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Questions tagged [maintenance]

Questions about general routine maintenance of a vehicle or engine.

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VW Eos - Is this normal kind of rust on the underside (control arm) of a 14 year old car?

My first post here. I'm looking to get a 14 year old VW Eos, but I noticed some rust going on in this underside bar shown in the picture. Everywhere else is fine. There are some circular holes in the ...
Sav_d's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
2 answers
75 views

Is it normal for rust to appear on brake disks within a couple of days of buying a new car?

I bought a Mustang Mach-E two days ago. Been very happy with it, except it rained last night and today the brake disks are covered in rust on all four wheels. We do live near a salt water bay, but my ...
Aaron's user avatar
  • 123
1 vote
1 answer
75 views

My Harley Davidson's fuel gauge has become very erratic over the last week

The fuel gauge on my 2011 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited used to move a little under heavy braking or acceleration, but broadly speaking was accurate-ish. The bike has done 20000 miles, and maintained ...
Rory Alsop's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
50 views

Does running the engine without using air conditioner significantly influence battery life?

Is there a tangible benefit to never using the air conditioner and will doing so increase overall battery life ?
fishbed's user avatar
  • 11
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Anti-seize on a slider pin?

Is there any circumstance in which it would be acceptable to put anti-seize on a slider pin (for a brake caliper)? A mechanic wrote this to me: "When slider pins are serviced, they are removed ...
Nike Dattani's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
658 views

Brakes at 2mm, appt. in a week, should I stop driving?

The brake pads on my 2002 Honda CR-V are at 2mm, which, to my understanding, is quite low. I have an appointment in a week to get them changed. Should I avoid using the car until they are changed?
Alex's user avatar
  • 129
0 votes
1 answer
29 views

Less driven Toyota Corolla 2007 Maintenance [duplicate]

I have this 15 year old car, mileage today is 37,000. I am very confused about when to change oil and do all the other recommended maintenance. I plan to drive it at about the same rate.
Surjit Singh's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
76 views

Use of electronics in 49cc 2 stroke dirt bike engine

The picture is taken from here. Are there any electronics in this 49cc 2 stroke dirt bike engine. Are electronics responsible for the ignition timing of spark plug? Or, is the flywheel (that has ...
Testing Su's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
52 views

What is a good resource I can reference to learn all about lubricants and sprays?

I think we can all agree that there are tons of lube products for screws, for belts, and for other car components and I cannot differentiate between them and I never know what to use in a given ...
VmroFan1's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
3k views

Do battery corrosion pads really work?

I see various sources suggesting that chemically-treated felt pads be placed under battery terminals, to reduce or eliminate corrosion - like these: Usually either red/black or red/green. Do these ...
culix's user avatar
  • 301
2 votes
2 answers
270 views

Can I wax these specific blue parts of my motorcycle?

So I got overwhelmed by many doubts regarding waxing. I'm new to riding and maintenance. This is my first motorcycle. It has a metal fuel tank with glossy blue metallic paint. The non metal parts (...
Vikas's user avatar
  • 301
-1 votes
3 answers
94 views

Can a mechanic reliably determine if a high mileage used car is likely to require major/expensive repairs in the near future? [closed]

I need to buy a car and I can't afford a new one, and since my anticipated use is very light, I don't even want or need one. I live in the county (so no public transport) and I just need a second ...
Joshua Frank's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

Engine Flushing

At what mileage is engine flushing recommended for an engine? Some mechanics have told me that it is not needed and others insisted on its importance once the car reaches ~120,000 KM. Cheers.
SuperSafari's user avatar
0 votes
5 answers
49 views

First Time Motorcycle Owner. Maintenance Help

I'm new here and I'd like to ask for some help, and or, advice. I just got my first ever motorcycle and it was somewhat of a mechanic special. A 2000 Harley Davidson Sportster Sport XL1200S. I'm ...
Jaxon Haney's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
82 views

Grease gun for preventative maintenance

I'm intending to replace outer tie rods on a 2000 ford explorer, and they will need grease added with a grease gun. Are there other parts of the car that should be regularly greased that justify ...
Keith's user avatar
  • 13
0 votes
2 answers
534 views

Should I change my 2005 Honda Accord's transmission fluid? [closed]

I just bought a 2005 Honda Accord EX-L v6 this last week. It has about 180k miles. I'm doing maintenance on it like changing oil, air filters, etc, but I'm nervous about changing my trans fluid. It ...
Kade's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
1 answer
74 views

Wheel bearings failure at low miles

I was recently unlucky enough to be in a crash. My car is modern (2016 registered). Driving on a highway at highway speeds, I heard a rumble noise. I knew the road I was on but thought i was going ...
Bladerider1's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
57 views

Confirmation of coolant valve on a Ford Focus

I'm prepping a radiator coolant change on a 2014 Ford Focus, and would like to confirm if the valve with a 1/2" diameter pipe shown in the picture is the one that needs to be turned to release ...
plu's user avatar
  • 145
0 votes
1 answer
96 views

Should I polish the car myself?

