Throughout her career, Mia Bevacqua has applied her skills toward automotive failure analysis inspections, consulting, diagnostic software development, and of course, writing.
Mia has a passion for math, science, and technology that motivates her to stay on top of the latest industry trends, such as electric vehicles and autonomous systems. At the same time, she has a weakness for fixer-upper oddballs, such as her 1987 Chevy Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Chevy Astro Van AWD.
Credentials:
Summary Performing a pre-purchase inspection is crucial if you're planning to buy a used car because it lets you spot…
Summary My list of memorable cars includes the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier Z-24, the 2001 Toyota Prius, and the 1979 Plymouth…
Summary Hydraulic lifters help operate the valves on your engine. It might be time to replace your engine lifter if…
Summary The camshaft position (CMP) sensor monitors the speed and position of the camshafts. The powertrain control module (PCM) also…
Summary When the engine is running and the A/C is turned on, the belt-driven compressor raises the pressure of the…
Summary Some symptoms of a bad automatic transmission include abnormal shifting, strange noises, neutralizing, shuddering, an activated check engine light,…
Summary Power steering is a driver-assistance feature that helps turn the wheels with minimal effort. There are generally two types…
Summary An illuminated check engine light, engine performance issues, and a collapsed fuel tank are some common symptoms of a…
Summary The torque converter increases pulling power by multiplying engine torque during acceleration. Common symptoms of a faulty torque converter…
Summary The 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan's heater and A/C might simultaneously stop working because of issues with the rear blower…
Summary The most common symptoms of a vacuum leak include an illuminated check engine light, rough running, stalling, increased engine…
Summary Impact damage and broken internal baffles can cause a vehicle’s muffler to become clogged.Some symptoms of a clogged muffler…
Summary If an O2 sensor fails, you’ll notice symptoms such as an illuminated check engine light, engine performance problems, and…
Q: I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota. The blower motor resistor keeps failing repeatedly, resulting in the blower only working…
Summary Your 1976 Cadillac Eldorado might crank but refuse to start because the electronic control module (ECM) isn’t pulsing the…
Summary If your 2004 Kia Amanti is misfiring after you replaced the spark plugs, there’s a chance that the spark…
Summary The 2000 Honda Insight has a combined fuel economy rating of 53 MPG, making it a great car to…
Summary Keeping up with maintenance and repairs is one of the best ways to save fuel. Doing so will prevent…
Q: I have a 2010 Toyota 4Runner with a 4.0L engine. When driving between 60-70 MPH, my steering wheel shakes.…
Summary The Engine Control Module (ECM) is the computer that’s in charge of governing engine operation. To replace your car’s…
Summary The serpentine belt is a rubber belt that transports power to the engine accessories like the power steering pump,…
Summary The alternator charges the battery when the engine is running. It also supplies electricity to the car’s electronics using…
Q: I have a 2010 Hyundai Accent GLS with a 1.6L Engine. The vehicle is difficult to start after refueling.…
Summary If the car battery of your 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser is always dying, there’s a good chance your vehicle…
Summary The exhaust manifold is responsible for bringing gases away from the engine and out towards the exhaust pipe. The…
Summary Codes P0115 and P0118 are set when the PCM detects a temperature problem.If the engine coolant temperature sensor has…
Q: I have a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette with a 6.0L engine. When I start the car cold, it fires right…
Summary Two different four-speed automatic transmissions—the 42RE and the 46RE—were offered in the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500.You can double-check what…
Summary Active fuel management (AFM) lifter failure is a well-known problem that affects countless GM vehicles, so many drivers look…
Summary The engine coolant over-temperature light warns about an overheating engine. Common reasons for an engine coolant over-temperature alert include…
Summary Spark plugs can get contaminated with oil for two reasons: a leaking component (e.g. a tube seal) in the…
Summary The serpentine belt drives accessories like the alternator and A/C compressor via their individual pulleys. You might need to…
In last month’s CarParts.com In the Garage newsletter, we asked readers to submit their automotive questions for our Chief Mechanic,…
Summary All vehicle manufacturers—including those deemed the most reliable, such as Toyota—occasionally roll out a design flaw or manufacturing defect,…
Summary The transmission warning light (or message) indicates there’s a problem with your car’s automatic transmission or associated components. Some…
Summary Cam phasers adjust the position or the “phase” of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft. Common symptoms of…
Summary Most modern engines have either a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) or dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) design. A vehicle’s camshaft…
Summary Trucks and SUVs often come in both two-wheel drive (4×2) and four-wheel drive (4×4) configurations. Two-wheel drive (4×2) vehicles…
Summary If you add a significant amount of diesel fuel to the gas tank, the car will run until the…
Summary 5W-40 is the suggested oil for most diesel applications, while 5W-30 oil is the recommended oil for many modern…
Summary An octane rating refers to the fuel’s ability to resist spark knock (detonation), and most gas stations offer regular,…
Summary The prices of new Nissan models and Toyota models are similar. For example, the starting MSRP for a 2021…
Summary Typically, the easiest cars to work on are Asian and domestic models from the late 90s and early 00s…
Summary Aside from the pandemic, the trade war with China and the demand from products like PlayStation and Xbox contributed…
Summary A spongy brake pedal means that air is trapped in the brake system. Meanwhile, a soft brake pedal indicates…
Summary The seventh-generation Toyota Corolla, third-generation Toyota Camry, and first-generation Toyota Avalon are three of the best cars under $1,000.…
Summary A loose gas cap can trigger the check engine light, mostly on vehicles manufactured post-1996.You can use a scan…
