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

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1500 questions
19
votes
4 answers

How to dispose of engine coolant?

This question is pretty straight forward... How to properly dispose of engine coolant? Should it be taken to a treatment facility like used engine oil or is it safe to pour down the drain?
Davide
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4 answers

Push start a car with automatic transmission

Is it possible to push start a car with automatic transmission? Use case: Let's say the battery is dead or you have a bad starter. I know this can be done on manual cars by putting the car in to gear after the car starts moving. Can you do the same…
rana
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Can this tire sidewall damage be repaired or should I replace the tire?

I* hit a curb and got a small tear in the front passenger side tire. The tear is about 1" long and goes mostly across the surface of the tire but also a little bit, maybe 1/4", toward the inside of the tire. If this is beyond cosmetic and not…
Shimon Rura
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3 answers

What exactly is a "burnt valve" and what causes it?

I've come across this term a couple of times in the context of diagnosing engine-related issues, but don't know what it refers to. Here is an example from an automotive forum I frequent: I gotta say it's not likely to be a burnt valve. These…
Zaid
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19
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5 answers

How to test a clutch

I have just bought a second hand car, and I have the feeling that the clutch is worn out. How can I do a quick clutch sanity check?
Alekk
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19
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11 answers

What causes brakes to pulsate right after rotor and pad replacement?

I have a 2002 Infiniti Q45. I replaced the front rotors and pads on Sunday. It was the first time I've done this on a car, though I have done it countless times on various motorcycles. I was careful to apply proper torque to all fittings and…
Paul
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10 answers

Does a strut tower bar have any useful effect on chassis stiffness for a car with 100K miles?

Aftermarket strut tower bars are generally considered to be decorative on many brand new cars. However, it seems to be a bit more logical that a chassis with 100K miles would have developed some flex and could use a cross-member to stiffen things…
Bob Cross
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4 answers

Why do many CVT cars appear to index gears during normal automatic operation?

I've had the chance to drive a number of CVT cars. My own car is a Subaru Outback, and I've previously rented a Nissan Murano, Rav4 Hybrid, and Corolla, all with CVTs as well. One interesting characteristic I've noticed across these cars is that…
Jules
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18
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7 answers

Clicking type sound when braking at low speeds

Most of the time when I brake at low speeds I hear a clicking type sound, that is fairly faint. I do NOT hear squeaking, grinding or any high pitched noises that might indicate my brake pads are wearing down, or anything that sounds really bad. I…
TruthOf42
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18
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2 answers

What happens if you put the wrong kind of gas in your car?

I (like most people) just use regular unleaded gas in my car and always have. But once I accidentally put in the premium kind, mixing it with the unleaded that was already there, and I thought for sure my car was going to explode or something, but…
temporary_user_name
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4 answers

Are there any advantages of idling a vehicle vs. turning it off and back on again?

I was sitting outside, eating my lunch the other day, and a small bus (you know, one of the short ones) pulled up to the sandwich shop I was eating at. I noticed that the driver got out of the bus, ordered her food and waited for the roughly 10…
James Mertz
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18
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3 answers

Car battery at 10v, then shows 14,5v while car running after boost, then when car turns off, drops to 10v again within a minute

Yesterday car suddenly didn't start. We boosted it and drove for an hour. When parked, it would restart immediately. But after waiting 1 minute, it wouldn't start again. Today I measured the battery: After being parked overnight: 10V When car…
James T
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18
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4 answers

Driving in second gear at 65+ mph

I accidentally drove my 2000 Grand Marquis on second gear on the highway. I was going 65 for like 5 minutes and tried to get it to 70mph but the car was shaking, when I realized I put it into regular drive while going 65 and it stopped shaking. Is…
qwertymk
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3 answers

Should a mechanical "click" Torque Wrench be set to zero when not in use?

I have a standard click torque wrench. I was told I should set it to zero when not using it in order to keep the accuracy high. Is this true? Secondly, I have not been doing this since I purchased the wrench a few years ago, how much of a problem…
jzd
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4 answers

What factors affect the maximum air pressure that should be put in a vehicle's tires?

For just about every car, there's at least two different "maximum tire pressure" ratings. The vehicle manufacturer's rating. This is usually found on a sticker attached to the driver's door. The tire manufacturer's rating. This is usually found…
Iszi
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