Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [replace]

100 questions
77
votes
16 answers

Should I resurface or replace my rotors everytime I replace brake pads?

I have heard it is proper practice to replace or resurface your brake rotors every time your do a brake pad replacement. Does this need to be done every single time or is it overkill? Maybe it is just something easy to do, might as well replace…
Troggy
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24
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3 answers

Must I Replace All 4 Tires on an All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle?

I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Wagon. I just destroyed the passenger-side rear tire. The tires have approx. 6/32" tread remaining, per an informal measurement with a coin (I used this guideline from tirerack.com) These are Nokian tires, and…
qxotk
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22
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3 answers

If I am just replacing the car engine, do I need to replace the odometer as well?

I am considering getting a new engine for one of my cars and I was wondering if I'll have to change the odometer too. Since the car already has 220,000 miles on it, it would become a huge number if I used the same odometer on a new engine.
Atticus Denewmont
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18
votes
8 answers

How often should I replace windscreen wiper blades?

I bought a second hand car 18+ months ago and there was no information on how recently the wiper blades had been replaced. This wasn't an problem as the blades weren't obviously worn and they did their job perfectly adequately. The back wiper did…
ChrisF
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16
votes
3 answers

How can I know if the airbags have expired and what are the consequences?

How do I know if the airbags have expired? Is it the same years for every airbag? Maybe they can be checked? Then, if I have the airbags expired, what would be the consequences of using the car? Would the airbags get activated without a crash? Or if…
Pablo Matias Gomez
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13
votes
4 answers

what is the process for replacing 12V car battery?

What is the process for replacing the 12V battery? How would I clean the contacts of the terminals? My OEM battery in 2008 Jetta SE 2.5L appears rather clean, including the terminals, but I recall that my older second-hand car had huge deposits on…
cnst
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11
votes
4 answers

Do I need to replace rear differential if it's leaking?

When we got an oil change, he said it's "leaking, but not out of fluid or low". Do we need to do any replacement/maintenance on it, or just wait until it gets worse? How would I check something like this?
Matt
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11
votes
3 answers

What material should I look for in an oil drain plug gasket?

I've recently purchased my first car (2004 Subaru Legacy), and though I sent it to the shop soon afterward for routine maintenance, I want to learn and do as much as possible myself. 3,000 miles have rolled by since then, and I'm sending it to the…
Daniel
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9
votes
4 answers

What are the audible symptoms of a failing starter motor?

My 2004 Subaru WRX has 110000 miles on the odometer and I'm worried about the original equipment starter motor. Here are the audible symptoms that have me concerned: During the winter, I noticed that sometimes on a (very) cold start, turning the…
Bob Cross
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9
votes
2 answers

What are the visual signs that brake rotors must be replaced?

Let's say you take off the wheel (when replacing the pads, for example) and look at the brake rotor. What are the signs that it's time to replace the disc? Let's stick to clear visual signs that don't need extra special equipment or driving the car…
I have no idea what I'm doing
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9
votes
2 answers

How do I go about replacing the head gaskets in my Dodge truck?

It's a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, Laramie SLT, automatic transmission, 5.9l magnum engine, and crew cab (222k mi). It seems to have some head gasket leaks, as there is some coolant burning. I have only basic carpentry tools, nothing special and I…
J. Musser
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8
votes
1 answer

Does it make the most sense to replace an old car's entire exhaust system all at once?

Back story: The Check Engine light came on in my 2005 Chevrolet Malibu LS Sedan (V6 3.5L). I took the car to a mechanic #1 (M1), an independent shop. They replaced the EGR valve. A day later, the Check Engine light came on again. I took it back to…
Chris W. Rea
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8
votes
2 answers

Do I need to go to a dealer for a simple maintenance?

I just bought a 2012 CRV. Now, it's time for an oil change. I already moved so the dealer is too far away from my house (may need half day off) and there is no other public transportation to go there. My guess is the cost is about the same or more…
Richard Sayakanit
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7
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1 answer

Can I get a core refund without an exchange?

I recently replaced one of the half-shafts on my Saabaru with a new aftermarket part. I know that the old factory one I took off can be rebuilt, and if I'd bought a rebuilt unit I'd've had to put down a hefty core deposit. Does anyone know if it's…
rmalouf
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7
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3 answers

What are some typical maintenance things that every owner should do regularily?

Right now I just get a car wash every month, and my oil changed and whatever is included in that. Usually just a quick "inspection". Is there anything else I should be doing for my car? Or also, is there any general "checks/inspections" I should do…
Matt
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