Stephen Fogel

Stephen Fogel

Stephen has been an automotive enthusiast since childhood, owning some of his vehicles for as long as 40 years, and has raced open-wheel formula cars. He follows and writes about the global automotive industry, with an eye on the latest vehicle technologies.

Posts by Stephen Fogel

Signs Your Radiator Cap Needs to Be Replaced

Your radiator cap is a small part that plays a big role in keeping your engine from overheating. There are several warning signs that your radiator cap is not working right: 1.

Your radiator cap is a small part that plays a big role in keeping your engine from overheating. There are several warning signs that your radiator cap is not working right: 1.

Signs Your Starter Is Going Bad

Your starter system is meant to be durable. It’s designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions.

Your starter system is meant to be durable. It’s designed for repeated use under a variety of weather and road conditions.

Symptoms of a Bad Strut Bearing

The strut bearing is a key component of your car’s front suspension system. The front suspension is very important to your car’s ride, handling, and steering, so it is essential that your strut bearings are in good operating condition at all times.

The strut bearing is a key component of your car’s front suspension system. The front suspension is very important to your car’s ride, handling, and steering, so it is essential that your strut bearings are in good operating condition at all times.

Signs of a Bad Thermostat, and How to Fix It

Signs of a bad thermostat When your thermostat does not respond properly to the temperature conditions in your cooling system, you can have a problem. The most noticeable issues occur when the thermostat gets stuck in either the open or closed position.

Signs of a bad thermostat When your thermostat does not respond properly to the temperature conditions in your cooling system, you can have a problem. The most noticeable issues occur when the thermostat gets stuck in either the open or closed position.

Signs Your Timing Belt Is Failing

Your engine relies on perfect timing. As it goes through its four strokes — intake, compression, combustion and exhaust — it relies on the camshaft or camshafts to open its valves and the crankshaft to move its pistons, all without them crashing into each other.

Your engine relies on perfect timing. As it goes through its four strokes — intake, compression, combustion and exhaust — it relies on the camshaft or camshafts to open its valves and the crankshaft to move its pistons, all without them crashing into each other.

Signs of Failing Water Pump Gasket

A gasket is a part that provides a mechanical seal between two surfaces. In the case of your water pump gasket, it seals the surface between the engine block and the water pump, preventing leaks from the coolant that flows through the water pump.

A gasket is a part that provides a mechanical seal between two surfaces. In the case of your water pump gasket, it seals the surface between the engine block and the water pump, preventing leaks from the coolant that flows through the water pump.

Symptoms of a Bad Wheel Bearing

Wheel bearing Regardless of your car's age, it has front wheel bearings, which help with steering, and rear wheel bearings, which don't. Each wheel on your vehicle has its own wheel bearing, and problems could start with any one of them.

Wheel bearing Regardless of your car's age, it has front wheel bearings, which help with steering, and rear wheel bearings, which don't. Each wheel on your vehicle has its own wheel bearing, and problems could start with any one of them.

Symptoms of a Failing Clutch Slave Cylinder

The clutch slave cylinder is a key component of your car’s powertrain, which includes the engine, the transmission, and the other related parts that get the power to the ground. The powertrain is very important to your car’s acceleration, shifting, and cruising, so it is essential that your clutch slave cylinder is in good operating condition at all times.

The clutch slave cylinder is a key component of your car’s powertrain, which includes the engine, the transmission, and the other related parts that get the power to the ground. The powertrain is very important to your car’s acceleration, shifting, and cruising, so it is essential that your clutch slave cylinder is in good operating condition at all times.

Symptoms of a Failing Coolant Expansion Tank

The coolant expansion tank in your car is a part of your cooling system. The cooling system is responsible for keeping your engine at the correct operating temperature.

The coolant expansion tank in your car is a part of your cooling system. The cooling system is responsible for keeping your engine at the correct operating temperature.

Signs of a Bad Gear Position Sensor

Your gear position sensor is usually located on your car's automatic transmission. It communicates the gearshift’s position to the vehicle’s electrical system.

Your gear position sensor is usually located on your car's automatic transmission. It communicates the gearshift’s position to the vehicle’s electrical system.

What Fluid Is Leaking From Your Car? A Color-Coded Guide

You leave your car for a few minutes — or a few hours, or a few days — and come back to find a puddle forming underneath it. That’s probably not good.

You leave your car for a few minutes — or a few hours, or a few days — and come back to find a puddle forming underneath it. That’s probably not good.

When to Get New Tires, and Tips for Buying Them

Tires play a major role in the performance and safety of your vehicle. They’re responsible for how well your car accelerates, rides, steers, corners and stops.

Tires play a major role in the performance and safety of your vehicle. They’re responsible for how well your car accelerates, rides, steers, corners and stops.

Do Fuel Injector Cleaners and Other Gas Additives Really Work?

Fuel additives are products that you pour into your gas tank to solve, or prevent a specific problem — and if you’ve been inside a gas station or auto parts store, you know there are a lot of them to choose from. These additives are designed to accomplish a variety of objectives.

Fuel additives are products that you pour into your gas tank to solve, or prevent a specific problem — and if you’ve been inside a gas station or auto parts store, you know there are a lot of them to choose from. These additives are designed to accomplish a variety of objectives.

Can I Use Regular Gas When Owner’s Manual Recommends Premium?

Everyone who drives wants to keep their costs of operation as low as possible. Paying less for gas is something we think about every time we pull up to the pumps.

Everyone who drives wants to keep their costs of operation as low as possible. Paying less for gas is something we think about every time we pull up to the pumps.

What to Do When Your Brake Warning Light Is On

Your brakes are responsible for slowing and stopping your vehicle. They’re its most important safety system.

Your brakes are responsible for slowing and stopping your vehicle. They’re its most important safety system.