I am concerned about safety (of paint) and efficiency. My car is old (bought in 2013), and looks dull. I have never waxed or polished. I have just learnt that these two are "things". My car ...
10101010's user avatar
  • 147
1 vote
0 answers
38 views

Wipers wont remove water in one area of windshield

when raining and I turn on my wipers they remove water from all areas of windshield except for one area in my view, after wiping across this area,the water is still there and I can't see the road in ...
Carrie Mathews's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
215 views

Will regular slamming of car doors cause damage during the lifetime of the vehicle?

How long would door slamming take to affect the regular functioning of the vehicle in any way, and are there any ways to find how many door slams a door for a particular individual make/model can take ...
stevec's user avatar
  • 101
0 votes
0 answers
399 views

Fault Code - No Powertrain DTC's or Freeze Frame Data

I have a 2013 Dodge Dart that is showing a fault code - no powertrain DTC's or freeze frame data is presently stored in vehicle. How can I get this fault code reset so my check engine light goes off?
Michael Petracca's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
90 views

What are the key maintenance things I should do to increase my car’s longevity? [duplicate]

I know about things such as changing the oil regularly and keeping the gas tank at least one quarter full at all times, but what other things can I do to increase my car's longevity? I define ...
ifonlyihadcake's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
720 views

Lifespan of radiator hoses and serpentine belts

I've seen estimates as low as 4 years/60,000 miles (from places like NAPA, who obviously want people to replace their belts and hoses all of the time) to 7 years (from an anonymous Gates engineer), to ...
masospaghetti's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
687 views

Audi 2.0T Tapping Noise When Accelerating (Up to 3000 RPM only)

Car: 2013 Audi A4 2.0 4-Cyl Turbocharged AWD Mileage: 71,457 miles Video Clip: https://youtu.be/HX1wXk84wq8 The car is exhibiting a tapping noise when the engine is under load at lower RPMs. Test ...
user114027's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
57 views

Can't do adjustment in clutch cable in motorcycle

I installed a new clutch cable on my bike but after installation, its adjustment bolt was tighten at last. I don't understand why it is like that I can't adjust anymore in new cable. Please suggest me ...
Mayank Sharma's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
23 views

What's everything I should replace/maintain while changing the clutch? [duplicate]

I've got a 2007 Corolla with what seems to be a bad pilot bearing. I know changing the clutch isn't a trivial job, so I'm going to do whatever else I can do w/ the gearbox removed. I just ordered this ...
AmagicalFishy's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
83 views

I got a wipe stuck/ clogged in the Air-filter holes need helpful advice

I was changing/cleaning out my Air filter inside my 2004 Chevy Classic and as i was cleaning it out i notice the box where the air filter gone was very dirty so i wiped it with a wipe and it fell ...
Monique Flakes's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
118 views

How do I fix up a 2001 Buell Motorcycle that has been sitting for 2 years?

The bike I had been handed down has not been up and running for at least 3 years. I am afraid to start it because it hasn't been maintained for a while and I also don't know what to expect. I read ...
Emma Jo's user avatar
  • 21
3 votes
2 answers
781 views

Potential issues with this car that passed by a flooded street for a couple seconds?

There was a day where it rained extremely hard like buckets of water at a time. It flooded like crazy in a matter of 10-15 minutes literally. The floods were insane and I panicked driving through ...
Pherdindy's user avatar
  • 153
1 vote
1 answer
90 views

Buying the correct antifreeze type for my engine

I'm looking to flush and re-fill my cooling system, and I'm struggling to work out exactly what type of coolant I need to buy. My maintenance book says I need 'Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze with a ...
george7378's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
986 views

Car has trouble starting ONLY after it has been sitting overnight

I own a Volkswagen Polo 2015, It has clocked around 40000 miles. It has a very peculiar problem, i.e the car has trouble starting only after it has been sitting for 7+ hours. Once the car starts, the ...
Local Ghost's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
76 views

Burning smell comes from the engine oil sump area

My motorbike has been suffering from an issue which goes like this . Whenever I drive for a few kilometres a smell comes from the engine oil sump area even if the engine oil is brand new . One year ...
Pankaj's user avatar
  • 1
3 votes
1 answer
50 views

Does battery tender need to be in enclosed area?

