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...
A common failure point in the VW/Audi family are the engine mounts. In order to reduce NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) transmitted into the cabin, the engine mounts are filled with a damping fluid as opposed to being made completely out of rubber. This makes for a more comfortable cabin,...
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Tired of looking at your outdated B6 key fob?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...
I'm really starting to enjoy my new-to-me 2004 Audi A4 Avant. Like any Euro, it's got a few quirks but overall it's been an honest, fun to drive sports wagon. However, the other day my Audi had its first real "problem." While at a weekend picnic, my car was sitting in the driveway relatively...
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...
Modern fuel injected vehicles need a way to tell the computer how much air is coming into the engine in order to supply the appropriate amount of fuel. Most automakers do this with a MAF (mass air flow) sensor. The MAF sensor works together with other sensors in order to determine the amount of...
Part of the excitement in buying a used car is the refurbishment process. I've never purchased a car that didn't need something, so to get the ball rolling on something easy was a great start. It gives me a connection to my new vehicle that can't be attained just by driving it. In the past I've...
Most vehicles on the road today are sold with solid, blank rotors installed from the factory. At most, the rotors are vented to allow for better heat dissipation. In high performance vehicles like the E63 AMG, BMW M4, and others, the stock front brakes are either cross drilled, slotted, or...
In the past I touched upon the suspension maintenance of a 1989-1995 BMW E34 5-Series. There are several components which require inspection or replacement over time. The subject area I'd like to discuss is Control arm replacement. In doing so I will go into the process of replacing these items...