A BMW should be smooth, powerful, comfortable and smell like leather. But what if it's not powerful anymore? What if it smells like burning oil? These are just a few things a new valve cover and...
My 940 was in need of new radius rod bushings. Every time I braked, I would hear a familiar and unnerving clunk. At first, I thought that was part of the character of an old RWD Volvo. But I guess I eventually wisened up to the fact that cars shouldn’t clunk. If they clunk, it’s never good. I...
A question that arises when looking up vehicle parts is the location of the production date. Many online parts reference sites and dealerships ask for the production date along with the model and VIN number when certain items such as a DME or anything which year model specific. I personally went...
As a car enthusiast, theres nothing quite like the feeling right after you purchase a new-to-you car! After I purchased my high-mileage Audi A4 Avant, to be honest, I was feeling nervous that something was going to go wrong on it the second I was on my way home! In any case, there are a few...
For 3-4 weeks my shifter seemed to be getting worse and worse. Not knowing what the immediate cause of this was I would just wiggle and jiggle the handle until it got into gear and then be on my way. For a few days I would park it and leave the key in the ignition for fear I couldn't get it into...
The odometer gear is a weak point in the Volvo 850, among others. Unfortunately this brute of a vehicle may last forever, but most owners won't know the true mileage due to the brittle plastic that drives the odometer. Depending on the year, it is possible to read the true mileage out of any...
Anyone with a '98 or older P80 Volvo probably feels a bit left out of the game when it comes to OEM side markers. The hole in the fender is currently covered up by a moderately ugly VOLVO badge that fades and discolors over time. This article applies to the '93+ Volvo 850 and '98 S70/V70/C70...
I probably don’t need to bore you with my tales of vacuum leaks on my car. I finally relented and took it into a shop to get it smoke tested and traced my leak to the throttle shaft seal. In the following diagram of the air intake system of my B234F engine, you can see the small seal as #20,...
Tired of looking at your outdated B6 key fob? Well, you're in luck! You can easily upgrade to a newer B7 key fob with simple hand tools and a little patience. Here's how. First things first, obtain a B7 key fob. These can be found on eBay for around $20, but do your due diligence. Make sure you...
Clunk....clunk. The noise of a bad suspension looms. Whether it be a bad ball joint, spring seat, or sway bar link, something is worn out. When accompanied by a bump in the road, this noise most often indicates there is "play" somewhere in the suspension. This play is usually just audible at...