Auto Basics

Is your car's deep black trim now a dingy gray? You can change that with a little elbow grease and a few hours of your time.

By Cherise Threewitt

Why is one road named I-5 while another is I-480? We take a closer look at the digits on those red, white and blue shield-shaped signs.

By Nathan Chandler

It's important to exercise during quarantine to keep your body in shape. The same goes for your car. We'll tell you what to do to keep it running smoothly.

By Cherise Threewitt

We're here to debunk the myth that matte finish paint is super- high maintenance. It just needs proper upkeep to truly shine.

By Cherise Threewitt

Is hotwiring a car as easy as it looks in those heist flicks? Yes and no. We'll explain.

By Cherise Threewitt

You might be a stickler about washing your car every week. But if you're not washing your car's undercarriage at least a few times a year, you may as well not wash your car at all.

By Cherise Threewitt

HowStuffWorks heads to Old Car City to check out owner Dean Lewis' incredible collection of classic junk cars and folk art, including thousands of pieces of Styrofoam cup art.

Don't let your mechanic fool you. Most late-model cars are super-advanced and don't require this service.

By Cherise Threewitt

One California legislator hopes so and introduced legislation to have highways with no speed limits.

By Cherise Threewitt

Your new shoes aren't at their most comfortable until you break them in. Does the same hold true for your new car?

By Cherise Threewitt

The interior of your car is a breeding ground for bacteria. But it's your steering wheel that is the dirtiest surface around.

By Cherise Threewitt

Does anybody really need 19 cupholders in their car? Automakers seem to think so.

By Cherise Threewitt

You sure can, on many models. You just have to locate the right battery.

By Cherise Threewitt

Could this new technology prompt the country's toll authorities to all grow up, agree on a mutually beneficial business model and let drivers use one system across the board?

By Cherise Threewitt

Some people love to do it, others hate it, but washing your car could add years to its life.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Robotic testing can help ensure products — like chairs and seats — will last.

By Cherise Threewitt

Ever huffed a Honda? Inhaled an Infiniti? Sniffed a Saab? Here's what you're bringing into your body.

By Laurie L. Dove

Those irregular black tar drizzles that seem to scar the surfaces of roads aren't the result of haphazard work by a paving crew.

By Patrick J. Kiger

The "zipper system" of merging lanes of traffic cuts back on congestion and car crashes, but it also seems a lot like cheating to American drivers.

By Jesslyn Shields

Most people seem to enjoy the smell of a new automobile. But is it possible that the fresh-off-the-dealer's-lot odor could also make you sick?

By Christopher Lampton

Nobody wants to be stuck with an automotive lemon. And truthfully, the odds are pretty slim that you'll ever need lemon law protection; but it never hurts to know the law -- just in case.

By Christopher Lampton

If you plan on keeping diesel fuel on your property for personal reasons (as opposed to commercial), you’d do well to brush up on both state and federal regulations before moving ahead.

By Alexander Davies

While some folks never think much about it, a clean vehicle is actually a happier vehicle. Learn more about washing your car naturally with rain.

By Eric J. Leech, Planet Green

Hackers attack our banks, PCs and even major credit card networks. So are cars the next things we need to worry about getting viruses?

By Chris Warren

The redline of an engine is the maximum rpm value it can handle. Learn about the redline of an engine in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors