Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

It's that time of the year again, when Mother Nature makes driving rough, but there are things you can do to get ready and make your winter travel less stressful.

It is a good idea to replace the positive crankcase ventilation, or PCV, valve at your car manufacturer-recommended intervals. The PCV valve is part of a closed ventilation system on your 1988...

Although not the most glamorous part of a vehicle, the radiator is one of its most important components. The radiator, along with the water pump, is responsible for keeping the engine within its...

The power steering system in a car or truck is one of the unsung heros of automotive invention. If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle at ten miles per hour without power steering, you know how...

A vehicle's water pump circulates water throughout the engine components to keep them cool during normal operation. If the water pump goes bad on your Honda Passport, it is important to replace it...

Honda cars are available all around the world and have won awards from Car and Driver Magazine, Kelley's Blue Book, and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration awards for Best...

If you ever have to replace your heater core, it’s a good time to replace the heater hoses if they have not been replaced in many years. You may also have to replace the heater hoses if they are...

A car's throttle body generally requires very little maintenance, and many cars can run well over 100,000 miles without a throttle body cleaning. However, thoroughly cleaning the throttle body...

A Mercedes-Benz is a precision machine, one of the best Europe has to offer. They are also expensive, the most costly component being the engine under the hood. Learning to check some basic...

If your radiator is working properly, but there is no heat coming from the heater inside the passenger compartment, it is probably the fault of one of the other components. Testing these...

There are ways to buy a used car and ways NOT to buy one. Unless you're going to pull a Forest Gump on me, the best tip I can pass on is: VISUAL INSPECTION. Yep, look it over from front to back on...

When you begin to have experience problems with your power steering, do not just assume that something is wrong with the steering gear. It is an important and complex part of the whole steering...

An oil cooler is a must on your motorcycle. Whether you do touring or just drive it around town at night, keeping your oil as cool as possible will keep you from having to do major repairs to your...

How to keep your car radiator in good condition.

There aren’t many diesel cars in the U.S but for those of you that do own one, it’s a great idea to make it run on biodiesel. It’s good for the environment and smells better then diesel. So let’s...

If the heater core goes out in your vehicle, it may be necessary to bypass it to keep the cooling system working and to keep coolant from pouring into the passenger compartment. Bypassing is not a...

If you see coolant leaking out from under your car's dashboard or if no hot air is being blown out though the car's vents, you may have a heater core problem. Buying a few new tools and replacing...

As time goes by, the coolant hoses need to be replaced. You need to inspect for signs of replacing. At this time you can also check any other hoses and replace them if necessary. So let’s get...

To install new front brake hoses, replace fitting rings and washers to create the best possible seal. Install the brake hose on the passenger side of a car with the tips in this free video on car...

When replacing front brake hoses, make sure the hoses and fittings are clean and dry and do pressure tests to determine strength of the seals. Check the brake fluid when replacing front brake...

Before bleeding brakes when replacing front brake hoses, remove any air in the brake lines to insure that braking pressure will be applied directly to the brake pads. Get the brakes of a car...

When replacing front brake hoses, pump the brakes to let the air out of the braking system in order to bleed the brakes. Bleed the brakes when replacing front brake hoses with the tips in this...

Install tires and wheels after replacing front brake hoses by reversing the procedures used to remove them. Learn how to put tires and wheels back on a car when replacing front brake hoses in this...

After replacing front brake hoses, lower the vehicle one side at a time after removing rails, jack stands and other supports. Learn how to lower a car when replacing front brake hoses in this free...

When replacing front brake hoses, top off brake fluid, but be sure not to exceed brake level line or brake system will not ventilate properly. Check the brake fluid a final time when replacing...

When replacing front brake hoses on a car, jack up the car one side at a time, then place a jack stand under both sides. Jack up a vehicle when replacing front brake hoses with the tips in this...

After removing the tires from a vehicle when replacing front brake hoses, place the tires underneath the vehicle for added protection should the vehicle fall. Remove tires and wheels when...

When replacing front brake hoses, make sure that the master cylinder is filled all the way up with fluid. Check brake fluid when replacing front brake hoses with the tips in this free video on car...

To make sure the hoses are the front brake hoses, examine the colors and shape of the clamp which connects the hoses to the car. Verify the correct hoses when replacing front brake hoses with the...

When replacing front brake hoses, clean the brake and hose fittings with brake cleaner and a wire brush. Clean fittings when replacing front brake hoses with the tips in this free video on car...

When replacing front brake hoses, lubricate the fittings with brake cleaner and remove the dirt, which could damage the brake system. Lubricate fittings when replacing front brake hoses with the...

Make sure to open brake lines when replacing front brake hoses to drain brake system but do not let the master cylinder go dry. Open brake lines when replacing front brake hoses with the tips in...

When replacing front brake hoses, loosen hose fittings with a ratchet, then turn hoses upside down to drain. Remove hoses when replacing front brake hoses with the tips in this free video on car...

Install front brake hoses by sliding them into the banjo fittings of the old hoses, then tightening the compression washers. Learn hose installation tips when replacing front brake hoses in this...

When replacing front brake hoses on a car, make sure to check fluid level and clean off any fluid that may have leaked or spilled outside of the fluid reservoir. Check fluid level when replacing...

When replacing front brake hoses, do not let the master cylinder go dry; stop the bleed off from master cylinder if at all possible. Check the master cylinder when replacing front brake hoses with...

When replacing front brake hoses on a car, make sure the brake is set and the transmission is in park when raising the jack. Learn about safety tips when replacing front brake hoses in this free...

Among the tools needed for replacing the front brake hoses on a care are wrenches, sockets and ratchets, plus a jack. Find out tools needed for replacing front brake hoses in this free video on...

To remove lug nuts when replacing front brake hoses, break the lug nuts loose before jacking up the car, turning each lug nut a quarter turn. Remove lug nuts when replacing front brake hoses with...

Checking a car's radiator hoses involves squeezing them to see if they have good elasticity. Squeeze car radiator hoses with tips from an automotive service excellence (ASE)-certified master auto...

If the heating system in your Honda Civic is not producing hot air, there can be a number of reasons for this. The biggest cause is a faulty heater core. You need to make certain there isn't...

Waking up to a puddle of fluid on the driveway is no way to start the day. While most leaks can be attributed to engine or transmission fluids, one culprit may leave you struggling to turn the...

The first telltale sign that you're experiencing problems in your vehicle's heating system is the absence of heat coming from the heat registers. The blower motor is running and you feel air, but...

One of the problems that car owners may experience is when the heater is not heating properly. It can be very uncomfortable for passengers, especially in the winter months. This is actually a very...

The P0174 trouble code detected by your Ford V8 engine control unit--or engine computer--is warning you about an excess of oxygen in the exhaust system. During normal operation, the engine...

The power steering system on your car operates under high pressure, making leaks a common problem. To find and fix a leak, there are several points you need to inspect between the steering pump...

As your Chevy Cobalt ages, there are several factors that will sap its power and leave you with a sluggish, less powerful vehicle. One way to make sure you keep that new Cobalt zip is by...

Regular maintenance and cleaning of your car's radiator will keep the water flowing more efficiently, thus keeping your heating and cooling system in operable condition. Lime and mineral deposits...

A radiator hose failure will always end your road trip. That's pretty much the assumption. However, maybe it won't if you follow the tips in this article. Knowledge is power. By learning about...

Whether you own the Z28 V6 or V8, it is very important to keep your machine running at its best. A regular tune-up should be part of the regular maintenance schedule every 30,000 or 40,000 miles....