Car Maintenance

Looking for a way to increase your gas mileage? Don't have money for a new fuel efficient car? Well if that's the case don't worry because here are some cheap and easy things you can do to...

Fuel filters are extremely important to vehicles. When a fuel filter becomes clogged or dirty, the fuel attempting to get through the filter ends up becoming stuck. This can cause engine problems...

Over time, plastic headlight lenses on your vehicle will become cloudy from wear and tear, scratches or discoloration. The lenses cover the headlight bulb; when the lenses are hazy, the headlights...

While it may be possible to get a close match on car upholstery fabric, an exact match requires original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, fabric. OEM assures the buyer the fabric was made by the...

When it comes to preserving the cosmetic condition of your car, the paint is one of the most important aspects of it. A nicely preserved paint job looks great and is a joy to regularly wash. A...

Replacing blown or failed light bulbs on an Audi is a regular part of maintenance. And while bulbs are cheap--they usually cost $15 to $20 each, or even less for cheaper brands--having an Audi...

The Subaru Legacy cabin air filter is similar to your engine air filter, but its filtering capability is much greater. It cleans ambient air from any pollen and dirt so that you can breathe clean...

Pneumatic solenoid valves are on-off valves widely used in manufacturing, industry and power production to provide an interface between electrical and electronic control systems and the pneumatic...

Car interiors are easy to modify with many after market products sold to meet the desires of almost any car enthusiast. Shift knobs are a particularly popular modification, perhaps because they...

A leather top can add a definitive class and style to your automobile. The one downfall of employing this type of decoration is cleaning the leather itself. Leather is a delicate material that has...

Oil changes are important to the life of your car. If you plan to change your own oil, it is important to know about the type of oil to use for your vehicle. While your owner's manual may indicate...

When an engine is made, it is molded from molten metal. This process involves a cast, which must eventually be removed from the now formed engine. The cooling system is handled this way as well,...

Charging SLA batteries is a simple task that must be done from time to time as these batteries will occasionally drain down. SLA or Sealed Lead Acid batteries are commonly used in cars, golf carts...

Keeping your headlights adjusted can improve your driving at night. Having your headlights focused together and slightly down will keep the road visible and away from the vision of oncoming...

The thermostat in your Nissan Frontier is required to regulate the flow of coolant through your motor. The thermostat will send enough coolant through the motor to keep the engine running...

Simply put, hydraulics is a method of producing power through the movement of liquid. When a liquid is confined in a system, the force of the movement of the liquid can transmit power, multiply...

Replacing the front bumper on your Jeep Wrangler usually is a quick and easy task. But unlike the process of swapping out bumpers on other vehicles, the Jeep sometimes has components that get in...

Hex bolts are the most commonly used bolt type. The hex-shaped head of these bolts is seen in all types of mechanical assemblies, and yet some confusion remains as to the proper way to measure a...

Grade 8 bolts are specified for high strength applications and should not be replaced with regular bolts or bolts of a lesser hardness grade. The system used to mark the heads of bolts with simple...

A radiator keeps the engine cool and operating smoothly. Without the radiator the engine would overheat and seize up. Leaks in the radiator should be addressed as soon as possible. Quick fixes are...

You may need to lift your Jeep to perform general maintenance such as oil changes and more involved procedures such as brake service. Lifting your Jeep is a relatively easy process if you follow...

One of the most common car ailments is the eventual appearance of rust. Over time, the elements wear away a car's protective top coat. Along with scratches and dents that can expose the metal...

Many new cars ride low to the ground. Low ground clearance improves the handling and fuel mileage by forcing air over the car instead of under it. For the weekend mechanic, getting under one of...

Gelcoat chalking is actually oxidation which occurs from extended sun exposure. Oxidation is a common problem with outdoor gelcoat applications such as boats because of the extended periods of...

The fuel filter on your Jeep provides a means to strain out contaminants so that the fuel going to the combustion chamber of the engine is as pure as possible. You should service your Jeep's fuel...

