Diagnose a bad engine ground strap
How to recognize a failing engine block ground, what the symptoms look like, how to test it with a voltage drop check, and when to stop and seek professional help.
Car blog Page 368
Practical automotive articles on maintenance, diagnostics, vehicle systems, buying used cars, tires and electric driving.
Systems
Vortec 4200 Oil Capacity: How Much Oil the 4.2L Inline-Six Takes
How much oil the GM Vortec 4200 4.2L inline-six holds, which vehicles use it, and why the owner's manual and dipstick have the final say for your model year.
Systems
AutoCraft Gold Car Batteries: What They Are and How to Choose the Right One
What an AutoCraft Gold battery is, how it relates to current store-brand lineups, and how to confirm group size, cold cranking amps and battery type for your vehicle.
SSBC Brakes: What They Are and How to Tell If a Kit Fits Your Vehicle
SSBC brakes explained: what the brand makes, which vehicles its kits usually target, and the fitment checks to make before buying a disc conversion or big brake kit.
Systems
Recognize Bad Engine Air Filter Symptoms
Learn the signs of a clogged or damaged engine air filter, which symptoms overlap with other faults, and which checks confirm whether the filter is the cause.
Volvo S40 Oil Filter: How to Identify the Right One for Your Car
Which oil filter fits a Volvo S40 depends on the generation and engine. Learn how to tell spin-on from cartridge types and confirm the correct part before buying.
Automotive Battery Weight: How Much Does a Car Battery Weigh?
A typical 12-volt car battery weighs roughly 30 to 50 pounds. Learn how size, chemistry and vehicle type change automotive battery weight, and where to find the exact figure.
Systems
Understand and reduce brake dust
What brake dust is, why some cars and pads produce more of it, and practical ways to reduce it without compromising braking performance.
What Car Battery CCA Means
CCA, or cold cranking amps, rates how much current a 12-volt car battery can deliver in freezing conditions. Learn what the number measures and how to use it when choosing a battery.
Soft Brake Pedal: What It Means and What to Do
A soft or spongy brake pedal usually points to air or moisture in the hydraulic system, a fluid leak or a failing master cylinder. Here is what that means and why it needs prompt attention.
Systems
How to Read a Car Battery Date Code
Find and decode the date code on a 12-volt car battery, understand what it does and does not tell you about battery age and health, and know when to test or replace.
Systems
Vintage 2-Stroke Oil: What to Use in an Older Two-Stroke Engine
Which two-stroke oil suits a vintage engine, how to choose a mix ratio, and when castor, TC-W3 or injector oil makes sense.
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