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

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1500 questions
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3 answers

I accidentally fueled my car with E10 (10% ethanol). What should I do next?

So I have a 2000 Honda Civic LX that is around 130k miles now. In Las Vegas, I put E10 (I hadn't known what it was before this...), and had to get it fixed. The engine light had started blinking and my car had started shaking (similarly to how it…
plf94
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What is a good car to start with if I want to learn auto repair?

A couple of other "getting started" questions have been closed (as redundant with these questions), so I hope that my question is different and specific enough. I'm interested in learning to repair my own cars. Am I likely to have more success if I…
kmm
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Front left controller arm corroded and broke on my 2002 Hyundai Elantra

I was driving home, heard a crunch, and then my entire steering wheel felt loose and turned a quarter turn to the left even though my car was still going straight. I was about 10 feet from home so I finished the trip slowly. Afterwards I looked…
Chris Schmitz
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How much power (HP) do the components on the engine belt generally use?

In general, how much power (HP) to the components on the the engine belt actually use? I'm trying to come up with an estimate of how much horsepower an engine wastes on things like the AC compressor, alternator, water pump, pullies, supercharger,…
Joshua
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1 answer

Why do the lights flicker when I accelerate?

I have a 2003 Ford Focus. Recently, I've noticed that when I accelerate (step on the gas), all the lights on the car flicker. This happens to both the dash lights in the car and the headlights outside. They will pulse bright and dim while I'm…
Ben Miller
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3 answers

How does ambient temperature affect engine efficiency and fuel consumption?

I remember from my physics class that the ideal-gas Carnot engine is more efficient if the temperature difference between the heat source and the thermostat ("heat recipient") is larger…
ponadto
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3 answers

Why (almost) all dirt bikes have single cylinder engine?

Every dirt bike i know has a single cylinder engine. I myself ride a Yamaha XT660Z which has a huge 660 cc cylinder. What are the characteristics of those engines? what are the benefits of such design? Another interesting topic is that a lot of…
Alexander
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Why might I experience a power falloff after starting my car with the AC On?

I have a 2000 Chrysler Neon which generally runs well. I have noticed that if I start the vehicle, turn the AC on and reverse out of the driveway, the engine seems to struggle/sounds like it is going to stall. If I turn the AC off, it immediately…
Stephen
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What disadvantages a car with 4-speed transmission have compared to 5, 6 or 7 speed with similar engine?

This seemed to be most relevant site to ask my question. I am planning to purchase a new car and my shortlisted car has 4 speed automatic and 1.6 litre engine. The thing that worries me is that it has 4 speed instead of 5 speed which is very common…
SpeedBirdNine
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4 answers

Any recommendations on vehicle maintenance software for the DIYer?

I currently use a combination of Car Minder for the iPhone - it's only $2.99 but limited functionality - and Excel spreadsheets. Ideally I'm looking for something that will track all service for up to 5 vehicles. MPG tracking and ability to export…
Tone
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1 answer

How do I program a Chevy Malibu Key with chip in it?

I have a '07 Chevy Malibu and would like to know how to program the key. I lost the original, but was able to get a spare from the dealership. I do not want to pay the locksmith $150 to program the key. What is the procedure for doing this?
James Mertz
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1 answer

How important is it to use a real flare nut wrench when removing the fuel line on an old Ford tractor?

An article on overhauling the carbs on a Ford 8N tractor says to use a flare nut wrench to disconnect the fuel line. How important is it use that kind of wrench, vs. an open ended wrench?
Jay Bazuzi
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13
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3 answers

2005 Dodge Ram: Easy way to diagnose code P0420?

My truck is reporting a code P0420, which apparently is "Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)" which can either be the catalytic converter or the rear O2 sensor. The code came on at about 30k miles, so I doubt it's the converter. So…
dave thieben
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6 answers

Is double-clicking a mechanical torque wrench just a habit?

I'm wondering if there is any benefit behind double-clicking when using a mechanical torque wrench. Could it be that some folks do it to compensate for slack in the ratcheting mechanism? In other words, would I lose anything if I torqued down with…
Zaid
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My 1999 Chevy suburban has a battery issue. One of the batteries is boiling hot and smells like it's burning up

My battery is boiling hot on one of my batteries in my 1999 Chevy suburban. I thought I had it traced down to two wires rubbing together on my starter and sparking and fixed that and it stopped. Now it's doing it again. I've already lost one battery…
Steven Hamilton
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