Modern cars can do a lot of impressive stuff. The onboard diagnostic (OBD) system can tell us when there's a vehicle malfunction by activating the check engine light, while advanced car safety ...

Oxygen sensors detect the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. Oxygen sensors usually don’t have a replacement schedule. A bad oxygen sensor can be diagnosed with a code reader or scan tool. A car’s ...

A knock sensor is an engine management component in modern internal combustion engines. It is designed to detect the sound of knocking or pinging in the engine, indicating an engine problem such as ...

Do tire pressure sensors use individual batteries (that may last only 10 years) rather than the car’s electrical system? Could such a battery replacement cost about $85 for each wheel? What about ...

The engine’s knock sensor (or sensors) detects preignition and detonation, potentially damaging forms of abnormal combustion. Though full-blown knocking and pinging are audible to the human ear, the ...

I live in New Jersey, one of the states that mandates inspection for all vehicles newer than 1995. My daily driver, a Jeep Cherokee, happens to be a 1996 model year with an OBD-II sensor, meaning I ...

The automotive past is often recalled fondly. A fender bender was a nuisance, certainly, but the required repair was relatively predictable. The fix generally involved a new bumper cover, some paint ...

Even a seemingly minor repair can trigger huge bills, thanks to sensors, cameras, software and screens that are now standard in many vehicles.