Latest news with #carmaintenance
CNET
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CNET
The Car Battery Jump Starter I Recommend to Everyone Is a Must Have Lifesaver
My grandfather was an auto mechanic, so I learned a lot about cars, but I never had to deal with car issues on my own until I had to jump-start my car battery by myself. My beloved 2011 Toyota wouldn't start and was making a weird sound when I turned the key. Like any responsible young adult, I immediately FaceTimed my dad and played the sound for him. He determined in less than a minute that I'd need to jump-start my car to get it running. (Spoiler: He was right.) Ever since then, I've been sure to keep several key items in my car in case of an emergency, and one of those is a portable jump starter. The Powrun P-One is the jump starter I keep in my trunk and I'll recommend it to who will listen. This 12-volt portable jump starter battery pack can start my car in seconds without another car or anyone else's help. Complete with mini jumper cables and instructions, it's practically idiot-proof. (I say this proudly as a car idiot who has used this pack several times to jump-start my car.) It's incredibly easy to use. You prepare your car like you would if you were jumping it from another car. Pop the hood, locate the battery and attach the jumper cables. Then, using the black connector attached to the jumper cables, you plug the jumper cables into the battery pack, matching up the blue plug to the corresponding port on the battery pack. Then, you flip the switch to turn the battery pack on, and a green light on the jumper cable connector will signal you have a good connection. All you have to do is retry starting your car and that extra charge bank should give you the juice you need to get it running. This battery has enough juice to jump-start your car up to 25 times from a single charge and is compatible with 12-volt gasoline and diesel engines. Plus, it has an intelligent safety system (in the form of eight types of protection systems) to make sure you don't electrocute yourself. In addition to helping you get moving, this battery also comes with a flashlight, compass and ports you can use to charge your phone or other devices. It also has a display screen that shows your use and remaining battery power. It's lightweight, compact and easy to store in your glove box or trunk. This is everything that comes with the battery jump starter. Amazon Why the Powrun P-One makes a great gift I don't like to tout any product as life-saving, but this one really could be. Luckily for me, my car battery died during daylight hours in a relatively safe place, but the situation easily could've been much worse. Aside from the convenience of not needing another car to get a jump start, this portable jump starter is as much a safety tool as it is a car tool. I feel much better driving around knowing I have it in my trunk, ready to go if needed. If you use the Powrun P-One only once, it'll probably provide relief that will justify its purchase. This jump starter may not be the "coolest" of graduation gifts, but it's practical, thoughtful and sets the recipient up for real-world adulting. Plus, if your giftee ever needs it, you can most definitely expect a thank you call or text afterward. Speaking of, here's our list of 50 unique gifts for people who already have everything.
CNET
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CNET
The Car Battery Jump Starter I Recommend to Everyone Is Still 40% Off After Memorial Day
My grandfather was an auto mechanic so I learned a lot about cars, but I never had to deal with car issues on my own until I had to jump start my car battery by myself. My beloved 2011 Toyota wouldn't start and was making a weird sound when I turned the key. Like any responsible young adult, I immediately FaceTimed my dad and played the sound for him. He determined in less than a minute that I'd need to jump start my car to get it running. (Spoiler: He was right.) Ever since then, I've been sure to keep several key items in my car in case of an emergency, and one of those is a portable jump starter. Right now the Powrun P-One, which is the jump starter I keep in my trunk and recommend to everyone, is marked down to just $60 keeping it's Memorial Day discount after the sale is over. That's a 40% discount, which brings it back down to its lowest price ever. Since the holiday is over, the deal could go away at any moment, so it'd be best to grab it at this price while you can. This 12-volt portable jump starter battery pack can get my car started in seconds without another car or anyone else's help. Complete with mini jumper cables and instructions, it's practically idiot-proof. (I say this proudly as a car idiot who has used this pack several times to jump start my car.) It's incredibly easy to use. You prepare your car like you would if you were jumping it from another car. Pop the hood, locate the battery and attach the jumper cables. Then, using the black connector attached to the jumper cables, you plug the jumper cables into the battery pack, matching up the blue plug to the corresponding port on the battery pack. Then, you flip the switch to turn the battery pack on and a green light on the jumper cable connector will signal you have a good connection. All you have to do is retry starting your car and that extra charge bank should give you the juice you need to get it running. This battery has enough juice to jump start your car up to 25 times from a single charge and is compatible with 12-volt gasoline and diesel engines. Plus, it has an intelligent safety system (in the form of eight types of protection systems) to make sure you don't electrocute yourself. In addition to helping you get moving, this battery also comes with a flashlight, compass and ports you can use to charge your phone or other devices. It also has a display screen that shows your use and remaining battery power. It's lightweight, compact and easy to store in your glove box or trunk. This is everything that comes with the battery jump starter. Amazon Why the Powrun P-One makes a great gift I don't like to tout any product as life saving, but this one really could be. Luckily for me, my car battery died during daylight hours in a relatively safe place, but the situation easily could've been much worse. Aside from the convenience of not needing another car to get a jump start, this portable jump starter is as much a safety tool as it is a car tool. I feel much better driving around knowing I have it in my trunk, ready to go if needed. If you use the Powrun P-One only once, it'll probably provide a relief that will have justified its purchase. This jump starter may not be the "coolest" of graduation gifts, but it's practical, thoughtful and sets the recipient up for real-world adulting. Plus, if your giftee ever needs it, you can most definitely expect a thank you call or text afterward. For more, don't miss the best Amazon deals still going on after Memorial Day.
