Sounds Like Trouble — Car Noises to Listen For

It’s easy to compare the performance of a car to that of a human body. Whenever something is not functioning correctly in the car, there are usually telltale symptoms such as the squealing of brakes. Of course, all cars emit some sort of sound, whether they are straight from the factory or have several thousand kilometers worth of mileage. The art, therefore, lies in deciphering normal car noises from worrisome car noises. More often than not, the noises worth paying particular attention to will be irregular, signaling a problem with the car. They include screeching, knocking, grinding, squealing, and scraping.

Car Noises

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Keeping Your Toyota Air Filter in Check

Air filters prevent the entry of dirt, dust, and other impurities into the engine’s cylinders. Whether it is in a vehicle or a ventilation system, such as an air conditioner, the air filter works to achieve the same goal—filtering out the tangible impurities in the air before the air enters the machine’s mechanical compartment. The average Toyota car should have two kinds of air filters, which are the cabin air filter and the engine air filter.

Used Toyota Hilux

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How to Replace a Honda VTEC Solenoid Gasket & Prevent Engine Oil Leaks

Honda VTEC Oil Leak Tips - BE FORWARD

Honda is one of those Japanese companies that has absolutely nailed the fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive compact car. Aside from winning manufacturing processes, Honda’s engine technology is one of the most reliable in the world. Of course, this means they last a lot longer on the road, and while the mechanical parts may last, the soft rubber parts eventually wear or simply dry out, especially oil seals.

Repairing oil leaks is a common repair on older Honda engines, including valve cover gaskets, spark plug tube gaskets, front and rear crankshaft seals, and even the oil pan. In this article we will look at how you can repair your Honda’s VTEC solenoid gasket from leaking oil.

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Save Money! How to Change the Oil on Your Toyota HiAce Van

Chances are, if you’ve imported a Toyota HiAce van, you’ll be using it to transport people or goods. In both of these roles, the engine on your HiAce is going to be doing a lot of extra work—idling at stops, quick acceleration and deceleration, and carrying heavy loads.

Fortunately, you bought a Toyota and, with proper maintenance, you can expect a long lifespan of at least 400,000 km. You could choose to visit a professional mechanic for maintenance, but why not learn how to change the oil of your van yourself to save money?

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How Much Is Maintenance Worth?

When considering a car purchase, you have to realize that the price you pay isn’t written anywhere on anything you’ll see on the financing papers. Aside from buying the vehicle, there are a number of hidden costs that we sometimes don’t think about, some of which has to do with the vehicle we buy, but also with our own habits.

For example, let’s say you are considering buying a new or used Toyota RAV4, one of the world’s most-popular crossover SUVs. Of course, you’ll make a down payment and monthly payments on the vehicle itself, but there are some other things that you’ll have to pay for, as well. Depending on how much you drive, refueling can get quite expensive. Fortunately, the RAV4 is fairly economical. Don’t forget liability and collision insurance, to protect yourself and your car. Then, there are taxes, fees, and repairs.

car maintenance

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