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 Color does affect car insurance, but not as directly as you might expect. For instance, because certain vehicle colors…
Summary To get rid of the mildew smell in your car, try airing out your vehicle by rolling down your…
Summary The choke is a component of the carburetor that plays a critical role when starting a cold engine. It’s…
Summary An engine rebuild involves disassembling, inspecting, and cleaning the engine. It’s a labor-intensive task that requires a lot of…
Summary You might need to replace your engine’s piston rings if your vehicle misfires, emits discolored smoke, has poor acceleration,…
Summary Primary oil filters clean and remove impurities from the oil used in the engine. They’re the most common type…
Summary A car with a lien is essentially a car that comes with extra loans to pay. In other words,…
Summary It can be annoying when your vehicle honks on its own. There are a number of explanations behind this…
Summary Battery drop testing, or voltage drop testing, is a procedure done to find out if the battery cables and…
Summary Some cars tend to struggle to go uphill due common issues associated with poor power or pull.Reasons your car…
Summary “No key detected” is one long-standing and frustrating problem that the Nissan Altima can develop.Reasons your Nissan Altima can’t…
Summary The headlight wiper is a small windshield wiper that cleans the headlights. They were popular sometime between the 1980s…
Summary A crossmember is a steel or aluminum bar that runs across the vehicle to support the transmission. It’s usually…
Summary A steering stabilizer, also known as a steering dampener, dampens and absorbs sudden motions in the steering linkage to…
Summary The tachometer measures the engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM).The RPM might jump while driving because of bad parts like…
Summary Freeways seem intimidating, but you can stay safe by following highway driving tips and tricks.Highways are the long public…
Summary Before draining your gas tank, make sure to disconnect the negative battery terminals, find a ventilated area, and prepare…
Summary Most older vehicles have a point-type ignition system, which uses ignition points, a set of electrical contacts that switch…
Summary The oil pressure gauge is a device that keeps track of the oil pressure in the engine.If your oil…
Summary A bent or clogged tailpipe, a missing or damaged catalytic converter, and an exhaust manifold leak are common reasons…
Summary Common symptoms of brake booster sensor failure include an illuminated check engine light, a stiff brake pedal, and a…
Summary If your car’s air conditioner (A/C) is making a rattling noise, then it’s likely because of a worn belt…
Summary You can technically drive your vehicle with an illuminated ABS light, but you shouldn’t because the underlying problem that…
Summary Keep in mind that mild-weather wiper fluid does freeze at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If your winters tend to…
Summary The P1345 code stands for “Camshaft Position Correlation,” which typically means there’s an issue with your vehicle’s camshaft and…
There can be many reasons why your vehicle burns more fuel than usual. The issue can be as simple as…
Summary Repairing or replacing your balancer can be a complicated process because there’s a risk of damaging other engine components…
Summary A faulty EGR vacuum regulator will have symptoms like an illuminated check engine light and rough idling. Your vehicle…
Summary Transfer case fluid is the lubricant for the transfer case of four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles. Transfer cases are present…
Summary The ballast resistor lowers the voltage between the ignition switch and the ignition coil’s positive wire so that only…
Summary Continuing to drive on a bad axle can lead to accidents on the road, and we don’t recommend it.…
Summary A faulty wheel speed sensor can show symptoms like an illuminated anti-lock brakes (ABS) warning light, unresponsive ABS, failed…
Summary An air-cooled engine uses air circulation to dissipate heat from the combustion process.As its name indicates, a liquid-cooled engine…
Summary The oil cooler is responsible for keeping the oil within its ideal operating temperature, which is around 230 to…
Summary Shock absorbers use a piston and hydraulic fluid to create resistance against the up-and-down movement of your vehicle as…
Summary Not all vehicles have an A/C drier. This part sits between the condenser and expansion valve inlet and it’s…
Summary Not all fuses are built equal. They come in different types, sizes, and colors. The capabilities of a fuse…
Sometimes, the car door could shock you when you get out of your ride. It’s difficult to predict when it’ll…
Summary The most common causes of a gas leak include damaged fuel injectors, incomplete combustion in the chamber, or a…
Buying a vehicle is an exciting yet daunting purchase for most. The car itself is already expensive enough, and the…
Summary Fuel injectors deliver fuel into the internal combustion engine. It’s important to flush the fuel injector because the fuel…
Summary Most car washes use recycled water for the initial cleaning process. The car wash recycling system obtains the used…
Summary Parallel parking involves finding a space that’s one and a half times the length of your vehicle. According to…
Summary Drive comfort refers to your overall setup that makes long drives enjoyable and hassle-free.Seat quality, driving position, and leg…
When experts rate cars as good or bad, they often bring up the model's handling. They like to discuss how…
Stow-and-go seats are a convenience for minivan owners. You have the option of either extra seats or extra space depending…
Summary Battery failure, issues in the fuel system, and electrical problems can cause the engine to stall.Make sure to replace…
You must not leave your child without adult supervision in any situation. That bit of common sense applies doubly to…
Your vehicle’s windshield wipers are designed to sweep water droplets away from the middle of your windshield so you can…
Summary A radar detector lets drivers know when a police speedometer is monitoring them.The laws regarding radar detectors vary per…