CNET
7 days ago
- Automotive
- CNET
The Car Battery Jump Starter I Recommend to Everyone Is Down to Its Lowest Price Ever for Memorial Day
My grandfather was an auto mechanic so I learned a lot about cars, but I never had to deal with car issues on my own until I had to jump start my car battery by myself. My beloved 2011 Toyota wouldn't start and was making a weird sound when I turned the key. Like any responsible young adult, I immediately FaceTimed my dad and played the sound for him. He determined in less than a minute that I'd need to jump start my car to get it running. (Spoiler: He was right.) Ever since then, I've been sure to keep several key items in my car in case of an emergency, and one of those is a portable jump starter. Right now, the Powrun P-One, which is the jump starter I keep in my trunk and recommend to everyone, is marked down to just $60 for a limited time during Memorial Day weekend. That's a 40% discount, which brings it back down to its lowest price ever. This 12-volt portable jump starter battery pack can get my car started in seconds without another car or anyone else's help. Complete with mini jumper cables and instructions, it's practically idiot-proof. (I say this proudly as a car idiot who has used this pack several times to jump start my car.) It's incredibly easy to use. You prepare your car like you would if you were jumping it from another car. Pop the hood, locate the battery and attach the jumper cables. Then, using the black connector attached to the jumper cables, you plug the jumper cables into the battery pack, matching up the blue plug to the corresponding port on the battery pack. Then, you flip the switch to turn the battery pack on and a green light on the jumper cable connector will signal you have a good connection. All you have to do is retry starting your car and that extra charge bank should give you the juice you need to get it running. This battery has enough juice to jump start your car up to 25 times from a single charge and is compatible with 12-volt gasoline and diesel engines. Plus, it has an intelligent safety system (in the form of eight types of protection systems) to make sure you don't electrocute yourself. In addition to helping you get moving, this battery also comes with a flashlight, compass and ports you can use to charge your phone or other devices. It also has a display screen that shows your use and remaining battery power. It's lightweight, compact and easy to store in your glove box or trunk. This is everything that comes with the battery jump starter. Amazon Why the Powrun P-One makes a great grad gift I don't like to tout any product as life-saving but this one really could be. Luckily for me, my car battery died during daylight hours in a relatively safe place but the situation easily could have been much worse. Aside from the convenience of not needing another car to get a jump start, this portable car battery is as much a safety tool as it is a car tool. I feel much better driving around knowing I have it in my trunk, ready to go if needed. If you use the Powrun P-One only once, it'll probably provide a relief that will have justified its purchase. Giving this jump starter as a graduation gift may not be the "coolest" of gifts but it's practical, thoughtful, and sets them up for real-world adulting. Plus, if the person you give it to ever needs it, you can most definitely expect a thank you call or text afterward. For more unique ideas, check out our lists of the best gifts for grads.
Globe and Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Dollarfix App Sets New Standard in Car Diagnostics with Smart Tools and Community Support
Ontario, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2025) - In an era when digital automotive services are transforming the industry, a truly innovative tool for car owners is setting new standards. The Dollarfix team is proud to announce the official launch of their cutting-edge APP-a platform designed to "Connect Devices, Connect Knowledge, and Connect Users"-that promises a one-stop smart car maintenance solution for drivers around the world. Seamless Integration for Global Coverage The Dollarfix APP revolutionizes automotive diagnostics by integrating directly with a wide ecosystem of diagnostic hardware. Users can easily sync their current devices or purchase officially recommended, multi-brand diagnostic tools with just one click. With support for over 140 global car brands and more than 100,000 models, the platform delivers precise diagnostics tailored to both novices and experienced DIY technicians alike. A Dynamic Community for Car Owners Beyond its technical capabilities, the new community feature transforms Dollarfix into an interactive learning hub. Car enthusiasts, professional mechanics, and everyday drivers can access an expansive library of maintenance tips, engage in meaningful discussions, and even form their own interest groups. On Dollarfix, every user becomes both an educator and a learner-empowering them to transition effortlessly "from learning to repairing, and from repairing to saving". Innovative Rewards System Dollarfix elevates user engagement through its pioneering "Points + Level" system. Whether it's for daily check-ins, community interactions, device integrations, or task completions, every action earns users valuable points. As members progress through different levels, they can achieve monthly rewards of up to 5,000 points. These points can then be redeemed for a host of practical auto care benefits, making every contribution both rewarding and worthwhile. A User-Centric Approach to Continuous Innovation At the heart of Dollarfix is a dedicated research and development team that champions a user-driven philosophy. Constantly gathering user feedback, the team commits to monthly feature updates-transforming every suggestion into a tangible step forward for the platform. "We want every user to feel a sense of belonging and growth on Dollarfix," stated Caleb Hong, the Product Lead, emphasizing the firm's commitment to co-creating an evolving, user-centric service. Looking Toward a Smart Automotive Future From linking state-of-the-art diagnostic devices to constructing an expansive knowledge-sharing community and incentivizing engagement through rewards, the Dollarfix APP is more than just a tool-it's a vibrant digital community that unites car owners across the globe. As automotive services continue to move towards intelligent solutions, Dollarfix is poised to accompany every driver on an exciting journey toward smarter car maintenance. Download the Dollarfix app today and take control of your car care with smart diagnostics and community support. Learn more at More Official website: Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Edmunds
