The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
Summary The transfer case position sensor is a component that communicates the transfer case’s position to the vehicle’s computer. Your…
Summary You shouldn’t overfill your coolant reservoir. Doing so will cause the cooling system to push the coolant out of…
Summary Fuel injector cleaners remove carbon buildup and other debris from fuel injectors. Buying the correct fuel injector cleaner, taking…
Summary EMI stands for electromagnetic interference, and RFI stands for radio frequency interference.EMI and RFI can interfere with electrical parts…
Summary Routing a wiring harness can be a complicated task because there can be up to 5,000 feet of wires…
Summary Mild hybrid systems rely on a battery-powered, low-output electric motor to start, brake, and slow the vehicle. The motor…
Summary Also known as battery refurbishing, battery reconditioning is the process of cleaning sulfate crystals from the battery plates and…
Summary EVs can handle shallow bodies of water just like gasoline and diesel vehicles.Electric cars have features like a robust…
Summary An exhaust header gives an engine longer and wider pipes. These pipes reduce engine back pressure and create a…
Summary You can use a spare tire mount to mount the tire onto your vehicle instead of storing it in…
Summary Not all traffic lights have built-in sensors. Some operate using a built-in timer that switches the traffic light according…
Summary Cigarette burns can damage your car’s upholstery, but you can fix the burned parts. Fabric, leather, and vinyl seat…
Summary Using epoxy and plastic welding are two of the most common ways to fix broken plastic automotive trims. Before…
Summary To inspect your coolant hoses, let your engine warm first. Then, you can perform a squeeze test and visually…
Summary You need a trim removal tool, a pry tool, and a screwdriver to replace a faulty power seat switch.The…
Summary Over time, the defrost door actuator in your car’s air conditioning system can fail. If the actuator is electric,…
Summary As a battery ages, it begins to discharge in a chemical process called sulfation. A discharged battery takes longer…
Summary While the exact design can vary depending on your car’s year, make, and model, most brake lights are red…
Summary Hydraulic brake conversion replaces mechanical brakes with more modern and efficient hydraulic brakes.You’ll need a hydraulic brake conversion kit…
Summary A crank handle is attached using a metal retainer clip that latches onto the crank handle and a notch…
Summary A faulty tail light is a non-moving violation and a ticketable offense.To change the bulb sockets, you'll have to…
Looking to tackle a brake pad replacement? You're in luck! You can get a quick walkthrough of the process with…
Summary When it comes to buying gear for a summer cookout, it’s important to buy accessories that increase cargo space.…
Summary If you’re interested in drastically improving your vehicle’s acceleration and power, tuning your engine can improve its performance without…
Everybody loves a good blockbuster. From cult classics like Jaws to modern cultural phenomena like Barbenheimer, films have touched the…
Summary An overloaded roof rack can seriously damage your vehicle if it rips off the roof or spills onto the…
Summary Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) proactively adjusts the vehicle’s speed, steering, and other factors to prevent potential collisions during certain…
Summary Switch your hybrid to the appropriate driving mode, such as EV mode for quick trips and Eco mode on…
Summary Setting your gear shifter in the correct position before turning off the vehicle is critical. If you’re driving an…
Summary Popularized in the 1950s, air suspension systems use air instead of springs to cushion the vibrations that jostle a…
Summary To fix an oil filter housing leak, it’s best to prepare the necessary tools first, check the engine oil…
Summary A receiver hitch lock is a pin with one or two locks on one or both ends.A receiver hitch…
Summary A drop hitch receiver or drop hitch is a piece of equipment that allows trucks or SUVs to mount…
Summary Brake rivet tools help remove and install the rivets that hold down the brake lining to the brake.Brake rivet…
Summary Limp mode shuts down non-essential systems and slows down the vehicle to prevent further damage. You can still get…
Summary Turning your ride into your favorite iconic car is possible with the right parts and accessories. The pink Corvette…
Summary An exhaust header wrap helps retain the heat in the exhaust system, boosting engine efficiency and performance. The benefits…
Summary Tire feathering is when the tire develops diagonal wear patterns across the tread ribs.Issues that can cause tire feathering…
Summary The oil drain plug threads into a hole at the lowest point of the engine oil pan so that…
Summary Anti-seize is a kind of lubricant that can be applied to various components like spark plugs, bolts, and flanges…
Summary AC flush kits are used to flush out contaminants and debris in the air conditioning system. AC flushing is…
Summary Satellite radio is a digital broadcast that transmits signals over a larger area using satellites orbiting Earth.The two biggest…
Summary Exhaust gaskets prevent leaks and ensure gas flows through the catalytic converter. They can withstand extreme pressure and temperatures.…
Summary Checking tire pressure without a tire gauge is not recommended. It should only be considered in the rare scenario…
Summary Quad exhaust pipes are an exhaust tip setup with four tips. A quad exhaust improves the appearance of your…
Summary A brake master cylinder with internal leaks is the most common culprit for a sinking brake pedal, particularly if…
Summary In a brake-by-wire system, there’s no mechanical component connecting the brake pedal to the brakes themselves. Instead, these systems…
Summary Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer tongue exerts on the tow vehicle’s hitch. In other words, it’s…
Summary Wheel weights are small weights that balance the wheel and tire assemblies. The two types of wheel weights are…
Summary Brake fluid’s effect on car paint is very similar to paint thinner. It’ll eat away your paint and expose…
