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Wiper blade changing instructions
Wiper blades function to wipe snow, rain and dust from your windshield. They are made of rubber and naturally wear out with its service time going by. You could always have the parts changed by a mechanic; however, since the process is straight and easy, you can always rely on yourself. In addition, the vast…
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Oxygen sensor replacement guides
“Check Engine” light on may indicate a problem with your vehicle’s oxygen sensor. A handheld diagnostic scanner/reader will help confirm that it is the time to change the oxygen sensor. Different vehicles come with oxygen sensors of various numbers and locations. Usually, there will be between 2 and 4 O2 sensors located on your exhaust…
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How can I know when to replace shockers?
Shock absorbers are actually “dampers”. By compressing, the springs in a vehicle’s suspension absorb bumps and other road shocks. When the springs rebound, the amount of bouncing created is controlled by the shock absorbers. Several warning signs can tell you when shock absorbers need replacing, such as your car bottoms out over railroad tracks, speed…
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What you can do to fix oxygen sensors
Oxygen sensors–also called o2 sensors–are used by your vehicle’s computer to monitor and adjust the air-to-fuel ratio being pumped into your engine. These sensors are designed to be ‘disposable;’ that is; you will never find an o2 sensor that will remain in operational condition over the lifetime of your car. A broken or faulty o2…
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How to free a frozen parking brake
A frozen parking brake (also called a hand brake or emergency brake) is going to cause a delay, but it can be “thawed” easily. Unlike the “regular” (hydraulic) brake system on most vehicles, the parking brake is a purely mechanical system. It is operated by springs and cables inside a sheath. Water can become trapped…
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The critical role a throttle position sensor plays in a high performance engine
The throttle position sensor is commonly used in modern fuel-injected engines. Usually located in the butterfly spindle attached to the body of engine, the throttle position sensor is very useful in monitoring the position of the valve in your engine. As the name implies the throttle position sensor tells the engine computer where the throttle…
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What is the relationship between oxygen sensors and the car engine performance?
Almost all vehicles manufactured after 1980 have oxygen sensors. A car oxygen sensor on a recent model will be positioned in the engine’s exhaust manifold. It’s a spark plug-shaped mechanism that is a significant component in your vehicle’s emissions control system. It was first introduced in 1976 and was made virtually mandatory on all cars…
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Is the speedometer reliable in telling me my vehicle’s real-time speed
The speedometer mounted on your car reliably measures your vehicle’s real-time speed. Nowadays, many speedometers are electronic, in designs derived from earlier eddy-current models. While the conventional mechanical speedometers use gears and wires to determine speed, most modern vehicles use speed sensors in the electronic speedometers. An electronic speedometer measures vehicle speed with the help…
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The brain of a car engine: PCM (Powertrain Control Module)
A powertrain control module (PCM), also known as the engine control unit (ECU) or module (ECM), is an electronic device that regulates many of a vehicle’s important functions and has a direct impact on how well the car runs. Most vehicle manufacturers began including PCMs during the 1980s, and the computer system has become standardized…
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Does your car alarm annoy you and your neighbor?
Car alarm is designed as a piece of anti-theft system equipment. It is effective since it draws people’s attention by mainly emitting high-volume sound and discourages the thieves. However, it can be triggered by a variety of stimuli. It is sorry to say but sometimes it tends to be a block nuisance. Car alarms can…
