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

What to Do When Your Windshield Washer Stops Working

The windshield washer isn’t the flashiest component of your car. It’s used primarily for cleaning off bird poop, smashed bugs or other filth that’s caked on your windshield.

The windshield washer isn’t the flashiest component of your car. It’s used primarily for cleaning off bird poop, smashed bugs or other filth that’s caked on your windshield.

How to Tell if You Have a Bad Accelerator Cable

Your accelerator, or gas pedal, is what sends the message to your engine about how much power you need at any given moment. As you press down on the accelerator with your foot, that motion needs to be converted into an equivalent amount of engine power, so that your vehicle can increase its speed.

Your accelerator, or gas pedal, is what sends the message to your engine about how much power you need at any given moment. As you press down on the accelerator with your foot, that motion needs to be converted into an equivalent amount of engine power, so that your vehicle can increase its speed.

How to Tell if Your Camshaft Is Failing

Hidden inside your engine is a key mechanical component known as a camshaft. For most drivers who maintain their cars properly and don’t abuse them, there should never be a reason to have to deal with a bad camshaft.

Hidden inside your engine is a key mechanical component known as a camshaft. For most drivers who maintain their cars properly and don’t abuse them, there should never be a reason to have to deal with a bad camshaft.

How to Tell if Your Crankshaft Is Failing

Your crankshaft is an extremely robust moving part of your engine. It is placed low in the engine, close to the oil supply.

Your crankshaft is an extremely robust moving part of your engine. It is placed low in the engine, close to the oil supply.

How to Know if Your Carburetor Is Failing

A carburetor regulates the mixture of air and fuel sent to your engine to be ignited in the cylinders and provide power. Carburetors were widely used until the 1980s, when fuel injection and electronic engine control systems were introduced to improve fuel efficiency and drivability, as well as to lower emissions.

A carburetor regulates the mixture of air and fuel sent to your engine to be ignited in the cylinders and provide power. Carburetors were widely used until the 1980s, when fuel injection and electronic engine control systems were introduced to improve fuel efficiency and drivability, as well as to lower emissions.

Signs of a Bad Flywheel

The flywheel 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 flywheel is in good operating condition at all times.

The flywheel 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 flywheel is in good operating condition at all times.

Symptoms of a Bad Flex Plate

The flex plate 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 flex plate is in good operating condition at all times.

The flex plate 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 flex plate is in good operating condition at all times.

Symptoms of a Bad Glow Plug

The glow plug is an electrically heated, thin metal probe that warms the air and diesel fuel mixture in the combustion chambers. This helps in the initial start-up of a cold diesel engine.

The glow plug is an electrically heated, thin metal probe that warms the air and diesel fuel mixture in the combustion chambers. This helps in the initial start-up of a cold diesel engine.

Signs Your Motor Mounts Are Failing

Your car’s motor mounts serve two important purposes. They attach the engine to the chassis, keeping the engine in place, and they dampen its vibrations so that you don’t feel them while you drive.

Your car’s motor mounts serve two important purposes. They attach the engine to the chassis, keeping the engine in place, and they dampen its vibrations so that you don’t feel them while you drive.

Oil Pan

Mounted to the bottom of the crankcase, the oil pan is a reservoir where engine oil is stored and drawn from. .

Mounted to the bottom of the crankcase, the oil pan is a reservoir where engine oil is stored and drawn from. .

Car Temperature Gauge: What to Do if It's Too Hot, Too Cold or Broken

The temperature gauge on your dashboard is an important indicator of your engine’s running condition. It can provide you with an early warning of a potential problem — and on rare occasions, it can even malfunction.

The temperature gauge on your dashboard is an important indicator of your engine’s running condition. It can provide you with an early warning of a potential problem — and on rare occasions, it can even malfunction.

How to Tell if You Have a Bad Valve Cover

A valve cover is an important part of just about every internal combustion engine that is found in a car today, but most drivers don’t have much reason to be aware of it on a day-to-day basis. At or near the top of every car engine that runs on gasoline or diesel fuel, directly above the cylinders, there is an assembly of parts known as the valvetrain.

A valve cover is an important part of just about every internal combustion engine that is found in a car today, but most drivers don’t have much reason to be aware of it on a day-to-day basis. At or near the top of every car engine that runs on gasoline or diesel fuel, directly above the cylinders, there is an assembly of parts known as the valvetrain.

How to Spot a Bad AC Accumulator or Receiver-Drier

Symptoms of a bad accumulator or receiver-drier Unless you are experienced in working on your AC, we suggest that you leave any repairs to your mechanic. This system operates under high pressure and has many moving parts, so troubleshooting can be a complex process.

Symptoms of a bad accumulator or receiver-drier Unless you are experienced in working on your AC, we suggest that you leave any repairs to your mechanic. This system operates under high pressure and has many moving parts, so troubleshooting can be a complex process.

Signs of a Bad Air Conditioning Hose

An air conditioning (or A/C) hose is a specially constructed, high-pressure rubber hose with special aluminum fittings crimped onto each end. Its purpose is to transport refrigerant from the engine-mounted A/C compressor to the body-mounted components of your A/C system, where the refrigerant cools the air before it enters the interior.

An air conditioning (or A/C) hose is a specially constructed, high-pressure rubber hose with special aluminum fittings crimped onto each end. Its purpose is to transport refrigerant from the engine-mounted A/C compressor to the body-mounted components of your A/C system, where the refrigerant cools the air before it enters the interior.

Signs of a Bad Heater Blower Motor Resistor

The heater blower motor resistor is an electrical component that is located between your car’s ventilation fan (or blower) and its power source. When you adjust the fan, the heater blower motor resistor allows the fan to run at several different speeds.

The heater blower motor resistor is an electrical component that is located between your car’s ventilation fan (or blower) and its power source. When you adjust the fan, the heater blower motor resistor allows the fan to run at several different speeds.