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 It’s strongly recommended to wash your vehicle at least twice a month. If it looks too dirty, don’t hesitate…
Summary The ignition module is what’s used to switch the coil primary to trigger the coil’s high voltage spark. It…
Summary According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the annual cost of hailstorm-related property damage is $1.07 billion.When driving in…
Summary Seat belts are an important safety feature designed to secure the driver or passenger of a vehicle, holding them…
Summary Crumple zones are the areas designed to break down upon impact. They’re usually at the front and rear of…
Summary Car camping lets you enjoy the outdoors with more comfort and flexibility than backpacking, but it still requires planning.…
Summary Run-flat tires allow you to keep driving even if one tire is punctured.There are two types of run-flat tires:…
The Ford Mustang’s long hood and short deck proportions are impossible to miss. But the iconic mesh grilles and layout…
Summary Gelling occurs when diesel is exposed to cold temperatures.Diesel typically gels when it’s exposed to low temperatures, somewhere between…
Summary Bleeding the brakes is necessary whenever you replace a brake component or flush the brakes.To bleed the brakes, you…
Summary Remote start isn’t available for all vehicles. Cars built after the mid-2000s have dealer-manufactured remote-start systems available.Remote-start systems cost…
Summary How often you have to rotate your tires will depend on several factors, such as your driving habits and…
Summary Full-size cars are spacious, fuel efficient, and easy to drive. They also have better handling characteristics around corners and…
Summary You can clean rusty tools by sanding them down with sandpaper or wire brushes, so long as you avoid…
Summary Always wear safety equipment, open all windows and doors, and try to stop the source when cleaning up spilled…
Summary Dead leaves can cover up potential hazards like potholes, so exercise caution when driving.Drivers can also expect to deal…
Summary The inertia switch is a device that cuts off the power to the electrical fuel pump in fuel injection…
Summary Some of the common causes of brake caliper bolt issues include bad brake pads, corrosion, insufficient lubrication, and brake…
Summary Auto stop-start is a feature that turns off a vehicle’s engine whenever it comes to a complete stop.This is…
Summary LTZ stands for “Luxury Touring Z,” and this is a trim level used by Chevrolet for vehicles that are…
Summary An FCW or Forward Collision Warning system alerts drivers when obstacles that may obstruct your vehicle’s path are detected.If…
Summary Tire mobility kits, also known as tire inflators or tire repair kits, are used to patch up bad tires…
Summary Sports Utility Vehicles or SUVs are categorized by their large size, 3-row seating, large cargo space, and excellent towing…
Summary Midsize cars refer to vehicles with interior volumes between 110-120 cubic feet and a maximum length of 196.8 inches.The…
Summary Subcompact cars refer to vehicles smaller than compact cars. They measure between 157-165 inches long and can typically accommodate…
Summary The first truck ever made is called the Daimler Motor-Lastwagen. It was invented in 1896 by Gottlieb Daimler.Trucks were…
Summary A transmission solenoid controls the flow of transmission fluid so that your ride can change gears smoothly. In some…
Summary WD-40 can prevent or delay wear, protect surfaces, lubricate stuck parts, and clean other components.Do not use WD-40 on…
Summary Following the 3/4ths rule is always a good idea when picking out a floor jack. Also, it won’t hurt…
Summary The transmission filter is responsible for removing contaminants in the transmission fluid so that it stays clean.In some vehicles,…
Summary The battery is what powers your vehicle’s electronics, making it one of the most important components.You can find the…
Summary Neutral safety switches prevent the vehicle from starting if the transmission is in gear.You can find the neutral safety…
Summary Nissan’s VQ cars are some of the manufacturer’s most popular models that are powered by the iconic VQ engine.…
Summary Dually trucks are larger and heavier compared to your average vehicle. They’re usually used in construction work to carry…
Summary The SuperCab can accommodate up to six passengers without sacrificing too much storage space. It comes with a lot…
Summary The DAC is a special safety system that helps vehicles go downhill in a safer, more controlled way. Once…
Summary The DPFE sensor is a small device usually mounted on the engine. It has two small tubes connected to…
Summary There are many reasons why driving late at night is enjoyable. For starters, there’s less traffic on the freeways,…
Summary When buying the ideal family car, it’s important to consider size and seating capacity, cargo space, and budget. Consider…
Summary Rumble strips are a safety feature on the road that alerts drivers of potential dangers ahead by causing a…
Summary Car thefts are incredibly common all across the 50 states. California is the state with the most motor vehicle…
Summary All-terrain (A/T) tires are good for both weekend off-road adventures and your daily work commute. A/T tires can technically…
Summary Cars started to have Bluetooth in the early 2000s. One of the first automakers to incorporate Bluetooth into its…
Summary If you want to know the exact measurement of your speakers, you can always check your owner’s manual or…
Summary Steering wheels come in various sizes, but their measurements aren’t far apart. The average steering wheel size ranges between…
Summary The water pump is one of the key components of the cooling system. It recirculates coolant from the radiator…
Summary “SS” on Chevy cars means “Super Sport.”The qualifications for SS cars vary depending on the model, but they’re generally…
Summary An air conditioner (A/C) fan or A/C condenser fan is usually under the hood in front of the vehicle…
Summary Traction control engages when one wheel is spinning and the other one isn’t due to differential action.The traction control…
Summary The voltage regulator is responsible for regulating voltage in an electrical circuit.You can find the voltage regulator close to…
