How-tos

Here are 11 common engine knocking causes:
Low-octane or poor fuel quality: Octane is a measurement that tells you how resistant a fuel is to abnormal combustion. If you use a lower octane than recommended by your vehicle owner’s manual, the fuel can pre-ignite and cause engine knock.
Low motor oil levels or poor oil quality: Insufficient or degraded engine oil can increase friction and heat inside the engine. Higher operating temperatures can contribute to abnormal combustion and increase the possibility of knocking.
Excessive carbon buildup: Gasoline contains carbon, which can leave deposits and buildup on critical engine components like the combustion chamber surfaces. Over time, carbon deposits accumulate on pistons and valves, reducing space inside the combustion chamber and raising pressure and heat. Then, pre-ignition and knocking become likely

Uneven cuts and shaking are signs your deck needs help. This John Deere mower deck repair guide shows you how to fix cracked spindle mounts, replace worn pulleys and belts, and sharpen blades for a better cut and longer equipment life.

SPN 636 FMI2 signals a fault in the crankshaft position sensor circuit. The FMI2 suggests that the electronic control module (ECM) has detected an abnormal signal from the sensor, which could lead to poor engine performance, misfires, or difficulty starting the engine. In this guide, we’ll dive into the symptoms, causes and easy fixes of the error code.

Bad ignition switch symptoms: how to tell if it’s failing? No crank?No crank? Starts then stalls? The catch is, a weak battery, a starter on its last leg, or a wiring glitch can pull off the same act. This guide takes you through the usual warning signs—no crank, starts and stalls, dash power cutting in and out, a key that doesn’t turn smoothly, or power suddenly returning when you move the key—and helps you sort out whether it’s the switch, the battery, or the starter. We’ll also walk through what to check before you replace anything: battery voltage, terminal connections, ground straps, fuses, and the connector for heat damage or corrosion. Look at the whole pattern—one symptom alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

This guide explains how to read V-belt numbers to ensure you buy the correct replacement. We cover standard, wedge, and metric belt codes, what the ‘X’ suffix means, and how to measure a belt if the number is worn off.

When summer is in full swing, nobody wants to climb into the driver’s seat and drive around sweating like a pig. Picture being on a long trip in a heavy-duty truck or a car to another place and your A/C suddenly blowing warm air, with the temperature quickly reaching 150 degrees. That’s freaking daunting, right? In this guide, we’ll walk you through why your car AC blowing hot air and how you can troubleshoot the unit and fix it yourself before taking it to your local mechanic.

There are many oil seals and gaskets in an engine to lock lubricant inside to grease and cool various parts. The camshaft seal is one of the most critical engine parts. While made from tough materials, the cam seal can wear out over time, causing serious oil leaks and costly repairs. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the symptoms, causes and fixes of a camshaft seal leak.

Is your lawn mower carburetor leaking gas? This common issue usually points to a stuck float, a worn-out bowl gasket, or a simple loose bolt. Our guide walks you through finding the source and fixing it to get your mower running safely.

How to test an intake manifold gasket? Start simple. Listen for a vacuum hiss at idle, pay attention to how the engine runs, and check the manifold area for any coolant residue. If those symptoms point to a leak, grab a scan tool and check fuel trims—if they’re high at idle but come down when you rev the engine, that’s a strong sign of an intake leak. The best way to pinpoint the leak? A smoke test. And know your symptoms: intake gasket problems give you rough idle, hissing, and lean codes; head gasket failure shows as overheating, white smoke, or coolant contamination. Avoid false leads like cracked hoses, PCV leaks, or sensor faults. Always smoke-test before you start replacing parts.

Learn how to test camshaft position sensor on off-road machinery using a multimeter. This guide explains Hall-effect and magnetic sensors, common failure symptoms, and step-by-step tests to help you diagnose sensor and wiring problems before replacing parts.

How to level a box blade and fix clearance problems? Start with three checks: top link length, lift arm leveling, and hitch compatibility. Most leveling issues fix without new parts. This guide walks through adjusting the top link for proper cutting angle, leveling side-to-side, and checking clearance when running a front snow blower and rear box blade together on a compact tractor. It also covers what to inspect before buying a used box blade (A-frame, pin mounts, side plates, hitch pins) and the most common setup mistakes—adjusting the top link before leveling the tractor, ignoring side-to-side adjustment, and assuming longer lift arms fix every conflict. Fix the geometry before replacing parts.

The P0449 code signals a malfunction in your machine’s evaporative emission (EVAP) vent control circuit. Common signs include a check engine light and trouble fueling. Learn how to diagnose and fix the issue with our guide.