Primarily used in cars with an unsynchronized manual transmission, such as specialty vehicles and commercial trucks, double-clutching is a method of gear shifting which promotes a smoother transition and causes less wear and tear. However, modern car designs have eliminated the need to double-clutch thanks to the presence of a synchronized manual transmission. The big question that comes to mind is “Why even bother with double clutching in the first place?” to which the answer is “it is just an incredibly cool skill to master!”

Besides that, as discussed earlier, double-clutching helps deliver an overall smoother ride if you have a bad gearbox, extending the vehicle’s transmission life, and is especially useful if you are into road racing. Besides, as an all-round gear head or a car enthusiast, it is important you thoroughly know your way around the clutch. So, let’s get down to it, the ancient art of double-clutching!

Before I answer the question to “what does a bad starter sound like?” it is important to discern the difference between a dead battery and a bad starter.

Why? Because the symptoms of a bad or faulty starter are pretty similar to the symptoms of a bad/dead battery or an alternator problem.

Remember that your battery will need to be fully charged (or sufficiently charged) in order to operate the starter motor. This is the reason why a dead battery can sometimes be mistaken for a starter problem.

When was the last time you cleaned the EGR valve in your car? The most common answer is probably ‘never’.

Do you have idling problems in your car? Do you encounter engine stalling, surging, and misfiring when the engine is cold? Then you might be looking at a dirty or clogged EGR valve.

I have a friend who spent close to a thousand dollars just to solve the idling problems in his car. The mechanic replaced the air filter, the MAF sensor, the spark plugs, and the fuel filter (in no particular order) to solve the problem. After all was said and done, my friend till had idling problems and poor engine performance.

He talked to me about the problem, and I quickly suggested inspecting the EGR valve. After a couple of hours tinkering with his car and getting our hands dirty, we started the car and behold! The idling problem was gone.

My friend was extremely thankful for the advice, so I decided to share the easy steps on how to clean the EGR valve. Give it a try, this might be the solution that your car is waiting for, especially if you’ve already exhausted each and every possible solution to remedy that pesky idling problem in your vehicle.

But first, here are some things you need to know about the EGR valve.

It happens to the best of us. You turn the key and nothing happens. You are expecting the engine to start, but something weird happens. There are no lights on the console, and even the radio refuses to turn on.

If this is the case, then you are probably dealing with a dead or weak car battery. This is not a problem if you happen to be parked near a service station. Simply buy a new battery, have it installed in your car, and drive away.