Summary The odometer is typically on the dashboard. It’s in a place that’s conveniently visible and accessible so the driver…
Summary When the engine runs, the idler pulley is responsible for tensioning the drive belts, providing power to crucial components…
Summary The fuel cap is a circular lid that’s connected to the hatch you open when you pump fuel in.…
Summary The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) sensor is typically mounted somewhere near the center of the vehicle so it can…
Summary The clutch cycling switch is usually mounted on the accumulator on the low-pressure er side of the air conditioning…
Q: Where Is the Car Horn Typically Located? A: Car horns can be mounted just about anywhere in or around…
Summary The location of the engine block heater depends on your vehicle’s type of heater. For example, an oil pan…
Summary The fuel regulator manages fuel flow into the injectors. It has a spring that presses against a diaphragm and…
Summary Replacing parts like bulbs, wiper blades, engine oil, and brake pads are some of the easiest tasks for DIYers.Meanwhile,…
Summary The Vortec engine is one of the most prolific and popular engine designs offered by General Motors (GM) that…
Summary Touch-free car washes don’t use brushes or cloths to clean the vehicle’s surface. It relies on a high-alkaline soap…
Summary The Electronically Controlled Transmission (ECT) Power button allows the engine to rev at slightly higher revolutions per minute (RPMs)…
Summary WRX stands for World Rally eXperimental. It’s essentially a turbocharged version of Subaru’s Impreza.The WRX is fast and versatile.…
Summary Automatic overdrive (AOD) transmissions were a feature introduced in Ford vehicles in the 80s or early 90s. It allowed…
Summary Soft-touch automatic car washes scrub your car with mild friction using felt brushes. They also use mild soap and…
Summary Bleeding the brakes is a maintenance procedure that forces brake fluid through the hydraulic system to expel air from…
Summary Roll Sensing Curtain Airbags (RSCA) are side-curtain airbags installed in the ceilings of certain Toyota vehicles.The button to turn…
Summary If an air bag doesn’t inflate completely, it won’t be able to provide enough cushion, leaving the driver or…
Summary Upfitter switches are also called auxiliary switches, and they’re essentially switches that allow drivers to turn on various features…
Summary The exhaust manifold is bolted directly to the engine block, usually between the cylinder head and the catalytic converter.…
Summary The engine coolant temperature sensor (CTS) sits near the thermostat housing on most vehicles.Some engines have a cylinder head…
Summary In most vehicles, the A/C drain line is under the vehicle's passenger side, between the cabin side of the…
Summary The struts are usually on top of the chassis at the front of most front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles. The…
Summary The shock absorbers are usually between the vehicle’s frame and wheels, particularly behind the tires.Many professionals remove faulty shocks…
Summary Six-wheel drive (6WD or 6x6) refers to a vehicle configuration with three axles and six wheels. Vehicles with 6WD…
Summary The Hemi eTorque is a hybrid engine in RAM vehicles that combines efficient hemispherically shaped combustion chambers and hybrid…
Summary Antifreeze raises the coolant's boiling point and lowers the water's freezing point.Engine coolant is a chemical compound that consists…
Summary The fuel tank pressure (FTP) sensor monitors pressure to detect evaporative leaks and loose or faulty gas caps that…
Summary The crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is slightly bigger than a sedan but smaller than a sports utility vehicle (SUV).CUVs…
Summary The anti-lock braking system (ABS) relies on fuses to protect its electrical circuits from overloads.If you remove the ABS…
Summary Compact cars are North American vehicles between the mid-size and subcompact categories. The typical compact car carries four passengers,…
Summary A trailer brake controller (TBC) lets you control braking power so you can slow down depending on your trailer’s…
Summary An i4 is an inline, four-cylinder engine. It has all the cylinders lined up with one crankshaft. It’s known…
Summary Few vehicle models are as popular as the Ford F-150, which has been the best-selling truck in the US…
Summary A towing package is a set of parts that you install on a truck or SUV to enhance the…
Summary The A/C relay, which is also known as the A/C compressor clutch relay and the A/C compressor relay, is…
Summary The electronic braking system takes orders from the electronic brake control module (EBCM), which is a microprocessor that controls…
Summary Using a self-service car wash can be cheaper than an automatic car wash and gives you a lot of…
Summary There are plenty of household items you can use to wash your car. For the car exterior, you can…
Summary Reading spark plugs means evaluating their condition. This is typically done by inspecting the spark plug tip’s coloration, and…
Summary Dodge SRT Hellcat models are upgraded versions of the automaker’s flagship muscle cars, the Challenger and Charger. The Hellcat…
Summary Fuel filters help keep the engine performing optimally by catching stray particulate matter in the fuel before it reaches…
Summary The ambient temperature sensor is a tool that measures the temperature outside the passenger compartment and feeds this information…
Summary The valve cover gasket acts as a tight seal that prevents oil from leaking into other parts of the…
Summary The speedometer cable helps translate your vehicle’s drivetrain revolutions into a number that you can easily read on your…
Summary Usually made of metal or plastic, the radiator cap seals the top of the radiator filler neck to prevent…
Summary Also called the reverse light switch, the backup light switch is an electronic device that controls the backup lights.Many…
Summary The crankcase is the housing that surrounds the reciprocating internal combustion engine’s crankshaft.In most vehicles, the crankcase can be…
Summary The coolant reservoir is a storage tank that holds excess engine coolant and regulates the coolant fluid’s movement into…
Summary The thermal expansion valve controls the air conditioning (A/C) system’s pressure, fluid flow rate, and evaporator output temperature.The thermal…