ThrottleHolic

Why Take Your Car to the Mechanic When You Can Simpy DIY?

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Innova 5610 vs TopDon TopScan: Which is a Better Deal?

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As a mechanic working on modern vehicles (whether in DIY capacity or professionally), you'll sooner or later realize one thing: diagnostic tools are gold, and without them, you're toast. Of these tools, the TopDon TopScan and Innova 5610 are potent contenders for your attention. In this content...

Best Used Luxury Car: 10 Reasons the 6th Gen Lexus ES Wins

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It's no longer news that I recently sold my trusty 2006 Lexus ES330 — the vehicle that started it for me full-time, as far as auto DIY is concerned. Since then, it's been very hard to get a respectable replacement, and finally, it just hit me hard that the 6th generation Lexus ES might be ...

Any Subscription Free OBD II Scanner? YES – There’s One!

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When I decided to focus on auto DIY as a full-time hobby, I knew one thing I didn't like: the subscription fees that come with pro-level OBD II scanners. Around this time, I got a smart security camera (this is one of my passions, too) that didn't require monthly fees (a common reality in the niche)...

Innova 5610 Review: A Badass Pro Scanner Without the Fees

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I 'm not a fan of recurring costs - unless they can't be avoided. If there's a way to avoid recurrently spending money and still get what I want, I'll consider the option immediately. This is the primary motivation for this Innova 5610 review and if you're in the same boat as I am, then, one thing i...

AC Chilling Only by Passenger Side: Causes & Simple DIY Fix

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Recently, I discovered to my utter frustration that the driver's air vents of my car were blowing out barely cold air. Strangely, as I sweated out my life in the hot sun, my wife was calm and relaxed as I drove her through the mad traffic. Not that I felt bad - but being sure that I was sharing ...

The Challenge of Buying Bluetooth, App Powered Code Readers

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If you're a frequent reader of this website, you probably already know one thing already: I don't particularly love app powered code readers (or anything wirelessly operated, for that matter). Now, here's the thing: I make exceptions every now and then, and when a properly made scanner/code rea...

Are TopDon Scanners Any Good? A Mechanic Answers, Honestly

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Recently, a friend asked me: "Throttle, are TopDon scanners any good?" Without mincing words, I replied. However, when I thought about it, this question is one that many folks, especially vehicle owners interested in auto DIY and mechanic tools would have.  So, I did what I normally do: I d...

Best Automotive Smoke Machine (1 Clear Winner, Several Reasons)

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Deciding on the best automotive smoke machine (even as a DIY mechanic) was tough. Many options I looked at literally screamed that they were the best smoke machines for automotive use. I had to look around carefully before making up my mind on which option will 'smoke' my (and by extension, your) ve...

2002 Camry Review: Old Basic (But Reliable) Transportation

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Writing a 2002 Camry review in 2025 (more than 20 years after the vehicle rolled off the assembly line) appears self-defeating. Who, in their rational sense, wants a vehicle that is older than they are (or at least, their age mates) when it lacks all the inspirations of a classic? I felt that wa...

Foxwell ST203 Review: Badass Automotive Smoke Basics & More

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I've forgotten the year this happened, but I clearly remember these two. First, I still had a mechanic, and second, it was raining badly during that period. Armed with the confidence that my mechanic knew what he was doing, I followed him blindly - and never believed I'd be writing this Foxwell ST20...