Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

This article will provide you with the basics to replacing the spark plugs in your vehicle.

Ford vehicles built in the 1990s and 2000s were equipped with a keyless entry system using a five-button pad on the driver's door. This keyless entry system comes programmed with a five-digit...

Jeep Wranglers feature take-off doors unlike many other vehicles in its class. To effectively do so, you should maintain the lubrication to the door hinges and retaining nuts and bolts in order to...

Contrary to popular belief, gasoline does in a sense "go bad." When storing your Harley Davidson for the winter, fuel should be drained from the tank so as not to damage the workings of your...

Corrosion and heavy loads take their toll on the leaf springs of a Ford Ranger over time, making them lose their ride height. You can send the leaf springs to the auto repair shop for maintenance...

The Miata is a two-seat roadster produced by Mazda from 1989 to the present. The Miata was designed as a unibody vehicle, meaning it does not have a full frame underneath it. Therefore, Miata...

The starter in a vehicle, be it car or truck, operates from the power on board. Most automobiles use a 12-volt system, and so the starter requires 12 volts in order to function properly. There are...

Ball joint wear is indicated by the steering knuckle and wheel assembly being loose on the control arm, which runs from the car's frame to the steering knuckle (right where the ball joint is)....

The tail lights on your 2005 Honda Accord should be checked every 6 months to make sure that they are functioning properly. If they do not light up, you need to replace them. You'll need a...

Oil in the radiator is usually caused by a blown head gasket between the engine head and engine block. In this condition, the coolant ports and the oil ports are no longer separated allowing to to...

Replacing your air filter is by far one of the simplest maintenance procedures that you can do on your vehicle in just a few minutes. It is simple but yet it can increase the efficiency of your...

The clutch is arguably one of the most important parts of a motorcycle. The ability to disengage the drive gear allows the rider to shift the gearbox up and down and provides an emergency "out"...

Jacking up a car is an easy procedure if the proper precautions and steps are followed. There are many procedures that require raising the rear end, including brake repair, axle removal and brake...

Replacing the wheel bearings on your Geo Prism does not have to be complicated. The hardest part is to work your way to the actual bearings. Once you have an understanding what you are removing,...

The Maintenance Required light becomes lit when your car travels a certain number of miles. It is basically a reminder that it is time to have your car's scheduled maintenance (oil and oil filter...

Car head bolts hold the head assembly onto the engine block. When replacing the head gasket or doing any kind of internal engine work, you must remove the head bolts from the head assembly....

The fog lights in a Volkswagen Jetta sit below the headlights. Depending on how much you use them, you may need to replace the fog lights on the same schedule as the headlights. Check the fog...

The fog light on a vehicle helps to illuminate the road ahead during bad weather. The fog light sits low to the ground so that it shines, presumably, below fog and thus helps the driver to see...

Having foggy headlights is not only unsightly, but it can be dangerous when driving at night. Manufacturers have replaced glass headlights with plastic ones. The problem is plastic can...

Door panels can suffer greatly from moisture, use and just plain old age. If your VW door panels are less then presentable, several options are available for replacing them. You can buy new door...

Many of us have heard about acid rain and its effects on the environment, but it can also cause damage to your car. When certain elements and pollutants are introduced into the atmosphere, they...

Rust is the common term for ferrous or iron oxide. It is formed by iron and oxygen reacting with each other in the presence of moisture in the surroundings. Rusting is also a term often used to...

Fiberglass is used as the siding for a variety of products, including boats and pools. Over time, if the fiberglass product is left outside, you may find the natural colors fading away. However,...

A spray paint booth is a vital part of any workshop that works on repairing and restoring automobiles. In general, it takes the form of an enclosed, well-ventilated structure that allows you to...

As you drive your car, you will likely get scratches, dings, scuffs or other small bits of damage that can leave marks in your paint job. While large scratches or rust patches may require a whole...

