What is an Alternator and How Does it Work?
Curious about your car’s alternator? Read on for an inside look at what an alternator is and how it works.
Read more about What is an Alternator and How Does it Work?
Search results
-
-
Why Is My Car Clicking but Won’t Start?
Your car not starting can be a hassle. Learn some of the most common reasons your car can start clicking but not start.
Read more about Why Is My Car Clicking but Won’t Start? -
9 Items to Include in an Emergency Car Kit
Make sure your vehicle is prepared in case of an emergency, with these 9 items.
Read more about 9 Items to Include in an Emergency Car Kit -
How to Jump-Start a Car
When your ride suddenly won’t start from a dead battery, knowing how to use jumper cables is a good skill to have. At first, jump-starting a car can seem like a stressful situation, but you’ll quickly realize it’s one of the easiest ways to start your vehicle. To bring your battery back to life, all...
Read more about How to Jump-Start a Car -
Signs of a Bad Alternator or Battery
You go to start your car, but when you engage the ignition, your car won’t start — and your stomach sinks. If your car won’t start, it’s often due to a malfunction of either the battery or the alternator. If it’s one of those things, recognizing which one can be relatively simple. Battery or alternator:...
Read more about Signs of a Bad Alternator or Battery -
When to Change Your Car Battery
Quite often, car batteries are taken for granted until they stop working. A dead battery can be an inconvenience at best and, at worst, may leave you stranded somewhere. That’s why it’s important to know when you should replace your car battery. It’s important to look for warning signs long before the moment your battery...
Read more about When to Change Your Car Battery -
7 Common Car Dashboard Symbols
Today’s cars have many different dashboard lights designed to alert drivers to possible problems and to make sure you can take care of those problems quickly. Here’s a quick guide to common car dashboard icons and what they mean. 1. Check engine light In newer cars, the lit icon will look like an engine. It...
Read more about 7 Common Car Dashboard Symbols -
10 Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start
It’s one of the worst things that can happen to a driver. You turn the key in your car’s ignition, perhaps hear a few alarming noises, and then…nothing. Whether in the parking lot after dinner, in your driveway before work, or even at the rest stop after you’ve stopped for snacks, there’s never really a...
Read more about 10 Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start -
Common Car Noises and What They Mean
They can come, seemingly, from out of the blue. One minute you’re driving your car and everything seems fine, and the next moment you hear a strange noise coming from your car as you accelerate. Before you turn up the radio a little louder in hopes that sound goes away, take a closer listen and...
Read more about Common Car Noises and What They Mean -
How Do Car Engines Work?
Despite their relatively easy operation, cars are actually very complex machines. Cars need fuel to operate, but what does the engine actually do with it? In general, a standard internal combustion engine — what the majority of fuel-powered vehicles have today — uses air combined with gasoline to produce power.[1] Of course, it gets more...
Read more about How Do Car Engines Work? -
Can a Car Battery Go Dead from Sitting?
Nowadays, your car is probably staying parked in your garage for longer periods of time. While this can be nice for saving money on gas and other maintenance, it’s not an ideal situation for your car’s battery. This leads to an important question: Can a car battery go dead from sitting? Yes, it can. Even...
Read more about Can a Car Battery Go Dead from Sitting? -
How to Replace an Alternator
A working alternator is crucial to your car’s operation. As the producer of your car’s electricity — and as the mechanism that helps the battery hold its charge — it has a hand in everything from radio use to the car’s ability to start. When an alternator falters, your power comes directly from the battery...
Read more about How to Replace an Alternator -
How to Clean Your Car Engine
Knowing how to clean your engine is an important part of vehicle maintenance, and it can save you money. Tidying up under the hood helps extend the life of belts, hoses and other components. Plus, it’s easier to spot leaks, tears and other damage on a clean engine. Check out the steps below to properly...
Read more about How to Clean Your Car Engine -
5 Ways to Help Avoid a Dead Car Battery During the Summer
Most of us have experienced that dreadful moment when the car simply refuses to start. While we often equate dead batteries with those frigid temperatures of winter, did you know that summer months are actually harder on your car’s battery? In fact, batteries in cold climates have a life expectancy of 51 months, while those...
Read more about 5 Ways to Help Avoid a Dead Car Battery During the Summer