Maintenance
Although “ECU” typically stands for engine control unit, it could also mean electronic control unit. Here’s what those mean.

What Is an ECU?
By Rick Cotta
February 27, 2022Although “ECU” typically stands for engine control unit, it could also mean electronic control unit. Here’s what those mean.
Here are vehicle brands offering retail buyers some level of complimentary scheduled maintenance for the 2022 model years.

Which New Cars Have Free Maintenance?
By Fred Meier
February 25, 2022Here are vehicle brands offering retail buyers some level of complimentary scheduled maintenance for the 2022 model years.
Some automakers furnish complimentary maintenance programs that last anywhere from one to five years from when the car was new, but there are limitations.

Which Used Cars Still Have Free Maintenance?
By Kelsey Mays
February 25, 2022Some automakers furnish complimentary maintenance programs that last anywhere from one to five years from when the car was new, but there are limitations.
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A catalytic converter is part of your car’s exhaust system that converts harmful engine-exhaust pollutants into something less harmful to the environment.

What's a Catalytic Converter and Why Do People Steal Them?
By Rick Cotta
February 13, 2022A catalytic converter is part of your car’s exhaust system that converts harmful engine-exhaust pollutants into something less harmful to the environment.
Electric vehicles don’t use oil in the traditional sense because their electric motors generally don’t have oil in them, but EVs may use other lubricants that should at least be checked periodically.

Do Electric Vehicles Use Oil?
By Rick Cotta
January 30, 2022Electric vehicles don’t use oil in the traditional sense because their electric motors generally don’t have oil in them, but EVs may use other lubricants that should at least be checked periodically.
Our 2021 F-150 was finally set to receive BlueCruise, Ford’s driver-assist system that couples hands-free lane centering with adaptive cruise control, but we found no evidence it had been installed.

One Year Later, Still No BlueCruise for Our F-150
By Kelsey Mays
January 13, 2022Our 2021 F-150 was finally set to receive BlueCruise, Ford’s driver-assist system that couples hands-free lane centering with adaptive cruise control, but we found no evidence it had been installed.
Automotive solenoids allow a smaller amount of current from the ignition switch to route a much larger amount of current from the battery to the starter motor.

What Is a Solenoid?
By Rick Cotta
December 26, 2021Automotive solenoids allow a smaller amount of current from the ignition switch to route a much larger amount of current from the battery to the starter motor.
Although drop-in and spray-in bedliners have been the traditional choices for protecting the inside of your pickup’s cargo bed, there is now a third style: sectional bedliners.

What’s the Difference Between a Drop-In, Spray-In and ...
By Rick Cotta
December 19, 2021Although drop-in and spray-in bedliners have been the traditional choices for protecting the inside of your pickup’s cargo bed, there is now a third style: sectional bedliners.
Our Palisade appeared to be on the up-and-up after the initial fix in November 2020, but a year living with the SUV — and particularly the return of hot weather — unearthed whiffs of the original ...

A Year After Being Fixed, Does Our 2020 Hyundai Palisade ...
By Joe Bruzek
December 16, 2021Our Palisade appeared to be on the up-and-up after the initial fix in November 2020, but a year living with the SUV — and particularly the return of hot weather — unearthed whiffs of the original ...
Low-rolling-resistance tires are designed to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy by reducing its rolling resistance as it travels down the road.

What Are Low-Rolling-Resistance Tires?
By Rick Cotta
December 12, 2021Low-rolling-resistance tires are designed to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy by reducing its rolling resistance as it travels down the road.