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

Do Speed Bumps Wreck Your Alignment?

Speed bumps are a fact of life for drivers — they’re all over residential streets and parking lots. You might find them annoying, but can they actually damage your car? Used as a way to slow down traffic for increased safety, speed bumps can have some bad consequences for people who drive over them too quickly.

Speed bumps are a fact of life for drivers — they’re all over residential streets and parking lots. You might find them annoying, but can they actually damage your car? Used as a way to slow down traffic for increased safety, speed bumps can have some bad consequences for people who drive over them too quickly.

Potholes: How They Form, and How to Protect Your Car

If you’re lucky, you’ll see it looming ahead and have time to change lanes. But if it’s dark or you’re distracted, it gets a lot harder to miss.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see it looming ahead and have time to change lanes. But if it’s dark or you’re distracted, it gets a lot harder to miss.

Signs of a Bad Transfer Case

Most vehicles with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive have a transfer case. The transfer case, located adjacent to the transmission, takes the power from the engine and distributes it to the front and rear wheels, so that you get better traction when you need it.

Most vehicles with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive have a transfer case. The transfer case, located adjacent to the transmission, takes the power from the engine and distributes it to the front and rear wheels, so that you get better traction when you need it.

Signs of a Bad Transaxle

The word “transaxle” is a term that contains and explains its primary functions — a transmission and a driven axle. More precisely, a transaxle is a single mechanical unit that takes a transmission and combines it with a differential that transmits the power from the transmission to the wheels.

The word “transaxle” is a term that contains and explains its primary functions — a transmission and a driven axle. More precisely, a transaxle is a single mechanical unit that takes a transmission and combines it with a differential that transmits the power from the transmission to the wheels.

Signs of a Failing ABS Valve Assembly

The anti-lock brake system (ABS) valve assembly is operated by the ABS control module. The ABS valve assembly is responsible for modulating the brake fluid pressure going to each of the brake mechanisms on your car’s wheels.

The anti-lock brake system (ABS) valve assembly is operated by the ABS control module. The ABS valve assembly is responsible for modulating the brake fluid pressure going to each of the brake mechanisms on your car’s wheels.

Spring Cleaning for Your Car

Spring cleaning for your car has a different meaning than spring cleaning for your home. While a thorough cleaning of your car’s interior and exterior surfaces is always a good thing, we will be focusing here on the many mechanical systems that need to be maintained so they can reliably take your car into the spring and through the heat of the summer.

Spring cleaning for your car has a different meaning than spring cleaning for your home. While a thorough cleaning of your car’s interior and exterior surfaces is always a good thing, we will be focusing here on the many mechanical systems that need to be maintained so they can reliably take your car into the spring and through the heat of the summer.

How Will Self-Driving Cars Deal With Repairs?

It won’t be long before the Uber or Lyft ride you request will arrive without a driver. UPS and Amazon will eventually use self-driving trucks to deliver your packages.

It won’t be long before the Uber or Lyft ride you request will arrive without a driver. UPS and Amazon will eventually use self-driving trucks to deliver your packages.

How Do Shops Come Up With an Estimate?

Most of us depend on our cars to get us to work, school, and to many other important activities. We make the monthly payments and we buy car insurance.

Most of us depend on our cars to get us to work, school, and to many other important activities. We make the monthly payments and we buy car insurance.

Top Tier Gasoline: What Is It and Should You Use It?

Cars have improved over the past 70 years or so, and so has the gasoline we put in them. Top Tier gasoline has enough detergent additives to definitely keep fuel injectors clean, and to reduce combustion chamber deposits over the life of the vehicle.

Cars have improved over the past 70 years or so, and so has the gasoline we put in them. Top Tier gasoline has enough detergent additives to definitely keep fuel injectors clean, and to reduce combustion chamber deposits over the life of the vehicle.

How Does Your Car's GPS Work?

Using GPS in your car for directions and navigation is routine these days. Whether it’s built into the vehicle, a freestanding unit, or on your smartphone, GPS is a reliable, easy-to-use system that makes driving less stressful and keeps you from getting lost.

Using GPS in your car for directions and navigation is routine these days. Whether it’s built into the vehicle, a freestanding unit, or on your smartphone, GPS is a reliable, easy-to-use system that makes driving less stressful and keeps you from getting lost.

The Dangers of Steering with Your Hands at 10 and 2

What’s the correct way to hold the steering wheel while driving today? If you were to survey an average group of drivers of all ages, you would likely get a wide variety of answers. But there is only one correct way to hold your steering wheel and remain safe.

What’s the correct way to hold the steering wheel while driving today? If you were to survey an average group of drivers of all ages, you would likely get a wide variety of answers. But there is only one correct way to hold your steering wheel and remain safe.

Why Is Your Vehicle Shaking? Symptoms, Causes and Solutions

Your car, truck, or SUV is a complex mechanism. It has many moving parts that rotate.

Your car, truck, or SUV is a complex mechanism. It has many moving parts that rotate.

Why Is My Car Making That Noise?

Your car, truck or SUV has many systems with a lot of moving parts. When it’s new, everything works beautifully.

Your car, truck or SUV has many systems with a lot of moving parts. When it’s new, everything works beautifully.

What to Do if You Have a Nail in Your Tire

You may hear a rhythmic clicking sound as you drive. You might see something shiny poking out of your otherwise normal-looking tire.

You may hear a rhythmic clicking sound as you drive. You might see something shiny poking out of your otherwise normal-looking tire.

How to Prepare Your Car for Winter Snow and Rain

Winter is a tough time of year for your car or truck. Freezing temperatures tax your vehicle’s electrical system and thicken the lubricants inside your engine, transmission and other components.

Winter is a tough time of year for your car or truck. Freezing temperatures tax your vehicle’s electrical system and thicken the lubricants inside your engine, transmission and other components.