William “Bill” Guzenski has produced hundreds of how-to videos for the automotive community. When not working in the Contact Center in Grand Prairie, Texas for CarParts.com, he’s attending race events and car shows throughout the country. He also loves to travel in his 40-foot motorhome, exploring abandoned mines and ghost towns. He’s currently building another car for Bonneville Salt Flats and will be campaigning a drag car at several events.
Credentials:
Summary Static and dynamic transmission seals deteriorate over time because most oil seals are typically made from synthetic rubber that…
Summary “Remanufactured” refers to old vehicle parts that have been restored to make them as good as new.“Refurbished” means a…
Summary The idler pulley is a component that supports the movement of your vehicle’s drive belt.Common symptoms of a malfunctioning…
Summary The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor measures the coolant temperature in the cooling system. You can usually find the…
Summary Brake line replacement costs vary between vehicles, but you can expect to spend anywhere between $5 and $220.Brake lines…
Summary RPM stands for “revolutions per minute,” which is the measurement of how many rotations a crankshaft makes and how…
Summary The powertrain control module (PCM) controls the powertrain. Some of the parameters it monitors include engine speed, coolant temperature,…
Summary The blower motor lets you adjust the fan settings of your air conditioning (A/C) system. The blower motor turns…
Summary Wheel bearings let the wheels rotate while supporting the entire vehicle. They convert sliding friction into a rolling motion.…
Summary Sway bar links connect the sway bar to the control arm. A bad sway bar end link displays symptoms…
Summary The 5th wheel hitch is set on the floor of your truck’s bed. Its most visible part is a…
Summary An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system lowers NOx levels and controls detonation, which is a spark knock or ping…
Summary You can get high-quality transmission fluid for around $5 to $15 a quart. Labor costs for a transmission and…
Summary Mold and bacteria can form inside the A/C system and release unwanted odors. Failure to change the cabin filter…
Summary Electric vehicles (EVs) don't use engine oil because their electric motors and drivetrains don't need lubrication.EVs still use transmission…
Summary The terms front-wheel drive (FWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) correspond to the wheels powered by the engine.In FWD vehicles,…
Summary Your car battery won’t hold a charge if it’s old, corroded, or your car has a damaged alternator.If your…
Wheel spacers are components that increase the amount of space between the wheel hub assembly and the wheel. However, is…
Summary The two major truck bed sizes are standard short bed and standard long bed. Standard short beds refer to…
Summary Most modern vehicles have a powertrain control module that utilizes multiple sensors to detect problems in key vehicle systems.The…
Summary The pros of flex-fuel vehicles are that they release fewer emissions, are more sustainable, and are eligible for tax…
Summary The valve stem has a seal that prevents lubricant from leaking. It can either be a deflector or a…
Summary The turn signal relay is a device that controls the car’s turn signal lights. There are four types of…
Summary According to some major oil companies, an unopened container of motor oil maintained out of extreme heat or direct…
Summary Front brakes and rear brakes handle different aspects of the braking process. Drum brakes enclose the braking components within…
Summary Hypermiling is a set of driving techniques that aim to increase a vehicle’s fuel mileage.Hypermilers utilize techniques such as…
Summary The headliner is the material that covers your car interior’s roof. It insulates against heat and noise while concealing…
Summary Turn signal lights usually blink to indicate your turn signals are working. However, if they blink faster than normal,…
Summary Subframe bushings are rubber or polyurethane cushions designed to isolate vibrations and road noise while enhancing a vehicle’s handling.Two…
Summary If you leave your car idling, it will waste fuel and release emissions. Engine idling doesn't damage a modern…
Summary The steering rack is also called the rack and pinion assembly and it allows your wheels to rotate from…
Summary A transmission pan acts as a reservoir for the transmission fluid and serves as an access point for the…
Summary The GCWR (gross combined weight rating) is the maximum recommended weight of the vehicle, the trailer attached to it,…
Summary A car defroster helps clear condensation and removes frost from a vehicle’s windshield and windows.Car defrosters use heated air…
Summary Battery fluid leaks and age could lead to corroded batteries.Using anti-corrosion battery washers and battery grease as well as…
Summary The timing belt tensioner secures the timing belt and keeps it tensioned.There are hydraulic and mechanical timing belt tensioners.The…
Summary Spark plug sockets are used to lighten and loosen spark plugs, helping you change them without damaging the plug…
Summary Sealed Lead Acid batteries, or SLA batteries, are used to power electronics in vehicles because they’re maintenance-free and have…
Summary The brake master cylinder distributes pressure to the braking mechanism at each of the wheels.The two types of brake…
Summary The crankshaft pulley is a mechanical device that drives other vehicle accessories with one or more belts.A bad crankshaft…
Summary The transmission valve body is a major transmission component that diverts transmission fluid to the appropriate channels and areas.…
Summary The cold air intake pulls cool air into the engine and combustion chamber, where it helps produce a more…
Summary Valve lash, otherwise known as valve clearance, refers to the gap between the engine’s valve train components.Valve lash ensures…
Summary A spider gear is a type of bevel gear that rotates around the differential case.As the rear differential case…
Summary Brake hoses connect the brake lines to brake calipers.They’re typically made of rubber or stainless steel and are generally…
Summary When brake rotors degrade, their stopping power will eventually deteriorate.Brake rotor resurfacing smoothens the surface of the brake rotor.…
Summary The gear shifter allows the driver to change gears on a manual transmission. For automatic vehicles, this is called…
Summary A power steering belt transfers power from the engine’s primary pulley to the power steering pump.It can either be…