Summary Cross-threading occurs when a bolt’s threads become misaligned during installation, leading to the bolt not screwing into place as…
Summary To fix a temperature gauge that isn’t working, you have to take the necessary safety noprecautions, prepare all your…
Summary If you don't have a square plug socket, you can try using an open-ended wrench or a 12-point socket…
Summary The most common and important maintenance task for track vehicles is an oil change. Track vehicles typically require more…
Summary A reverse brake bleeder is a specialized tool that generates the brake bleeding pressure needed to push brake fluid…
Summary The caliper bracket is the cage in which the caliper is encased and is bolted to the spindle with…
Summary Worm gear clamps are metal band clamps that have a helical-threaded screw called the captive screw that lets you…
Summary If your car won’t take gas at the pump, there might be something wrong with the EVAP system. Other…
Summary Spark plugs create the spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture. Spark plugs are usually pretreated with anti-seize additives before…
Summary Cargo space, engine size, seating capacity, and roof quality are some of the factors you should consider before purchasing…
Summary A car’s paint condition can give you an idea of whether it was involved in a collision or if…
Summary Homologation is a certification process conducted on vehicles to verify whether or not they meet the standards for sale.…
Summary The power-to-weight ratio of a vehicle refers to how much power it has relative to its weight.In terms of…
Summary Some factors to consider while shopping for a bike rack include the number of bikes you want to transport,…
Search car repairs based on level of difficulty. Find accurate repair resources, whether you're a beginner, seasoned DIYer, or someone…
Summary Flat-bottom steering wheels have a bottom part that is flat rather than curved. The benefits of flat-bottom steering wheels…
Summary Tires are made of natural and synthetic rubber, steel, textiles, fillers, and other ingredients. Rubber possesses traction, cost-effectiveness, and…
Summary Fuel efficiency is the main reason why diesel is used in semi trucks. A liter of diesel has more…
Summary Steer-by-wire cars don’t have a mechanical connection between their steering wheel and their wheels, instead relying on sensors to…
Summary Stay safe when you check the oil pressure manually by organizing your tools and wearing protective gear. You’ll need…
Summary Troubleshooting a faulty transmission sensor requires you to find the sensor, remove it from the transmission, and test it…
Summary The SUV coupe combines the off-roading capabilities of an SUV with the sporty look and feel of a traditional…
Summary HD matrix headlights consist of a cluster of LED bulbs instead of a single high-beam bulb. They’re powered by…
Summary EV and hybrid batteries differ in various ways, such as their charging method, capacity, and range. Their similarities include…
Summary Catalytic converters are devices installed along a vehicle’s exhaust pipe that transform harmful hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides…
Summary LED headlight conversion kits contain everything you need to convert your headlights from halogen to LEDs. While it’s possible…
Summary Paintless dent removal is a technique for repairing minor body damage on vehicles, which doesn’t require bodywork and repainting.…
Summary Your car isn’t automatically deemed “totaled” if its airbags are deployed during a crash. The deployment only indicates the…
Summary Chassis lubrication involves applying grease or oil to the chassis and its connection points to reduce friction and ensure…
Summary Some things you should consider when choosing a rooftop tent include vehicle compatibility, your car's roof rack system, and…
Summary You'll need tools like a tire-changing machine, tire irons, lug nut wrench, and safety equipment to properly remove the…
Summary Initially, auto customization focused on improving a vehicle’s appearance and performance. Auto customization soon shifted towards more digitally oriented…
Summary When shopping for a car vacuum, consider the same factors you normally would when buying an important replacement part.…
Summary Some things you should consider before changing car colors include potential regulatory and registration issues, how it could affect…
Summary It can be hard to differentiate tire noise from wheel bearing noise. You’ll have to verify the location of…
Summary The ignition switch is operated by the ignition cylinder, but is a separate part and is usually connected to…
Summary To keep the spare tire in good condition, check its tire pressure and tread regularly. You can also include…
Summary The muffler silences the engine exhaust. The average cost to replace a muffler can range anywhere from $50 to…
Summary The automotive paint code is a number that corresponds to the specific color your auto manufacturer used on your…
Summary Possible reasons your engine is ticking include lifter tick, dirty lifters, exhaust leaks, bad bearings, a cracked flywheel, loose…
Summary Fuel pumps deliver fuel to the engine’s fuel rail.Common mistakes people make when installing them include incorrectly wiring the…
Summary Curb rash is a minor cosmetic damage to a vehicle’s wheel that comes from getting too close to an…
Summary “Bedding in” or “burnishing” new disc brakes improves the compatibility of your vehicle’s brake pads and rotor, and it’s…
Summary A hypoid gear is a type of spiral bevel gear that transfers power and distributes torque. Hypoid gears are…
Summary Wind buffeting refers to the phenomenon where air from outside a vehicle mixes with air inside the vehicle. You…
Summary Design requirements, driver preference, and vehicle regulations are some of the reasons why vehicles don't have gas tanks on…
Summary Before cleaning the garage floor, park your vehicle elsewhere and remove unnecessary things like toolboxes and old bikes. It’s…
Summary Tonneau covers are inexpensive accessories that protect your truck bed from the elements and debris. A soft brush, detailing…
Summary Problems that can result in a stiff steering wheel include a bad steering rack, misaligned wheels, power steering fluid…
Summary Possible reasons your car door won't close include a stuck seatbelt, a closed latch jaw, a dirty or corroded…