- Details
- Views: 47
While the most likely issues are minor, smelling gas in your car can also be a serious sign of danger. With that said, let’s take a look at some possible reasons why it might be lingering:
1. The Gas Cap Is Loose
A loose gas cap lets gas fumes escape the tank and seep into your car’s cabin. Thankfully, gas tank pressure is something your car monitors, so if the cap isn’t tightly sealed, the check engine light will come on.
The solution is as simple as re-tightening the cap, but it’s time for a replacement if it is cracked. Use a cloth or rag to temporarily plug the filler hole until you can buy a new one.
- Details
- Views: 29
Even though the terms “shock” and “strut” often appear interchangeable, they are actually two different vehicle parts and thus can’t be used in place of one another. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean they don’t serve similar functions.
The Similarities
Both shocks and struts are responsible for keeping vehicles controllable and reducing body roll and tire movement. Without shocks or struts, handling, braking, and wheel alignment would be impossible. In other words, they keep cars from bouncing on their soft springs by mitigating the “up and down” actions that would otherwise make cars feel like trampolines.
- Details
- Views: 31
You might not know how low transmission fluid poses a potential problem. Most modern cars don’t even have transmission fluid dipsticks anymore, and some manufacturers claim the fluid inside will stay good for the lifetime of the gearbox.
However, when your car starts making odd noises and having trouble shifting, its transmission fluid can likely be to blame.
What Is Transmission Fluid?
To function smoothly, transmissions require special fluids to provide lubrication and cooling for the parts that transfer power from the engine to the wheels. It’s an essential component for both manual and automatic transmissions, though the fluid may pull double duty in the latter. What’s more, the fluid may also run at specific pressures to actuate gear changes and operate the torque converter.
- Details
- Views: 28
Whenever you need maintenance for your car’s brakes, you might think that the work completed begins and ends with the pads and rotors, failing to consider your car’s brake fluid. Unless you’re driving a very old car with mechanical brakes (which, today, would mean a car nearly a century old), your braking system relies on hydraulic fluid pressure to operate properly, and it does, in fact, need periodic changes.
Fluid Change Intervals
How often your vehicle’s brake fluid requires attention depends on the kind of car you drive. Check your owner’s manual to see what its particular maintenance schedule specifies. It may be a time limit, such as two or three years, or it could be a matter of reaching a certain mileage, typically 20,000 to 45,000 miles.
- Details
- Views: 50
Does your car pull to one side or the other? Does the steering feel vague in the center? If so, your car’s wheels are likely out of alignment. Though misaligned wheels aren’t an emergency, you cannot ignore the issue. Over time, misalignment will lead to other problems that you must address.
Why Do Cars Need Alignment?
Your car’s tires should be in line with the vehicle’s center line. If a tire is angled right or left, it can cause problems. This angle is called “toe,” which can point toward the inside of the car or the outside. There are other angles, such as camber and caster, but toe is the major one. When the toe is off, you risk facing several consequences:
Tires Wear Out Faster
A tire that isn’t tracking straight is literally rubbing the road the wrong way. The tread will wear out unevenly and more quickly than intended.