A crankshaft position sensor is part of your car’s electronic fuel injection and ignition system. Found in modern cars, this sensor measures the engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM) as well as the exact position of the engine crankshaft. When this sensor fails, the engine won’t turn over, and you won’t be going anywhere until it is fixed. The crankshaft position sensor is sometimes referred to as an engine speed sensor. It looks like a long, black plug and is located near th

Your car uses all different kinds of filters to keep contaminants out of vital systems. Specifically, filters are used on things that flow — air and fluid (think oil and fuel) — but did you know there are actually two types of air filters in your car? How much do you know about engine air filters vs. cabin filters and the important role each plays? Engine Air Filters These air filters can be round, conical or panel-shaped, depending on the vehicle. They’re located under the h

With winter firmly fixed in your rearview mirror, you can now turn your attention to getting your car ready for the warmer months. One of the first things to do is rid your vehicle of road salt and grime buildup, restoring it to its proper luster with a wash and wax. You also need to consider possible damage to the vehicle due to rough road surfaces. Damage from potholes isn’t always easy to spot. If you suspect your vehicle may have suffered pothole damage, pay attention to

Bearings are integral components that keep your wheels turning and prevent friction from wreaking havoc on your vehicle. Properly greased bearings dissipate heat, alleviate the friction and weight on your wheels, and enable smooth motion over thousands of miles. But that grease eventually breaks down or dries up — and does so faster in dry or dirty conditions — so it’s necessary to repack your bearings every so often. Warning: It’s a dirty job, but if you know how to pack a w

While shopping for used cars, you’re sure to see low-mileage vehicles favored in advertisements, as if high-mileage vehicles aren’t worth consideration. Online and around town, buyers tend to shy away from high-mileage vehicles on the grounds of their mileage alone. This is unfortunate, because plenty of cars over 100,000 miles have a lot of life left in them. On the other hand, plenty don’t. To find out whether the high-mileage vehicle you’re considering is a worthwhile opti

There are some parts of a vehicle that, when failing, do not need to be immediately replaced. A water pump is not one of those parts. Due to the vital role the pump plays in cooling the engine, if it stops working, there will be fast consequences including possible all-out engine failure. Replacing a bad water pump isn’t a quick job, but it’ll save you from the worse job of replacing your engine. Know the signs of when your pump is dead in the water. Unhealthy Circulation The

Your car’s weather stripping serves a dual purpose by keeping water out and helping to muffle road noise inside the cabin. Car weather stripping should last for many years, but sun, moisture and time will take its toll and necessitate at least partial replacement. Here’s a look at two telltale signs of defective weather stripping and what you can do to fix the problem. Unexplained Water Inside Your Vehicle Unless you left a door, window or moonroof open, there’s no reason for

With warm weather in sight, many of you are probably tuning up your mowers and getting them ready to go. Hopefully you stored yours away properly for the winter, which will make getting it ready that much easier. Before you get to work on your machine, there are a few things you’ll want to gather up. Here’s a quick run down of the items you’ll need to stock up your lawn mower tune up kit. Air Filter As you tend to your lawn throughout the summer, your mower kicks up dust and

Bolted underneath the engine’s crankshaft is a pan where oil collects after it has been pumped through the engine. When the engine is running, a pump moves the oil from the pan to lubricate engine parts and prevent overheating. If the pan cracks and you lose oil, the engine could seize up, leading to major repairs. Here’s how to detect a cracked oil pan and make the repair. Monitor Oil Consumption One of the first signs of a cracked oil pan may be excessive oil consumption. T

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, a high end SUV, or heavy-duty truck, you may be asking yourself: What is an air suspension? Because of the smooth ride it provides, this style of suspension is found on a lot of luxury models, but most people have no idea what it is. Here are the basics, along with the pros and cons. What It Is Air suspensions have changed a lot over the years, but essentially they operate on the same basic idea. A chamber or bag of air called an air