle-and-seat (fuel bowl supply). Together, they meter fuel and air correctly from cold start through wide-open throttle. Below is a clear breakdown of what …
What is the main problem with diesel engines? The core problem with diesel engines is their harmful emissions—especially nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM)—which are intrinsically difficult to control under real-world driving. Managing these pollutants requires complex after-treatment systems that add cost, weight, maintenance challenges, and reliability risks, pushing regulators and markets away …
Regenerative Braking: What It Is and How It Works Regenerative braking is a system—primarily in electric and hybrid vehicles—that recovers energy during deceleration by turning the electric motor into a generator, sending electricity back to the battery and reducing reliance on friction brakes. In practice, it can improve efficiency most in stop‑and‑go conditions (often adding …
What Is the Most Common Brake Failure? The most common brake failure is brake fade—an abrupt loss or reduction of braking power caused by overheated pads, rotors, or brake fluid. It typically appears during long downhill drives, repeated hard stops, towing, or stop-and-go traffic in high heat. While catastrophic, total loss of brakes is rare …
Who is the most famous lowrider? The most famous lowrider is Gypsy Rose, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala custom-built by East Los Angeles lowrider Jesse Valadez of the Imperials Car Club. Celebrated for its hand-painted rose motif, hydraulic suspension, and starring role in 1970s television, Gypsy Rose has become the global symbol of lowrider culture and …
What Was the Most Popular Car in 1957? In U.S. new-car sales terms, the most popular car in 1957 was Ford—specifically, Ford’s 1957 passenger-car lineup (anchored by the Fairlane and Custom series) topped the American market, narrowly outselling Chevrolet. While the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has since become the era’s most celebrated icon, contemporary sales …
What Was the First Hybrid Car in the 2000s? The Toyota Prius is widely regarded as the first hybrid car of the 2000s because it began its global rollout in 2000, becoming the decade’s first mass-market hybrid outside Japan. In the United States specifically, the Honda Insight reached showrooms slightly earlier—in December 1999—making it the …
Why Japan Drives on the Left Japan drives on the left primarily because British engineers set a left-running standard on the nation’s first railways in 1872, a convention that spread to trams and road traffic and was later codified nationwide (notably in a 1924 central government order and retained under the postwar Road Traffic Law). …
Why Drum Brakes Fell Out of Favor—and Where They Still Make Sense They’re largely sidelined because disc brakes dissipate heat better, deliver more consistent stopping power, and are easier to maintain—critical advantages as vehicles have become heavier, faster, and more safety-focused. Yet drum brakes haven’t vanished: they still appear on the rear axles of many …
Is replacing a steering rack a big job? Yes—on most modern vehicles, replacing a steering rack is considered a major repair that typically takes several hours, requires specialized tools, and almost always needs a professional wheel alignment afterward; costs commonly range from about $800 to $2,000 or more depending on the vehicle and whether the …
Italian Car Brands: The Definitive 2025 Guide Italy’s car brands include Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Abarth, Dallara, Pagani, DR Automobiles, Mazzanti, Tazzari, and boutique houses such as Touring Superleggera and Zagato; historically important names include De Tomaso, Iso Rivolta, Autobianchi, Innocenti, Bizzarrini and more. These marques span mass-market city cars to hand-built …
Car Categories: A Comprehensive Guide Cars are commonly categorized by body style, size/market class, purpose, powertrain, drivetrain/layout, and regulatory class. In practice, manufacturers, regulators, and shoppers use multiple overlapping systems to describe the same vehicle, which is why a model can be a “compact (C-segment) crossover SUV with a hybrid powertrain and AWD” all at …
How to Remove an Intake Manifold Safely and Correctly You remove an intake manifold by disconnecting the battery, relieving fuel pressure, draining coolant if applicable, labeling and disconnecting all hoses and electrical connectors, removing the air intake and throttle body, unbolting the manifold in the correct sequence, lifting it off carefully, and installing new gaskets …
What Is the Point of a Heads-Up Display? A heads-up display (HUD) exists to keep essential information in your line of sight so you can stay focused on the real world—boosting situational awareness, shortening reaction times, and enhancing safety. By projecting data at or near optical infinity, a HUD lets you read speed, navigation cues, …
The Story Behind ZZ Top’s Car: The “Eliminator” Coupe It’s a real, road-going hot rod: a bright-red, chopped 1933 Ford three-window coupe called “Eliminator,” built for ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons in the early 1980s and immortalized on the band’s 1983 album cover and in MTV videos like Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, …
Is It Okay to Back Up With a Weight Distribution Hitch? Yes—backing up with a weight distribution hitch (WDH) is generally fine, but there are important exceptions: avoid sharp, jackknife-style reverse turns, and disconnect any add-on friction sway control bar before tight reversing. Modern integrated sway-control hitches usually allow reversing, but you should always follow …
Do Car Tires Have Inner Tubes? Most modern passenger cars use tubeless tires, not inner tubes. Inner tubes are now rare in everyday automobiles and are generally limited to classic cars with tube-type rims, some specialized motorsport applications, and certain off-road or commercial setups. If you’re unsure about your own tires, check the sidewall for …
What Is the Widest Load Without a Permit? In most of the United States, the widest load you can carry without an oversize permit is 8 feet 6 inches (102 inches). Elsewhere, limits differ: United Kingdom and European Union typically allow 2.55 meters (about 100.4 inches), Canada allows 2.6 meters (102.4 inches), and Australia allows …
How Many Kinds of Cars Are There? There isn’t a single universal number: by common consumer categories there are roughly 12–15 core body styles, about 6–8 propulsion types, three primary drivetrain layouts, and 5–7 size segments depending on the region. In practice, the answer varies with the classification system used—design (body style), technology (powertrain), mechanical …