When I was a kid we had a Volvo 265, with the infamous PRV V-6 engine and K-Jetronic injection. My dad often made the joke that the K was German for Komplicated, but after having many K-Jetronic...
Alternator failure is not a very common occurence. And even though BMW alternators are very reliable, they will not last forever. Fortunately, an alternator in an E36 is quite easy to replace. Symptoms The symptoms easiest to spot are: Exterior and interior lights flickering simultaneously A...
Factory options decoders are extremely helpful tools that take the guesswork out of selecting the proper components for a vehicle. For BMW, Mercedes and Audi vehicles, there are some publicly available tools that make retrieval of that information extremely simple. Audi/VW I have yet to find a...
Nothing is inherently wrong with Volkswagen's 6-speed manual - I think it's one of the slickest, smoothest manual transmissions I've ever driven. But it's not the best. The late, great Honda S2000 holds that coveted title in my book. The S2000 has the tightest, most perfectly spaced gears, and...
Ask any car enthusiast what they believe is the proper fuel for their car and chances are, you’ll receive a variety of answers. From a resounding, “Yes! Using premium will save you fuel and improve performace!” to, “No, premium is a waste”. As a matter of fact, I’ve often questioned my own...
Our blog is getting greasy this week. If your Volvo is in need of some liquid maintenance, now is a great time to stock up on supplies and learn a few tips on how to change your oil. Jay VanGorden is our resident Volvo tech who will walk you through a basic oil change on this Volvo S60 non-turbo....
Most people refer to an oil change as simple maintenance performed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to prevent engine sludge while making sure critical engine components are well lubricated and protected. The question that often pops up is what type of oil should be used in my BMW, Volvo, Mercedes and...
At my home in Houston, Texas, there is no single factor more critical to quality of life than air conditioning. Although that might seem like a stretch, many of you know what it means to go without when it's 100 degrees out- or worse, when it's 100 degrees out at 80% humidity... That's when we...
Back in 2005, Volvo introduced its first V8 gasoline engine used in passenger vehicles to replace their T6 engine. Unlike their predecessors, Volvo relied on the manufacturer Yamaha to design this engine. The V8 was rolled out in the XC90 for the 2005 model year all the way through the 2012...
Sometimes, vacuum leaks are obvious. Just by wiggling a vacuum line or intake tube, it is possible to find the offending leak. A quick spray of carb cleaner in suspected areas can also be a quick method of diagnoses. For the most part though, tracing vacuum leaks can be challenging, even more so...