Common Problems

Seeing the Audi A4 glow plug light flashing while we are driving can be confusing. At first glance, we might assume the car simply has a bad glow plug. After all, the little coil-shaped symbol on the dashboard looks pretty specific. Yet on many diesel…

The Audi A4 1.4 TFSI is one of those cars that makes downsizing seem surprisingly sensible. We get the refinement and premium cabin of an A4, but instead of feeding a large petrol engine every few days, there is a compact turbocharged 1.4-liter unit doing…

A Ram 1500 that smells like coolant is trying to tell us something, even when there is no puddle under the truck and the temperature gauge looks perfectly normal. That familiar sweet, syrup-like odor usually means coolant is escaping somewhere, evaporating on a hot surface,…

The Hyundai Veloster has never been an ordinary hatchback. With its unusual three-door layout, coupe-like roofline, affordable performance, and available turbocharged engines, it has always had a little rebel energy. It looks as though Hyundai took a practical hatchback, handed it an espresso, and told…

Few things are more annoying than starting your Mazda 6, seeing the infotainment screen light up normally, selecting your favorite station, and hearing absolutely nothing. The radio appears alive. The station changes. Bluetooth may connect. The volume indicator moves. Yet the cabin remains as quiet…

A Ram 1500 12V outlet not working can turn a small convenience into a surprisingly annoying problem. One minute we're charging a phone, powering a GPS, running a dash camera, or plugging in a portable compressor. The next minute? Nothing. No power, no charging symbol,…

Few things ruin a morning faster than climbing into our truck, pressing the start button or turning the key, and getting absolutely nowhere. Maybe the dashboard lights up but the engine refuses to crank. Maybe we hear a rapid clicking sound. Perhaps the starter turns…

Few things are more irritating than climbing into a Ram 1500, pressing the start button, and seeing a “Key Fob Not Detected” warning staring back at us. The truck is right there. The key is in our hand. Yet, somehow, the two are behaving like…

The Ram 1500's eight-speed automatic transmission has become a major part of the truck's personality. When everything works correctly, gear changes can feel almost invisible, highway cruising is relaxed, and the transmission keeps the engine in a useful part of its powerband without drawing much…

When the MG HS radio reception is weak, even a simple drive can become surprisingly irritating. One minute we are listening to a clear FM station, and the next it sounds as though the presenter has disappeared behind a wall of static. Stations may fade,…

The Volkswagen Amarok has built a reputation as one of the more refined pickups in its class. It can tow, haul, cruise comfortably at highway speeds, and still feel remarkably composed compared with many traditional work trucks. A major part of that character comes from…