Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

Squeaky car radio antennas take a convenient feature and turn it into an annoyance. As you drive, dust and grit in the air will stick to the antenna, making it stick. Like all things that are...

The handlebar grips on your Honda Ruckus are a very important part of the way your scooter feels to ride and maneuver. By increasing the coefficient of friction between your hands and the...

The windshield wipers standard on most vehicles today consist of a rubber wiper blade attached to a plastic or metal structure that clips into a metal wiper arm. Anco, a subsidiary of Federal...

Bugs fly down and smash into your car's windshield each and every day. The bugs leave not only their bodies, but feces and other fragments on the windshield and other parts of your car. You try to...

Like most specialty import cars, the MINI Cooper requires specialized maintenance and maintenance products to keep it running like new. Coolant is no exception. Because the MINI has an aluminum...

The winter season brings cold rains, snow and cold temperatures. The season also brings ice. In some regions, the ice is heavy. The ice seems to find your car's windshield quickly and with a...

Globs of paint from spills or touch ups can ruin the paint job on any car. Globs can be small or large drips or just touched up paint that looks like a lump, and either of those can be an...

Rushing out to your car and realizing the battery is dead is frustrating. You can get someone to give you a jump if you have a set of jumper cables, but even then, you still must recharge your...

You want to add a name to your car title, but navigating the world of the Department of Motor Vehicles can be a lot like reading a foreign language--aggravating and confusing. Do not worry--adding...

The Chevrolet Malibu was one of Chevy's most popular mid-sized automobiles, and is most commonly associated with the muscle-car era. The Malibu uses a simple cooling system consisting primarily of...

As a vehicle travels down a roadway, it often encounters road surfaces that are less than smooth, such as potholes and breaks in the pavement. Shock absorbers reduce the impact of these surfaces...

Your vehicle has several pulleys that allow various components such as the alternator and power steering pump, to rotate with attached belts. These pulleys can become worn and require replacement....

The power steering for a Jeep Cherokee is powered by a rotary vane pump that is designed to transmit power to the steering system when force is applied to it. When you turn the steering wheel, the...

If the automatic transmission in your Jeep Cherokee is slipping, especially when cold, it's probably time to add fluid. The process is simple and straightforward. The best time to check the...

Removing the radiator from a Jeep can be done easily at home without the need to purchase special tools. A standard set of tools will work just fine. Before beginning, the engine must be cooled to...

At first glance, pre-2010 Chevrolet Equinox headrests do not appear to be removable, but they can be removed with ease. A small safety pin latches the headrests and holds them in place. To release...

C6 is the codename for the sixth-generation of Chevrolet Corvettes. The model was released in 2005, and is scheduled to be replaced in the 2013 model year. Both the base model and the Z06 package...

When replacing ball joints on your vehicle, it will be necessary to raise the vehicle. A floor jack makes the process of raising the vehicle safer. All floor jacks are not created equal, however....

The Honda Fit was introduced in the United States for the 2007 model year, but the Fit has been sold around the world for years (known as the Honda Jazz). The surge in U.S. gas prices from 2005 to...

Replacing rear shocks on a Chevy Blazer is rather easy. The purpose for this routine maintenance repair is to increase tire life and improve vehicle stability. As shock absorbers wear, their...

A trickle charger slowly charges a battery. Trickle chargers are designed to add power to a battery at the same rate the battery discharges itself over short time periods. In this way, the battery...

Regularly reading the fluid levels in the engine compartment of your Prius is a quick and easy way to check up on the health of your vehicle. The fluid reservoirs are accessible and the levels...

Changing rear brake pads may sound like a daunting task. However, this project is not much harder than an oil change, if the right tools are available and precautions are taken. With a good jack,...

Changing oil is one of the most common do-it yourself activities among vehicle owners. This procedure doesn't require any extensive training or automotive knowledge and can be performed by any...

The check engine light in a Honda indicates that service is needed on the vehicle. Unfortunately, once the service is completed, the light doesn't go out on its own. You will need to use a special...

