Articles on automotive topics
A VIN is a unique 17-character code of letters and numbers for a particular vehicle. Much like a fingerprint, a VIN is a unique identifier throughout the life of a vehicle: No two cars have the same VIN. However, vehicles manufactured before 1981 can have VINs that vary in length between 11 and 17 characters. …
What do flood damaged cars look for? Look at the heads of any unpainted, exposed screws under the dashboard. Bare metal will show signs of rust in flooded cars. Check to see whether the rubber drain plugs under the car and on the bottom of doors look as if they have been removed recently. That …
To make an alcohol solution, simply mix one part water and two parts 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Whether you’re using saltwater or alcohol, when you spray these onto your icy windshield, the frost will begin to dissolve, while the ice will begin to melt and break apart. How do you unfreeze your …
Many drivers cite improved control as the main advantage. The ability to move between gears manually means you can control the vehicle’s speed, and you can also use the transmission to slow down the vehicle. When you’re driving down Interstate 405, that improved control can come in handy. What is the advantage of manual? Less …
A car battery is considered discharged when the voltage drops below 12 volts. While your vehicle’s alternator can keep a healthy battery charged, it was never designed to completely recharge a dead unit. … These charging devices are designed to safely restore a dead battery to full charge. Can a completely dead battery be recharged? …
What are the biggest challenges of engineering? 8 of the Greatest Challenges Facing Engineering The climate crisis. … Making water clean and accessible. … Providing enough food. … Personalised and relevant education. … Improving health care. … The refugee crisis. … Cyber security. … Enlisting the youth. What are the four grand challenges of engineering? …
A rusty or dented bumper can drag down the whole appearance of a pickup that’s in otherwise good shape. Having it replaced by a pro will set you back $1,000, but you can save $500 or more in labor and parts by doing the job yourself. It takes only a few hours. How do I …
Aerodynamics: The shape of cars has changed, often in very subtle ways, in order to reduce drag and thus increase both a car’s fuel efficiency and performance. But an additional benefit of this has been a concomitant reduction in wind noise. That makes the cabin much quieter on modern cars than in the past. Why …
There are two kinds of internal combustion engines currently in production: the spark ignition gasoline engine and the compression ignition diesel engine. Most of these are four-stroke cycle engines, meaning four piston strokes are needed to complete a cycle. What are three types of combustion engine? There are several possible ways to classify internal combustion …
Can you unlock a locked up motor? If your engine has seized up while you’re driving, there’s nothing you can do about it short of an intensive engine repair or replacement. If you have an engine that seized from sitting for a long time, pull the spark plugs out of all the cylinders. Fill the …