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1500 questions
19
votes
11 answers
What causes brakes to pulsate right after rotor and pad replacement?
I have a 2002 Infiniti Q45. I replaced the front rotors and pads on Sunday. It was the first time I've done this on a car, though I have done it countless times on various motorcycles.
I was careful to apply proper torque to all fittings and…
Paul
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19
votes
10 answers
Does a strut tower bar have any useful effect on chassis stiffness for a car with 100K miles?
Aftermarket strut tower bars are generally considered to be decorative on many brand new cars. However, it seems to be a bit more logical that a chassis with 100K miles would have developed some flex and could use a cross-member to stiffen things…
Bob Cross
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18
votes
2 answers
What happens if you put the wrong kind of gas in your car?
I (like most people) just use regular unleaded gas in my car and always have. But once I accidentally put in the premium kind, mixing it with the unleaded that was already there, and I thought for sure my car was going to explode or something, but…
temporary_user_name
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18
votes
4 answers
Are there any advantages of idling a vehicle vs. turning it off and back on again?
I was sitting outside, eating my lunch the other day, and a small bus (you know, one of the short ones) pulled up to the sandwich shop I was eating at. I noticed that the driver got out of the bus, ordered her food and waited for the roughly 10…
James Mertz
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18
votes
3 answers
Car battery at 10v, then shows 14,5v while car running after boost, then when car turns off, drops to 10v again within a minute
Yesterday car suddenly didn't start. We boosted it and drove for an hour. When parked, it would restart immediately. But after waiting 1 minute, it wouldn't start again.
Today I measured the battery:
After being parked overnight: 10V
When car…
James T
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18
votes
4 answers
Driving in second gear at 65+ mph
I accidentally drove my 2000 Grand Marquis on second gear on the highway. I was going 65 for like 5 minutes and tried to get it to 70mph but the car was shaking, when I realized I put it into regular drive while going 65 and it stopped shaking.
Is…
qwertymk
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18
votes
3 answers
Should a mechanical "click" Torque Wrench be set to zero when not in use?
I have a standard click torque wrench. I was told I should set it to zero when not using it in order to keep the accuracy high. Is this true?
Secondly, I have not been doing this since I purchased the wrench a few years ago, how much of a problem…
jzd
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18
votes
4 answers
What factors affect the maximum air pressure that should be put in a vehicle's tires?
For just about every car, there's at least two different "maximum tire pressure" ratings.
The vehicle manufacturer's rating. This is usually found on a sticker attached to the driver's door.
The tire manufacturer's rating. This is usually found…
Iszi
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18
votes
12 answers
Do mobile air conditioners exist for cars?
Even if my home has no integrated air conditioner, I can add one in my room by buying a mobile air conditioner. But if my car does not have any air conditioner, can I create cool air with an equivalent device, like in a cigarette lighter?
user55307
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18
votes
4 answers
Maintenance tips to prolong engine lifespan for short trips
I just sold my car and will soon purchase a new one (probably a used one with 1-2 years on it). I decided on a Volkswagen up! with an EA211 1.0 TSI engine.
I have heard from many different people (at least here in Brazil) that Volkswagen’s engines…
swineone
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18
votes
3 answers
What is the proper way to bleed brakes and replace the fluid?
What is the proper way to replace the brake fluid in a car? What tools are required? I want to make sure I do not get any air or bubbles in the system as this is something that needs to be done right the first time for obvious safety reasons.
Troggy
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18
votes
7 answers
2000 Jetta runs rough, shudders on cold start only on wet days.
This is an issue I've had off and on for, embarrassingly, at least a year:
On misty or wet mornings, everything starts out fine but, a few minutes into the drive (like clockwork. I even know the lights it will happen at), the Check Engine light…
LadyGuardian
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18
votes
9 answers
Can I drive a car with only water and no coolant if it has a leak?
Recently, I was informed that a car I share ('02 Nissan Sentra) was close to overheating. I was told it gets close to the upper limit very quickly upon running the car. When I inspected the vehicle, I realized that the coolant overflow was empty and…
Travis J
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18
votes
6 answers
Where does the power in an idling engine go?
When the engine is running, but the vehicle is not moving fuel is still being consumed, where does the energy go?. I am guessing that it goes in rotating the flywheel and crankshaft and stuff, but I am not so sure. Any detailed explanation would be…
Nitin Tiwari
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18
votes
5 answers
Should I depress the clutch pedal when braking to a stop?
When coming to a stop, will depressing both the clutch and brake pedals cause any damage to the engine or transmission? Is there anything mechanically wrong with doing so?
Frankay Olama Olingmot
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