Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

Oldsmobile is a defunct car company shut down by General Motors in the early 2000s. However, you can still find parts and accessories for the cars. If you were part of an accident, fender bender...

The cabin air filters in your Honda Acura are in the inlet side of the blower motor, which is inside the car, above the glove compartment. Their purpose is to remove all contaminants from the...

Birds, especially in the spring mating season, can be very territorial. If they see themselves reflected in your car's side-view mirror, they become quite aggressive toward the "intruder." They...

Ford Motor Co. utilizes paints that are suited specifically to the automotive manufacturing industry. Manufacturers understand that damage can occur to the painted surface of vehicles due to...

Sometimes rain can come on without warning, and if you happened to leave the windows down in your vehicle, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. Of all things, one wouldn't expect water to...

It is important to replace the spark plugs on your Chevrolet Trailblazer every 20,000 or 30,000 miles to maintain engine performance and fuel economy. However, if you mostly drive your Trailblazer...

Campers are constantly exposed to the elements, leaving the roofs susceptible to water and sun damage over time. Liquid EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber is an effective protectant...

The Volkswagen Passat has been sold around the world since 1973, although it wasn't always called the Passat in America. The American Passat had an identity crisis; it was first called the Fox,...

The strength of your golf cart is determined by the batteries---the stronger the batteries, the more power your golf cart will have. As with all batteries, you must eventually change the batteries...

Rusted bolts are a pain to remove, and trying to get out a rusted Allen bolt is even tougher. Unfortunately, you'll probably loose the bolt in the process, but if you do it right, you can get the...

Filters are an important part of any mechanical device. By removing impurities and ensuring that clean ingredients are used in the cars' drive train, the right filters can increase gas mileage,...

A diesel pump's full name is a diesel injection pump, and like the name suggests, is responsible for injecting fuel into the firing cylinders of diesel engines. It is important to remember that,...

The fuel filter on a Ford F-250 is a small metal cylinder located along the truck's frame. The fuel filter must be changed periodically to keep dirt and moisture from clogging the fuel injectors....

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...

Regular fluid changes are crucial to keep an Audi's automatic transmission performing reliably and smoothly. Over time, the fluid in an automatic transmission becomes dirty, which can lead to...

As your car ages, normal wear and tear can affect the fuel line. Connectors and fittings corrode, and weathering of the fuel line itself forms cracks in the line material. The fuel line begins at...

When a vehicle's starter solenoid fails, a variety of problems can result--most notably the engine does not crank or is slow in cranking. Other problems include failure of the starter motor to...

The headlights in your 2002 GMC Yukon Denali are very simple to replace, requiring no tools. This should take a mere five minutes of your time. Headlight replacement is the same in all Yukon...

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....

Cabin air filters prevent pollutants and allergens from entering the passenger cab of the vehicle. The Honda Element features two cabin air filters that sit side by side. Depending on the type of...

Deer whistles have been around since the late 1970s. They are a small device that is attached to the front of a vehicle. As air moves through this device it produces an ultrasonic whistling noise....

The cabin filter on Mercedes Benz C320 ensures that fresh air enters the car from outside. Over time the filter gets clogged up with dust and particulates. It can get damp and retain moisture,...

Rust occurs when oxygen and moisture react with metal to corrode and weaken the surface. If this process continues unabated, it can weaken the metal to a point where it will break. Light cars and...

The Q45 was sold in the U.S. until 2006, although it is still sold in some parts of the world. It is built by Nissan and sold through its luxury brand, Infiniti. The last Q45 redesign occured in...

The fuel system in your vehicle is under intense pressure. If you were to change the fuel filter in your Ford without relieving the fuel system pressure, you would risk a severe injury. There are...

Whether it came equipped with one or not, the Ford Focus has the capacity to install a cabin air filter. A cabin air filter helps eliminate pollutants and allergens from entering the passenger cab...

Although a talented automotive mechanic can find most engine problems by touch, smell and sound, some problems are beyond the abilities of even the most experienced. This is where advanced...

Repairing damaged rims has always been a cottage industry in the automotive world, but it has come to the forefront in the last decade since the proliferation of extremely low profile tires. Rim...

A 1965 Ford Mustang's dash pad is one of the most noticeable components in the car's interior. After years of sitting in the sun and improper care, the dash pads begin to crack and warp, which...

Changing and draining the power steering fluid of an automobile is as important as getting an oil change and can be done by the car owner. Remove the cap of the power steering reservoir and suck...

Calcium chloride buildup is essentially just salt crust. Particularly in colder climates, calcium chloride buildup becomes a problem on concrete floors and in the carpets of cars as winter...

Though the 350 engine is a generally reliable platform, many experience overheating problems with time or modification. There are as many solutions as there are causes for this particular issue,...

The key to protecting your engine is the oil. Although a quality oil like Valvoline or Mobile 1 is important, keeping it clean and at the right level is half of the battle to keeping your engine...

The CV drive axle in your car connects your transmission to your drive wheels, allowing the drive shaft to turn the wheels at a constant velocity regardless of terrain. A joint connects the two...

Sway bars, also known as "anti-roll" or "stabilizer" bars, are an important part of any car suspension. Designed to add another degree of suspension control over springs and dampers alone, these...

The cabin air filter in the 2005 Honda Accord prevents pollutants and allergens from entering the passenger cab of the vehicle. Located behind the glove compartment, the filter cleanses the air...

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are light-truck vehicles that are similar in use and production value to station wagons. Most aren't equipped with third-row seats, but with a few easy adjustments,...

Flammable and chemical storage cabinets are used to store hazardous substances. Many chemicals are flammable and can ignite rather violently with other substances. Safe cabinet storage is required...

As a vehicle is exposed to the elements, a car will begin to age. While this applies to the mechanical aspects of the car, the aging process also affects the surface of the vehicle. For example,...

Gel cell batteries are internally sealed from the outside environment. They are some of the safest batteries on the market. During the charging process, the individual cells do not emit an...

This article discusses removal of the current-generation-chassis Chrysler 300's rack and pinion steering system. This chassis and its steering components are used in many Chrysler vehicles,...

Cutting a Mustang's springs is a cheaper alternative to purchasing and installing lowering springs, which can cost several hundred dollars. Simply cutting them is free and will result in a lower...

Every Nissan Murano is equipped with a factory-installed cabin air filter. Nissan officially refers to this filter as the "in-cab microfilter." Since the Murano was redesigned in 2008, the...

Seized bolts can occur on any mechanical device. Typically the bolts rust due to excessive moisture and lack of any lubrication maintenance. Bolt arrangements make for a variety of extraction...

Installing a new carpet kit in your Corvette is one of the easiest and most effective ways to refresh the interior and make it feel like new again. Old carpeting gets faded, torn, worn thin and...

Saab currently offers three models: 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7x. The 9-7x SUV does not have a factory-installed cabin air filter. The 9-3 cabin air filter must be serviced by the dealer. But owners of the...

If the air in your car seems stuffy, it may be because the cabin air filter needs replacing, a routine maintenance task. Different models of vehicles have different locations for the air filter,...

Rough idling can be caused by a number of things. If the engine's self-diagnostic system isn't of any help, then diagnosing the problem is a process of elimination. An engine requires three...

The time has come to replace the timing belt on your 2002 Honda Accord. You know you can do the job yourself if you know the right procedure--and you are right. Installing a new belt on your Honda...

Although import cars have used cabin air filters for quite a few years, it is still a relatively new component in the U.S. And even though Honda and other import manufacturers have integrated them...