ThrottleHolic

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

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Bad Coolant Cap Symptoms? Here Are 4 Signs to Watch Out For

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As a passionate auto DIY mechanic, one of the things I've noticed, over and over again is that the biggest auto issues always start small - and only when ignored do they fly over and above board. I've also noticed that if you miss little things like bad coolant cap symptoms, you'll sooner than later...

Osaro Didn’t Remove the Nylon on a Used Car He Bought…

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Osaro is my very good friend. We agree on most things and generally, have similar philosophies on life except when it regarding removing the nylon on a used car. To clarify, I've never understood why old, used cars displayed for sale have nylon wrapped around the seats, tranny lever, and steerin...

What Is a Battery Tester? Why Should You Own One Right Away?

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What is a battery tester? Why should you consider owning one right away? Most car owners today know what an OBD II code reader or scanner is. As a result of this wide scale adoption, the bulk of users who buy vehicle scanners and code readers are regular vehicle owners and passionate DIYers. Subsequ...

2006 Lexus ES330 Review: An Ode to My (Now Gone) Trusty 3MZ

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Most car owners speak only in the most glowing terms regarding their current vehicles. Looking back, this was the only reason I didn't offer a review of my 2006 Lexus ES330 throughout the years I owned the car and thoroughly enjoyed exciting moments with her. However, with the vehicle sold and i...

The Best Portable Jump Starter (1 Winner, Several Reasons)

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When I bought my first portable jumper, I wasn't thinking about the best portable jump starter the market could offer. I simply made a calculated bet, and armed with the confidence only a complete novice is allowed to possess, took the plunge. Now, looking back, about five years later, that port...

Sharing a Car with Your Wife? Here Are 4 Magic Tips

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In an ideal world/relationship, sharing a car with your wife (or husband) is the most stress-free thing in the universe. You simply hop in the vehicle you're sharing and drive off, your partner does the same, and life, ultimately, goes on. When it comes to putting gas, whoever is driving the veh...

Noco GB50 Portable Jumper Review (After 5+ Full Years)

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When I first bought the Noco GB50 portable jumper, I wasn't a DIY mechanic yet. I wasn't also an automotive freelance writer. I was just a regular vehicle owner who was scared (out of my bones) of having a starter battery go flat on me (again) and leave me stranded in the process. Naturally, thu...

Bad Radiator Signs? Here Are 7 Sure Symptoms to Look Out For

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"What do you mean by 'bad radiator signs?!'" Jane fumed. She had only recently bought her first car: a used Lexus ES330 that I had helped her inspect only a few weeks ago. Before I could explain what I meant by 'bad radiator symptoms', she fired again: 'But I only just bought this car—and you as...

Symptoms of a Bad Alternator (+ How to Easily Isolate)

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One of the most frustrating things you can have go wrong on a vehicle is a bad alternator. Without a functional alternator (doing its job properly), your car's starter battery is going to lack proper charge and ultimately, you'll be stranded. The good thing is that an alternator doesn't just go ...

Bursting Tires Frequently? Learn How to Read Tire Sidewalls

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In an article I published sometime back, I argued that there was fundamentally no difference between used premium tires when compared to new budget tires. In that article, I assumed proper use - and guidance, using the tire as designed to handle and withstand stress. This information, relating t...