Hello! This might be the wrong sub. I just got a car from a family member (2005 Toyota highlander). I’ve been driving it for a few weeks and everything is ok so far (besides a minor leak and cosmetic issues).

I finally did some checking of the underside and oh boy, there is a super rusty part.

Is this safe to drive anywhere? And is there any way to fix this at a reasonable price? (I have basic welding skills if needed).

This is the only super rusty part on the car.

How would you recommend i repair this small rust hole in the bottom of the side panel of my car. I get alot of you will say dont, just save my money and get a new car. And I will but not for another year or so. Right now I just need it to pass my state car inspection, which it failed becuase of this minor damage.

I own a tuning shop and cars definitely add to life's struggles but I can't complain, I sorta asked for it, hopefully you guys enjoy them as much as I do.

I own a Lexus LS430 currently and I've been looking at getting another, similarly bulletproof car and am debating between just getting another 430, or going for a cheaper Lincoln Town Car with similar miles. Does anyone know how similar the reliability of these two drivetrains is?

Not sure if this is the right place to post this as there isn’t a good flair for rants like this. Why aren’t A/C systems rated at all?! I get that it’s a relatively minor system in the grand scheme of things but I’d rather know the actual A/C capability over so many things that they do put on the spec sheet. I know most systems are oversized for automotive use but it’s really helpful to get a gauge of how quickly it can cool my car down during a day that’s over 100F and prevent me sticking to my leather seats.

Truck lost traction and hit a curb. Tire stays inflated. I can drive car. I have driven car about 20 miles since the incident with no issues. Is this something that can be repaired. Thoughts on going to a shop versus having somebody come to the house? Is the crack on the inside a problem?

Tire shop refused to put on a new tire and said it needed to be repaired or replaced. Thanks.

What vehicle can last to 400K?

Weird question. Forgive me.

Assume a car has just not been run. For maybe 4 years. It's not broken. It just literally has sat, under a cover, tyres deflated, no servicing, no liquids replaced. Battery has died now. So it can't start. But it used to start.

What is a list of items one has to look at/replace/fix (safely) get the car back on the road?

I was wondering if my blower motor for ac went out is it worth the repair if it’s half the value of the car what should I I do I can hit my 401 in Jan when I retire should I fix or hold on and trade in Jan thanx y’all

Hi folks. I have a new (to me) 2025 Trax LT that I am looking to buy new snow tires for. Since I am in Buffalo, snow tires are a must. Currently, I am looking at Bridgestone Blizzaks, Nokian Nordman 9s, and maybe Cooper Evolution Winters. Does anyone have any experience with any of these that you can give me a first-hand review. I am also entertaining any other recommendations based on your experience.

Thanks in advance.

2015 kia soul

Just noticed this screw, car is at my friendly mechanic (probably wont charge me more than a couple bucks), just wondering if anyone thinks this is too close to the sidewall?

Cheers!

So this happened yesterday out of nowhere I drive a golf 6 tdi 2.0 110hp and when I press the clutch the noise is more quiet and when I drive I don’t hear it only when I’m standing in place can anybody help me thank you.

So just say, who's better to you guys! :-)

So last week, I was doing some errands for my Dad in his 2015 Buick Enclave and when I went to turn into a parking lot, I bumped the curb and apparently that was enough to deploy the airbag in the steering wheel. Truth be told, for the last few weeks there had been a warning on the dashboard sawing the airbag needed to be serviced so this was probably inevitable.

Anyway, now we're wondering what to do next. We want to call a mechanic but we're not sure what we need them to do. Do we just have them reinstall a new airbag and replace the face of the steering wheel or do we need to replace the steering wheel entirely.

I feel like this is an uncommon scenario since in most cases the airbags deploying usually means you've crashed and the car in unsalvageable, but like I said, all it did was hit a curb and, aside from the now cracked plastic face of the steering wheel, the vehicle is perfectly intact.

I used to drive a 2010 Mazda which got 28 mpg. I recently bought a 2022 Toyota Corolla, which is getting 41-43 mpg but is not a hybrid. Can someone explain to me the jump in gas mileage for an all gas car? I don’t have a problem with it, I just love science and engineering.

Thank you!

Hi Everyone,

Looking for some advice, my car is Banjaxed needs a of repair done to it
He is offering me €24k what are possible issue or is okay to accept thanks

For reference, I'm 48 years old... my first car was a Pontiac Fiero (still have it), and we've had plenty of newer cars, some of them brand new, others used. I'm a weekend warrior mechanic, pretty experienced, but it's not my job.

