6
votes
1answer
176 views
What is a hot patch, and how is it done?
I recently picked up a piece of metal in my tire, leading to a flat. The mechanic said he could not plug the tire, and that a "hot patch" was required.
What is a hot patch, how is it applied, and ...
6
votes
1answer
193 views
What is the best way to detail your car inside?
I bought a used car and its seat, doors, dashboard all needs some good cleaning job. I am thinking to shampoo the seats and side doors and then vacuuming it. But I don't know what shampoo to use and ...
6
votes
2answers
106 views
Failing alternator, idler pulley, or something else?
I have 1997 Chevrolet Lumina sedan. I’m trying to diagnose a sound coming from my engine. It is a “whirring” noise that varies with the engine speed (e.g., if I accelerate, the sound becomes louder ...
5
votes
3answers
454 views
Just HOW urgently should I replace this tire? Is it safe to drive on at all?
It's my rear right tire. It has a significant bulge in the sidewall.
Here are two pictures of the bulge (original URL):
Do I need to replace it before I ever drive on it again? Should I put on ...
5
votes
3answers
725 views
How should I prevent my battery going flat when I leave my car alone for a month?
I will be leaving my Focus alone for around a month in (scottish) winter weather. Ordinarily I would make sure to take the vehicle out at least once a week to prevent the battery going flat in the ...
5
votes
4answers
235 views
How to increase braking power in fully loaded Wagon-R
I used to travel 500 Km to my native village with a fully loaded vehicle along with 5 person in my WagonR. I also used to cruise with speed in between 80 to 100 Km/hr but the vehicle braking decrease ...
5
votes
3answers
570 views
Semi-automatic car inadvertently driven in manual mode
I have a 2008 Mazda 3 car with a semi-automatic transmission (i.e. it is automatic with the ability to switch to a manual mode).
On the weekend, it was driven by somebody else who accidentally put it ...
5
votes
4answers
6k views
How Do You Keep Mold From Growing In a Non-Running Car That Has Leaky Windows?
I have a car that isn't running at the moment, but that soon will be. Where I live, it rains 7 days per week, and I've recently cleaned mold from the interior of the vehicle. What types of things ...
5
votes
4answers
498 views
Preventing visor from fogging
How do you prevent your visor from fogging?
I ordered a pinlock today for my HJC helmet, but had read some good things about NEC pinkstick (some kind of wax for visor). Usually I just keep the visor ...
5
votes
4answers
406 views
Car crash: when does a car catch fire?
Which kind of crash does it need for a car to catch fire?
I'm asking because I was discussing about an accident where a car crashed into a full-grown brown bear. Is it realistic under normal ...
5
votes
2answers
156 views
Trying to figure out the name of this car part!
I got new tires today and saw that the part that's circled is broken on my car. It looks like it just snapped at the top because part of the bolt appears to still be in whatever the tube is. Anyone ...
5
votes
4answers
495 views
Is it okay to leave a car non-operable for 5 months?
I need to travel to the east coast and work from there for a duration of 5 months. I can leave my car in covered parking here and ask a friend to start the car for a few minutes every week.
What ...
5
votes
3answers
192 views
Why don't FWD cars have rear differentials?
This confuses me. The point of a differential is to make it so the wheels don't slip when one needs to be turning faster than the other, such as during turns.
So if the rear wheels are directly ...
5
votes
3answers
574 views
Is it OK to skip gears?
I'm not sure if this is on topic, but I'd like to know the answer before it comes a repair question.
I have a Y2K Triumph Speed Triple - great bike. First gear comfortably takes to 90km/h. Needless ...
5
votes
4answers
136 views
What clues are there to identify real mileage?
This is a bit theoretical question, maybe viable for a wiki.
Suppose you want to buy a 10yo car and among available deals you see one with suspiciously low mileage (e.g. 5'000 km). Seller assures you ...
5
votes
3answers
144 views
Where can I go to do basic work on my vehicle?
I live in the middle of a city. I have a tiny parking spot in an underground parking garage (have to fold the mirrors in just to get in!). Doing any maintenance is officially verboten, and it ...