Car paint colors may seem to be the same, but car manufacturers actually use specific tints of paint, which are categorized by a proprietary paint code. The format of this code differs from...

Checking your headlights should be a regular part of your weekly vehicle inspection. When you're driving your Jeep at night, headlights act as your second pair of eyes by allowing you to see in...

Replacing drum brakes is often thought of as a project that is too difficult for the average car owner to do by themselves. This is not true. By taking your time and paying attention to the...

Leather is an upholstery option available in both new and used vehicles. From seats to consoles, leather is even used on the dashboard of many vehicles. Leather, like other materials, must be...

When you register a car, you may be required by your state's Department of Motor Vehicles to have a smog check performed on your car. Instead of having to find a auto mechanic that also does smog...

Jeeps are most recognized by their open cab, functionality and rugged look. The removable hardtop is constructed of metal and plastic and can weigh over 200 lbs., depending on the Jeep model....

Electric polishers and buffers have vastly improved the efficiency and quality of tasks such as polishing your car. The polishers have an orbital motion that applies polishing solution and buffs...

Floor jacks enable the safe lifting of vehicles for maintenance work. They are sturdier and safer choice over the standard scissor jacks that most vehicles are equipped with for emergency use....

The term "advance" refers to the amount of time in degrees of crankshaft rotation that any individual cylinder's spark plug fires before the piston reaches the top of its compression stroke. This...

Brighten up your old or dingy vinyl seats by working with the same products professional car restoration companies do. Vinyl cleansers, primers and color coatings are available for the retail...

The dashboard or instrument panel on a Dodge Caravan has several components on and within it. You must remove each component in order to disassemble and remove the dash. This will be a long,...

Anyone who's spent a Saturday afternoon waxing the family car by hand has likely wished for an easier way to achieve a shiny, polished finish. Electric buffers and polishers are handy tools for...

There are many ways to put those nasty deep ugly scratches on your windscreen, including leaning your bike against a wall, getting too close to a garage door, or even dropping your bike so that...

It happens at least twice a year. You have to reset the clock on your Honda Accord. Funny how you have to keep relearning the process every time! The manual is buried in a closet somewhere, and...

Most people who own a vehicle will at one time or another find themselves with a dead battery. Follow these instructions and you'll be able to properly charge a car battery

General Motors has produced numerous engines through its various brands, including Chevrolet, the automaker's most popular brand by far. Several 2.2 liter engines have been developed over the...

The process of painting a car, whether at the factory where it is being built or many years later as part of a restoration, is a complex series of steps. Each coat of paint must be carefully...

Replacing your fuel filter is an essential piece of maintenance that is often overlooked. The fuel filter is the second line of defense in maintaining clean fuel lines. The first step is the...

The fuel filter on a 1989 Ford Taurus filters the gasoline coming from the car's fuel tank to get rid of the impurities in the gasoline so they don't make their way into the engine. You should...

Though many people think nothing of smoking in the car while they drive, this noticeable odor sticks around and can be a nuisance. Cigarette smoke clings to every surface it touches, and the smell...

Moth ball smell is very unpleasant and unhealthy to breathe. The odor has toxins that can cause neurological damage to small children. It probably can harm adult brains as well. There's a natural,...

For car lovers, a bright, shiny finish on their machine is a must-have. And, few things frustrate that ambition more than a clean car with "water stains." Many things can cause this, though the...

Installing the fuel tank on your Ford Escort does not have to be a problem. The tank when empty is very light and requires minimum effort to hold it in place while you tighten the straps. The...

The first step in replacing your fuel pump or replacing the fuel tank is removing the existing tank. You'll also need to remove the tank if you're attempting to repair the gas gauge. The fuel...

Painting a car is one of the best ways to restore it to its original brilliance or give it a completely new, custom look. However, paint jobs can be expensive, with many auto shops charging...