What Is
What Is a Lien on a Car?
Learn about liens on cars, how to remove them, and more with this quick introduction. You’ll need the definition for buying or selling a vehicle.
What Is Articles
What Is
EV Range Extender: The Basics
Dive into the future of electric vehicles with our guide on electric car range extenders. Uncover information about this forgotten technology and how it differs from a hybrid car.
General
What Is Self-Driving?
A self-driving car is an independent or self-governing vehicle. Capable of safe operation under standard rules of travel without human intervention.
General
What Is Range?
Range is the calculated distance an electric vehicle can travel on a full battery charge, and a gasoline-powered or hybrid vehicle can travel with a full tank of gas. EV range varies based on driving conditions and driver behavior, so all ranges are estimates. Similarly, gas-powered-vehicle range depends on multiple factors, including environmental conditions, the state of engine tune, driving behavior, and more.
Coupe
What Is a Shooting Brake?
A shooting brake is a 2-door sports wagon. Before SUVs existed, the term descended from when aristocratic European parties used horsedrawn wagons to reach the hunting grounds. These wagons had two doors and space to transport their gear. After carriages became horseless and motorized, the term evolved as much as the vehicle itself.
General
What Is an Oil and Filter Change?
An oil and filter change is a routine vehicle maintenance task where you drain the motor oil and remove the oil filter from your engine and replace them with new oil and an oil filter. Regular oil and filter changes are critical to ensure your vehicle performs at its best. This task can be accomplished by do-it-yourselfers. However, if you feel you don’t have the skills or time necessary to complete the maintenance, take your car to a trusted mechanic.
General
What Is a Fuel Pump Replacement?
A fuel pump is a mechanical assembly in the fuel system that sends gasoline or diesel from the fuel tank to the engine to begin the combustion process that propels the vehicle. If the pump ceases to function properly, it must be rebuilt or replaced. The pump is usually located inside the fuel tank, making it somewhat challenging and often messy to get to. However, some vehicles have an access panel, making it much simpler to do the replacement.
General
What Is a New Battery?
A new battery is a freshly manufactured unit that has been installed in a vehicle for no longer than three months, with receipts or other documentation to prove it. The battery’s primary function is to provide an electric current to the electric-powered starting motor. That motor starts the internal combustion engine, which drives the wheels that move the car forward and backward. If your car struggles or fails to start or your interior lights begin to flicker, it may be time to replace your battery.
General
What Are Brake Calipers?
Calipers are part of a vehicle’s disc brake system. The caliper mounts on the brake rotor like a clamp. It houses the brake pads and pistons, slowing a car by creating friction with the brake rotors. Stepping on the brake pedal transfers pressure to the caliper’s pistons and pushes the brake pads against the rotor, causing the vehicle to slow down and stop. If your brakes squeal, or grind, or if the pedal is soft or you see brake fluid on your wheels, get an inspection.
General
What Is a Brake Master Cylinder?
The brake master cylinder is an assembly that transfers the level of pressure the driver applies to the brake pedal to the calipers and drums. Pressing the brake pedal actuates a piston inside the master cylinder, forcing brake fluid through the brake lines and into the slave cylinders. If your vehicle leaks brake fluid, the brake pedal gets soft, or there’s a reduction in braking power, the brake master cylinder could be defective and in need of repair or replacement.