Automotive: Expert Guides and Resources

If your car battery has died, you may be able to use jumper cables to jump-start it with the help of some good Samaritan's vehicle. If you can safely use jumper cables on your vehicle, make sure that the battery on the good Samaritan's vehicle has at least as much voltage as your own. As long as you hook up the cables properly, it doesn't matter whether your vehicle has negative ground and the other vehicle has positive ground, or your vehicle has an alternator and the other vehicle has a generator.

Changing oil is usually easy. Unless it’s impossible to reach your oil filter and/or oil drain plug, it’s cheaper to change the oil yourself. All you have to do is unscrew a plug and a filter, let the oil drain out, replace the filter and plug, and pour in some new oil.Before you begin work, be sure your gearshift is in Park or Neutral with the parking brake on, and set out all your tools and equipment.

As you begin your journey with electric vehicles (EVs), you’ll quickly learn that charging your vehicle means plugging in to one of three kinds of charging levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.And, as you’ll further see, these levels have implications regarding charging voltage, frequency, and current. However, the most significant aspect EV drivers will associate with charging levels has to do with speed — as in, “How rapidly will each level of charging put range back into my car’s battery?

When exploring your options, perhaps the best way to start is by identifying the different types of electric vehicles available for purchase. As you’ll see, just because it includes the words “electric vehicle” in the description doesn’t mean you won’t have to keep buying gasoline.In fact, some “electric vehicles” aren’t even the kind you have to plug in so that it can charge.

People have questions about electric vehicles — this cheat sheet provides some answers. Whether it’s about the mysteries of charging, the vagaries of tax laws, extending battery life, or having a set of talking points you can use when people are asking you why you’re investing in an electric vehicle, this cheat sheet has you covered.

Not every vehicle has a PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve. If yours has one, and your engine has been idling roughly or a malfunction indicator light goes on, check the PCV valve to make sure it isn’t clogged with sludge from the contaminants in the exhaust fumes or stuck in the wide-open position. The PCV valve is a vital part of the emissions control system on most vehicles.

Not every vehicle has a PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve. If yours has one, and your engine has been idling roughly or a malfunction indicator light goes on, check the PCV valve to make sure that it isn’t clogged with sludge from the contaminants in the exhaust fumes or stuck in the wide-open position.

If you've ever locked your keys in the car, you know how frustrating it can be. Here are a few tips on how to open a locked car door.Get your spare key One obvious way to get into the locked car is to have a spare key handy. Those little magnetic boxes that stick to the metal surface of the vehicle body or frame work great, but be sure to place your box in an obscure and hard-to-reach area where it can't jiggle loose and fall out.