Car Questions (Page 45)

The odds are pretty good that any Toyota you pick on the road at random was actually made in America. But are there any differences in how a particular make and model you own turns out if it was made in Japan versus the U.S.? Here’s what some automotive experts have to say about the question of who cranks out the better Toyota; plus, how you can tell which country your Toyota was manufactured in.

Looking to save money on your brake job estimate without compromising on safety and performance? Here are some tips from a Toyota Maintenance mechanic who shows how he cut the cost of a brake repair job in half by showing that not all dealership service department estimates are honest; and, that “only-OEM” advice has its exceptions.

Learn from a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician his recommendations of the best and worst used Toyota models to buy, based on his years of experience working on Toyota cars in this recent review released today.

Discover what happened during a Toyota engine rebuild and the costs involved by a popular mechanic who takes you step-by-step through the rebuild of a Toyota engine. The results may help you decide whether it’s cheaper to fix your old car’s engine rather than buy a new-used car.

Here’s a great discussion on exactly the reasons why modern Toyotas are so prone to becoming oil burning vehicles in spite of hearing numerous stories of 200,000+ mile Toyotas on the road. Is there a disconnect between these two facts? Find out the reasons why this happens before you decide to buy that used Toyota.

Here’s an informative instructional video on how a cylinder misfire problem in a Ford F-150 turned out to be a simple fix, and why you should really only use OEM parts when you can.

Google Maps and Android Auto work together to offer one of the best in-vehicle navigation solutions available. Here are two settings you must employ and how to easily make them work.

Here’s a great instructional video that explains and shows some of the tests mechanics do---or should have done---before they come to you with a diagnosis of a blown head gasket. Plus, one other scam related to blown head gaskets that you need to be aware of.

Here’s an informative head gasket tutorial video for non-mechanics that will explain “…what a head gasket is, what it does, symptoms of a blown head gasket leak, what a valve cover gasket is, what it does, and what questions to ask when you are told you have a blown head gasket…” so that you can avoid a common and expensive scam.

Looking to buy a used car? If so, then you need to listen to this candid discussion from a mechanic about the question he gets asked the most and why it will change your mind forever about how you look at used cars.

Carbon fiber. Touted as the miracle lightweight material and used extensively by the likes of Pagani, Koenigsegg, Bugatti, and Croatia’s EV rockstar Rimac, we can almost gauge how high-end and expensive a car is by how much carbon fiber they use. So, what’s the deal? Are they better than metals?

Here is one example of misfeasance and two examples of malfeasance to learn from as a reminder that you should always seek a second opinion before---and sometimes even afterward---when having your car serviced or repaired. Plus, instruction on how to check for a head gasket leak and how to properly add new coolant to a vehicle to avoid a blown head gasket.

Here’s an informative video about a 1986 Toyota 4Runner walk-around inspection that is an instructive demonstration on how to give a used vehicle a good once-over before buying and/or beginning repairs.

Here’s an informative video about a common Toyota repair that involves a famous non-OEM parts supplier and the problems that came with the repair and what this means for car owners needing repairs done.

How do turbochargers work? How does an inline four-cylinder turbo engine compare to a naturally aspirating V6 engine? Are turbocharged cars better? What are the pros and cons of having one in your car or truck. The answers to these questions---and more---are available in this must-see video guide that explains all of your turbo-based burning questions.

Automakers love to hype vehicles as “New” or “All-New.” If they really are new, there are real reasons you should consider avoiding them. Here’s what owners and experts report.

Detecting a flood damaged car is not always easy. Here’s why, based on some tricks used car sellers resort to in order to flip a flood damaged vehicle into a used car sale for a quick sale that could leave you with a bad case of buyer’s remorse months later.

Having a vehicle’s engine oil analyzed while owning a car---or before buying a used car---could reveal some hidden engine problems. Here’s some useful information on what an engine oil analysis test can reveal based upon a Subaru owner who tested his vehicle’s engine oil before and after a 3,000 mile road trip as he explains some of the engineering science behind engines and oil analysis.

Here’s a good example of how a trusted mechanic can save you thousands of dollars in car repairs by taking the time to get a second opinion if that repair estimate is legitimate or the result of padding a necessary repair with some unnecessary add-ons.

What do you do if you take a used car for a test drive and find that the steering pulls to one side rather than stays straight on a level road? Before making any buying decisions based on this alone, here are 3 simple tests you can do to help diagnose this common used car problem during your vehicle inspection process.

Here is a recent true dealership horror story that put one car owner’s life in danger all because a dealership failed to do a repair correctly. And, to add insult to injury, also gouged the owner with a bogus auto parts charge in the process.

If you own a Ford Mustang Mach-E you know that the vehicle did not come with a spare tire. Here is one solution if you want one.

Modern Spare has just expanded its portfolio of products to include the Volkswagen ID.4.

Want to avoid becoming the victim of a car repair scam and guarantee saving yourself up to thousands of dollars yearly in car maintenance and repair bills? The best way to achieve this goal is by knowing when to seek a trusted mechanic for help and when to follow DIY instruction on how to inspect a car yourself as well as make repairs and do your own maintenance.

The myth that a compact spare tire adds meaningful mass to a vehicle is easily disproven.

We tried out cleaning slime to see how well it works cleaning the nooks and crannies of a car interior. The results were fantastic.

Here are some easy DIY fixes on what you should do before calling it quits when your engine quits, leaving you stranded either at home or while on the road. Plus, a demonstration of just how easy it is to replace the starter on your car when the recommended fixes don’t really need fixing.

Here’s your chance to have most of your unanswered questions answered, about how police cars are modified in comparison to your average car; and, learn how Ford is a big player in the latest and most modified Police Supercars in the U.S.

Here are two service center mechanic scams that takes just seconds to cause your engine to run rough, but are easy to spot and fix when you know where to look for them under the hood of your car.

Have you ever heard a noise coming from somewhere in your car that you can hear, but the service center mechanic you went to cannot? This can be a problem if your transmission is still under warranty, but the mechanic denies there is any detectable problem. Here’s a simple tool to solve this problem that can be especially useful for diagnosing transmission problems and other vehicle noise maladies.