While small and relatively simple, the throttle position sensor (TPS) is a critical component that tells your car’s computer how far you’re pressing the gas pedal, helping control fuel delivery to your engine. If your TPS fails, you may experience anything from annoying driveability issues to downright dangerous driving conditions. While the symptoms of a … Read more
Hybrid vehicles have an electric motor as well as a combustion engine like a traditional vehicle. Hybrids are the best of both worlds, using the combustion engine for long range and regenerative braking for increased efficiency in the city. While hybrid vehicles offer significant advantages over vehicles that strictly have a combustion engine or an … Read more
Cruising down the highway, your car’s dashboard lights up with an unfamiliar warning: “Battery Saver Active.” While this alert often causes both confusion and concern, it’s often a simple fix. But what exactly does this message mean, what caused it, and what should you do immediately after seeing this warning pop up? What is “Battery … Read more
The engine control module (ECM), also referred to as the engine control unit (ECU), is a critical component which links your engine to the central computer of your vehicle. The ECM manages most of the functions of the engine, based on the information it receives from other systems and electronic components within the vehicle. If … Read more
Spark plugs, present in all gasoline-powered internal combustion engines, have one very important purpose: to ignite the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber to start a car and keep it running. They are also designed to transfer heat away from the combustion chamber to prevent pre-ignition (or igniting the fuel too early). Making sure the … Read more
Picture this: you’re sitting at a stop light on a hot day, getting ready to merge onto the highway. As you pull out and step on the gas, you hear an awful noise that sounds like shaking a bunch of marbles in a can. The car hesitates, stumbles, then proceeds to accelerate slower than normal. … Read more
Whether you’re a first-time diesel owner or have spent most of your life driving diesel trucks, you should have a basic understanding of the important role that glow plugs play in your engine. A diesel engine cannot start and operate properly without the heat generated from this plug, especially when the outside temperatures start to … Read more
Having trouble starting your car? Don’t replace your battery just yet. Older cars often have corroded battery terminals. Corrosion resists the flow of electricity, and can make a good battery act like it needs replacement. Here’s how to turn a $200 fix into one that’s nearly free. Identifying Battery Corrosion When your terminals are corroded, … Read more
Knowing the temperature is very helpful. If you are going outside, you look and see that it’s 28 degrees and you should grab a warm hat. While your car doesn’t wear cozy hats, it’s crucial that it constantly monitors the temperature of the engine while it’s on. That’s the job of the engine coolant temperature … Read more
Modern internal combustion engines operate with a precisely tuned balance of air and fuel. Fuel is delivered into the combustion chamber in very specific quantities through components known as fuel injectors. What is a Fuel Injector? A fuel injector is an electronically controlled device which sprays a fine mist of fuel under high pressure. The … Read more