Once the Check Engine Light shows up, you know there’s something you must address. The onboard diagnostics (OBD) system analyzes the various car components to ensure everything is working correctly.
Valve seals are responsible for keeping oil from leaking into the cylinders. If there’s a failing seal, combustion may not occur as it should. That’s why it’s important to know
The radiator is an essential part of the car’s cooling system. It’s needed to disperse the hot temperatures coming from the engine. If the radiator fails to do its job,
In today’s modern engines, there are numerous sensors working together to ensure optimal combustion. One such sensor is the camshaft position sensor (CMP). To ensure that the vehicle runs as
If you see your car leaking fluid, it can be difficult to determine what’s going wrong. That’s why it’s important to know the color and odor of each fluid. In
If you hear the dreaded clicking when you try to get your car’s engine going, you may be having trouble with your starter not engaging as it should. When the
It’s obvious that low oil pressure is going to cause major damage to the engine if left unchecked, so what does high oil pressure do and what’s it caused by?
If your car has a turbocharger, you may be concerned about a boost leak. What starts as a small issue can turn into major problems if left unchecked. That’s why
The secondary air injection (SAI) pump isn’t a part that’s regularly talked about, but it still has a valuable purpose. For that reason, you want to know the symptoms of
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) can be seen as the brain behind all vehicle operations. It’s rare for this part to fail completely, but it can happen. That’s why it’s
Of all the things you could deal with while driving, engine sputtering is one that can cause a lot of alarm. Once it starts, it’s difficult to know whether or
Even if you don’t know what the motor mount is, you know it has an important job, just from the sound of it. However, it’s vital to know the symptoms
Unless you are familiar with the workings of car engines, you have probably never heard of the valve cover. It’s not a part that is talked about or included with
The car engine needs a precise amount of fuel to mix with the air in the combustion chamber. If it doesn’t get that fuel, you are going to notice some
Unless you are a mechanic, you may never have heard of a crankshaft pulley nor understand what it does. You certainly wouldn’t know the symptoms of a bad crankshaft pulley
The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) monitors the operation of the throttle valve. Because this part has such a profound effect on the way your car engine runs, it’s important to
The fuel gauge sender is responsible for relaying how much gas is in the car. If you have a bad fuel gauge sender, there’s going to be trouble reading the
The water pump is an integral part of the automotive cooling system. When this part fails, you are left with some serious issues, which is why it’s essential to know
The distributor cap is part of the ignition system on older vehicles. If your car still has one, you want to know the symptoms of a bad distributor cap, so
If your car is experiencing a vacuum leak, you may notice a host of drivability issues. The unwanted air is going to mess with the air-fuel mixture, leading to a
The car’s fuel system contains several critical components that must be in optimal condition to keep the vehicle running smoothly. One such part is the fuel filter. It has an
Most modern cars either have a timing chain or a timing belt under the hood. Both are used to connect the crankshaft to the camshaft and ensure the perfect timing
When it comes time for your regular tune-up, you may be surprised to find oil on the spark plugs. This contamination often reveals a mechanical problem, but how do you
Many people mistake the symptoms of a bad alternator for a failing car battery because they are very similar. Once you replace the battery and have the same thing happen
When the check engine light comes on, it always grabs your attention. It’s designed to alert you that something isn’t right under the hood, but that doesn’t always mean it’s
When you are heading down the road and see the Jeep Check Engine Light, you are sure to be worried. This warning is meant to get your attention so you
The fuel system is what ensures the engine of your car gets the gas it needs to keep going. If there’s a problem with the fuel system, you could run
Regular car maintenance involves changing the spark plugs occasionally. This essential tune-up keeps the engine running at its best. To complete the job right, you need to know the different
If you want to keep your car running its best, you need to be alert for the most common bad ignition coil symptoms. While we hope you never have to
Motor oil is a fluid that runs through the engine for lubrication, keeping it from wearing out prematurely. The oil pressure must be just right for the engine to get
The last thing you want to hear while driving are engine ticking noises. These are alarming and for a good reason. Because these noises are not normal, serious engine damage
Most serpentine belts are meant to last at least 50,000 miles, so replacement doesn’t occur frequently. Still, you want to know the symptoms of a bad serpentine belt, so you
Engine compression relates to how much pressure is generated by the engine within the cylinders while it’s on. The amount of pressure produced by the engine determines the power and
If you’ve only been working on cars for the last few years, you may never have come across one with a distributor. That’s because this part doesn’t get installed on
The coil pack is an essential part of the ignition system. It works hand in hand with the spark plugs to combust the air-fuel mixture in the engine. When a
Your car’s spark plugs are responsible for igniting the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders. When the spark plugs stop working as they should, car performance diminishes. One problem you need
It’s common to replace the mass air flow sensor if black smoke is coming out of the car exhaust or the engine isn’t running properly. While the replacement isn’t difficult
Modern vehicles are equipped with many advanced sensors designed to ensure optimum performance. One example is the DPFE sensor, which is part of the EGR system in many Ford cars.
If your vehicle is making a knocking or rattling sound, it might be a piston slap. In many cases, this frightening sound indicates that one or more pistons are failing.
Variable Valve Timing (VVT solenoids) or so-called oil control valves are one of the greatest innovations in the automotive industry. They help combustion engines to increase performance and increase efficiency.