If If you’re on a budget and need to purchase a car it can feel as though it’s slim pickings. Thankfully, there are plenty of great options available even to those on a tight budget. Let’s take a look. The...
As As a wedding planner, the demands placed on your time are going to be significant, even if you’re only dealing with one or two couples. You need to be a master juggler when it comes to your time and...
Compact sedans and hatchbacks provide a great ride on a budget, with the evolution from a stodgy, unattractive exterior (and interior!) to a more fully-featured trim set and exterior design. Driving enjoyment is improved throughout the class, which are known...
Compact cars are well-known for their cost-effectiveness, value and affordability as well as their small stature. In general, they make great commuter cars and are especially good for first-time cars for kids or college students heading out for the first...
If If you live in a windy area, one of the most important things you’re going to be looking for in a used vehicle is the ability to remain stable on the road on even the most blustery days. That...
Vertically Vertically challenged? Hate getting behind the wheel and having to crane your neck to see? There’s nothing wrong with you, but there is something wrong with your car. It might be time to trade it in and take advantage...
Teddy Leung / Shutterstock.com The whole idea of a PZEV (that is, a partial zero-emissions vehicle), seems paradoxical. You’d think it’d have to either be zero-emissions or not in the category at all. But as contradictory as...
Here’s Here’s a cruel, hard fact – car manufacturers no longer target seniors. Instead, they devote their time and energy to appealing to the 18-45 demographic. Still, some features make certain cars more suitable for older drivers. We have evaluated...
If If you are a new driver, congratulations on getting your license. Now, you need to think about what type of vehicle to buy. Ideally, you’ll choose a used car that isn’t overly expensive, and is reliable and safe while...
As As a personal assistant, you have a lot of demands placed on your time. Often it’s important that you be able to get around town quickly, running a ton of errands, picking things up here, dropping them off there,...
The The compact car class is definitely a competitive one, with established models like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic taking up a lot of the market every year. However, if you’re looking for a really attractive compact sedan or...
Not Not everyone relies on their car on a daily basis. Maybe you aren’t the type that deals with a daily commute, and running from here to there constantly. If that’s the case, you may be looking for a car...
Teddy Leung / Shutterstock.com The whole idea of a PZEV (that is, a partial zero-emissions vehicle), seems paradoxical. You’d think it’d have to either be zero-emissions or not in the category at all. But as contradictory as...
Teddy Leung / Shutterstock.com The whole idea of a PZEV (that is, a partial zero-emissions vehicle), seems paradoxical. You’d think it’d have to either be zero-emissions or not in the category at all. But as contradictory as...
Knocking in your engine, also described as pinging, can mean one of several problems. Some may be easily fixed while others may indicate major damage. The knocking sound often occurs when the fuel and air mixture is incorrect, which causes...
If you just had a battery installed and the car will not start, it is possible that the technician who installed it did not get the battery cables tightened down to the battery terminals. I would recommend taking your vehicle...
The information provided for your Mazda leads me to believe that the blower motor may be the primary concern as to why your car’s AC and fan are not working. If you try all the settings of your fan and...
Have a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, check the air conditioning system pressures (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ac-is-not-working-inspection) for a low charge situation. The electrical side should also be inspected for blown fuses or broken wires. We recommend that you do not...
Modern transmissions are fully synchronized, which means there is a system of synchronizer clutches that speed or slow down the rotation of the gears until both are rotating at the same speed and can be locked. The most likely causes...
Noises can really be annoying but if you heard a metallic grinding noise, then generally, that's metal on metal and you are going to see shiny things where it is rubbing. So look for shiny things near the area where...
Hi, if the wiring is damaged then the computer won't be able to communicate with the lock cylinder correctly and cause it to lock up. You should have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the wiring from...
My guess is that you mean you have a leaking valve cover. This is a pretty straightforward repair that can be handled by a professional, such as one from YourMechanic. They can come to your home or office to inspect...
From the description provided, it appears that you are familiar with the sound of a bad wheel bearing. It can be difficult sometimes to determine if it is one or both wheel bearings are the culprits behind the issues your...
It sounds like the seat lever may need replacing. The only place to get such a part is the dealership. I would recommend having a technician from YourMechanic come and replace the lever as needed.
Hi. If the door stopped working after it was shut hard, then the door lock actuator rod may have come off of the actuator or the actuator failed. It can also be due to the main switch assembly failing. Both...
Since the AC compressor is driven off the engine crankshaft, turning the AC on puts more of load on the engine. This often intensifies any underlying engine performance problems. I think your friend is referring to a vacuum leak, which...
Be sure to maintain adequate coolant in the engine. If you suspect a leak, request a coolant leak diagnostic (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-is-leaking-inspection). The diagnostic trouble code referring to catalyst efficiency, although that issue should be resolved in a check engine light diagnostic...
Lack of brake power assist would typically result in a hard brake pedal, not one that sinks to the floor. My guess is that the master cylinder is faulty. A bad master cylinder will often result in a pedal that...
The only way to accurately diagnose this concern is to have the vehicle's loss of power condition inspected (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/loss-of-power-inspection) firsthand by a professional, such as one from YourMechanic. I can, however, make a couple of guesses as to what is...
It's a 12-year-old car. I'm assuming you didn't pay too much for it. It can be a good first car. I'm a Toyota man myself. I'm not a big fan of Mazda, because their automatic transmissions are not the best,...
A loose clip can allow moisture inside the connection and cause a headlight bulb to stop working, such as what you are experiencing with your Mazda 3. It is also possible that the clip came loose on its own due...
There are several indicators possible. If the oil under the oil filler cap, or the oil on the dipstick, has a milkshake-like appearance, this would indicate coolant leaking into the oil. A milky substance under the radiator cap would indicate...
Hello. When motor mounts break, it can cause the engine to move excessively while driving, or starting. A lot of times, you will hear a hard "bang" when the car shifts, and it may feel like the engine is jumping,...
Hello, since the hatch won't latch closed, take a look inside the latch and see that it didn't latch close on it's own. If you can see that the tongue has rotated and you can see the circle in the...
