What Causes Fuel to go Bad? How Long Can Gas Sit Before It Goes Bad? How To Tell If Gas is Bad? Symptoms of Bad Gas in a Car or Truck What is the Best Method for Gas When Placing a Vehicle In Storage? What To Do If Gas Is In a Vehicle for a… Read More: Symptoms of Bad Gas in a Car or Truck »
A bad purge valve can have varying symptoms and will need to be examined and tested to see if it has failed. The main symptoms include the engine light staying on, less fuel mileage, and failing an emission test. What is the Purge Valve? The purge valve is a component in a vehicle’s EVAP system… Read More: 5 Symptoms of a Bad Purge Valve »
If you have a vehicle and suspect it has a clogged fuel filter, there can be various symptoms. The symptoms will vary depending on how clogged up the filter has become. A clogged fuel filter will block the flow of gas to the engine, causing it to run badly or not at all. What Happens… Read More: Symptoms of a Clogged Fuel Filter »
A PCV valve is a necessary part of an engine that allows the pressure that builds in the crankcase to be released. When a PCV valve fails, and the pressure is not released, it can cause several symptoms, such as blowing out gaskets or engine misfires. The symptoms will vary and depend on whether the… Read More: Symptoms of a Bad PCV Valve and How to Test… »
How a Fuel Injector Works Symptoms of a Bad Injector Common Faulty Injector OBDII Codes How to Test if a Fuel Injector is Good or Bad Test #1: Listen for Clicking Sound Test #2: Check Injector Coil Resistance with a Multimeter Test #3 :Spray Pattern Test Test #4: Circuit Power Test Test #5: Ground Trigger… Read More: How to Test if a Fuel Injector is Good or… »
A multimeter is a tool that makes life easier when testing electronics or wiring in a vehicle. Checking if a battery has a charge or testing the alternator are common problems that can be quickly checked with a multimeter. A good meter for automotive work will have basic requirements that almost any meter should have.… Read More: What is the Best Multimeter for Automotive Repair? »
A throttle position sensor (TPS) is a necessary component in modern vehicles that sends information about the amount of gas that goes into the engine. When a TPS fails, it can cause various symptoms since the air-fuel ratio will be incorrect, which can cause the engine to run badly. What is the Throttle Position Sensor?… Read More: Symptoms of a Bad Throttle Position Sensor »
If you find yourself alone after changing out brake pads or a master cylinder and have no help to bleed them, there are a few ways to do it alone. This happens to many DIY mechanics as most people disappear when it’s time to go to work. Luckily there are some easy options. Can You… Read More: 4 of the Best Ways to Bleed Bake Lines by… »
If you have a Honda with a P1456 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) is seeing an error with the Evap system. The official definition for a Honda P1456 is EVAP Control System Leak Detected (Fuel Tank System). The Evap system helps a vehicle run more efficiently and reduce emissions. When the system is not… Read More: Causes and Fixes Honda P1456 Error Code »
If you have a gas pump that keeps clicking off when you are filling up, and the tank is not full, there are three main causes. Causes include a bad EVAP vent valve, charcoal canister, or rollover check valve. Each part will need to be checked to see what component has failed. Why Does a… Read More: Why Does the Gas Pump Keep Clicking Off When Filling… »
A bad engine thermostat can cause several symptoms, most commonly overheating, but other symptoms can also occur. Symptoms include overheating, not warming up during cold weather, coolant leaks, and more. What is an Engine Thermostat A vehicle thermostat helps an engine heat up quickly and then helps to maintain a set temperature. It will stay… Read More: 7 Common Symptoms of a Bad Engine Thermostat »
If you have a Chevy Cruze that is overheating or has no heat, you may have an issue with the thermostat. The thermostat is a common failure on the Chevy Cruze and also one of the more easier DIY fixes. Symptoms of a Chevy Cruze with a Bad Thermostat Overheating No Heat During Very Cold… Read More: Chevy Cruze Thermostat Symptoms and Replacement »
If you have a Chevy Cruze that is is overheating, but the engine is not overly hot, the coolant temperature sensor may be bad. One way to test the sensor is to let the engine cool down and then start it up. While the engine is cool, in the first 1-2 minutes, the car should… Read More: Errors and Fixes Chevy Cruze Coolant Temperature Sensor »
If you have a Honda CR-V and the “Check Fuel Cap” message comes on, there are several causes and fixes. This is a common error for a Honda CRV and is often fixable by many DIY car owners. Often Honda CRV owners ignore the message, but it can be troubleshot and fixed. Of course, if… Read More: Causes and Fixes Honda CRV Check Fuel Cap Message »
If you have a car that has overheated and now will not start up, it can be caused by several things. The first step is to solve why the vehicle overheated and then solve why it will not start again. How Can I Get My Car to Start After it Overheats? The first thing to… Read More: How to Fix a Car that Overheated and Now Wont… »
DOT 3 and DOT 4 are commonly used as brake fluid in many cars and trucks. Both types work very well, with DOT 3 used for routine driving and DOT 4 used more in newer vehicles, or for high performance. Can You Mix DOT 3 and DOT 4 Brake Fluid? Yes, you can mix DOT… Read More: Can You Mix DOT 3 and DOT 4 Brake Fluid? »
If you have a vehicle and the alternator is charging, but the battery light stays on, there can be several causes and fixes. A bad charging system often is caused by a failed alternator, but there are other components that can cause the issue. Why Does the Battery Light Come On? When a vehicle’s computer… Read More: Causes and Fixes Battery Light On But Alternator is Charging »
Vacuum leaks that give Evap codes can be a pain to find at times and cause an engine light to stay on. Sometimes if the leak is small enough, it can often be ignored, but an engine light will come on, which is not good in many scenarios. An Evap Smoke machine is an easy… Read More: Best Evap Smoke Machines or Find Vacuum Leaks »