5
votes
5answers
3k views
How to get a motor to Top Dead Center
I'm not sure how specific to my car this is or not, so I will include my car information just in case: It's a 1991 Honda CRX, base trim(the motor is the d15b2).
On to the question: How do I go about ...
5
votes
3answers
230 views
Maintenance on used car with unknown history
I bought a high mileage(130K) used Saturn(98 SW2). I do not know the maintenance history of the car or if it has been kept to the maintenance schedule. What things should I avoid working on. For ...
5
votes
2answers
104 views
How to prevent body damage and rust from salted roadways?
I bought a used 2001 Toyota Camry this past summer.
Overall it's in great shape, and I presently see no rust.
Living in Wisconsin, we use salt pretty liberally to deal with snowy and icy roadways. ...
5
votes
3answers
151 views
Switching gears without clutch
I drove manual car for a long time but never tried to switch gears without clutch.
Question: given that clutch-less shift is executed properly, does it take a toll on transmission in any way? For ...
5
votes
4answers
784 views
Why does my car scream on cold start?
My 1988 Subaru XT6 2.7L engine screams at me on a cold start then it will stop and then do it again when I take it out of park, but then it stops.
Also, my car is losing antifreeze. Any ideas why?
5
votes
2answers
749 views
How to know how much fuel is left when the light turns on
In general, where can one find information about the quantity of fuel that is left in the vehicle's tank when the warning light turns on?
More specifically, in a Suzuki Swift GLX (auto) 2010 model?
5
votes
5answers
2k views
How to Clean a Paper Air Filter
I have a 1989 Yamaha FZX 750, and I can't find a replacement air filter for it. What's the best method to clean the air filter?
5
votes
3answers
3k views
My car wobbles while driving
I have a Honda Civic VTI, 1997 model, automatic transmission. When I start driving my car gives a feeling that one of the front wheel is wobbling and the steering wheel receives continuous jerks. This ...
5
votes
2answers
95 views
How severe is a bad oil seal on a used car?
Okay, go easy on me. I'm a bit of a vehicle lightweight. I can do basic maintenance, but in terms of "how bad is this," I'm usually lost.
My boyfriend bought a 2010 VW CC a few days ago. Two days ...
5
votes
2answers
211 views
How do you set side mirrors?
In a passenger car with 3 mirrors (rear-view and 2 side mirrors), how do you set your side mirrors so as to see as much as possible?
5
votes
1answer
426 views
Huge puddle of water under car
I parked my Dodge Viper after driving for about two hours. Half an hour later I noticed a huge puddle under the engine, on the passenger side.
I am pretty sure it was water since it was thin, ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Car temperature displaying below Cold or just above Cold always?
I've noticed on my 94 Integra (bought used about 2 weeks ago) that the thermostat is often below cold, sometimes above cold but never up to the center mark.
Today I was boiling inside my car as it ...
5
votes
1answer
444 views
How do the audio controls on the steering wheel communicate with the radio?
Do they use some sort of wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth? I can't imagine there is enough room to have physical connections for all of the controls that would also allow for the full rotation of ...
5
votes
2answers
650 views
What are the advantages of filling nitrogen instead of “normal” air in the car tyres?
As the question says, does filling pure nitrogen has any significant advantages, given the fact that normal air is ~80% nitrogen?
Thanks for your time.
5
votes
4answers
476 views
Are these repairs necessary, and can I do them myself?
I'm wondering if the maintenance my dealer recently suggested is necessary, and if so, if it's worth it for me (a person who has technical skill but is inexperienced with auto) to undertake on my own ...
5
votes
4answers
171 views
How can I know if the right oil has been added to the vehicle?
Considering that the car recommend Mobil 1 Synthetic oil as per the logo on the oil cap, how can I be sure that the garage that did the oil change poured the recommended oil and not another low cost ...
5
votes
4answers
90 views
How to deal with a hot turbocharger
A piece of advice that seems to be widely accepted is that after a long high-speed run, when the turbocharger is thoroughly hot, you should let the engine idle for a while before stopping it. The ...
5
votes
2answers
193 views
How to put 1997 Toyota 4Runner in neutral with dead battery?
