I’ve faced my fair share of roadside dramas: flat tyres at night, cars blocking my driveway, and once, a cracked alloy wheel that left me debating whether to try a makeshift fix or call a tow. I’ll be honest — a cracked alloy is not the kind of damage you want to ignore. But there are safe,...
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Maintenance
I bought a used Mazda last year and despite a good price and low miles, it came...
Maintenance
When I first swapped the halogens in my daily driver for a pair of bright...
Maintenance
I get a lot of messages about diesel smoke on cold start — that huge blue or...
Maintenance
I’ve spent enough afternoons wrestling with FWD hatchbacks to know one thing:...
I get a lot of messages about diesel smoke on cold start — that huge blue or grey plume that looks dramatic and makes you wonder whether the turbo has finally given up. Before you spend thousands on a replacement turbo, there are a number of...
I’ve spent enough afternoons wrestling with FWD hatchbacks to know one thing: torque steer is more than an annoyance — it’s a confidence killer. Whether you’re launching from a light in a hot-hatch or accelerating out of a corner in a daily...
A leaking fuel tank sender can turn everyday driving into a guessing game: one minute your Ford Transit shows half a tank, the next it reads empty while the range still shows hundreds of miles. I’ve dealt with this on a few Transits, and replacing...
I’ve had more than one late-night call from drivers stranded near a grocery store or at home because the 12V lithium-ion auxiliary battery in a Tesla had gone flat. It’s a stressful situation because a dead 12V can leave the car locked down,...
I own and work on a lot of cars in my garage, and the 2015–2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is one of those models I recommend to readers when they want a practical, efficient crossover that can easily pass 200,000 miles if cared for properly. Below I...
I love digging into quirks on older cars — especially when the fix doesn't require throwing money at the fuel system. A used Honda Accord that stalls intermittently can be maddening: it may run fine for days, then cut out at a light or hesitation...
I’m often asked why adaptive cruise control (ACC) seems perfectly fine on the motorway but suddenly brakes late — or not at all — when I’m out on a rural lane. It’s frustrating and, frankly, a little scary. I’ve spent years working with...
I buy winter tires the same way I approach any tool for the road: with real-world needs in mind. Living and driving in cities where icy patches show up in the shade, on bridges, and in overnight freeze-thaw cycles, I prioritize predictability,...
I get a surprising number of messages asking the same question: “Which used hybrid battery pack in a Toyota Prius will last the longest, and how much should I expect to pay to replace it?” I’ve worked on dozens of hybrids in my own garage and...
I tow a lot — boats, trailers, sometimes a load that pushes my SUV closer to its gross vehicle weight than I’d like. Over the years I’ve learned the hard way that a soft, spongy brake pedal under load isn’t just uncomfortable: it’s...