Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

The idle control valve in your vehicle is mounted on the throttle body and controls the air flow into the engine from around the throttle body. The valve, as the name suggests, controls the idle....

You just removed your heater core per my instructions in the resources section and are ready to install the new one. These are the steps to follow in order to install your new heater core.

You’re driving around in your GMC Jimmy and you notice a puddle of antifreeze on the floor in front of the passenger’s seat. You turn on your defroster and instead of the windows getting...

Most automobile engines begin to drain your wallet once they go over 200,000 miles. Repeatedly checking and adding oil, blue smoke coming from the tailpipe and clattering sounds may ruin your day....

Repairing or replacing the heater core on a Jeep Cherokee is a complicated procedure, and might be best left to a professional. However, it can be done with basic hand tools, provided the...

Exhaust manifolds usually become the most unattractive parts in your engine bay, especially after years of use. It's very easy for an exhaust manifold to become covered with rust, soot and grease....

Generally speaking, unless one is doing a complete restoration, replacing a two piece rear main seal with a one-piece is the preferable option. Many companies make single-piece conversion kits,...

The alternator in a Mercedes S420 is the generator that supplies power to the electrical components in the vehicle. Without the alternator, the car would have to rely entirely on the battery....

The Audi Coupe Quattro was made in 1990 and 1991 as part of Audi's 90 Series. In addition to being an all-wheel-drive car, it is powered by an inline-five-cylinder motor. Replacing the timing belt...

Coolant, or antifreeze, protects a car's motor from rust and corrosion by providing a cooling system that prevents overheating. Honda recommends that the coolant in a Civic be changed every...

A broken windshield usually means it's time to call in the pros but you can save yourself quite a bit on the bill if you remove the auto glass before the technician arrives to install the new one....

The F-150 is Ford's best-selling truck. Like all Ford trucks, the F-150 uses two ball joints mounted on the upper and lower control arms to guide the suspension. The joints on the F-150 are...

If the ac in your Mark VIII does not work properly you may have a faulty blend door motor. This article will show you how to have your ac working again in only a few hours.

If you have noticed that your car's mileage has plummeted, you may have a problem with your fuel injector. Cleaning the fuel injector is nearly always the best way to resolve this type of issue....

You may not even realize that your alternator has gone, as the battery holds enough of a charge to keep you going for several starts. Once the battery is drained, you won't be able to do any at...

Removing the heater core in a car is challenging and takes time. Because of the time and labor needed, this a high-cost labor item at a garage compared to the cost of the parts. Most of the cost...

Removing the instrument panel from a vehicle is generally a complicated process. There are several external parts you first need to disconnect, like trim panels and the steering wheel. However,...

A head gasket is what seals the head (the part that contains the valve train) to the block. Without this, the engine would not only leak coolant into the engine bay but also into the cylinders and...

Hey there it is time for, Why is My Luxury Car My Cadillac STS leaking OIL! WOW! It's $2800.00 to fix! What did I do wrong? or as I say "OH NO MR. BILL" its "Sluggo". ...

A Ford Ranger's heater core, like in any vehicle, generates the heat for your HVAC unit. If your heater isn't generating heat, the core needs to be replaced. Installing the core after removing it...

To paint a car using spray cans is almost not recommended, at least in my book! I have actually painted a car using spray cans, many years ago. While it IS possible, I cannot recommend it, since...

A car body kit is anything added to a car's outer frame to personalize it. Some people think body kits can make a car safer by balancing it out, while others believe they can make them more...

Since the 1980s, the Toyota Camry has embodied class, style and customer-friendly repair as Toyota has made the Camry's part-installation and replacement process approachable for everyone. No...

Adjusting the timing on a Toyota Tundra to advance the timing for horsepower gains or to install aftermarket performance parts is common. Hoever, changing the timing on a Toyota Tundra is a...

Replacing the heater core in your Honda Accord shouldn't be attempted without complete knowledge of the car's interior. You must remove the dashboard to reach the heater core, which is connected...

