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.
Why You Shouldn't Skip Cleaning Car Windows Driving with a dirty vehicle window can be a hassle. Dusty, hazy, or…
Summary The parking brake makes sure that your vehicle doesn’t move while it’s parked. If you drive with the parking…
Summary TSBs inform mechanics that certain vehicle models tend to have problems. They also offer tips on how to repair…
Summary The oil cooler line is a hose that connects the engine and the oil cooler, enabling lubricating oil to…
Summary Drag links are steel shafts that send mechanical movement from the pitman arm to the tie rod end. Heavy-duty…
Summary A bad gas cap is going to illuminate your check engine light. At the same time, you’ll smell fuel…
Summary The trunk latch is responsible for closing the trunk lid and keeping it shut as you drive. A trunk…
Summary Some symptoms of a bad automatic transmission gear-shift indicator include a malfunctioning indicator light, an illuminated gear that doesn’t…
Summary Push-button starts enable remote locking, minimize road accidents, and help prevent car theft. Unfortunately, push-button starts aren’t perfect. The…
Summary Trunk lock actuators open the trunk when the driver presses the key fob or the release button, but it…
Summary Fishtailing happens when your rear tires lose traction and the rear of the car begins to slide to the…
Summary A door striker plate is a metal clip that sticks out of the car door’s edge. It works with…
Summary Door latches refer to claw-like metal assemblies located in the rear of a vehicle’s door.If your door isn’t latching…
Summary An auxiliary battery refers to the secondary car battery. It powers certain electrical components even when the engine is…
Summary Siphoning gas out of your car is the best option if you’re dealing with contaminated fuel, surviving during a…
Summary A hood latch acts as a fastener that keeps the hood shut. It also opens the hood a couple…
Summary The operation of a fuel gauge depends on its type, which can either be analog, electronic, or magnetic. There…
Summary One of the most common causes of screeching noises is a worn-out serpentine/drive belt. Other possible reasons for the…
Summary Every gallon of gas that a vehicle uses emits approximately 24 pounds of greenhouse gases, and a typical passenger…
Summary Regular tune-ups for your Toyota can help prevent breakdowns, enhance vehicle performance, and ultimately keep you safe on the…
Summary An average Honda tune-up will include services like replacing spark plugs and air and fuel filters, ignition timing checks,…
Summary The vehicle stability system is designed to mitigate loss of vehicle control by measuring yaw (sideways movement) and acceleration…
Sticking to your vehicle’s maintenance schedule is the best way to keep it in great shape. While regular trips to…
Summary Drivability refers to a vehicle’s ability to be driven, but it can also indicate the vehicle’s condition as a…
Summary The parking brake is a latching mechanism that’s part of the overall brake system, which operates independently, connecting to…
Summary Lowering a vehicle’s ride height is known to bring performance and aesthetic benefits, but it also comes with some…
Summary The ignition cable is a wire that transfers electrical energy from the distributor to the engine’s spark plugs. Ignition…
Summary The airbag light will turn on briefly when you start and turn off the engine. If it stays on,…
Summary Brake dust shields keep debris and other harmful dust out of your wheels and braking system. Brake dust is…
Summary Activating the hazard warning lights causes the left and right turn signal to blink at the same time until…
Summary The blower motor relay manages the amount of voltage that the blower motor receives, allowing it to function at…
Summary Sometimes, your vehicle's dashboard or ignition might not receive any power. Some of the possible causes behind this problem…
Summary When the adaptive cruise control (ACC) light turns on, it usually indicates an issue with the ACC, such as…
Summary 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines mainly differ in the number of power cycles their pistons make during a combustion revolution.A…
Summary Most vehicles typically have two seals on the crankshaft that protect it from damage. Eventually, the seals will wear…
Summary Modern heated car windows have tungsten wires that warm up to melt ice or snow on the window.The earliest…
Summary Vehicle window switches are a modern convenience that allow a vehicle’s passengers to open or close the car’s windows.…
Summary Not all vehicles have an ignition relay, per se. GM vehicles are the most likely to have an actual…
Summary The automatic shutdown (ASD) relay powers the ignition coils, fuel injectors, and alternator field in many Chrysler vehicles. If…
Summary The accumulator keeps moisture and foreign particles from entering your vehicle’s A/C system. Some of the common symptoms of…
Summary Also called an engine mount, the torque strut mount keeps the engine’s position stable in relation to the chassis.…
Summary The possible causes of slow tire leaks are tire holes, regular wear, issues with the valve stem, and leaks…
Summary Oil contamination, total positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system failure, and worn piston rings can cause oil to build up…
Summary Common reasons for a smoking car battery are overcharging, a bad alternator, overheating, a short-circuit, and a dead battery.…
Summary The parking brake can get stuck because of corrosion/rust, excessive force, and cold weather. Several methods can dislodge a…
Summary Weight affects how your vehicle handles and performs when you drive. Your vehicle’s sprung and unsprung weight affect its…
Summary Ordinary spark plugs should last anywhere between 30,000 and 50,000 miles.Meanwhile, iridium spark plugs can last up to 100,000…
Summary The coolant reservoir is a container for excess engine coolant fluid. A cracked coolant reservoir displays symptoms like coolant…
Summary The exhaust manifold gasket is the sealing mechanism between the exhaust manifold and the engine’s cylinder head. A worn-out…
Summary The passenger side mirror is a convex mirror, making objects appear further away than they actually are. On the…
Summary If your engine oil is milky, then it’s likely water has leaked into the engine chamber. It’s dangerous to…