If you have a Toyota with a P0441 OBDII engine error code, there is a problem with the Evap system. The Evap system is for emissions which keeps gas vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. What is a Toyota P0441 Code Engine Error Code? A P0441 Code is an “Evaporative Emission Control System Incorrect Purge… Read More: Causes and Fixes for a Toyota P0441 Engine Code »
The Chevy Cruze is a great car, but like all vehicle’s there are certain specific problems that can plague some models. One such problem for the Chevy Cruze is the coolant system which is notorious for having issues. From overheating to not heating at all, the coolant system causes problems for many owners. The first… Read More: Causes and Fixes Chevy Cruze Overheating »
A radiator cap is a necessary part of any cooling system to not only keep fluid in but let coolant out if it becomes too hot. If a radiator cap goes bad, it can be replaced by most DIY type individuals. Remember to never to remove a radiator cap while the engine is hot as… Read More: How to Tell If a Radiator Cap is Bad and… »
Any time a check engine light comes on, the onboard computer (EMC/PCM) sees an error with the engine or running gear. This includes when there is a flashing check engine light that then stops. Why Would a Check Engine Light be Flashing and Then Stop? A check engine light will come on when then the… Read More: What to Do When Flashing Check Engine Light Then Stops »
If you have a vehicle and the engine starts but then sputters and shuts off, there can be several causes and fixes. To narrow down troubleshot and find the problem, the best thing to do first is to read any error codes on the ECM/PCM with an OBDII scan tool. This will help to narrow… Read More: 5 Causes When Car Starts Then Sputters and Shuts Off »
If you have a Honda Accord and get a Check Fuel Cap message, there are several causes, with some more common than others. This problem is usually a gas cap that is not tightened all the way, or has a bad seal, but can be other issues. Once the problem is fixed, the car will… Read More: 4 Causes and Fixes for Check Fuel Cap Message Honda… »
Flushing a radiator is an easy task for the DIY Backyard Mechanic. Precaution should be taken mainly that the engine must be cold. Never open a radiator cap on a hot engine as it will have built up pressure that could explode out possibly causing injury. Since radiator fluid is damaging to the environment be… Read More: How To Use A Radiator Flush Kit With Pictures and… »
What Happens if You Overfill Coolant? If the coolant is overfilled, it will likely be blown out of the system through the radiator cap or reservoir but usually does not damage any components. Occasionally the radiator fluid can be blown into the electrical system, which may cause a problem, but this is rare. Usually, there… Read More: What Happens if You Overfill Coolant? »
If you are scanning a vehicle with an OBDII scan tool and get a “No Powertrain DTC or Freeze Frame Data,” message it means there are no codes to display. The full message given by an OBDII scan tool is “No Powertrain DTCs or Freeze Frame Data is presently stored in vehicle’s computer.” This can… Read More: What is No Powertrain DTC or Freeze Frame Data Meaning »
If you have a Honda Odyssey and a “Check Fuel Cap” message comes on, there are several causes and fixes. The most common fix is to tighten the gas cap, but other things can also cause the issue. A “Check Fuel Cap” message is common with Honda vehicles and is usually a DIY job. Of… Read More: Causes and Fixes Honda Odyssey Check Fuel Cap Message »
If you have a Chrysler 200 and cannot locate the battery, it is located in the fender. The battery in the 2010-2014 Chrysler 200 is in the driver-side fender well. While most batteries are assessable from the engine bay, the Chrysler 200 will need the tire and wheel well splash guard removed to access the… Read More: Where is the Battery in a Chrysler 200 and How… »
If you have a 5.7 Vortec engine and it is not getting any spark, there are several things that can cause the issue. Problems include the fuses, crank sensor, cam sensor, distributor, ignition module, plug wires, and rotor. With the many things that can cause a no spark issue, each component will need to be… Read More: Causes and Fixes for Chevy 5.7 Vortec No Spark from… »
Testing a MAF (Mass Airflow Sensor) is quick and easy to do with an OBDII scan tool. A high-end scan tool is not needed; almost any low-cost OBDII scan tool will work, including $20-$30 dollar units. What is the MAF Sensor? The MAF (Mass Airflow Sensor) sensor measures how much airflow is going into the… Read More: 2 Ways to Test a MAF Sensor with an OBDII… »
A crankshaft position sensor regulates the engine timing and also affects the plugs getting spark. The sensor tells the onboard computer (ECM) the crank position which is necessary for timing. If the ECM detects an error with the crankshaft position sensor it will give a P0335 OBDII code. What is a P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor… Read More: How To Fix Kia Spectra P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor Error »
If you step on the gas pedal and a car won’t accelerate, but the RPMs go up, there is an issue getting power to the drive-train. The engine provides power which is then sent through the transmission and axles to the tires. When there is an issue with one of the drive-train components, the RPMs… Read More: 5 Reasons a Car Won’t Accelerate and Move But RPMs… »
Bleeding a new brake master cylinder is necessary to remove any air that is in the unit. It is easy enough to do for a handy DIY type person with the right tools. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to call a professional. It is best to bleed the cylinder before installing it since… Read More: How To Bench Bleed a New Master Cylinder With Pictures »
The O2 or oxygen sensor is a major component in modern fuel injection engines and allows for better efficiency and emissions. It is the main sensor the onboard computer (ECM) receives data from when regulating the fuel-air ratio mixture. The O2 sensor affects everything from fuel economy to performance and catalytic converter efficiency. How Does… Read More: What Is an Engine O2 Sensor and How To Test… »