Replacing a heater core in the Volkswagen "New" Beetle isn't a simple matter of removing and installing the core itself. You must remove the car's entire instrument panel, air bag and steering...

For over 100 years, the Ford Motor Company has made cars that are a staple of American motor culture. The Ford Explorer upholds that tradition and its dependability allows for the owner to even...

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a family urban vehicle geared for any type of adventure. It has evolved into another mid-sized family SUV that offers comfort and style. Putting a fuel tank into your...

Since 1995, the Toyota Tacoma has been a reliable and accessible pick-up truck. The Tacoma has a big enough flat bed to hold even the largest of loads, but even the big guys need repairs...

In the late 1960s, the Chevy Camaro became the cool racing car everyone wanted to drive. Chevy has adjusted the Camaro model numerous times to fit society's evolving needs, but the overall stylish...

Chrysler offers a lot of different choices for minivans such as the Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan and the Plymouth Grand Voyager. The Town & Country model offers a comfortable interior as...

The Ford Mustang became part of American car culture during the 1960s, and the roads haven't been the same since. When you install a fuel tank into your Ford Mustang, you get a better...

No matter how much you baby your car, even if you park it at the far end of the lot all by itself and walk the extra distance into the store, whether you keep it in the garage or outside, somebody...

Adjusting the timing in a Lincoln Navigator requires reprogramming the powertrain control module. Changing the timing on a Lincoln Navigator to maximize horsepower gains from aftermarket...

Adjusting the timing on a Mitsubishi 3000GT requires special tools and a working knowledge of car programming systems. Under normal conditions, the Mitsubishi 3000GT engine control module or ECM...

Adjusting the timing on a Toyota Highlander is required with many aftermarket performance parts, but the only way to do this is to flash the ECU. Adjusting the timing in a Toyota Highlander to...

Adjusting the timing on a Toyota Tacoma requires special tools and a working knowledge of car programming systems. Under normal conditions, the Toyota Tacoma ECU adjusts the timing automatically,...

Replacing a heater core in a Volkswagen Passat is not an easy task and not for the unprepared. The heating/air conditioning assembly is located behind the instrument panel, and the entire panel...

Adjusting the timing on a Dodge Durango requires special tools and a clear understanding of engine mechanics. Changing the timing for the installation of aftermarket performance parts is common...

The Dodge intrepid can't be tuned in a traditional manner as engine management is performed by the powertrain control module or PCM. Changing the timing on a Dodge Intrepid to add aftermarket...

Adjusting the timing on a Ford Focus requires an Internet connection, special tools and a working knowledge of automotive computer programming. The onboard computer controls the Ford Focus timing,...

Adjusting the timing on a Ford Focus requires special tools, an Internet connection and considerable knowledge of engine mechanics. Changing the timing on a Ford Explorer for aftermarket...

Adjusting the timing on a Hyundai Santa Fe is not part of a tune up as the powertrain control module or PCM keeps the timing adjusted automatically. Adding aftermarket performance parts...

The Kia Spectra uses an ignition system without a distributor that requires no adjustment under normal circumstances. Adding aftermarket performance parts or fuel boosting hardware means...

Replacing a Mazda6's heater core is not recommended for those who don't completely know the car's interior. You must remove multiple components, including the steering column and dashboard, in...

Replacing a heater core in your Mitsubishi Galant sounds simple enough, but there is a lot more to it. You must remove several items from the interior just to reach the core, primarily the...

Like most models, replacing a Mitsubishi Eclipse's heater core isn't as difficult as getting to the core itself. You must remove the entire instrument panel first, which requires a second person's...

The heater housing unit on a Mitsubishi 3000GT is located behind the instrument panel. If you need to replace the heater core you must remove the entire panel in order to get to it. This is the...

The Nissan Altima's heater core is inside the heater unit near the air conditioning housing assembly. Removing it isn't simple, because you must remove the instrument panel from inside the car in...

Replacing the heater core in a Pontiac Grand Am is simple enough. But reaching the core is another matter. It is positioned behind the instrument panel, which must be removed. Confirm all removal...