ThrottleHolic

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

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TopDon TopScan Subscription Price: Is the Cost Worth It?

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I was having a chat with some fellow auto DIY friends when the issue of TopDon TopScan subscription price came up, after a few bottles of beer and a joke (challenging just about the mechanical proficiency of everyone on the table that evening). Despite the effect of the alcohol, there was an ac...

Foxwell ST201 Automotive Smoke Machine Review: A Good Deal?

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I eyed the Foxwell ST201 automotive smoke machine my friend had recommended with suspicion. "How is it going to help me figure out the EVAP leaks I have on my vehicle?" I asked, semi-ignorantly.  Patiently, my friend explained, giving a summary of what would happen and, generally, what I wo...

Tired of Car Fights? Here’s How to Keep Your Wife & Car Happy

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My wife is a wonderful woman; no day passes that I don't thank my stars that we're married. She brings so much joy to my life. However, just a few months into our marriage, something came to my attention: I discovered that her car had a way of being 'out of service' every time, all the time. Ini...

Foxwell NT201 vs NT301: Which Is a Better Bet Today?

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When I got the Foxwell NT201 after thoroughly enjoying the Foxwell NT301, a friend asked me, "Throttle, what's the difference between the Foxwell NT201 and the 301 besides the price?" I answered as best as I could, and today, that answer forms the basis of this Foxwell NT201 vs NT301 article. At...

OBD II Bluetooth Scanners & Readers: How Reliable Are They?

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It's usually said that when/if something is cheap, there's a good reason for it. But, does that logic apply to OBD II Bluetooth scanners and code readers? Should the cheaper-than-usual price tags of the code readers and scanners push you away to more traditional (read: wired) options or should you g...

The 9 Most Useless Features Car Makers Charge You For

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In 2024 alone, a staggering 85.12 million brand-new vehicles were sold worldwide. The owners of these vehicles took delivery of them and were happy to get new, reliable means of transport to go about their daily business. What these buyers didn't know, however, was that the prices they paid, on ...

10 Thoughtful Valentine Gift Ideas for a Mechanic or DIYer

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Mechanics and auto DIYers are some of the hardest working fellows you can find anywhere in the world today. Unfortunately, most are underappreciated and underpaid. This is why, this Valentine season, I brought out my list of the 10 (most) thoughtful Valentine's Gift ideas for a mechanic or DIYer.&nb...

How to Test Your Alternator Easily (Without a Voltmeter)

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The easiest way to test your alternator without a multimeter (or voltmeter) is to remove one of your starter battery cables when the engine is running. If the engine stalls, you're likely dealing with a bad alternator. If on the other hand, nothing happens (and the engine continues to run just f...

Foxwell NT201 Review: A Budget Code Reader Ladies Love!

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When my little daughter pointed at the brightly colored orange OBD II code reader on Amazon as I casually browsed through, looking for the next mechanic find to make my auto DIY side career easier, I immediately knew that this Foxwell NT201 review would happen sooner, rather than later. The 'iss...

I Ditched Mobil 1 EP for Castrol EP & This IMMEDIATELY Happened

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I've never been completely satisfied with engine oils: since they're the lifeblood of every ICE, I've always been on the hunt for brands that serve better (or, promise to). And, this did not start with Mobil 1 or Castrol Edge. The first brand of engine oil I used was Mobil XHP (conventional min...