I have a 2009 Winnebago Access motorhome that is rarely used. I had a battery tender but it stopped charging the battery. I purchased another tender & enclosed it in a small plastic storage box. ...
Pat's user avatar
  • 31
1 vote
0 answers
112 views

Is the date on the oil sticker very important?

I'm trying to balance coronavirus with following my oil sticker. We are mostly staying at home and not driving much to avoid coronavirus, so our mileage is still slightly under the mileage on the ...
cmzmuffin's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
150 views

Metal shavings in V8 truck engine oil change

I was changing the oil in my 2004 Chevrolet Siverado 1500 this weekend, and when I was going to put the plug back in, I noticed a few tiny wire-like metal shavings sticking to the magnetic oil plug. ...
Ogre Psalm33's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
133 views

all dash warning lights came on, barely driving

My vehicle is a 2009 Chevy Equinox. My engine was knocking a couple weeks back and flashed on every warning light i had. Doors stared locking and unlocking on their own and the shifter button was ...
Amber's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
5 answers
236 views

Can I use tar removal to remove the stubborn mark at the tyre rim?

I have a stubborn mark on my tyre rim alloy. Please refer to the image below: Overview Zoom in Another view The brown mark on the tyre rim is very stubborn. I have use anti-grease liquid but it ...
hunterex's user avatar
  • 165
3 votes
1 answer
89 views

What type is this compressed air/pneumatic connector?

I need to build an adapter for this connector, however, I wasn't able to identify it. I measured it with a digital caliper. It doesn't seem to be a common connector, at least in Germany. Can you ...
theluckyluke's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
402 views

Engine oil for Honda SH150i

I want to change the engine oil of my Honda SH150i scooter model of 2005. What are some different options of oil that I could buy ?
Teo Protoulis's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
3k views

Can ceramic disc brakes pads contain asbestos?

I have been reading articles like this one and this one, talking about how asbestos is still a problem with car brakes. There is even a post in Mechanics stack exchange from 2016 asking about ...
Intrastellar Explorer's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
42 views

What to check/change on a car that hasn't hardly been used?

I received a car from my family that has been sitting in the garage for 2-3 years with very ocasional use only to keep it running but in all that time hardly any maintenance has been made to it (an ...
kartzs96's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
7k views

How much time driving at operating temperature is adequate to boil off condensation in the engine, exhaust, and gasoline?

Let's say I drive for a total of 20 mins, round trip, each day for 4 days a week (a normal commute to the train station each day for work). The problem is that it's likely not enough time to hit ...
Narcotixs's user avatar
  • 775
1 vote
0 answers
115 views

2017 CF MY17 Black Edition - "Routine Maintenance Required"

My 2017 Black Edition Lancer shows this alert every time I start the car. It's been doing this for a few days now. The service sticker says next service at 17,000km; I'm only halfway there. What ...
user9506231's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
214 views

is it warming up the engine for a short period of time a good thing or bad?

If I have a motor vehicle as a general question, Is warming up the engine for a short period of time - let's say 5 min, is it a good thing for the engine or bad? and what about specific for this ...
Marcello Miorelli's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
52 views

I have 2005 golf 1 1.6 feul injections.car starts fine then rough idle high and low on the Rev counter then cutts off

I had diagnosis Don and the results were. Manifold press send signal too high. Throttle valve adapter/potentiometer open circuit short circuit to B+ Throttle valve potentiometer open circuit short ...
Rolland's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
3 answers
107 views

How to maintain a new car

I recently bought a 2019 Mitsubishi Xpander. This is my first time owning a car, and I'd like to know what are the basic periodic checks I should be doing. (the car manual is not in English, and I ...
lev's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
1 answer
794 views

Can low fluid levels cause a knock sensor to become faulty?

I recently had one or both of the knock sensors in my '05 Toyota Highlander V6 go bad and I went to a mechanic to get both of them replaced. Some background: the check engine light came on and the ...
Esequiel Bernardo's user avatar
18 votes
4 answers
3k views

Maintenance tips to prolong engine lifespan for short trips

I just sold my car and will soon purchase a new one (probably a used one with 1-2 years on it). I decided on a Volkswagen up! with an EA211 1.0 TSI engine. I have heard from many different people (at ...
swineone's user avatar
  • 281
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Hesitation on acceleration and no power when the AC is on and slight shake on idle

I have a honda jazz with an automatic transmission and im experiencing some hesitation when accelerating with the AC on, but with the AC off it runs so smooth that its like im riding a different car. ...
J. Doe's user avatar
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