The OBD-II – aka ‘onboard diagnostics’ – function in your car is a godsend for diagnosing, tracking down, and troubleshooting car problems. However, what if the OBD port isn’t working, how do you test it? Testing whether or not the OBD port in your car is working or otherwise can be a bit challenging, but it’s certainly not impossible. A visual inspection of the connector is a good first step, before going deeper. If you can’t spot any problems visually, …
When diagnosing, servicing, or installing a brand-new alternator in your car, one of the common questions that often gets asked is whether or not should an alternator spin freely, or should there be resistance? In practice, I’ve learned, over the years, that both are true! Typically, a freely-spinning alternator that does not have any resistance is generally a good sign. This indicates that the alternator has healthy bearings. However, it’s important to note that a tiny bit of resistance, particularly …
Your car’s MAF (mass airflow) sensor is an important part of any vehicle, as it determines both the volume and the density of air entering the engine. However, what should the MAF sensor read when it’s idle? In practice, there’s no one-size-fits-all reading, as your MAF sensor readings at idle can vary depending on the make and model of the car. Moreover, there are other factors to consider, like the size of your engine. For example, a 3.0-liter engine might …
Even after spending years working on cars and automotive electrics, it continues to confound me just how fragile fuse prongs are. So, if your fuse prong has broken off, how can you remove it from your car? Bear in mind that if left unchecked, a broken fuse prong could lead to electrical malfunctions or even short circuits. Thankfully, needle-nose pliers can easily grip the broken prong, enabling careful extraction. All you need to do is gently grip the broken fuse …
Have you ever driven your car and then suddenly you’re not getting any power? And then your check engine light suddenly turns on? That means your car is in limp mode. A check engine light denotes that there’s something wrong with your car’s powertrain. It could be the engine, the gearbox, or the exhaust system. If this happened to you recently, don’t worry. We’ll discuss the limp mode in this post, from what it is, why it happens, and how …
Your car has a lot of sensors that feed information to the computer to keep it running smoothly. One such sensor you might not know of is the O2 or oxygen sensor. This is a sensor that sits in your exhaust system and monitors the level of oxygen inside your car’s exhaust gases. For such an important component, it’s not a surprise then that the O2 sensor cost isn’t inexpensive. As with any other car part, the O2 sensor can …
What Is A MAF Sensor? The Benefits Of Installing Common Problems And How To Fix Them Understanding The Different Types Diagnosing Issues How To Clean And Test What is a MAF Sensor and How Does it Work? A Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor is an important component of a vehicle’s engine management system. It measures the amount of air entering the engine and sends this information to the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The ECU then uses this data to adjust …
Think rugged and durable, think Jeep. I think that’s what they (Jeep, the company) want most of us to think when hopping into its off-roaders. And indeed, they really are very dependable vehicles that you can trust while you’re out trekking over boulders and mountains. But alas, not all of its staple 4x4s are entirely trustworthy. More than a few of them have succumbed to the sea of unreliability over the years. Here, we’ll look a bit deeper into the …
Are you interested in the GMC Acadia and you are trying to learn more about the reliability of this certain model, as well as the GMC Acadia years to avoid? Well, if this is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be quite a lot to cover on this topic. The History Of GMC GMC Acadia Overview GMC Acadia Generations 1st Generation 2nd Generation Final Conclusion Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Performing the proper research before …
“The worst reliable compact car” by Consumer Reports is no prestigious tag to carry around. The first-generation Chevrolet Cruze is the unfortunate bearer of this title. The internet is filled up with articles on how bad the Chevrolet Cruze problems are. You can also find strong advice on the internet to stay away from it. But is it that bad? History Of The Chevy Cruze Most Common Problems Recalls & TSBs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Chevy Cruze In the late …