When you see the charging system failure light illuminate while you drive, something’s gone wrong with one of the charging…
Summary Escape ramps are the emergency areas alongside downhill roads that let vehicles safely stop if their brakes fail.Runaway truck…
Summary The fuel system includes various parts like the gas tank, fuel pump, fuel lines, fuel filter, and fuel injectors.The…
Summary Battery terminals are the small cylindrical metal prongs that stick out from your vehicle battery.The battery is responsible for…
Vehicle emissions have a lot of negative effects on the environment. Modern emissions laws try to ensure vehicles today have…
Summary A faulty A/C evaporator can show symptoms like hot air from A/C vents, inconsistent air temperature, or an A/C…
Car headlights have come a long way since the 1880s. They went from fuel-burning lamps to glowing light bulbs, to…
Climate control is a feature in newer vehicles that regulates the car’s cabin temperature in a more precise and intuitive…
Summary A car jack can lift your vehicle off the ground for short periods, while a jack stand can support…
Today, most modern vehicles have rear window defoggers. Rear defoggers, also called defrosters, clear condensation from your rear windows. That…
Summary One of the most common reasons why a vehicle only goes in reverse is because it has a low…
Summary Windshield streaks are deposits that form on the surface of the front window’s glass after running the windshield wiper.When…
Summary The A/C switch is the device that lets you to control your air conditioning system from your vehicle’s center…
Summary Faulty fuel injectors, a clogged air filter, and a bad fuel injector pump are some of the reasons why…
Summary Dry rot is characterized by small, visible cracks that appear on the side of a tire. This happens because…
Summary Weigh stations are points where the highway patrol checks the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) to ensure a car…
Summary The three methods of cleaning your car's interior roof are spot cleaning, steam cleaning, and deep cleaning.Headliners are the…
Summary Although tail lights and brake lights use the same bulb, there are some cases where the brake lights are…
Summary Yes, car batteries can freeze because the electrolyte fluid in them contains water and sulfuric acid, both of which…
Summary A dealership warranty is a buyer’s guarantee that the purchased vehicle will function as specified. Vehicle warranties must be…
Summary A jammed door latch, corrosion, and structural damage to the door are some reasons why your car door won’t…
Slamming on the brakes is not only bad for your car but also incredibly dangerous to you and your passengers.…
Summary The cross-traffic system detects oncoming objects or pedestrians and alerts the driver.Some issues that trigger the cross system fault…
Summary The P1604 code stands for “Startability Malfunction.” It’s set when the PCM detects the engine isn’t starting or is…
Summary When cleaning your tires, make sure to know the basics, like making sure they’re cool before touching them, rinsing…
Summary Power steering fluid can change color over time, and its color can usually help you identify issues with the…
Summary It is impossible to drive safely with a concussion because such a condition severely impairs the brain and motor…
Summary The shift interlock solenoid in automatic transmission vehicles stops the park gear from moving to prevent the driver from…
Summary Alternator belts are used to drive the alternator, making it an important component when it comes to powering your…
Summary Bidirectional scan tools are used to read the diagnostic data in your vehicle’s computer. They can also be used…
Summary Car batteries typically last anywhere from 3 to 5 years, but there are many factors that can cause one…
Summary There are two kinds of oil light: the oil pressure light that illuminates when the engine has low oil…
On the whole, parking is a pretty easy part of driving a vehicle. All you need to do is slide…
Summary Transmission fluid lubricates the transmission system, preventing metal parts from grinding against each another.Transmission fluid is usually changed every…
Summary Lug nuts are heavy metal fasteners that screw onto the lug nut studs of the wheel hub, securing the…
You’ve probably seen 4x4 vehicles roaming the streets and heard of them conquering the great outdoors. Aside from having that…
Summary High-beams are intended to be used for highway driving at night. Avoid using high-beams when driving near other vehicles.…
Summary Bubbles appear in car paint for various reasons like early overcoating, painting in humid conditions, and debris getting trapped…
Summary Although the Toyota Prius is seen as a reliable daily driver, some owners are left to deal with problems…
Summary Cars typically overheat when idling because you’ve been stuck in traffic for too long or if the cooling system…
Summary Rattling noises can be quite hard to diagnose because a lot of damaged or worn-out components can produce the…
Summary Regular wear and tear, broken honeycombs, and a loose heat shield can cause the catalytic converter to rattle. Driving…
Summary Some of the reasons your car stalls after getting gas include low-quality fuel and contaminated fuel pumps. A malfunctioning ECU,…
Summary Water can come out of your tailpipe due to water condensation during combustion, cat-con operation, and engine heat.In some…
Summary Hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) rely on two propulsion systems: an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Most hybrid…
Summary A ceramic coating is a type of auto body protection used to keep your car’s paint looking as good…
Summary Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1151 stands for “Lack of Upstream Heated Oxygen Sensor Switch Sensor Indicates Lean Bank 2.”…
Summary The P1004 code stands for “Short Runner Control Valve Control Performance.” It’s not a general code, so its meaning…
Summary The P1518 code stands for “Intake Manifold Runner Control (Stuck Open).” It indicates that the PCM has detected an…
Summary Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1131 stands for “Lack of Upstream to the Heated Oxygen Sensor Switch.” The code is…