Author: asarangan

Over time I have replaced nearly all of the sensors in my Kia. Below is a rundown of every sensor and their locations: Oxygen sensors There are two oxygen sensors installed on the exhaust pipe—one located before the catalytic converter and the other after it. The upstream sensor (before the converter) measures residual oxygen in…

I didn’t realize the air conditioner clutch had fallen off my car until the weather warmed up the following spring. After confirming that the refrigerant level was normal, I noticed the compressor looked unusual. That’s when I discovered the clutch was missing. The air conditioner uses an electromagnetic clutch made up of three main components:…

The pinch bolt in the lower ball joint represents a critical weak point in the steering and suspension system. Despite its name, it doesn’t actually clamp the steering knuckle to the ball joint. Instead, it keeps the knuckle from slipping off by sliding across a groove in the ball joint. This blocks any upward or…

Control cables—such as those used for throttle control, heater adjustments, and air flow routing—are flexible linkages designed to transmit force from the dashboard to remote components. Over time, these cables can seize or their terminals can break due to wear and age. Each cable has a specific length and termination style, making exact replacements difficult…

Wheel alignment might seem a bit mysterious at first, but it’s actually quite straightforward. I initially bought a set of inexpensive alignment plates off eBay, but they proved to be unreliable—there were too many variables to get consistent, repeatable measurements. Eventually, I upgraded to a set of TMR alignment plates. These are sturdy, accurate, made…

Looking back, I’m honestly surprised these components don’t fail more often, considering the amount of stress they endure. I heard a loud pop while making a sharp, tight turn, and suddenly one of the front wheels was pointing in a completely different direction than the other. I had completely lost steering control. While this kind…

My Kia had a persistent oil leak for years, which I finally traced back to the crankshaft seal. While the seal itself is just a $5 part, accessing it is a major job. To reach the seal, I had to remove the accessory belts, water pump pulley, three-piece timing belt cover, timing belt rollers, timing…