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.
Are all oil pan plugs the same size? No. Oil drain (oil pan) plugs are not standardized: their thread diameter, pitch, length, head type, and sealing washer design vary by automaker, engine family, and oil pan material. To avoid leaks or damage, you must match the plug and washer to your specific vehicle and follow …
The science behind spark plugs Spark plugs ignite a gasoline engine’s air-fuel mixture by creating a high-voltage electrical discharge that ionizes the gas between their electrodes, forming a hot plasma arc that seeds a flame. In essence, they convert electrical energy from the ignition coil into a precisely timed, high-temperature spark; their geometry, materials, and …
Can I Clean an Idle Air Control Valve Myself? Yes—on vehicles that actually have a separate idle air control (IAC) valve, you can usually clean it yourself in about 30–60 minutes with basic tools and a throttle-body-safe cleaner. However, many newer cars use an electronic throttle body with no separate IAC, and some IACs are …
What Is Engine Function? Engine function is the set of processes an engine uses to convert stored energy—typically chemical energy in fuel, sometimes electrical or pressurized air—into mechanical power that creates motion or drives equipment. In cars and many machines, internal combustion engines do this through intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust; turbines compress air and …
Can You Skid With an Open Differential? Yes—you can skid with an open differential, but it’s harder, less consistent, and usually limited to low-grip surfaces or momentum-based techniques. On dry tarmac, an open diff tends to spin just one driven wheel (“one-tire fire”), making sustained drifts and tidy donuts difficult without aiding techniques like the …
What Is the 20/4/10 Rule for Buying a Car? The 20/4/10 rule is a budgeting guideline that recommends putting at least 20% down, financing the car for no more than 4 years (48 months), and keeping your total car costs at or below 10% of your gross monthly income. If you’ve seen it written as …
What Is Flatbed Towing? Definition, Uses, and How It Works Flatbed towing means transporting a vehicle on the bed of a tow truck so that all four wheels are completely off the road. In practice, the tow truck’s hydraulic deck tilts to create a ramp, the vehicle is winched or driven onto the platform, secured …
How much does it cost to replace a water pump? For most cars, replacing a water pump typically costs $350 to $1,500+ in the United States, depending on the vehicle, pump type, and labor. If the pump is driven by the timing belt, expect $700 to $1,500+ because the job is more involved. Electric pumps …
Speed Control vs. Cruise Control: What Drivers Should Know Cruise control maintains a set speed automatically, while speed control typically refers to a speed limiter that prevents you from exceeding a chosen maximum but still requires pedal input. Some automakers use “speed control” as a synonym for cruise control, but in most modern usage they …
Why driving with no muffler is illegal in most places Because vehicle codes in most jurisdictions require an “effective” muffler to control exhaust noise, operating a car or motorcycle without one is typically illegal; it creates excessive noise, violates public health standards, and can fail inspections or trigger fines. While exact rules vary, laws generally …
How much does it cost to replace a transmission in your car? In the U.S. as of 2025, a full transmission replacement typically costs $3,000–$6,000 for most automatic cars, $1,800–$3,500 for manuals, $3,500–$7,500 for CVTs, and $5,000–$10,000 or more for heavy-duty trucks and luxury models. Labor is often $600–$1,800 of the total, with parts making …
What Does a Car’s Suspension Do? The suspension’s job is to keep the tires firmly in contact with the road while controlling body motion, absorbing bumps, and stabilizing the vehicle—directly shaping comfort, handling, braking, safety, and tire wear. In everyday driving and extreme maneuvers alike, the suspension manages how the car rides, steers, transfers weight, …
Does a cold air intake help your engine? Yes, a cold air intake can help, but the benefits are usually modest on modern naturally aspirated engines and more noticeable on turbocharged vehicles when the stock intake is restrictive. Expect small gains in peak horsepower at wide-open throttle, a louder intake sound, and potential improvements in …
What Are Auto Body Parts? Auto body parts are the exterior and structural components that form a vehicle’s body, shaping its appearance, protecting occupants and mechanical systems, and providing mounting points for doors, glass, lights, and sensors. They include bumper covers, fenders, hoods, doors, quarter panels, trunk or liftgates, grilles, mirrors, glass, lighting assemblies, trim, …
What Is a Muffler in an Automobile? A muffler is the component in a car’s exhaust system that quiets engine noise by canceling and absorbing sound waves as exhaust gases exit the vehicle; it can also influence exhaust flow and perceived performance. Located near the rear of the exhaust path, the muffler uses chambers, baffles, …