In the last decade, I would say... I've been really disappointed by what I've seen in the automotive industry. MOST cars today look like utter garbage. They are very literally all the same looking. This is different from when people followed trends, such as cars being bulbous in the 1950s, or plasticky in the 1990s, etc. Cars today are ultra-regulated by the insurance industry... and they've imposed their will to mandate many features on cars that both take away from the ability to style the car, and often implement often less than desirable features that don't always work as intended (like ADAS).

The other day, I was trying to diagnose a fuel issue on our Pontiac Solstice (just a simple car we got for my daughter). It was taking too long to fix, so I bought a 2014 Mustang V6 for her to get around in, which is really quite nice. I bought a new Topdon scanner which allows me to test a whole bunch of features, along with data logging, etc. All features that my past scanner didn't have. On a whim, I helped out my neighbor and we tested his brand new Dodge RAM RHO pickup. It's a twin turbo V6 pickup that he bought as a 2026 model? (or maybe it was a 2025 late in the year). In any case, I hooked up the scanner, and ran the scanner to look for DTC codes. It detected something like 67 separate computers integrated into the CAN BUS of his car. That's 67 separate little Linux "busy box" systems that all can individually fail. There was a computer JUST for his driver's seat to manage the memory function and positioning. There is a separate computer for each door. WHY??? Why does the car need 67 separate computers? Are those going to be available 30 years from now?

Why don't they simply have a single body control model, and a separate engine control module, and maybe a transmission control module, and then just leave it like that. OK... I can understand maybe a separate one for the suspension... but why 67 separate computers?

To make matters worse, I went into the portion of the scanner where it allows me to control devices from the tablet (so like... I could make his seat go forward, or turn his headlights on and off, whatever). I went in there, and a popup said it was locked down by Dodge. That, in order for me to gain access to that, I had to log into a website, pay a monthly service fee, and then I'd get a code which I could put into my scanner which would then allow the scanner to access these features within his truck.

I am just completely blown away. It was the straw that broke the camel's back, in my opinion. My daughter's Mustang... I got it for like $10k. Not a bad price, it looks amazing...

I've scanned this car (which we just picked up), and it has a shit ton of computers too... but something in the range of like 15-16 separate busy-box modules (each about the size of say an Arduino or a Raspberri Pi). It seems excessive, but I think I can live with it. What's more, I really like the interior. There's no iPad built into the center console... it's just a normal infotainment system with buttons... which I actually quite like. My wife's Bronco has a wall of tablets... tastefully done, I'll say that, but seeing all this stuff, I dread the fact that every single one of these damned things will probably fail spectacularly.

I have a bunch of old cars... as old as a 1973 in which quite literally everything is mechanical (including a points distributor) to a few 80s cars. And I'm realizing... today's cars just absolutely suck. I do like the new Mustangs, the new Corvette is amazing... but can someone please tell me why they feel the need to make literally every function of the car controlled by a separate computer?

I kind of think the automotive industry is basically dead. Other than my daughter, most of her friends have absolutely ZERO interest in cars, because most of them don't see any cars they like. I just wish that someone would make a really cool look car with an ECM dedicated to engine, and 1 computer dedicated to the body. Things like fog lamps and window motors don't need to controlled by a computer. They worked just fine with relays.

2011 Sorento EX. Loud buzzing when headlights are switched on. No buzzing when the headlights are off and I use high beams. Search says so far a relay or ground issue. Ordered relay so will see today’s that’s the issue. Any other ideas?

Also I did some work on the passenger door this weekend. Replaced lock and window regulators. Did that work Saturday. Drove both Saturday and Sunday with no issues. Buzzing started yesterday.

2010 toyota rav4. Great condition except the steering wheel is really hurting from the texas heat. Little bits of the top coming off in my hands as I drive. Theres only a little bit of texture left on the bottom left grip part.

The smoothness honestly is really bothersome it feels disgusting and the bits coming off the top part will only keep coming.

Would I be crazy to try and find a better condition steering wheel? Maybe look for junkyards with less miles? Or if theres a trim with leather maybe? It would be like ~200 which sucks. Anyone else ever done this?

Hey all, not looking for an estimate but just generally curious this would be considered reparable in your guys' opinion. I hit a moose over the weekend, it was gnarly. No airbag deployement though!

Car details:

- 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback, roughly 100,000km.

- I have insurance and it's on the way to the garage.

Most thing I'm concerned about is the A-Pillar. In my local area this car still goes for about $20,000 used.

Hit a block of wood today and heard it bounce around a bit. The car drives fine and all the belts are tight. What could this squealing sound be when I get on the throttle? There is also a faint rattling at higher speeds.