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edmunds
How to Clean Fuel Injectors
Photo: PongMoji | iStock via Getty Images Plus Unless you're driving a very old car, odds are good that your vehicle has fuel injectors. This is a good thing because fuel injection improves power, fuel efficiency, and emissions compared to older technology like carburetors. It also has the benefit of being super reliable for many thousands of miles, and while it's rare to hear of a fuel injector breaking outright, they can and will get dirty if mistreated. Luckily, in all but the worst cases, fuel injectors can be cleaned by you at home with no tools or expertise necessary. Keep reading to learn how to clean fuel injectors. How to tell if your fuel injectors need cleaning The first step in cleaning your car's fuel injectors is determining whether they need to be cleaned. What are signs of a clogged fuel injector? A few indicators of dirty injectors include reduced fuel economy, reduced vehicle performance, rough idle, hard starting or even engine misfires. If your vehicle has a lot of miles on it or you regularly put cheap gasoline in it, it's probably a good idea to assume that it would benefit from some injector cleaning as well. How to clean your fuel injectors at home There are a few different levels of injector cleaning. The first and most common is to go to an auto parts store and buy a bottle of fuel injector cleaner. These products work by increasing the amount of solvents and detergents in your fuel to help dissolve deposits that may have built up in the tiny orifices at the tips of your injectors. By using these cleaners, you can often clean your fuel injectors without removing them. Using these products is simple. First, read the instructions on the back of the bottle. There will typically be an amount of gasoline that is best to mix with the cleaner. If your bottle says that it treats up to 10 gallons but you have a 20-gallon tank, either wait until you have a half tank of fuel or put two bottles into a full tank. Then just drive your car until the fuel is very low to reduce dilution of the product in your tank and give it the best chance to work. When choosing an injector cleaner, we recommend sticking with something like Chevron Techron or Liqui Moly Jectron because they have repeatedly proven to be effective cleaners and are available at most auto parts stores. What you don't want to do is add things to your fuel that aren't designed to work as injector cleaners. For example, adding brake cleaner to your gasoline would be a bad idea and could damage your fuel system. If your injectors are really dirty or clogged If you are experiencing severe symptoms of dirty fuel injectors, or you tried the above method and didn't notice an improvement, the next step would be to take your vehicle to a dealer or mechanic and have your injectors cleaned. This is usually a two-stage process that involves stronger-than-retail solvent in your gas tank and another special solvent that is fed directly into your vehicle's fuel rail that supplies the fuel injectors. The mechanic will then run your vehicle on the special solvent before reattaching your fuel supply line. They will then either have you drive the vehicle or they'll take the vehicle out for a test drive to ensure that everything is clean and functioning as it should. Special cases In some special circumstances, such as with some diesel fuel injectors, older-style continuous injection injectors (Bosch CIS or K-Jetronic), or on vehicles with injectors that aren't easy or cheap to find replacements for, a mechanic may opt to remove the injectors from your vehicle and clean them on the bench. There are special machines that use ultrasonic waves in a tank of solvent to free up stuck or dirty injectors. The mechanic can perform flow tests of those injectors before and after to make sure they're all flowing the same amount of fuel, ensuring that your engine will run correctly. How often should you clean your fuel injectors? While cleaning your injectors with solvents like the ones we've discussed can be extremely beneficial for your car, doing it too often isn't a great idea. Because these products contain some harsh chemicals, they may, over time, start to degrade plastic or rubber parts in your fuel system. Once a year is a good rule of thumb, or if you drive a lot, consider using them once every 5,000-10,000 miles, especially if you use cheap fuel. How to avoid cleaning your injectors entirely What if we told you that there is a way to seriously reduce the likelihood of you needing to clean your vehicle's injectors, and which would also ensure the rest of your fuel system stayed cleaner and worked better for longer, and all you had to do was put gas in your car? Well, there is, and it's called Top Tier fuel. Top Tier fuel sounds like a marketing gimmick, but in truth it's an agreed-upon set of standards among a handful of fuel companies that ensure a specific amount of detergents and other additives are present in your fuel above what is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. These detergents work by preventing the buildup of deposits and gunk in the first place and are often only slightly more expensive than fuel from non-Top Tier brands. Fuel stations selling Top Tier fuel will usually have branding at the pump so you can tell fairly quickly what you're getting.
