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 starter usually sits between the engine and transmission, specifically below the left cylinder bank on the driver’s side.…
Summary When pulling up at a gas station, always make sure that the fuel tank is facing the pump. You…
Summary A steam cleaner effectively kills bacteria, getting rid of unwanted smells.You can use a steam cleaner to clean the…
Summary Precipitation, extreme temperatures, and state road conditions can greatly affect your highway driving experience.If you frequently drive on highways,…
Summary Ventilated seats are made from perforated plastic and have fans and ducts.The fans draw air from under the seat…
Summary Also known as speed volume compensation, speed-compensated volume (SCV) automatically adjusts your audio system’s volume based on your driving…
Summary Skyactiv is Mazda’s engine tech that helps the engine produce more power without sacrificing fuel economy. Skyactiv engines are…
Summary The S on the gear shift stands for “Sport Mode.”Sport mode is ideal for highway driving when there aren’t…
Summary An illuminated wrench light on your dashboard usually indicates that your car requires professional service. This tends to differ…
Summary Death wobble is a rapid oscillation of various steering system components that causes the steering wheel to move from…
Summary Ford’s EcoBoost has three key features, including direct fuel injection, turbocharging, and variable camshaft timing.The EcoBoost engine is an…
Summary The Honda Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) is an engine system designed to give drivers a…
Summary Chassis Control is a suite of three specific systems in modern Nissan vehicles that allow their drivers to have…
Summary Boxer engines are a type of flat engine with a cylinder bank angle of 180 degrees. The term “boxer”…
Summary Manufactured by Toyota, the 2JZ is a powerful engine with an inline-six cylinder unit. It has two inline-three cylinder…
Summary A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a type of differential, which is a gear train that allows the wheels on…
Summary Also known as adaptive headlights, an adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) is able to adjust the direction and angle of…
Summary Most wheel lug nuts require around 100 pound-feet of torque, but some wheels might require more or less torque.…
Summary Passive disabling devices or passive anti-theft devices are security features that automatically turn on by themselves and help prevent…
Summary Disconnecting the throttle position sensor (TPS) will cut the powertrain control module (PCM) off from critical information it needs…
Summary The D3 you see on the gear stick on an automatic transmission car stands for Drive 3. Using the…
Summary EV mode (or motoring mode) is a feature typically found in hybrid EVs. Once activated, it restricts fuel usage…
Summary Range means miles to empty or the maximum distance your vehicle can travel before it runs out of fuel…
Summary An illuminated StabiliTrak service light means that the system will most likely be disabled until the issue is resolved.…
Summary The steps for replacing a throttle cable can vary significantly depending on your ride’s make and model. The process…
Summary If your car is making a chirping noise, you might be dealing with a worn serpentine belt, a failed…
Summary Also known as gear lube or gear oil, differential gear oil lubricates the metal components in your differential to…
Summary If your car is leaning to one side, your vehicle might have tire issues, a twisted chassis, or a…
Summary The primary role of a car antenna is to catch radio signals to allow you to listen to the…
Summary Faulty bulbs, a dead car battery, and a bad alternator are common causes of a malfunctioning turn signal bulb.Replacing…
Summary Adjusting the steering gear box is something you need to know if you want to keep your car in…
Summary Use heavy-duty cleaners or DIY solutions to clean your car's floor mats.Different types of car floor mats require appropriate…
Summary Dashboard lights usually dim when the headlights are on because the vehicle adjusted the dashboard’s brightness based on the…
Summary The clutch slave cylinder disengages the clutch from the engine by moving the pressure plate.When the clutch slave cylinder…
Summary Wheel locks are specialty lug nuts that prevent thieves from stealing the wheels and require their wheel lock key…
Summary Suspension components need fresh grease to lubricate their areas and remove contaminants from the joints and the ball-and-bearing assembly.Keeping…
Summary Painting a vehicle is a process that involves sanding, cleaning, sanding again, applying primer, painting, finishing, cutting, and buffing.You…
Summary Steering rack bushings (a.k.a. rack and pinion bushings) dampen vibrations while making turns. Common symptoms of a bad steering…
Summary The seat belt warning light is a dashboard light that flashes when it detects that someone isn't wearing their…
Summary Rotary engines usually appear in sports cars that need high performance. Rotary engines have a four-step combustion cycle (intake,…
Summary Curb colors identify the curb zones in California and who can use those zones. White curbs are solely for…
Summary Most dog odors are usually caused by molecules created by yeast and bacteria from your dog’s fur. These microorganisms…
Summary A bad main relay can cause problems like a no-start condition, unreliable vehicle ignition, an engine that won’t stay…
Summary Rain-sensing wipers automatically start working once raindrops start falling on your windshield. These auto wipers can also adjust their…
Summary The vehicle history report is a treasure trove of information about the used car. It shows the accident record…
Summary Side mirrors can only extend a driver’s field of view if they’re adjusted properly. Before you start adjusting your…
Summary Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) fees include vehicle title and registration fees, sales tax, and inspection and emissions fees.…
Summary Driving with a mattress tied to your car roof isn’t illegal, but you can still get pulled over if…
Summary A bad timing gear will create a rattling noise from your engine. Your engine will also run rough or…
