Honest Car Advice, No Bull*&@!

From Real Mechanics, Owners and Knuckleheads

Race Car's Exhaust Flames are a Cool Waste of Fuel

Ray Magliozzi
2/13/2023

Safe Option For Keeping Battery Alive

We will be gone later this winter for a couple of months, and I want to keep the battery charged on our 2018 Honda Accord while we're away. My plan is ...

Even Cars Headed to the Junkyard Have Some Value

We all have seen pictures of wrecking yards with stacks of crushed, rusting cars. What happens when those cars are EVs with large batteries installed?

Mobile Wildlife Area Still Be Fit for the Road

I have a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville that has not been driven since the March 2020 arrival of COVID-19. Long story short: It has 66,000 (accident-free) mi ...

A Great Idea, 50 Years Too Late

Are electric cars rigged up to re-charge as they drive? It seems like there could be some sort of alternator set up on the wheels to generate power th ...

Tighter is Not Always Better - Bolts

I have a 2010 Honda Pilot. Last week, the bolt that goes through the pulley holding the tensioner assembly sheared, and the belt did not break.

Tech Makes Car Theft Difficult But Not Impossible

How vulnerable to theft are push-button start cars? I've heard thieves can copy the signal of the key fob.

Cleaning After our Furry Friends

I have a comment on a recent article of yours in which you explained why all newly mounted tires need to be balanced.

Aerial view of an off road vehicle descending slopes

Be Prepared for Car Failures

I have a 2001 Toyota Tundra. I take it to remote places and try to keep it well maintained.

Sometimes, the Best Option is 'Watchful Waiting'

I have a well-cared-for 2013 Ford F150, 8-cylinder, 4WD pickup. It has developed a very slow drip of oil, which I have monitored for the past three we ...

black modern automobile refueling nozzle

Is The Tank Half Empty or Half Full?

I know how much you love old wives' tales, so I've got one for you.

Cheaper Alternatives to Replace a Lexus Screen

I have a 2004 Lexus LS430 with only 85,000 miles on it. Everything is great except for the navigation screen.

Pressure's on When Low-Pressure Warning Lights

My wife and daughter freak out when the tire pressure warning light comes on in their cars. I bought pumps that plug into what we used to call the cig ...

Bed Mounts Likely Safe Unless You Live in Bedrock

I have enjoyed your column for years and actually learned a lot and saved myself money in the process many times.

Tale of The Kia that Swam with The Swedish Fish

So, hello, I am from Sweden. Please forgive English. Have now had Kia Sportage two years. Car was old four years when bought, so production 2016.

engine oil dipstick in motor compartment

Don't Let a Broken Dipstick Keep You Up at Night

I took my 2016 Genesis (bought used) in for an oil change and was informed that the end of the dipstick broke off. The mechanic said the broken-off pi ...

Cars Like Teeth Require Regular Maintenance

I have a 2010 Chevy Tahoe approaching 125,000 miles. It runs great.

First Step is to Find a Shop Interested in Helping

I have a Kia Forte with about 110,000 miles on it. When it's raining and I am using the air conditioner or defroster -- along with the wipers -- when ...

Tough Call on Replacing Engine of Beloved VW EOS

Should we sink $12,000 into a new engine for our 2016 Volkswagen EOS? It has 95,000 miles on it, and we really enjoy it.

It's OK to Trade in Your Car's Data -- For Now

I just got a "MASSACHUSETTS TELEMATICS RIDER" for my 2022 Honda Insight offering three years of free maintenance in exchange for "If within the three ...

Mechanic Need to Fess About Leaking Transmission

My 2020 Nissan Versa started leaking under the car right after I had the "transmission fluid exchange" service. The dealership mechanic said it was th ...