A Corvette typically has flip-up headlights. These headlights require a special star wrench made for adjusting GM headlights on the Corvette. The wrench can be purchased from most auto parts...

Replacing your Ford six-way power seat is a straightforward task. You only need a socket wrench to unbolt the seat and a strong back to pull the seat out of your vehicle. You can purchase an...

Removing the transmission from your Jeep is quite an undertaking. Transmissions are heavy pieces of equipment, and you must first do some preparation work. Also, safety is a big issue, so be sure...

The exhaust of your car is responsible for expelling the hit gasses from the engine and pushing them out the back of the vehicle. Since most exhausts are made of steel, they can get cold when the...

While driving down the road it can be quite an inconvenience to realize your windshield wipers are worn out when it begins to rain. A quick splash of water on your windshield can be enough to...

The air filter in your Honda CRV needs to be checked and replaced every time you change your oil. If the air filter is black, then replace it. Otherwise, you can continue running with the same air...

The headlights on your Hyundai Azera may need to be adjusted if you've just had them replaced The headlight assembly has two adjustment screws. One screw will move the headlights horizontally...

The headlight on the Honda Fit should be periodically checked and replaced if it goes out. Headlights for the Fit can be purchased from most auto parts stores. You need to know the part number of...

The Pontiac Aztek was produced from 2001-2005, and was an SUV designed for going off-road and on camping excursions. Like any vehicle, the Aztek needs routine maintenance, including replacing the...

The headlights in an Audi will likely need replacing once a year. The headlights for most Audis are high intensity discharge (HID) units. These headlights use a special ballast and require a...

Almost all modern Hyundais feature different sized wiper blades between the driver's side and the passenger side. Slightly offset wiper arms require a larger blade on the driver's side to wipe and...

Repair your suspension on your car by replacing the shock absorbers. These assist in providing a smooth ride. You can test the shocks by pushing down on the back end of the car and observing how...

Troubleshooting your Dodge truck for poor acceleration or stalling may lead to a faulty fuel pump. If you have replaced the fuel filter and your troubleshooting shows that the fuel pump is the...

The antifreeze inside your Toyota Highlander keeps the water in your engine's cooling system from freezing in cold temperatures. Water freezing inside the cooling system could severely damage the...

Most people don't know when a brake light bulb goes out on their vehicle, because it's difficult to hold down the brake switch and walk around to the back of the vehicle at the same time. So when...

Car batteries contain approximately 21 pounds of lead, 3 pounds of plastic and 1 gallon of sulfuric acid. Because car batteries contain these extremely toxic components, disposal must be properly...

Replacing radiator hoses on most passenger cars and light trucks can be accomplished with the proper tools, a few tricks, some elbow grease and patience. Before opening up any part of the engine...

When you're feeling every bump in the road, it may be time to replace the shocks on your Chevrolet Blazer. The shocks absorb and dissipate a bumpy ride. The shock absorber is a piston that moves...

As "Popular Mechanics" observes in the article "How to Repair Your Car Scratch: Saturday Mechanic" (www.popularmechanics.com), not all scratches are created equal. Upon close examination it may be...

Removing the pulley on the alternator should only take a few minutes. The trickiest part is that it may be stuck on the alternator and hard to remove. Using the vice will help ensure the much...

With all of the safety features incorporated into our vehicles, some of the most basic features rely completely upon the driver's understanding and recognition of a problem. Case in point:...

It is easy to forget about your windshield wiper blades during the pleasant summer months, and many are caught by surprise by faulty, frayed blades during the first fall or winter storm. Proper...

An oil filter change is a basic but critical part of an automobile's maintenance plans. As the oil circulates throughout the engine, it gradually picks up very small metal shavings and other...

Golf carts have become an increasingly desirable means of transportation in warmer climates throughout the south and west. People have enjoyed taking their carts through communities and down small...

Over time the rubber material on a car's heater hoses may crack or even break. When this occurs, the hoses will need replacement. The heater hoses are easy to identify, as they are two hoses that...