What Is Considered the Worst Car in History? Many automotive historians and consumer surveys most commonly cite the Yugo GV (sold in the U.S. from the mid-1980s to early 1990s) as the worst car in history, largely due to its dismal reliability, poor build quality, weak safety performance, and threadbare dealer support; that said, “worst” …
Where Are Crumple Zones Located? Crumple zones are primarily located at the front and rear ends of a vehicle, built into the structures behind the bumpers and along the longitudinal frame rails; many modern designs also tune parts of the sides and hood to absorb energy, while a rigid “safety cell” protects the passenger compartment. …
What Makes a Road a Highway? A road is considered a highway when it is legally designated for public travel and forms part of a major route network that prioritizes through movement over local access; in everyday usage, it typically means a high-capacity arterial corridor, often with higher speed limits and some degree of access …
What the Three Wires on a Brake Light Do The three wires on a typical brake light assembly are for ground/earth, tail or running light power, and brake (stop) light power; on vehicles that combine brake and turn signals, the brake wire may also serve as the turn-signal feed. Color codes vary by maker and …
The Anatomy of a Disc Brake: Every Part That Stops a Vehicle A disc brake is built around a rotating metal rotor (disc), a caliper with one or more pistons, and brake pads that clamp the rotor; supporting parts include a caliper bracket and slide pins, hydraulic hose/line and bleeder, seals and dust boots, anti-rattle …
What Is an Engine? Definition, Types, and How It Works An engine is a machine that converts energy—most commonly the chemical energy in fuel—into mechanical work to produce motion or power. In everyday use it refers largely to heat engines such as internal-combustion engines and turbines, though usage varies by industry and region. Below is …
What are the disadvantages of a turbocharged engine? Turbocharged engines can deliver strong power from small displacement, but they come with trade-offs: added complexity and cost, potential turbo lag and less linear throttle response, higher heat and mechanical stress, stricter maintenance needs, real‑world fuel economy that can dip under load, and more challenging emissions and …
What causes side curtain airbags to deploy Side curtain airbags deploy when a vehicle experiences a moderate to severe side impact or an actual/imminent rollover that meets programmed thresholds for lateral acceleration, roll rate, and related crash metrics. In practice, this means they fire during T-bone collisions, pole/guardrail strikes, and rollovers, and sometimes in oblique …
The best used convertible to buy in 2025 For most buyers, the 2016–2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND) is the best used convertible: it’s affordable, exceptionally reliable, cheap to run, and unmatched for open-air driving fun. If you want more luxury or rear seats, standout alternatives include the 2013–2016 Porsche Boxster (981), 2018–2023 Audi A5 Cabriolet, …
The downside of regenerative braking: where energy recovery falls short Regenerative braking’s main disadvantages are that it’s less effective at very low speeds and when the battery is full or cold, it can lead to variable pedal feel and still requires conventional friction brakes for hard stops, it adds system complexity and cost, and it …
What cars did Ford make in 1975? In 1975, Ford’s U.S. passenger-car lineup included the Pinto, Maverick, Mustang II, the new Granada, Torino/Gran Torino, the Elite personal-luxury coupe, full-size LTD (and Custom 500) with Country Squire/LTD wagons, and the Thunderbird. Globally, Ford also sold the Escort Mk2, Cortina Mk3 (and Taunus in continental Europe), Capri …
Are Freeways and Highways the Same? No. A freeway is a specific type of highway with full, controlled access and no cross traffic, while “highway” is a broad term that includes everything from local arterials to interstates. In short, all freeways are highways, but many highways are not freeways. This distinction affects speed, safety, access, …
Supercharger vs. Turbocharger: How They Differ, Why It Matters, and Which One Fits You A supercharger is a mechanically driven air compressor that forces more air into an engine, delivering immediate boost; a turbocharger is driven by exhaust gases to achieve the same goal with better efficiency but potential lag. Both increase power by cramming …
How to Reset a Seatbelt Tensioner: What You Can and Can’t Do You generally cannot reset a deployed seatbelt tensioner; it is a one-time safety device that must be replaced after activation. If your belt is stuck but the tensioner has not fired, you may be able to restore normal operation by re-leveling the retractor …
How Fuel-Injected Engines Get Their Air They breathe through an intake system that routes outside air through a filter, past sensors and (in gasoline engines) a throttle plate, into the intake manifold and cylinders; the engine control unit (ECU) measures or estimates the incoming air and injects fuel to match, with turbos or superchargers compressing …