Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

Today's vehicles are made to travel hundreds of thousands of worry-free and maintenance-free miles. While there are usually few if any major problems before you reach 100,000 miles on a newer...

Most modern vehicles have some type of air filtration system to keep dust and other particles from entering the air-conditioning vents. The Honda Element has a double-filtration system that uses...

Heavy snow can damage convertible tops. According to the National Ag Safety Database, 1 square foot of snow weighs 20 lbs. Too much weight on the top causes sagging, ripping and other damage. The...

Car batteries drain down over time no matter how much you maintain them. The battery in your 2003 Hyundai Sonata is no exception. When your battery fails, it usually does so at a bad time. While a...

3M is a manufacturer of adhesive products, including a line of acrylic tapes. These high-performance tapes allow secure bonding when applied to automobile parts and accessories. Instead of using...

Cars sometimes get scratches and chips in their finish. Luckily, you can repair most superficial damage by touching up the paint, rather than taking your car to a body shop for an expensive paint...

The wiper motor on a Volkswagen is an electric motor connected through a drive linkage to the wiper arms. Windshield wipers are an integral feature for operating a motor vehicle safely. If your...

Taking your 50cc motorcycle to a shop or a dealer for an oil change can be expensive and time consuming considering that with the right tools you can change your motorcycle's oil in the driveway...

As a car owner, you know how important it is to replace the transmission filter on your Chevy vehicle. A new filter will keep the oil flowing at the right pressure and free of contaminants that...

Holley carburetors are known for their solid performance and strong power-enhancing capabilities. You can find them in vehicles ranging from the mild-mannered four-cylinder family car to the...

The fan belt on your vehicle is designed to operate the fan blades, keeping yor engine cool while it's running. The belt is driven by pulleys around the crankshaft and alternator, turning the fan...

Ok so I noticed that my Engine Maintenance light on my 2001 Honda Accord was blinking and this is different from the check engine light. This one would blink 5 times when I cranked the engine and...

You did your homework. You read all the car reviews and found one of the most reasonably priced, safe and reliable automobiles on the market, the Chevrolet (Chevy) Cobalt. Whether you bought new...

You will learn how to change your cars oil

A steering column attaches the steering wheel or handlebars with the steering gear in a motor vehicle. It is what allows the vehicle to turn and adjust wheel direction from side to side to the...

The throttle position sensor (TPS) is used in fuel-injected and carbureted engines. The TPS is used to monitor the position of the throttle butterfly valve. When the car accelerates, the...

Cracks in the windshield not only can cause the driver to not have a clear view, but they also can lead to other complications such as corrosion to the underlying steel and a compromise of the...

Ford's Super Duty truck series (F250 to F450) is a durable workhorse. Tail lights burn out over time, even in a tough truck like the Ford F350. Replacing the Ford Super Duty tail light is slightly...

The BMW 318 was sold in America until 1999 when it was replaced by later versions of the 3-series. The fog light assembly is basically the same on all BMW vehicles, making these instructions...

The fuse box inside of your car controls the amount of power that moves from the car battery to specific devices on your car, such as the dashboard display, power windows, windshield wipers, dome...

The headlights in your Mitsubishi Galant are designed to provide optimal lighting at night and in bad weather. Because the Galant has composite headlights bolted into position, they do not need to...

Fog lights provide additional lighting in bad weather conditions. Many trim levels of the Nissan Maxima are equipped with them. It only takes a few minutes to replace your fog lights, whether you...

Sparkplugs are a normal maintenance item that need to be replaced. While most modern sparkplugs are good for 100,000 miles, they are subject to early failure sometimes. You can easily replace your...

Improperly adjusted valves are one of the most commonly overlooked causes of many engine problems, including misfires, a lack of power or high-speed performance, and backfires. Thankfully,...

The EGR valve is a relatively simple device that reduces harmful emissions from your engine. EGR stands for exhaust gas recirculation, the method of emission reduction the valve uses. The Buick...

The glow plugs on your Ford engine are designed to preheat the engine in diesel systems, allowing the motor to start easier, especially in cold weather climates. These glow plugs eventually wear...

The Suzuki XL7 has an air conditioner filter element that helps maintain air quality inside your vehicle. This filter is usually known as a cabin air filter. A dirty cabin air filter can restrict...

The distributor cap on your Honda Accord helps to transfer the high voltage power from the ignition coil to the spark plug wires. However, carbon traces and cracks on this plastic cap may develop...

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 fuel filter on your Ford Escape model does a good job of trapping dirt and debris that try to make their way into the fuel system. However, if you neglect the system, the filter will begin to...

When changing your starter, the most important connection you can make is from the battery, which provides the power, to the starter itself. There are only two possible connectors, but making the...

Camper shells are convenient and handy. You can put all different types of things in them, and it keeps the bed and its contents protected from the elements. But if a window gets broken by an...

If your clearcoat wheels have gotten stained over time, then you probably either exposed them to heat or harsh cleaning chemicals. Fortunately, you can safely clean your clearcoated wheels--and...

Engine coolant is a chemical solution that keeps your car from overheating. It helps the radiator and cooling system keep the engine at the correct temperature for optimum operation. Several types...

The Ford Ranger features a hydraulic clutch system that was common to the Ford Explorer. The hydraulic clutch system should be "bled" to replace the brake fluid and can be done so by following a...

Automotive hydraulic braking systems can sometimes squeal and squeak, which can indicate excessive wear and the need for repair. Disc brakes are designed to squeal when they have a low amount of...

Many performance enthusiasts not only want a faster engine, but better handling and cornering as well. Modifying the suspension system of a car allows enthusiasts to get the most out of their...

You may have recently gotten a ticket for the film being too dark, or you want to the change the film to a different color or degree of darkness. Removing window film is a challenge, and it leaves...

Just because a truck is used for work does not mean it has to look worn out. Applying a liner to the bed of your truck will protect it from scratches. This work can be very expensive if done...

Sooner or later, most windshields will get hit by a pebble or stone that will cause a small chip or crack. Even minor damage to automotive glass can accentuate glare, which is potentially...

Performing your own simple maintenance on your vehicle will keep it running longer and save you money. Changing the transmission fluid on a Jeep Grand Cherokee is easy and quick. A good rule of...

Transmission fluid is a petroleum-based product that provides lubrication, viscosity and power to the transmission of a vehicle. The fluid helps cool the friction created between the moving...

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valves on some Honda Odesseys clog up and do not operate properly, resulting in a faulty error message rather than being recognized as a valve problem. If your...

Retail windshield washing fluid is available for purchase at all superstores and auto supply stores, but many times these products are more expensive than what we would like to pay and don't work...

If you find that your car drifts to one side while driving straight, you are in need of an wheel alignment. Wheel Alignment takes a shop a little over an hour to do, and will cost around...

If you have ever tried to drive when the lights are out on your dashboard, you know how hazardous in can be. The lightbulbs that illuminate the instrument cluster of your vehicle operate just like...

Wiper blades are a simple, yet crucial part of your Mazda vehicle. If your wiper blades are scraping, squealing or not doing a good job increasing visibility, it's time to replace them. Wiper...

A mower belt is a strong band made of rubber that goes from the mower's engine pulley to the pulley wheels on top of your mower deck and causes the cutting blades to turn once the engine is turned...

Most everyone takes the time to winterize their home. But when it comes to their car many of us either don't know how or never think that it also needs to be prepared for the winter season. But...

Don't worry; it's not your fault. This kind of thing happens; fuel tanks crack. It's time to stop obsessing over the problem; it's time to fix it. Do not skip ahead just yet. Before fixing the...