Backyard Mechanic / Auto Tech Articles
Safety concerns over swapping Accord tires
QUESTION: I wonder if I can put 195-70R14 Nokian tires on my '94 Honda Accord, which takes 185/70R14 tires. I know very little about cars, but enjoy reading about them. I read an article that talked about the potential safety, size of wheel well, and computer-connected odometer problems. In my '94, the latter won't be...
November 20, 2009
AUTO TECH: Attention Assist technology is amazing
TESTFEST 2009 Technology
While the Best New Car and Truck/SUV of the Year judgements by the Automotive Journalists of Canada (AJAC) garner a lot of attention each fall, new automotive technologies are also evaluated. It starts back in July, where the manufacturers present a short summary of technologies to the AJAC Technology panel. These AJAC members have backgrounds in...
November 20, 2009
Winter's almost here
Are you ready to grumble?
Modern automobiles are very reliable and they don’t need the seasonal adjustments that vintage cars did before fuel injection, but there are still some maintenance items you should check to make your winter driving safer and more comfortable. Keep it on the road Traction has to be a prime concern on winter roads. Most vehicles come with...
November 13, 2009
Engine-coolant compatibility is a puzzler
QUESTION: I have a 1998 Explorer 4.0-L SOHC V6 engine with 84,500 kilometres and I want to change the coolant in the engine. I checked my owner's manual and it states I should use Ford Extended Life Engine Coolant (DEX-COOL). I contacted a Ford dealership and asked if I could use the Prestone DEX-COOL Extended...
November 13, 2009
You may have to replace battery
QUESTION: I have a 1989 Plymouth Acclaim. Lately, I have been having trouble starting the vehicle. Once every couple of weeks during everyday use, when I put the key in, everything is dead. The only thing happening is the "oil" light comes on. The battery is two years old and is connected properly. After failing...
November 6, 2009
AUTO TECH: PDK is A-OK
Porsche double clutch pure simplicity
Transmissions have a simple job to do -- transfer the power of the motor out to the tires. Many different devices have been used since the invention of the automobile to do this, including chains, belts and fluid drives. Current automobile transmissions can be grouped into three basic types: manual transmissions, automatic planetary transmissions and CVT...
November 6, 2009
Ins and outs of fuel-injector cleaners
QUESTION: With our last car, the service department wanted us to add fuel-injector cleaner to the fuel at each oil change. We now have a different make and the injector cleaner is not mentioned. The engines in both cases were not high-performance. Does the injector cleaner help in any way and, if so, what brand...
October 30, 2009
AUTO TECH: Everything you need to know about clutches
When you buy a vehicle, most parts are under warranty for at least a year, with some parts having a warranty for up to 10 years for a couple of manufacturers. Items that are subject to normal wear or abuse, however, don't have warranty, and the clutch is one of those items. If a part...
October 30, 2009
Diagnosing flaw in daytime running lights
QUESTION: I am unable to get the DRLs (daytime running lights) on my 2000 Chevrolet Z71 pickup to work. I installed new bulbs, the old ones were burned-out, fuses are good and the DRL relay is fine. I have heard this is a common failure on this model. What else can I check? ANSWER: The daytime...
October 23, 2009
Diagnosing flaw in daytime running lights
QUESTION: I am unable to get the DRLs (daytime running lights) on my 2000 Chevrolet Z71 pickup to work. I installed new bulbs, the old ones were burned-out, fuses are good and the DRL relay is fine. I have heard this is a common failure on this model. What else can I check? ANSWER: The daytime...
October 23, 2009
AUTO TECH: Teens require realistic training
My teenaged son just completed his high-school driver's ed instruction. The 30-hour class included watching videos of driving situations, with emphasis on the dangers of impaired driving and rules of the road. Armed with this information, he supposed to be able to write the driver's test and get a learner's licence. To give him some practical experience,...
October 23, 2009
AUTO TECH: We gotta talk
Mercedes-Benz shows what it takes to have your car speak
Twenty-five years ago, Michael Knight used to talk with KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), his TransAm sports car and crime-fighting partner in the TV show 'Knight Rider'. The artificial intelligence programmed into KITT was science fiction then, and some of the stunts performed by KITT -- or the people operating it -- are still science fiction....
October 16, 2009
Simple solution to mysterious clicking sound
QUESTION: I have a 2000 Ford Excursion V10. I have this clicking sound coming from around the fuse box under the steering column. When the battery is connected, the clicking starts. I took out the battery charger relay and the clicking slowed down. Then I took out the power-window relay and the clicking stopped, so...
October 16, 2009
A dab of grease will likely correct the noise
QUESTION: I bought a used Ford Focus (2007) 4-door sedan in April from a local used-car dealer. It has a most annoying indicator (left and right) in that it makes a loud squeek (similar to nails on a blackboard) just before it shuts off after I make a turn. I took it to the local Ford...
October 9, 2009
Several converters would work on Blazer
QUESTION: I have a 2003 Chevrolet Blazer. I have been told that the irritating rattling noise that I hear from under the Blazer just means I need a new catalytic converter. It doesn't hurt the operation of the vehicle, only the emission side of things. My question is, does the replacement catalytic converter have to come...
October 2, 2009