Summary Some common symptoms of a cracked cylinder head include an overheating engine, low coolant levels, and the exhaust pipe…
Do you remember back in 2019—before the start of the pandemic—when you were free to take a summer road trip…
Summary Abnormal noises, excessive vibrations, and excessive transmission movement are common symptoms of a damaged transmission mount. The transmission mount…
Summary Oil in the air intake or air filter housing almost always indicates a problem with your vehicle. Four common…
Summary Motor mounts support the engine’s weight and absorb vibrations. Replacing them is possible with proper tools and knowledge.Prepare the…
Summary Replacing damaged battery cables is a job you can do yourself with the right knowledge and tools. Test the…
Summary Coolant and antifreeze are not the same. The antifreeze is usually made of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol and…
Summary Drum brakes and disc brakes operate as the friction brakes in the brake system.Drum brakes use a circular drum…
Summary The most common symptoms of a bad fuel filter are engine performance problems, an illuminated check engine light, the…
Summary The fuel pressure regulator regulates the pressure of the fuel that goes into the injectors. A bad fuel pressure…
Summary Some signs of a bad fuel injector include black smoke emitting from the tailpipe, oil dilution, and increased fuel…
In 2008, Tesla introduced its initial offering: the all-electric Roadster. Just two years later, Nissan debuted the Leaf as the…
Summary A back-flush can unclog the blocked heater core.You will need tools like 50/50 pre-mixed coolant, an air compressor, and…
Summary CV axles are transmission parts that transfer rotational force to the front drive wheels.Consult a repair manual or repair…
Summary Diesel-powered vehicles use glow plugs to help during cold starts, but the plugs eventually wear out or burn out.Some…
Summary Struts are similar to shock absorbers, as they both dampen oscillations from the car’s suspension springs.The difference between a…
Summary To replace a driveshaft, you must lift the vehicle to access it, remove the driveshaft’s fasteners, and disengage the…
Summary Exhaust manifolds and headers do the same job but are separate and different parts.An exhaust manifold is a stock…
Summary The exhaust system is responsible for routing exhaust gases away from the engine and directing them towards the tailpipe.The…
Summary The knock sensor uses an internal piezoelectric element to detect abnormal combustions inside the engine called a spark knock.…
Summary As the heart of the EGR system, the EGR valve reduces the overall NOx emissions that leave the tailpipe.…
Summary Vibrations, squeaking or clicking noises, and clunking sounds are telltale signs of a bad u-joint. Driving with a bad…
Summary The oil filter is important because it traps contaminants within its fibers to prevent dirt and debris from circulating…
Summary Constant velocity (CV) joints are used as flexible couplings in CV axle assemblies, drawing rotational force from the engine…
Summary The cabin air filter purifies the air you breathe inside your car by preventing dirt, dust, and other contaminants…
Summary The air filter traps contaminants within its fibers to prevent dirt from entering the engine.Some effects of a dirty…
Summary A crankshaft position sensor measures the position and speed of your engine’s crankshaft.Some common symptoms of a bad crankshaft…
Summary Glow plugs are used in diesel-powered internal combustion engines, and they are used to ignite the air-fuel mixture in…
Summary EVs have seen a resurgence within the last decade because government agencies have acknowledged the threat imposed by fossil…
Summary The job of the driveshaft is to connect the transmission to the differential. Clunking noises and excessive vibration are…
Summary Throttle body injection (TBI) is a type of fuel injection system that has one or two fuel injectors mounted…
Summary Unlike a standard automatic transmission that uses planetary gearsets, Nissan's CVT employs a steel belt and a pair of…
Summary An illuminated brake system warning light could either mean the parking brake is engaged or the brake fluid levels…
Summary A faulty oil pressure sensor might lead to an inaccurate oil pressure gauge. Testing and replacing this pressure sensor…
Summary The oil pressure sensor is a pressure transducer that measures the engine’s oil pressure. Some symptoms of a bad…
Summary Glow plugs are designed to preheat the air in the combustion chambers, making diesel vehicles easier to start.Testing glow…
Summary Replacing an ABS sensor is usually a straightforward task requiring a jack, jack stands, basic hand tools, and the…
Summary The primary types of brake pads are non-metallic, semi-metallic, and ceramic. The brake pad type most suitable for your…
Summary The catalytic converters of Toyota Prius, Honda Jazz, trucks, SUVs, and other hybrid models are often targeted by thieves.…
Summary Some of the common symptoms of a bad ignition coil include an illuminated check engine light, the vehicle refusing…
Summary Internal combustion engines have an engine block, a cylinder head, camshaft, crankshaft, pistons and connecting rods, and a timing…
Summary Before you replace the water pump, it’s important to consult the instructions for your application in a repair manual…
Summary A bad water pump can cause engine overheating, coolant leaks, malfunctioning heater, and an abnormal noise when the engine…
Many DIYers (and even some professionals) believe that they can’t fix anything on a hybrid or electric vehicle. But the…
Summary Pure battery-electric vehicles (EVs) don’t have internal combustion engines, so they require less maintenance than hybrid cars and traditional…
Summary To shop for parts, enter your ride’s year, make, model, sub-model, and engine size into the vehicle selector.After that,…
Summary Tesla’s lineup boasts advanced technology and an impressive driving range. However, some models are still considered better than others.The…
Summary Many shoppers find used cars more appealing because of their lower price tags.The best used cars under $20,000 are…
Nearly everyone wants to put the year 2020 in their rearview mirror. But before we say goodbye to the worst…
Summary The EPA, the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), and select automotive groups signed an agreement to reduce the…
When COVID-19 first began to spread, the assumption was that new car sales would dry up—but we know now that…
Summary Some mistakes that you can make with your car during the winter can compromise your safety and your vehicle’s…