Category: Car Diagnostics

Drinking and driving is a serious crime and could result in loosing your license or other penalties. In some states, a judge may order you to install a breathalyzer into your vehicle to prevent you from starting it while drunk. SmartStart is one popular model of breathalyzer that you can install in your vehicle if…

The catalytic converter is a very important part of the emissions control system on your vehicle. It’s usually good for the life of a vehicle, but occasionally it does fail. The best thing you can do is be alert for signs of trouble and head for a service facility if you suspect that the catalytic…

Vehicle manufacturers design automotive door locks to operate in multiple forms and perform various functions. The current trend is to manufacture vehicles with only a drivers side key lock, while some high-end vehicles have no visible locks at all. This means there are multiple systems to check when a door lock fails. Not only can…

1 of 8 in Series: The Essentials of Checking and Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Brakes To check for brake problems, you step on the pedal and press it down while paying attention to how the pedal feels under your foot and evaluating the sensation. The following steps tell you what to feel for. Start your engine,…

The Edge Color Touch Screen (CTS) is an aftermarket product that is used to program specific functions of your vehicle. The device is designed to operate within the OEM calibrations that were set by the manufacturer. Updating the device is done by connecting it to your computer and using the internet. If you experience problems…

If your speedometer isn’t working, every time you drive your car you run the risk of getting a speeding ticket. This is a fact even if you have a radar detector. If it is working and yet isn’t registering the correct speed you are still in danger. Here’s how to check your actual speed and…

Many horns installed in vehicles may be adjusted when there is not enough current going through them and their sound is weak. Unfortunately, horns cannot be repaired once they fail. There are many things that can go wrong, preventing a car horn from doing its job. You can examine and troubleshoot a typical horn through…

Drivers maneuver a car driving by looking through the windshield. Visibility is the most important factor in driving a vehicle. Wiper mechanism is designed to ensure you of a clear view ahead even in extreme weather conditions. Imagine the situation you’ll in if your wiper mechanism fails at the moment a thunderstorm hits out of…

The coolant in your vehicle should be changed if you haven’t changed it in a year or in the past 20,000 miles; if your vehicle constantly loses liquid in the system and overheats easily; or if you’ve frequently added plain water to your cooling system to the point where it’s probably lowered the proportion of…

There are two main components to the fuel gauge system: the sender unit that measures the amount of fuel in the tank, and the gauge itself that displays the amount of fuel to the driver. When the gauge, the sender unit, or the required wiring between them do not function correctly, the fuel gauge may…