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 to Do If Your Brake Lights Are Out If your brake lights are out, pull over safely, avoid driving except to reach the nearest repair location in daylight and low traffic, use hand signals if you must move, and fix the issue immediately by checking bulbs, fuses, and the brake light switch; driving without …
How Much Does an AirCar Cost? As of 2025, there is no official retail price for Klein Vision’s AirCar. Industry expectations and comments from the company suggest a likely price in the upper six to seven figures—roughly in the $500,000 to $1,000,000 range—once full certification and series production are in place. The AirCar is not …
Can crumple zones be repaired? Yes, but only to a limited extent: most crumple-zone parts are designed to be replaced rather than reshaped, and any structural repair must follow the vehicle maker’s procedures. Minor, bolt-on components in the crumple zone can often be replaced, but once the energy-absorbing structure has yielded, “pulling it back” or …
What Georgia Considers an Oversized Load In Georgia, a load is considered oversized when it exceeds 8 feet 6 inches (102 inches) in width, 13 feet 6 inches in height, or the state’s legal length limits for the vehicle type and route; anything beyond those dimensions requires a Georgia DOT oversize permit. In practice, “oversized” …
What Size Socket Is an Oil Drain Plug? Most oil drain plugs aren’t one-size-fits-all; the most common socket sizes you’ll encounter are 13 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm, 17 mm, and 19 mm (metric), or 1/2″, 5/8″, and 3/4″ (SAE). Many Japanese cars use 14 mm or 17 mm, U.S. makes often use 13 mm …
What D and L Mean on an Automatic Car’s Gear Selector In an automatic car, “D” is Drive for normal forward travel, and “L” is Low, which locks or limits the transmission to lower gears for more torque and stronger engine braking. Drivers use D for everyday cruising and L for steep hills, towing, slippery …
Do All Automatic Transmissions Use a Torque Converter? No. While many traditional “automatic” transmissions do use a torque converter, several major types of self-shifting transmissions—such as dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs), automated manuals (AMTs), many continuously variable transmissions (CVTs with launch clutches), power‑split hybrid e‑CVTs, and virtually all battery‑electric drivetrains—do not. Understanding which systems use a torque …
What an Overhead Cam Does in an Engine An overhead cam (OHC) is a camshaft positioned in the cylinder head that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves with precise timing, improving high‑RPM capability, power, efficiency, and emissions control. By placing the cam above the valves, the system reduces valvetrain mass and complexity compared …
How a Car Thermostat Knows When to Open A car thermostat opens when a temperature-sensitive wax capsule inside it melts and expands at a calibrated temperature, pushing a valve open against a spring; some modern versions add an electric heating element so the engine computer can nudge it to open sooner under certain conditions. In …
How 1 horsepower is calculated One mechanical horsepower is defined as 550 foot-pounds per second, which equals about 745.7 watts; in metric usage, one metric horsepower is 75 kilogram-force meters per second, or about 735.5 watts. In rotating machinery, horsepower is typically calculated from torque and speed using hp = (torque in lb-ft × rpm) …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Brake Booster? Expect to pay about $350–$900 for a typical vacuum brake booster replacement in the U.S. in 2025, including parts and labor. Trucks and SUVs often run $500–$1,100, hydroboost systems $700–$1,500, and modern electronic boosters in hybrids/EVs can reach $1,200–$3,000. Prices vary by vehicle, part type …
Are Road Trains Legal in the United States? Yes, but only in limited forms and on restricted routes. Full-length, Australian-style “road trains” with three or more full-size trailers are generally not legal on U.S. public roads. The United States permits certain long combination vehicles (LCVs)—notably twin 28.5‑foot “STAA doubles” nationwide on designated highways, and in …
Countries that use right-hand-drive vehicles (drive on the left) Many countries use right-hand-drive (RHD) vehicles and keep left on the road, including the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Kenya, and Jamaica. In total, roughly 75 countries and territories follow left-hand traffic (LHT), where RHD cars are standard. …
What Is a Speedometer and an Odometer? A speedometer is the instrument in a vehicle that shows your current speed, while an odometer records the total distance the vehicle has traveled. Together, they help drivers control speed, plan maintenance, and document a vehicle’s history—functions that matter for safety, legal compliance, and resale value across cars, …
What Is the Most Common Failure in a Power Steering System? The most common failure in a power steering system is fluid leakage in hydraulic setups—typically from hoses, O-rings, pump shaft seals, or rack-and-pinion seals—leading to low fluid, noisy operation, and heavy steering. In vehicles with electric power steering (EPS), the most frequent issues involve …
