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Does a car or truck’s air filter stop wildfire smoke? (VIDEO)

Description Can a vehicle’s air filtration help keep you safe from wildfire smoke and poor air quality? While that’s a tougher standard than most systems are built to meet, don’t overlook a simple step to get the most of your existing filter.Related Videos

Forgotten Classics: The 1990-1993 Chevrolet 454 SS Muscle Truck

The early 1990s were an interesting time for those looking for raw horsepower in a fun package. Ford’s Mustang had a 5.0L V8 with 205 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, not too shabby. Camaro buyers could get a 5.7L V8 that put out 245 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of...

Engine Management and Fuel Trim – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that the ECM's primary role in engine management is to ensure that emissions remain within the limits for which the vehicle was originally certified. Technician B says that the fuel trim data PIDs (Parameter Identifiers) represent...

Ford Door Latch Cable Repair Tips and Tricks: 926-111

“Customer states rear door inop.” If you see that line on a ticket and the make and model is a Blue Oval truck or van, what you have is likely related to the door latch. Specifically, the cable end that operates that latch has cracked and crumbled. Ford will tell you...

Does Fuel Octane Rating Really Matter?

Life is full of small decisions. Pulling up to the gas pump, you are immediately faced with a choice: which octane fuel to use? The owner's manual for any vehicle should provide a minimum octane requirement, but is it worth filling up with a more expensive fuel with...

How to Make Your Own Molded Hose in a Pinch

When a vehicle’s vacuum or heater hose is in need of replacement, we tell the service writer, they sell the job and a little while later, a custom-formed piece with eleventy-four bends shows up, just like magic. But it wasn’t always this way. In Ye Olden Days, we’d...

Diesel and DEF – ASE Practice Question (VIDEO)

Description Technician A says that an empty DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) tank can result in a “no start” complaint. Technician B says that the quality of the DEF fluid in the tank should be checked when SCR system faults are noted. Who is correct?A) Technician AB)...

EDC: Mechanic Edition

EDC, or “everyday carry” has become a popular topic of conversation. At first I thought people’s interest in this was a zeitgeist, but I think it’s got more staying power than I originally surmised. I used to (and still) roll my eyes when someone posts a beautiful...

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

Modern Power Window Switches: Smarter than You’d Think

When was the last time you rolled down the power windows in an older car or truck? I’m talking at least pre-2000. The older, the better. As a passenger, you’ll find that every door has a mix of buttons, switches, locks, and handles to mess around with, plus maybe a...
What are rear fog lights, and when should you use them?

What are rear fog lights, and when should you use them?

If you’re a vehicle owner or auto repair professional in the United States, odds are that you haven’t seen (or even used) rear fog lights on a vehicle. The vast majority of vehicles sold in the US do not include them, and in some cases, the feature is disabled or the...
What is a core charge?

What is a core charge?

The article title is a question I asked when I was a young counterman, and most of you oldtimer mechanics and parts people of course know the story: the core charge is a way to be sure the smoked part makes its way back to the parts counter. A core charge is a deposit...
Watch this video on the invention of the Ford V-8 engine

Watch this video on the invention of the Ford V-8 engine

If you enjoy pioneering developments in automobile history, this video on the development of Ford’s V8 engine is a must-watch. It’s a bit on the long side (a little over an hour), but it’s well worth your time to fully appreciate this revolutionary success in Ford—and...