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

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1500 questions
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Can I safely upgrade to an AGM battery?

AGM batteries are capable of being charged at a faster rate, and may draw additional amperage from the alternator if it is not regulated. Many cars that come with AGM batteries have special charge rates (newer Porsche Cayennes that come with AGM…
Ehryk
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Why does my Subaru not select my paired Bluetooth phone automatically after restarting the car?

The car is a Subaru WRX 2012 with the base radio. It did reconnect automatically for the last two years until I changed phones, deleted the old phone profile, then paired the new phone. It does work correctly when phone is selected, but when I…
geoO
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Why is my Toyota dashboard shiny and sticky, and how do I clean it?

I have a 2008 Toyota Camry, which is primarily kept in Florida (southern U.S.). My entire dashboard has been sticky / tacky for years. I do not know why or how it got this way. It accumulates dust and grime, and I have no way to properly clean it…
JoshDM
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Couldn't start my Volvo due to Key Error. Called assistance and he fixed it by hitting the key with a screwdriver. What could be the error?

My Volvo S40 (06) would not start when I turned the ignition key. I got a message that was somewhat like "Key Error, please try again". I tried with both my keys so it wasn't the key itself. I think I could hear some relay clicking in the on…
FeatureCreep
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My car's coolant temperature reaches almost 100 C / 212 F in a fast pace

Today, after a very hot day, I saw that my coolant was almost reaching 100C/212, I pulled over, stopped and took a look over the hood. The very little water that remained in the coolant tank was all boiling. So, I went to a gas station, bought some…
Rad'Val
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What can cause warped rotors?

I have a forward rotor on my '04 Chrysler Sebring causing a lot of pulsation when braking. I replaced the rotor- but within about a month the problem had re-appeared. The guys at Monroe noticed my ball joints on my lower control arms are bad- they…
Nathan Fig
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How Do Parking Brakes Wear Out?

I get how regular brake pads wear out as they are repeatedly clamped against rotors turning at high RPM to slow down and/or stop 2000lbs or more of vehicle moving at speed. Friction like that takes its toll. But parking brakes get set while vehicle…
AA040371
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Mechanic sent me this image and said my brake rotors should be replaced. Does this seem right?

I feel like it is normal to get some rust, especially over the winter season, where it is wetter and I have been using my vehicle less. Can you tell if they need replacement from the picture? Car is 5 years old and has less than 20k kms.
SmarticusRex
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Why do some tuned cars have very inclined tires?

I've seen photographs of cars with strange inclined tires like the one in the picture I pasted here. They seems to be Japanese cars. Is it for drifting? Maybe for appearance? Do the tires get injuries?
Roby Sottini
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Factors Limiting EV Battery Acceptance Rate on DC Fast Chargers

There is a bunch of, relatively speaking, inexpensive EVs with 200-250 mile (320-400 kM) range -- e.g., the Kia Niro, Subaru Solterra, Volvo C40, and late model Nissan Leafs. All, in my experience have enough range for day-to-day use (40 mile daily…
dlu
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Ford Focus hard to start after fueling

I own a 2014 Ford Focus, with a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. A few years ago, it developed a rather interesting issue. After I put gas in the tank, it gets hard to start, and is hard to keep running for the next few minutes. It's not the amount…
HiddenWindshield
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Is it necessary to flush brake fluid?

I have a 2005 Honda Element. The owners manual states the brake fluid should be "replaced" every 3 years. When I asked the dealer to replace the brake fluid, they said it was going to cost $190. I told them last time they did it, it was only…
kwahn
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Using a car with an inaccessible negative battery terminal to jump start

When trying to jump start my Volvo XC-60, I came across a very unexpected problem. I tried to use our 2nd vehicle, a 2010 Ford Escape, as the assisting car to jump start mine. But when I looked at the engine compartment of the Escape, I found that…
psubsee2003
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What is most fuel efficient at 130km/h?

Suppose a very hot summer day, driving on a long straight highway at 130 km/h. What is most fuel efficient solution : Driving with AC on and closed windows? Driving with AC off and four full opened windows? One uses fuel for running AC, other uses…
user50815
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Why put copper in between battery contacts and clamps?

We have bought a used Toyota Yaris. Yesterday I allowed my kids to play in the car, and they discharged the battery... So I went to take it out to charge it up and I found pieces of a copper and copper coil in between the clamps and 'nips' of a…
Matas Vaitkevicius
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