Summary If your brake pads, which work with the calipers to clamp onto the brake rotor, are thin or have…
Summary Coolant level sensors report low radiator coolant. Symptoms of a bad coolant level sensor include an illuminated check engine…
Summary The PCM relies on the cylinder head temperature sensor’s readings to determine the proper ignition timing and air-fuel ratio.…
Summary The oil level sensor monitors your vehicle’s engine oil and warns you about low levels. A bad engine oil…
Summary Heat shields insulate crucial components from heat emanating from the manifold and exhaust. Common materials used for heat shields…
Summary Corrosion, alternator issues, and loose cable clamps can trigger the battery light on your dash. If the battery light…
Summary ASE stands for “automotive service excellence.” The National Institute for ASE is responsible for the certification of vehicle mechanics.An…
Summary SAE stands for “Society of Automotive Engineers.” It’s the governing body that dictates the engine oil’s grade number, indicating…
Summary A rear differential leak typically happens when differential oil seeps out of the rear differential’s housing. This type of…
Summary The pinion seal prevents differential oil from leaking. Fluid leaks and noises in the differential are the most common…
Summary A compression test measures a cylinder’s ability to hold pressure as the piston moves up and down. Mechanics use…
Summary Sunroofs are window-like panels on a car’s roof that can let light and air enter the vehicle. Common sunroof…
Summary The horn relay is an electromagnetically controlled switching device that converts signals to sounds. Two symptoms of a faulty…
Summary Your car might smell like burning oil because of oil leaks or a clogged or broken positive crankcase ventilation…
Summary The throttle actuator is usually a DC motor that helps rotate certain parts precisely and efficiently. It closes and…
Summary The wheel seal prevents lubricant from leaking from the bearing cavity. It also protects the bearing from contaminants.Improper installation,…
Summary A yaw rate sensor measures how much and how fast a vehicle is tilting using gyroscopes or tuning forks.…
Summary The ambient air temperature sensor monitors the air temperature outside of your vehicle’s cabin. This sensor is usually found…
The windshield washer pump can develop problems over time, which can prevent windshield fluid from coming out. Without this fluid,…
Summary The vacuum pump generates a vacuum, which is the removal of atmospheric pressure from a closed space. Symptoms of…
Summary Engine braking is the process of slowing the vehicle down by shifting to a lower gear, letting the engine…
Summary The type of key is the first thing you should check. A key can be a mechanical or standard…
Summary Find the recommended tire pressure value, measure the pressure beforehand, and use a quality tire pressure gauge. Inflate the…
Summary In most cases, getting a cheap and fast oil change can do more harm than good for your vehicle.…
Summary Your transmission uses shift solenoids to control hydraulic fuel pressure inside the transmission. The P0765 code is logged once…
Summary Your vehicle’s ride height, suspension, and cargo load can affect the headlights’ alignment.Misaligned headlights can prevent you from seeing…
Summary The top dead center refers to the point where the engine’s cylinder one reaches its highest position during the…
Summary Induction backfire happens due to ignition system issues related to one or more faulty spark plugs, cross-firing between distributor…
Summary A brake flush is the process of replacing your vehicle’s brake fluid. It can cost anywhere between $113 and…
Summary The neutral safety switch prevents the vehicle from starting if the vehicle’s transmission is in gear.Symptoms of a bad…
Window tint has many benefits. Aside from reducing glare, it can also protect your interior from the damaging effects of…
Summary The electric power control (EPC) warning light indicates a problem with the vehicle’s electronic power control system. EPC lights…
Summary Dry gas is an alcohol-based fuel additive containing isopropyl or methanol. Alcohol can be corrosive, and non-flex fuel systems…
Summary The P0745 code stands for “Pressure Control Solenoid “A” Malfunction.” Possible causes for the code include a bad pressure…
Summary Squeaking brakes are not normal. If they were normal, new cars would have squeaky brakes right off the lot.…
Summary Toyota’s smallest SUV on the market today is the 2022 Toyota C-HR.Some of the advantages of subcompact SUVs include…
Summary You’ll have to get a rebuilt title to sell a vehicle that was once declared a total loss. This…
Installing superchargers and turbochargers and tinkering with the suspension system are some of the most common car modifications out there.…
Summary Code P2BAC indicates “NOx Exceedance – Deactivation of EGR.” It’s typically set if the level of NOx indicates the…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2471 stands for “Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor Circuit High Bank 1 Sensor 4.” Your…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2452 indicates “Diesel Particulate Filter Pressure Sensor 'A' Circuit.” If the powertrain control module…
Summary Dumping car batteries into the ocean isn’t just illegal, it’s also horrible for the environment.Car batteries have lead and…
Summary Ethanol is a renewable biofuel made from biomass, such as corn grain. It can be used as a fuel…
Summary You need the radio code if your car’s radio is unresponsive and flashes the “enter code” message.It’s possible the…
Summary The Ford Taurus SHO can reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. For comparison, the first-generation Taurus SHO variant could…
Summary The 2022 Ford Escape will have either 6.8 or 7.3 inches of ground clearance, depending on its trim level.Ground…
Summary All dashboard lights should turn on at ignition. This indicates that the vehicle is performing a self-test. However, if…
Summary The Hyundai Palisade’s front-wheel drive option has an estimated fuel economy of 19 miles per gallon (mpg) for city…
Summary The Toyota Camry is a popular family sedan with impressive reliability scores and a spacious interior, but it suffers…