Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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11 answers

How to get rid of a decal on the rear window?

I've bought a car which has ugly label glued to its rear window. What are inexpensive and effective ways to remove it without residue? Edit: my car has it on the outside on the blank glass but it‘s good to know what to do when it is inside or on…
Kinaeh
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Cheap winter tires vs high quality all seasons

My car honda CR-V is in pretty desperate need of new tires. I've put away a small amount from my last few paycheques, but it's not a whole lot. I'm curious as to whether you would feel it's a better choice to purchase cheap winter tires (GT Radial,…
user33322
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9 answers

How old is too old for a new tire?

When shopping for new tires from tirerack.com, the production date of the tires is listed. I'm considering tires from a 2007 production run, which would make them around 5 years old today (after damaging a tire, I'm looking at buying a pair of the…
mac
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2 answers

Strange metallic stickers on rims after repair shop visit

These appeared on my rims after taking my bike to a repair shop. Does anyone know what these are and how to remove them?
xst
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4 answers

Why do cars die after removing jumper cables?

I work at an auction site where we have to move cars from one spot to another. Often, we get a car with a dead battery that we have to jump. I've noticed that if the jumper cables are removed a second or two after the car has started, it dies. To…
method
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What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

Apart from the mandatory emergency gear that should be in cars (early warning devices, fire extinguishers, visibility vest, first aid kit) what other tools should I get? Flashlight Gas Container Should I get a tire pressure gauge or something? Are…
Jon Abaca
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10 answers

Grease on wheel bolts or not?

My father (an engineer, but not an auto mechanic) taught me to use a tiny dab of machine grease on the thread (not the rim) of each wheel bolt. This would help against corrosion, and help when loosening the bolt. We've traditionally always switched…
Torben Gundtofte-Bruun
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What is my friend's wife not telling him (about this tire)?

So a friend of mine sent me this picture of a "blow out" that happened on his wife's car (some Infinity coupe). She said that it just happened all of a sudden with no warning. She says she pulled over as soon as possible, but from that severe…
JPhi1618
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What are the Advantages & Disadvantages of a Boxer engine?

I know that boxer engines are those which have pistons moving in the opposite direction. Also the fact that since they sit low, the center of gravity is lower which causes better handling. Why don't mainstream manufacturers use the Boxer…
Shobin P
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7 answers

Is idling bad for your engine?

If I sit in my car for 30-40 minutes with the AC and the car idling, does that "hurt" the engine, or does it simply waste gas and pollute the air? Would it be better if I turned off the car? A similar question was asked, but it never addressed…
RHPT
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12 answers

Is Prestone "All Makes/All Models" coolant *really* compatible with all models?

My car's manual says to use the blue Honda coolant: Always use Honda All Season Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2 [MSDS]. This coolant is pre-mixed with 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water. It does not require any additional mixing. If it…
endolith
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What are the benefits of low profile tires?

I have yet to find anyone that knows of any benefits of low-profile tires. All of the pros that I've asked have said there is no benefit. Naturally, the number of pros that I have available to ask is limited so I'm wondering what a wider audience…
Dave
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14 answers

How long should I let my car warm up in the winter?

I have been reading mixed reviews about how long to let your car warm up before driving in the winter months. Most of the articles say that the best way to warm it up is to let it idle for 1-2 minutes, then drive gently until it reaches its optimal…
Frantumn
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7 answers

How slow ( not zero) can a car engine run without hurting engine and saving on fuel

New cars have stop-start system (even though this has been available for a long time). My question is: why are car companies emphasizing shutting the engine down at a traffic light, rather than making the engine run at close to zero RPM (but…
Raj
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4 answers

Will engine braking damage my transmission? How can I tell?

I drive a manual transmission '08 Honda Fit. On my daily 17 mile commute to work, there are three long hills that I can coast down, each about a half mile long. Going down these hills, I've done two different things: I take it out of gear and let…
yhw42
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