I get a lot of messages about diesel smoke on cold start — that huge blue or grey plume that looks dramatic and makes you wonder whether the turbo has finally given up. Before you spend thousands on a replacement turbo, there are a number of realistic, hands-on checks and fixes you can try....
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Maintenance
I’ve spent enough afternoons wrestling with FWD hatchbacks to know one thing:...
Maintenance
A leaking fuel tank sender can turn everyday driving into a guessing game: one...
Maintenance
I’ve had more than one late-night call from drivers stranded near a grocery...
Maintenance
I own and work on a lot of cars in my garage, and the 2015–2020 Toyota RAV4...
I was cruising down the highway the other day in a midlife SUV I’ve had for years when that familiar buzz started around 70 mph. It wasn’t subtle — the steering wheel and seat vibrated, the radio sang a slightly different tune, and I felt my...
I’ve taken older diesel pickups on long trips enough times to know that a weekend tow or a half-day roadside repair is far more likely when you leave the basics unchecked. Preparing an older diesel for a long haul is part mechanical, part common...
I change brake pads more often than many drivers change their oil — partly because I love working on cars, and partly because a Honda Civic is a great platform to test different pads and learn what fits different driving habits and budgets. Over...
I’ve fixed dozens of faded, cloudy headlights in my garage and on friends’ cars, and I still get a little thrill when a dull, yellowed lens comes back to life. Restoring headlights is one of those high-impact, low-cost jobs that makes a car look...