My ’97 Toyota 4Runner with automatic transmission is parked head first in a small garage with a dead battery. I need to put it into neutral to push it out on the driveway so I can jump-start it. (This ...
5
votes
2answers
294 views
2004 Ford Focus engine cover would not budge after all screws are removed
I have a 2004 Ford Focus SE 2.0L. There’s some oil leak on the engine. A mechanic told me it could be the engine valve gasket being cracked (the car is pretty old and never had a valve gasket change). ...
5
votes
2answers
229 views
Brake lights, but no tail lights
I've got a 2001 WJ 4.0, The right brake light wasn't working, so I installed a new bulb, but I must have done something in the process because now all my brake lights work but I have no running ...
5
votes
2answers
92 views
should I replace gaskets when replacing exhaust?
I need to replace a broken section of exhaust. Should I replace the gaskets also? one of the gaskets is directly between the engine and the new part. The other is between the new and an old part of ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Engine Size and Fuel Consumption
I have this weird misconception that the engine size is related to the amount of fuel being burned in one cycle(4-stroke engine). I know this is stupid but how does engine size relate to the amount of ...
5
votes
3answers
4k views
How to determine if a wheel is bent
My E46 M3 vibrates moderately at highway speeds (> 60 MPH), but it can can only really be felt through the seat, and not through the steering wheel. My guess is that a wheel is bent (out of round) or ...
5
votes
2answers
7k views
Are fuel system cleaners (like Gumout) worth using regularly?
Are fuel system cleaners (like Gumout) worth using regularly?
5
votes
4answers
643 views
How to tune the ECU / fuel trim in a custom-built engine
I have a Gen VI 454 in my Suburban that needs some work. I'm thinking about turning it into a 496 stroker. Once I find a list of mechanical components (crank, cam, pistons, heads... everything) that ...
5
votes
1answer
197 views
Why does my 2013 Honda Fit's horn sound when I am jump starting my car?
I had to jump start my car recently, and couldn't get the horn to turn off for a long time. I'm still not sure what actually caused it to stop. The horn sounded on and off continuously from the moment ...
5
votes
3answers
354 views
How to amplify car speakers without stereo?
I have a 1980 VW Dasher with its original speakers but no radio. It has an unusual (erroneous?) electrical configuration where most accessories (e.g. lights, cabin fan, etc) still run even with the ...
5
votes
2answers
144 views
How to know if I need new tires?
For the first time in my years of driving, I slid pretty badly the other day. I've slid before a little bit, but this is the first time I slid badly-- I nearly went off the road.
Granted, it was ...
5
votes
2answers
983 views
Why do head gaskets fail in diesel engines?
I'm considering the purchase of a 2001 VW Golf TDI "mechanic's special", so named because it apparently has a failed head gasket (white smoke). I'm not a mechanic but I'm fairly handy with tools and ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Remove stuck crankshaft bolt on 2003 Acura TL for timing belt change?
A friend is helping me change the timing belt on my 2003 Acura TL 3.2. Yes, I paid for the beer!!!
We've successfully removed the upper timing belt covers, drive belt, and serpentine belt.
We're ...
5
votes
4answers
5k views
Racing Fuel (100 Octane Rating) - Better than Premium?
Earlier today while driving out East on Long Island I stopped to fill my tank with gas, and at the station, all the pumps had the usual Regular, Mid, Premium on one pump, but on the 2nd pump which ...
5
votes
2answers
562 views
Cleaning fuel injectors?
I took my car (2006 Honda Civic) to firestone to get an oil change and they told me I should get the fuel injectors cleaned. I was in an Advanced Discount Auto Parts store the other day and I noticed ...
5
votes
1answer
396 views
How can I be sure of the reading on my automatic transmission fluid dipstick?
This may seem like a silly question. I've been trying to read the dipstick for my automatic transmission fluid but am having a very difficult time determining the level. The fluid is very light and ...
5
votes
4answers
4k views
Couldn't start my Volvo due to Key Error. Called assistance and he fixed it by hitting the key with a screwdriver. What could be the error?
My Volvo S40 (06) would not start when I turned the ignition key. I got a message that was somewhat like "Key Error, please try again". I tried with both my keys so it wasn't the key itself. I think I ...