Summary A worn or faulty brake hose or caliper piston boot, collected debris, stuck brake pad shims, and sliding brake…
Summary DTC P0716 stands for “Input/Turbine Speed Sensor “A” Circuit Range/Performance”This code is set when the PCM detects that the…
Summary The P0710 code stands for “Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor “A” Circuit.”This code is set when the PCM detects that…
Summary If the powertrain control module (PCM) is unable to permanently store diagnostic trouble codes, the internal control module non-volatile…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0675 indicates “Cylinder 5 Glow Plug Circuit / Open.”Your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM)…
Summary Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0504 stands for “Brake Switch A/B Correlation Code.” Any problem with the brake switch, which…
Summary The P0499 code stands for “Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Vent Valve Control Circuit High,” which means the powertrain control…
Diagnosing vehicle problems can be tricky because similar symptoms can point to issues in different systems. The best way to…
Summary DTC P0620 stands for “Generator Control Circuit Malfunction.” It’s logged when the PCM detects a problem in the signals…
Summary The P050D stands for “Cold Start Rough Idle.” Some issues that could trigger the code include vacuum/intake leaks, a…
Summary The P0645 code stands for “A/C Clutch Relay Control Circuit.”A faulty A/C compressor and PCM are two of the…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0633 stands for “Immobilizer Key not Programmed – ECM/PCM.”This code is set when the…
Summary Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0627 stands for “Fuel Pump “A” Control Circuit/Open.” This code is logged when the powertrain…
Summary The meaning of diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0775 is “Pressure Control Solenoid ‘B’ Malfunction.” The P0775 code is triggered…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0218 indicates “Transmission Fluid Over Temperature Condition.”Your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM) will trigger…
Summary The P0752 code stands for “Shift Solenoid ‘A’ Stuck On,” which means the transmission control module detects that shift…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0760 stands for “Shift Solenoid ‘C’.”The powertrain control module (PCM) will trigger the P0760…
Summary DTC P0746 stands for “Pressure Control Solenoid “A” Performance/Stuck Off.” It’s logged when the TCM detects an issue with…
Summary DTC P0674 means “Cylinder 4 Glow Plug Circuit/Open.” It’s logged when the PCM detects that the glow plug circuit…
Summary A malfunction in the glow plug circuit of cylinder #2 will cause the PCM to log a P0672 code.Leaving…
Summary Your vehicle’s OBD might log a P0661 code when the powertrain control module (PCM) detects a problem with the…
Summary The P0651 code stands for “Sensor Reference Voltage “B” Circuit/Open.”It’s triggered when the powertrain control module (PCM) detects issues…
Summary Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0454 stands for “Evaporative Emission System Pressure Sensor/Switch Intermittent.”EVAP fuel tank pressure is monitored by…
Summary The P0418 code stands for “Secondary Air Injection (SAI) System Control ‘A’ Circuit,” which means the powertrain control module…
Summary The P0324 code stands for “Knock Control System Error,” which means the powertrain control module (PCM) didn’t receive the…
Summary The P0243 stands for “Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Solenoid “A”. It’s triggered when the PCM cannot control the solenoid and its…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0472 indicates “Exhaust Pressure Sensor ‘A’ Circuit Low.”Your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM) might…
Summary Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0471 is defined as “Exhaust Pressure Sensor A’’ Circuit Range/Performance.” This code might register if…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0237 stands for “Turbocharger / Supercharger Boost Sensor ‘A’ Circuit Low.” The powertrain control…
Summary The P0232 code stands for “Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit High,” which means the powertrain control module has detected an…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0159 stands for “O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response.” Your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM)…
Summary A code P2127 generally means that the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected a low voltage signal from the…
Summary The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2262 stands for “Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Pressure Not Detected.” Your vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM)…
Summary A P2261 code is set when the powertrain control module (PCM) receives an incorrect signal from the turbocharger or…
Summary The P2201 code’s definition is “NOx sensor circuit range/performance (Bank 1).” It is typically logged due to a nitrogen…
Summary The P2189 code stands for “System too lean at idle,” which means the air-fuel mixture during idle has too…
Summary The P2185 code stands for “Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit High.” It’s logged when the PCM detects electrical…
Summary Code P20B9 stands for “Reductant Heater “A” Control Circuit/Open.” It’s logged when the PCM fails to detect voltage in…
Summary Water contamination in the gas tank results in engine performance problems like rough running and stalling.Contamination has the potential…
Summary A subframe is a structural unit that serves as a mounting point for the engine, steering, suspension, and other…
Summary Your vehicle’s air conditioning (A/C) system is in charge of keeping your cabin from getting hot and stuffy. When…
Summary P2096 stands for “Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean (Bank 1)”.This code is set when your vehicle computer…
Summary A logged P0340 trouble code indicates a camshaft position sensor “A” circuit malfunction, which is usually caused by a…
Summary If your vehicle has been flooded, you should first wait for the floodwater to recede. Survey the damage first…
Summary A floor jack (also called a hydraulic jack or a car jack) is a hand-operated hydraulic device used to…
Summary Generally, you can safely let the car battery sit for less than three weeks. Connect the battery to a…
Summary The body control module (BCM) is in charge of managing all your automotive electronic systems. A malfunctioning BCM can…
Summary In most cases, the positive terminal will have a plus sign while the negative terminal will have a minus…