What Happens When an Engine Coil Fails? When an engine ignition coil fails, the affected cylinder loses spark or gets a weak spark, causing a misfire that leads to rough running, reduced power, poor fuel economy, and a check-engine light (often flashing under load). Continued driving can overheat and damage the catalytic converter as unburned …
Can you insure a salvage title in South Carolina? Yes—but not while it’s a straight “salvage” title. In South Carolina, insurers generally will not cover a vehicle that still holds a salvage title for on-road use. After the vehicle is repaired, passes a state inspection, and is retitled as “rebuilt” (often shown as “Salvage Rebuilt”), …
Are Traffic Lights Light-Activated? Mostly no: standard traffic lights are not triggered by your headlights or by ambient light. Modern signals either run on fixed timing plans or respond to vehicle and pedestrian detectors such as in‑pavement loops, video cameras, radar, magnetometers, and push buttons. A narrow exception involves specialized optical systems for emergency vehicles, …
What Are the Parts of a Clutch Called? The main parts of a typical automotive clutch are the flywheel, clutch disc (driven plate), pressure plate (clutch cover) with a diaphragm spring, release bearing (throwout bearing), release fork/lever, and a pilot bearing or bushing; the system is actuated by either a cable or a hydraulic setup …
How to Tell If Your Car Needs Brake Fluid You likely need brake fluid—or a brake system service—if the red BRAKE warning light is on, the pedal feels soft or spongy, stopping distances are increasing, or the fluid level in the reservoir is below the MIN line. In practice, low fluid can signal worn pads …
What Is the Cooling System? A cooling system is the set of components and processes that remove excess heat from a space, device, fluid, or organism to keep its temperature within a safe or desired range; examples include car radiators, air conditioners, computer heat sinks, industrial chillers, and even the human body’s sweat response. In …
The four types of suspension systems The four main types of automotive suspension systems are: dependent (solid/live axle), independent, semi-independent (twist-beam), and interconnected (cross-linked hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric). These categories describe how wheels are linked across an axle and determine how a vehicle rides, handles, and carries loads. The four core types (by axle layout) …
What was the average price of a car in the 40s? In the United States, a typical new car in the 1940s cost roughly $1,200 on average in nominal dollars, with prices generally ranging from about $800 at the start of the decade to around $1,500 by 1949. Adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly the equivalent …
Is Toyota’s i-FORCE 2.4L Turbo Four-Cylinder a Good Engine? Yes—Toyota’s i-FORCE 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (engine code T24A-FTS) is broadly a strong, efficient, and modern powerplant with good real-world torque and a growing record of solid reliability across multiple Toyota and Lexus models. It’s not as inherently silky as an old-school V6 and some early-production vehicles …
Were cars expensive in the 1930s? Compared with today’s sticker prices, mainstream American cars in the 1930s were not expensive—many new models sold for roughly $500–$800 (about $10,000–$16,000 in 2025 dollars). But in the context of the Great Depression—falling wages, high unemployment, and tight credit—a new car still represented months of pay for most families, …
How Much Horsepower Do You Gain From a Turbo? On a typical gasoline engine, adding a properly sized and tuned turbocharger often yields about 30–70% more crank horsepower at moderate boost; with robust supporting mods and fuel, gains can reach 100% or more. A quick rule of thumb: each 1 psi of boost can add …
Will Sugar in the Gas Tank Ruin an Engine? No—sugar in a gas tank rarely “ruins” an engine. Because sugar does not dissolve in gasoline or diesel, it doesn’t circulate as a destructive syrup. Instead, it behaves like gritty debris that can clog the fuel filter, strain or damage the fuel pump, and potentially foul …
What Is a Crumple Zone? A crumple zone is a part of a vehicle’s structure intentionally designed to deform and crush in a crash, absorbing impact energy to keep forces lower on occupants inside the cabin. In modern vehicles, these zones are engineered into the front, rear, and sometimes sides, channeling crash energy away from …
Why They’re Called “Freeways” They’re called “freeways” because the “free” refers to freedom from at-grade intersections, traffic signals, and direct property access—allowing traffic to flow freely—not because they are free of tolls. In U.S. highway engineering, a freeway is a fully controlled-access road designed for uninterrupted, high-speed travel, and it may be tolled or untolled …
How Gas Station Pumps Know When to Stop They stop because the nozzle senses when liquid fuel covers a small hole near the tip, creating a vacuum that mechanically trips a shutoff valve. In practice, a venturi inside the nozzle generates suction; as soon as rising fuel blocks the sensing port, the sudden vacuum flexes …