Summary Radios in Chevy vehicles typically display “locked” if they need to be reset. To get the radio working again,…
Summary You might notice a strong exhaust smell outside your car.The possible reasons for the potent exhaust smell include a…
Summary The “P” in P-metric stands for passenger, because this type of tire was originally designed for passenger-type vehicles. P-metric…
Summary If your A/C won’t blow cold air, then your A/C system might have low refrigerant levels, a clogged air…
Summary A sway bar is a torsion spring with short lever arms at both ends. The solid metal bar’s lever…
Summary Window regulators lift and lower your car’s window panels using a mechanism that consists of brackets, gears, and cables.…
Summary The main difference between diesel and gas engines is in the fuel they use. Gasoline burns faster and produces…
Summary A vacuum coolant filler is a tool specifically designed to remove all of the air in a vehicle’s cooling…
Summary Park assist is an automatic parking aid found in many recent vehicle models. Compared to early parking sensors, park…
Summary If your vehicle won’t lock or unlock with your key fob, it can be a great inconvenience.Possible reasons your…
Summary When there’s a significant lack of freon in your vehicle’s system, it can cause a number of problems. Refrigerant…
Summary Also known as “low-pro tires”, low-profile tires have an aspect ratio of 50 or less, which means they have…
Summary The American Petroleum Institute (API) sets the bar for oil products. The API seal of certification on engine oil…
Summary There are scenarios where vehicles can make a deep, rhythmic thumping sound combined with a high-pitched whirring noise, much…
Summary Hose clamp pliers, also called hose clip pliers, are specifically designed to make pulling out hose clamps easier. They…
Summary PZEV stands for partial zero-emission vehicle, which has fuel systems that produce no evaporative emissions, meets the strict tailpipe…
Summary Milk is one of the worst fluids that can spill in your car because it can spoil and leave…
Summary Making a professional-grade bumper sticker is easy, and there are two popular methods: printing at home and making bumper…
Summary One way to check for an oil leak is to lay down some newspaper or a white plastic plate…
Summary Brake fluid is considered hazardous waste, so you can’t just throw it in the trash or pour it down…
Summary Exposure to water and air, solid particles, and rust can contaminate your vehicle’s brake fluid.Your car’s braking system is…
Summary There are several ways you can clean egg splatter off your car. You can use wiper fluid, waterless wax,…
Summary Removing car emblems, or debadging, is something that vehicle owners do to give their rides a sleeker, cleaner look.Before…
Summary There are two different types of timing in an engine: cam timing and ignition timing.Most modern vehicles have a…
Summary If you come from a country with left-hand driving, you must acclimate to driving and traffic on the right…
Summary A stiff brake pedal can make braking difficult, which might lead to an accident on the road.The most common…
Summary Paint can ruin the look of your vehicle's leather details and seats, but you can clean the material safely.Check…
Summary A faulty clutch pedal switch can make starting your vehicle more difficult. It might also allow the engine to…
Summary Avoid using a Magic Eraser on car paint, but take extreme care if you use it on a car…
Summary The speed limits in George vary according to the road type and range from 30 miles per hour (mph)…
Summary The Honda CR-V generally has two designs of electric parking brakes: a cable-pulling type that uses an electric motor…
Summary Felt-based air fresheners, clothespin air fresheners, and wax air fresheners are examples of DIY-friendly car air fresheners you can…
Summary Engine porting, also referred to as “port and polish,” is the process of smoothing out any form of obstruction…
Summary Body kits on a car are aftermarket upgrades that alter a vehicle’s exterior appearance, including bumpers, side skirts, fenders,…
Summary When choosing a new bumper for your car, consider the material, price, and whether you’re going for an aftermarket…
Summary The most common symptom of an off-track window is the window glass turning sideways as it goes up.Usually, grinding…
Summary An illuminated glow plug light indicates a problem with the glow plugs.While you can sometimes drive at slow speeds…
Summary Professionals reset the crankshaft position sensor with a scanner, but you can perform a reset yourself. The crankshaft position…
Summary Getting rid of used antifreeze is tricky, but you can DIY the task.Antifreeze disposal requires you to turn off…
Summary The speed-sensitive volume (SSV) system automatically adjusts the radio's loudness depending on how fast your car goes.SSV systems use…
Summary If you accidentally leave the sunroof open in the rain, take steps like not starting your car, looking for…
Summary Warming up the engine before departing might feel necessary, but it isn’t always the case. The ideal idle time…
Summary The fix for this problem can be as simple as topping up your transmission fluid, repairing or replacing faulty…
Summary Tow bars are equipment attached to a vehicle that needs to be towed. The tow bar doesn’t lift the…
Summary A bad power steering fluid reservoir will show symptoms like power steering fluid puddles, whining noises, and less steering…
Summary Issues such as uneven tire pressure or tire wear, poor wheel alignment, or a worn steering arm bushing can…
Summary Fuel injectors can actually last as long as your vehicle does. You can expect fuel injectors to last around…
Summary Engine issues such as a bad serpentine belt, damaged radiator pressure cab, turbo leak, or an exhaust leak can…
Summary A tire might not come off because of rust, warped wheels, or stuck lug nuts. You can use brute…
Summary A leaking radiator cap will leak coolant, causing low coolant levels, which can result in overheating.A leaking radiator cap…
Summary Color does affect car insurance, but not as directly as you might expect. For instance, because certain vehicle colors…