Common questions

What does pee do to a car?

What does pee do to a car? In most cases, the water/urine will hit the fuel filter and plug it up, shutting down the engine. If it makes it through the fuel filter, too much water/urine will cause the engine to run roughly. What happens if you get water in your car engine? If there's water in your engine, it leads to compression issues because there's no place for the water to go. Piston rods will begin to bend and eventually break. If water enters your engine it can end up rusting parts out like your differential and then you're...
Easy tips

How to minimize radio interference due to aftermarket LED lights?

How to minimize radio interference due to aftermarket LED lights? The EMI field, 99%+ magnetic, from each LED light, has to be magnetically shielded by metal housing. Most LED lights are cheap plastic, offering zero EMI shielding. The solution to not only minimizing AM/FM squelch caused by LED, but eliminating, is spending the few more bucks per unit on metal housed EMI-shielding quality LED lights. How to stop LED lights from causing noise on the radio? Many LED lights from cheaper or no-name brands are not compliant. Change the transformer* to one with better EMI suppression. Shorten the cable length,...
Other

Why do Subaru cars have multiple catalytic converters?

Why do Subaru cars have multiple catalytic converters? Subaru Motors has employed multiple catalytic converters on its vehicles for many years now. Because the engine compartments are small and since the catalysts need heat to operate effectively, Subaru designed smaller converters and integrated them into the exhaust pipes--rather then employ a single, larger converter as most cars did at one time. Why do Subaru converters need to be replaced? It is not uncommon to see yet another converter downstream integrated in the construction of an intermediate pipe. With so many converters, one of them is bound to need replacement at...
Easy lifehacks

Can you change an open differential to limited-slip?

Can you change an open differential to limited-slip? In short yes. An open differential allows the wheels to move “slip” at different speeds, this is good for the basic commuter car turning as the outside wheel will travel further than the inside wheel. How is a locked differential different from an open differential? Now the “open” differential has become closed, the wheels are locked and power is equally distributed to both wheels, resulting in forward motion. If lockers are so great, why don’t people use them all the time? Well, c onsider both tires connected by a single solid axle...
Easy lifehacks

What should I do when I put my car in gear?

What should I do when I put my car in gear? With the engine warmed up, drive at highway speed, and hold the accelerator pedal perfectly steady. Tap the brake pedal momentarily with your left foot. You should see engine speed pick up about 200 rpm, then drop back down a couple of seconds later. Why does my car stall when I put the car in second gear? If you start the engine, shift into "drive", and it starts out in second gear right away, (at least for Chrysler products), it's usually electrical in nature and most commonly due to...
Other

Does low tire pressure come on when cold?

Does low tire pressure come on when cold? Does tire pressure drop in colder weather? That's because air contracts when it's cold, causing tire pressure to drop between one and two psi for every 10-degree decrease in temperature. This means that your tires could be 5 to 10 psi lower than required on a 24-degree day than they are on a 74-degree day. Why does my low tire light come on if the weather suddenly becomes cold overnight? "Cold shrinks – warm expands, basically. It's typical at this time of year for motorists to get TPMS warnings and then get...
Easy lifehacks

How do I know what F 150 I have?

How do I know what F 150 I have? The vehicle identification number (VIN) is among the most important of these. Located on the driver's side window dash and/or door pillar, the VIN reveals a plethora of useful information, including the year and engine type of your F150. Where does the Ford 5.4 Triton V8 come from? The 5.4 2V engine was produced at the Windsor Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario. The 5.4 3V version was first introduced in Australia and used on the 2002 Ford Fairmont under the name Bara 220. On the North American market, that engine debuted...
Common questions

How can I Fix an oil leak in my Ford Escape?

How can I Fix an oil leak in my Ford Escape? Fixing minor oil leaks is fairly straightforward, but first, make sure that your engine is cold and that your Escape is parked on a level surface when you check the oil level as both of these things can cause the oil level to read low. Check our What is Leaking? video to see what type of fluid is leaking from your Escape if you are unsure. When to replace metal washer in Ford Escape? Replacing the metal washer should only be done when you change the oil in your...
Common questions

How do you know if you have a bad battery or alternator?

How do you know if you have a bad battery or alternator? Some of the things to look for are no-starting and trouble starting, dimming lights and problems with stereo system output. If your car starts but stalls when you're underway, your battery is probably not being recharged due to a faulty alternator. Why does my car run after a boost? According to what you’ve described, you may have a bad battery. Low cold cranking amps, low voltage, and/or a bad cell can create the symptom you have described. Your vehicle will continue to run after the boost due to...
Easy tips

Can power steering fluid be opened hot?

Can power steering fluid be opened hot? Power steering fluid expands some when it becomes hot so the fluid level will change. If the vehicle has not been driven for at least 8 hours, use the cold reading. Otherwise, use the hot level reading. What should power steering fluid look like? Examine the color of the power-steering fluid. Good power-steering fluid should be clear, amber or pinkish in color. If the power-steering fluid is brown or black, it has been contaminated with bits of rubber from connecting hoses, seals or O-rings. The power-steering fluid may look darker than it actually...