The Honda CR-V is equipped with two pollen filters (sometimes called cabin air filters). The pollen filters are both located behind the glove box on the passenger side of the vehicle. Replacing...

Brakes are a critical part of your car - if you go, you need to stop! Changing your own brakes isn't difficult if you are handy with tools.

For any number of reasons, you may arrive at the need to remove the door panels of your Subaru. The window operation, lock controls and even car stereo speakers are located between the door and...

Radiator fans are simple electric fans that pull air across the fins of the radiator to cool down the engine coolant and keep the engine from overheating. Normally, the radiator fan is connected...

The C5 Corvette is an American-made muscle car built by Chevrolet. While maintaining a large amount of the feel and performance of earlier Corvettes, the C5 brings modern styling and daily driver...

Many car manufacturers recommend not reusing head bolts, or the bolts that hold the engine's head assembly to the engine block, because over time, they can become brittle from excessive engine...

The drive belt on your 2001 Isuzu will eventually develop splits, tears or cuts after use. If sufficiently worn, the automatic belt adjuster will not be able to provide the necessary tension. This...

If you want to change the headlight bulb in a VW New Beetle, the owner's manual is less than helpful. The manual says you should get a mechanic at the dealership to do it, but they will charge...

There are many noises associated with a muffler in need of maintenance, from rattling to popping under deceleration to a constant groan Some of these problems are easily repaired, others may...

The initials in the acronym HEPA stand for High Efficiency Particle Arrestor. The first HEPA filters were originally used in hospital operating rooms because of their sub-micron filtration...

Proper wheel alignment is critical to your vehicle. Poor alignment can cause premature tire wear, sloppy handling and even problems controlling the vehicle. By learning how to adjust the tie rod...

The Nissan X-Trail is an SUV sold in several parts of the world, although it is not sold in the U.S.. The X-Trail does share many components with U.S. Nissan vehicles, so tail light replacement...

Installing a new set of shocks on your car can improve your ride quality and make your car feel like new. If you're willing to pay for a higher quality shock, then installing a set of Tokico...

The transmission gasket on your Isuzu Rodeo seals the junction between the transmission fluid pan and the transmission housing. This keeps fluid from leaking out of the pan and also prevents dirt...

Your car has a thin, clear protective coat over the paint to help prevent rust and other damage. However, after you wash your car or even during a rain storm, water may find a way to work...

Keeping your car in top aesthetic shape may not be essential in keeping it operable, but it's still a worthwhile endeavor. One of the easiest ways to tarnish a car's appearance is with a scratch...

The cost to replace car shock absorbers (dampers) varies on factors that include age of the vehicle, whether it is a passenger or performance car and where it comes from. For the purposes of this...

The ignition switch is the first device you activate when cranking up your Pontiac Grand Am. It's responsible for sending current to the starter to start the car, so a faulty switch will keep your...

If you have an automatic transmission in your vehicle then you should have the transmission fluid flushed to keep your vehicle well maintained. The transmission is often forgotten until problems...

Amp hours are the standard measure of the energy storage capacity of 12-volt and other batteries. When in use, a battery's voltage remains constant. The current (amperage) varies depending on how...

The serpentine belt on a 1991 Lincoln is a ribbed belt that runs along all the major devices on the motor. This drive belt is what keeps your vehicle, and all of its luxury features, running...

Rustproofing is a simple process. Instead of going to a shop that specializes on rustproofing, you can do it yourself. You will be spending less and you can be sure that the work is top-notch....

The process of painting a car, whether to blend in a new body panel or give the vehicle a completely new look, involves several steps and requires knowledge of the techniques and materials used....

The ignition switch is usually the first thing to get replaced when there is trouble starting a vehicle. It is easy to access and it does not take much time to replace. There are several...

A blown head gasket can not only cause your Chevy 350 engine to run poorly, but if left unattended could cause much longer lasting and more expensive damage to your engine. To ensure against...