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1500 questions
10
votes
3 answers
Start Motorcycle Garaged for Over a Year
What do I need to do to get my motorcycle running again after I've left it in my garage for over a year?
kzh
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10
votes
2 answers
Music stops playing when pressing the clutch down
In my car the music of my car radio stops playing almost every time when I press the clutch. It does not always stop, but probably in 80% of the cases. It never stops when I do not press the clutch. The stops have a length between 1 and 10…
RoflcoptrException
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10
votes
5 answers
Why does the power output peak and then drop as engine speed increases?
I have been looking at the power bands for my car (2000 Opel Agila 1.2) recently, as I want to work out when it is best to change gear and stuff, as I have no life!
This is the approximate graph I made up in Excel comparing power and torque:
Why…
George
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10
votes
2 answers
Why do hybrids still use mechanical transmission?
One of the comments on this question reminded me of something I've been wondering for a while. Given that engines get the best efficiency at peak torque, why do most hybrid cars still use a mechanical transmission (which requires the engine to…
Nick C
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10
votes
6 answers
Red vs black vs grey RTV - what's in a color?
When buying gasket maker at my local auto-supplies store some time back, I was unsure about whether or not the color of the tube made any difference. The only thing I could see was a different temperature rating on the tube itself.
At the time I…
Zaid
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10
votes
2 answers
Car Battery won't charge after sitting for a Year
I have a main starter battery and a leisure batter in my van. They have been left unused for around a year with my van off the road. I am now trying to get it up and running however I am unable to charge either battery.
The main battery is around 14…
Kit
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10
votes
1 answer
Pre-purchace Testing with a Vacuum Gauge
I'd like to use a vacuum gauge to test older, high mileage vehicles I'm thinking of purchasing. I figure I'll probably be limited to this, checking with a multi-meter, a balance test and whatever I can see with my eyes.
I've found various sites,…
Robert S. Barnes
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10
votes
1 answer
Why doesn't my rev limiter bounce?
I have a BMW 630i Steptronic from 2007.
If I floor the pedal in neutral the RPM is of course limited, but it doesn't "bounce" like regular rev limiters. Instead it keeps a constant and "clean" RPM.
My old Audi A6 Multitronic 2008 did the exact same…
jhovgaard
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10
votes
1 answer
A most intriguing cold-start misfire mystery
I'm trying to help a friend out with a CEL on his 2009 Merc GLK 280.
Hooked it up to an OBD2 reader and retrieved a single code:
P0300 - 'Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected', via the 'OBD Fusion' app on my iPad.
Here is the P0300 freeze…
Zaid
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10
votes
4 answers
Is it safe to reuse oil that was drained for a repair?
Let's say that I just replaced my engine oil but decided I want to lift the valve covers to do some gasket replacement. I know it may sound cheap but I'd rather not throw away $25 worth of almost new oil. Would it be safe to catch the old oil in a…
amphibient
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10
votes
4 answers
Should we wait a few seconds before starting the engine?
My cousin told me when he enter his car, he put the key to ignition then count to 3 and start the engine.
The main reason of him doing that is to give enough time to fluids (I'm not sure which one) to fill to the engine (I'm skeptic, need more info…
Jean-François Savard
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10
votes
3 answers
Where can I go to do basic work on my vehicle?
I live in the middle of a city. I have a tiny parking spot in an underground parking garage (have to fold the mirrors in just to get in!). Doing any maintenance is officially verboten, and it wouldn't really be feasible anyway -- there's really no…
Ken
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10
votes
5 answers
Car enthusiast beginner tool kit
What is a good place to begin building a kit/set up for performing your own service?
For example:
oil changes
waxing
detailing
What are the best tools/equipment to start with?
suryalistic
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10
votes
1 answer
Tires stick when turning after a car wash
I have a 2010 F-150 that just went through a car wash. After the car wash, I immediately noticed that the turning feels reduced/impaired. Specifically, when I have the steering wheel turned more than one full rotation, it feels like the the tires…
Corsae
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10
votes
3 answers
My car has the wrong coolant in it. Now what?
Hello I realized today after beating my head about my car's overheating problems that I have the wrong coolant in it.
About a year ago, my car ran dry. At the bottom of the expansion tank was an orange crust(also the manual recommend DexCool.. ). I…
Earlz
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