ThrottleHolic

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

Older Logs

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

Published: by

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

Published: by

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

Published: by

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?

Published: by

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...

The Best Car Battery Tester (1 Good Winner, Several Reasons)

Published: by

Selecting the best battery tester out of a sea of competing products is one of the hardest things I've done as a DIY auto mechanic and freelance automotive writer. All the car battery testers I've been blessed to own (or test) have one (or two) things that I like. So, how do I single out one and dec...

Foxwell BT705 Battery Tester Review (12 & 24 Volts)

Published: by

Few things in life are as frustrating as having a dead starter battery on your hands - especially if you're not expecting it. Things take a truly bleak dimension when your vehicle is an automatic and must start on its own. That is why this Foxwell BT705 Battery Tester Review is very important: perio...

Here Are the 2 Best Sedans of All Time. Period. End of Story

Published: by

I once encountered a fellow who mentioned that the Corolla, the Bettle, and the 504 are some of the best sedans of all time. Not only did I wonder when the Bettle became a 'sedan', but I also wondered how he reached his deeply flawed conclusions. However, around that time, I began thinking of th...

P0442 Code – EVAP System Leak: Common Causes & DIY Fix

Published: by

Without mincing words, the P0442 code is one of the most challenging codes to handle, as a DIY mechanic. The code simply reads: "EVAP system leak detected (small leak)". But, don't be fooled: you could easily go a whole month trying to find the leak without making any headway! So, what's the sma...

The Best Holiday Gifts for Mechanics, DIYers & Petrol Heads

Published: by

Generally, mechanics, DIYers, and petrolheads are very thoughtful folks. And, as cerebral folks, they generally appreciate it when some thought goes into the gifts that come their way. So, what's the best holiday gifts for mechanics? What will likely excite them and keep you, the giver, lingering in...

I WON’T Be Switching My V6 Daily Driver To CNG. Here’s Why

Published: by

Recently, I had the luxury of selling off one of the two vehicles my family owned. When that happened, there were no CNG talks and no one was preaching the gospel of converting vehicles, especially 'gas guzzlers' like my V6 daily driver to CNG. The reason for the sale was simple and to the point...