Is your cylinder head failing? Here’s how to know

Cylinder head

The cylinder head is a crucial component in any internal combustion engine. It’s responsible for optimising your vehicle’s performance, efficiency, and power output. 

Housing the intake and exhaust valves, along with other critical components which control the intake and exhaust processes, the cylinder head maximises airflow to create the ideal air-fuel mixture for combustion.

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10 of the most common problems with the Audi A5

Audi A5

It’s essential to keep things in perspective whenever you talk about car reliability, as experiences can vary widely among individual owners and models. That said, it’s the case that specific model years of the Audi A5 have had more reported issues than others, particularly those manufactured between 2008 and 2011. These model years have more reported problems with electrical components, oil consumption, and other faults.

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Top 6 signs of a faulty or failing window regulator

Window regulator

Your car window regulator is a device that raises or lowers your car windows. Usually made up of a motor, gears and a rail or track, it sits inside the door panel of your vehicle.

When you activate the car window regulator, either manually or electrically, it prompts the motor to turn the gears, moving the glass up or down along the rail or track. Depending on your vehicle, you may have a handle to rotate manually, or a switch to do it electrically.

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Should you replace or clean your fuel injectors? Here’s how to know

Fuel injector

Rough idling, engine misfires, performance issues, or check engine light flashing? You could have a clogged or failing fuel injector. A dirty fuel injector can affect your car’s performance, but it doesn’t always need to be replaced. Sometimes a good cleaning can solve any issues, at least temporarily.

We’ll take you through the warning signs of a dirty fuel injector, help you to work out whether you need to clean or replace yours, and give you an idea of how much it costs to replace a fuel injector.

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What are the most common problems with the Kia Sportage?

Kia Sportage

Known for its sleek design at an affordable price point, the Kia Sportage boasts a range of features, including all-wheel drive, advanced safety features and a panoramic sunroof. A crossover SUV, it is Kia’s vehicle for the great outdoors. The name, a combination of ‘Sport’ and ‘Age,’ is designed to encourage adventure and play, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

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Is your flywheel failing? Here are 7 signs you’ve got a problem

Car flywheel

Your motor’s flywheel ensures that power from your motor is transferred smoothly, particularly during engine starting, idling and gear changes.

Bolted to the crankshaft at the rear of the engine, the flywheel stores intermittent rotational energy to boost power as needed. It also absorbs excess power, neutralises vibrations from the crankshaft and balances any fluctuations in your engine speed. The flywheel is what keeps your engine running when you take your foot off the accelerator, for example. 

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Nine signs and symptoms of a bad brake caliper and how to fix it

Disc brake

Brake calipers are an essential component of your vehicle’s braking system, alongside brake pads and brake discs. When you push down on your brake pedal, a master cylinder in the engine compartment pressurises the brake fluid within it to activate a piston. This piston pushes against the brake caliper, which acts as a clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotating brake discs. 

This pressure produces friction which slows the wheels’ rotations in order for them to slow down or stop altogether. 

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Nine signs and symptoms of a failing front or rear differential

Differential

The differential transfers power to your vehicle’s wheel from the engine, allowing them to operate individually from each other. While this may sound odd, your car’s wheels rotate at different speeds when you turn or corner, with the outer wheel rotating faster to cover the longer distance around the bend, so they need to rotate independently of each other. It’s a vital component that most of us don’t tend to worry about until it starts to fail. 

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Is your driveshaft failing? Here are the signs and symptoms of a bad driveshaft

Close up of driveshaft

A driveshaft delivers the power, or torque, to the wheels of your vehicle. If you have a four-wheel drive, it also transmits power from the transmission to the rear axle.  In fact, it’s one of the most important components that ensures your car moves. Unfortunately, if your driveshaft is failing or broken, it won’t be able to handle all that torque, which over time, can cause damage.

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