ThrottleHolic

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

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Bank 1 Sensor 1: Upstream or Downstream in an Engine?

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Whether you're using one of the most expensive scan tools available on the market today or are relying on an affordable code reader, sooner than later, the tool will point you to 'bank 1 sensor 1' - and if you don't already understand this jargon, you'd be thoroughly confused if this is an upstream ...

The Developing World and Its Many Car Manufacture Challenges

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Africa - and most of the developing world - isn't the first place that comes to mind when vehicle manufacture is mentioned. However, developing as this world is, there are a few vehicle manufacturers in the business of making cars here. These brave enterprising spirits, however, face several dauntin...

Don’t Buy a New Car Yet; An Older Model Might Serve Better

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There has always been a conspiracy against new cars. Fortunately, this conspiracy has been from the financial point of view. The argument is that new cars depreciate so fast that once they're driven out of the sales lot, it's a downhill journey. This makes sense, at least on the surface - and ma...

Ancel AD410 vs. Foxwell NT301: Which is a Better Bet?

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If you're looking at the Ancel AD410 and somehow, also closely eyeing the Foxwell NT301, undecided which to settle for finally, this Ancel AD410 vs. Foxwell NT301 comparison is for you. There was a time when I also wondered which of the units was better or which of them would handle a given task...

Where Is Bank 2 on the V6 Engine of the Lexus ES330?

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A friend reached out to me recently, panting over the phone. "Throttle!" he shouted. Where's bank 2 of my car? I can't figure it out, and the research online isn't helping matters!" Calmly, I asked what make and model he was dealing with. "It's the same vehicle as your Lexus, don't be silly!"...

Where Is the Bank 1 on the V6 Engine of the Lexus ES330?

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If you're new to the 3MZ V6 of the Lexus (or most other V6s for that matter), you'd be confused when a scan tool indicates that you need to check 'bank 1' for something or that some challenge exists on the first cylinder of your engine (usually found on bank 1). For example, if you get a P0420, ...

Auto vs. Manual Transmission: Which Is a Better Bet Today?

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The Auto vs. manual transmission debate is a never-ending one: some folks swear by the power and ease of a manual tranny and to this end, have NEVER bothered learning how to shift a traditional stick. Then, there are folks who call anything that shifts itself 'thrash' and will have nothing to do wit...

Best Budget OBD II Scanners: 3 Cheapest Options Tested

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The best budget OBD II scanners will naturally cross your mind as a car owner, especially in these wild, inflationary times. This is because the advantages of owning an affordable code reader are numerous and usually non-negotiable. The common challenge is what options are worth your time in a sea o...

Are ‘Toks’ Parts Better Than New? A Mechanic Answers

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Are 'toks' parts better than new? If you're a new vehicle owner in the developing world, I'm 100% certain that you've have asked this question. I'm also certain that your mechanic kazeem has asked demanded that you buy only 'tokunbo' parts, as against brand new ones. Further, I'm also pretty sure th...

A (German) Sedan & Manual Tranny: What Else Does a Man Need?

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Everyone who knows me or frequents the ThrottleHolic Auto DIY website and social media accounts knows one thing: I'm not a fan of German cars. For transmissions, I don't particularly care if a vehicle has a manual transmission or is fitted with an auto unit. I've also argued that the choice of a tra...