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
The parking brake warning light should come on whenever the parking brake is applied or not fully released. But if the brake itself fails to totally disengage, no matter what you do, you’ll need to get either the brake or the switch repaired.
The parking brake warning light should come on whenever the parking brake is applied or not fully released. But if the brake itself fails to totally disengage, no matter what you do, you’ll need to get either the brake or the switch repaired.
Your car’s cooling system keeps the engine from overheating and getting ruined. The system uses a pump to circulate coolant — a mixture of antifreeze and water — throughout the engine.
Your car’s cooling system keeps the engine from overheating and getting ruined. The system uses a pump to circulate coolant — a mixture of antifreeze and water — throughout the engine.
To protect against overheating, most modern vehicles have an engine temperature warning light, which alerts you to a problem in your cooling system. The first sign of a cooling system problem often occurs when the engine is already in the process of overheating.
To protect against overheating, most modern vehicles have an engine temperature warning light, which alerts you to a problem in your cooling system. The first sign of a cooling system problem often occurs when the engine is already in the process of overheating.
Your anti-lock braking system (ABS) is designed to help slow or stop your vehicle if your tires lose their grip on the road when braking. This is critically important when the road is slick with rain, snow, ice or even oil, or when you have to slam on the brakes to stop in a hurry.
Your anti-lock braking system (ABS) is designed to help slow or stop your vehicle if your tires lose their grip on the road when braking. This is critically important when the road is slick with rain, snow, ice or even oil, or when you have to slam on the brakes to stop in a hurry.
Proper tire pressure is important to the safety and efficiency of your car. And if you own a vehicle made since 2007 or so, you’ve got a leg up on making sure your tires are properly inflated.
Proper tire pressure is important to the safety and efficiency of your car. And if you own a vehicle made since 2007 or so, you’ve got a leg up on making sure your tires are properly inflated.
The traction control system (TCS) in your vehicle is responsible for helping your vehicle maintain its grip in slippery conditions, such as rain, snow or ice. If a wheel loses traction, the TCS kicks in to keep your car stable and on course.
The traction control system (TCS) in your vehicle is responsible for helping your vehicle maintain its grip in slippery conditions, such as rain, snow or ice. If a wheel loses traction, the TCS kicks in to keep your car stable and on course.
The airbags in your car are a huge safety feature, and can save your life in a head-on crash. So, if something is wrong with the system that operates them, it’s a big deal.
The airbags in your car are a huge safety feature, and can save your life in a head-on crash. So, if something is wrong with the system that operates them, it’s a big deal.
Your car’s engine relies on the oil that circulates through it. Oil provides lubrication, carries heat away and keeps damaging contaminants from building up.
Your car’s engine relies on the oil that circulates through it. Oil provides lubrication, carries heat away and keeps damaging contaminants from building up.
If you drive a vehicle made by General Motors from around 1999 on, it may have a “Service Vehicle Soon” warning light. It’s different than the “Service Engine Soon” light or check engine light.
If you drive a vehicle made by General Motors from around 1999 on, it may have a “Service Vehicle Soon” warning light. It’s different than the “Service Engine Soon” light or check engine light.
Every vehicle has a charging system warning light — it’s the dashboard warning light that (usually) has a battery symbol on it, or it might say “BATT,” “ALT” or “CHG.” You should see it every time you start your car; it’ll pop on for a few seconds and then go out.
Every vehicle has a charging system warning light — it’s the dashboard warning light that (usually) has a battery symbol on it, or it might say “BATT,” “ALT” or “CHG.” You should see it every time you start your car; it’ll pop on for a few seconds and then go out.
Unless you drive a car that’s more than 30 years old, your gas pedal probably isn’t actually attached to the throttle. These days, it’s all electronic — and that means that when something goes wrong with the throttle, you’ll see a warning light on your dash.
Unless you drive a car that’s more than 30 years old, your gas pedal probably isn’t actually attached to the throttle. These days, it’s all electronic — and that means that when something goes wrong with the throttle, you’ll see a warning light on your dash.
Intermittent car problems are issues that appear to happen randomly and are not easily repeatable. They often will not present themselves when you take your car to your mechanic.
Intermittent car problems are issues that appear to happen randomly and are not easily repeatable. They often will not present themselves when you take your car to your mechanic.
The transmission cooler is a small radiator that cools the automatic transmission fluid that circulates through the transmission. It can be a separate unit, or it may be integrated into the engine radiator.
The transmission cooler is a small radiator that cools the automatic transmission fluid that circulates through the transmission. It can be a separate unit, or it may be integrated into the engine radiator.
You know you’ll need to wait a minute for your defroster to warm up when you start the car on a cold day. But what happens when you keep waiting — and waiting — only for it to never get working? Your defroster is important.
You know you’ll need to wait a minute for your defroster to warm up when you start the car on a cold day. But what happens when you keep waiting — and waiting — only for it to never get working? Your defroster is important.
It’s freezing outside, and all you want is to get in your car and turn on the heat. You start it up and hit the heater.
It’s freezing outside, and all you want is to get in your car and turn on the heat. You start it up and hit the heater.