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Rick Cotta

Contributor Rick Cotta has been in the automotive industry for more than 35 years, 30 of which were spent as an editor at Consumer Guide Automotive. He is also a former mechanic and earned ASE technician certification.

202407 why does my car squeek scaled jpg
While tracking down the source of the squeal can be difficult, a good place to start is by identifying the circumstances under which the squeal occurs.
202607 why does my car vibrate 4 jpg
A vibration felt in your car while driving is almost always caused by something that’s rotating — most often the wheel-and-tire combination.
202406 do I need to use oil or gas additives scaled jpg
Although most engine oil and gasoline varieties work fine on their own, sometimes they could use a little help with an additive.
202406 what is ceramic coating scaled jpg
A ceramic coating is supposed to be better, tougher and longer-lasting than traditional wax, but that can be both good and bad.
202405 do hybrid tires last longer than gas tires scaled jpg
Electric vehicles tend to wear out tires more quickly compared to similar gasoline cars, and it can be worse on performance-oriented models that are fitted with softer tires for better grip.
ford escape phev 2023 07 exterior charge port oem scaled jpg
Traditional hybrids, such as the popular Toyota Prius, do not need to be plugged in to recharge their battery. In fact, they can’t be plugged in.
chevrolet trax activ 1 2l turbo 2024 29 interior climate control scaled jpg
The beauty of automatic climate control is that you simply set the temperature you want, and the system will do whatever’s best to get to and maintain that temperature in the cabin.
202404 how long do brakes last scaled jpg
How long brakes last depends on factors like how the car is driven and the condition of the rest of the braking system.
202403 how long do tires last scaled jpg
Although original-equipment tires can last for 50,000 miles or more, how long any tire lasts is dependent not only on the tire itself, but on how that car is maintained.
202403 what is mild hybrid scaled jpg
Mild-hybrid vehicles work on the same principle as traditional hybrids, but with less power from the electric motor, which assists the gas engine.