Do It Yourself Car Maintenance

Saginaw transmissions are difficult to identify, but with the proper charts and specifications, along with a decent flashlight and inspection mirror, you can do so without any disassembly or...

Though many find removing the engine of a newer computer-controlled car a daunting proposition, the fact is that it's done every day by backyard mechanics. Removing an Intrepid engine is both...

Jeep vehicles use fuses to protect their electrical circuits. If too much current is drawn through one of the circuits on your Jeep, the metal bridge inside the fuse is designed to melt before the...

The Chrysler Crossfire is a compact sports car that shares many chassis components with the Mercedes SLK. This is due to a Chrysler partnership with Mercedes Benz (Daimler-Benz) that lasted until...

E90 is BMW's code name for the fifth generation BMW 3-series, which made its debut in 2005. The BMW E90 vehicles include the 325, 328, 330 and M3 models. This generation of BMW vehicles has an...

Check the headlights on your Buick Lucerne every six months to make sure they are functioning normally. You can buy replacement bulbs at any auto parts store. You'll need the part number on the...

Spark plug wires on your Chevy Beretta should be replaced every 30,000 miles. The plug wires are responsible for delivering the spark to the engine cylinders from the power distributor. This is a...

The exhaust gas recirculation valve, or EGR valve, recirculates the exhaust gases back into the engine for a more complete burn. A plunger mechanism opens and closes to allow the gases to...

BMW has a reputation for building high-quality sporty vehicles. Most BMW models have a trunk-mounted battery, rather than a traditional engine-bay-mounted battery. This is due to limited engine...

Regularly scheduled car maintenance is an essential component to owning a dependable vehicle. The fan belt is a crucial link to properly functioning components such as the power steering pump,...

Chrome bumpers looks great and are quite durable, but over time can become scratched, pitted and rusted, requiring them to be rechromed, which is quite expensive. Or maybe you just don't like the...

Allowing a greater amount of air to enter into the intake, foam "pod" filters have been popular with many motocross racers. Street riders also have take advantage of these inexpensive foam...

Glow plugs for diesel engines warm the engine block so that your diesel engine can begin running. If your glow plugs aren't working properly, you won't be going anywhere. Therefore, it's best to...

Like any bulb, automotive bulbs need to be replaced. Installing a light socket looks complicated at first, but it's not that difficult. In fact, changing a light bulb shouldn't take longer than 10...

Some year models of the Tahoe are equipped with cabin air filters. The air filters help filtrate the air coming through your vents by trapping pollen, dust and other particles. Replacing the cabin...

Rebuilding your own automatic transmission can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over paying someone else to do it or buying a new one. Mechanics routinely charge hundreds of dollars for...

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...

Engine painting can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your vehicle under the hood. This is important for those that are customizing or restoring a vehicle, and one of the best ways...

Ever driven in front of someone who has their headlights aimed incorrectly? It's annoying for sure, and can be blinding. Worse yet, it can cause an accident. Fixing the problem takes no longer...

If you have ever been in a slight fender bender or come back to the parking lot to see a dent in one of your car doors, you've probably noticed that there is some paint scratched into your car...

Need to jump start your car battery? Believe it or not, there is some skill and memorization involved. Here are a few tips on how to jump start your battery safely and correctly.

Being prepared for an emergency may seem like hard work, but trust me it is worth it. My family and I survived an ice storm this last January. We were not as prepared as we should have been and...

A dwell meter is used to check the dwell angle on vehicles with a points-type ignition. Dwell angle is the length of time (measured by the degree of rotation of the distributor cam) the contact...

Alloy wheels look great when they're brand new, but after a few decades or even years of constant use, they can begin to look terrible, detracting from the appearance of the whole car. Unless they...

The Pontiac Aztek was a sort of SUV/car hybrid sold between 2001 and 2005. Since the Aztek was never redesigned, the process of replacing the headlights is the same in all models. Make sure you...

The Chevy Cobalt uses an electronically-assisted power steering system instead of the typical system for most cars, which require power steering fluid. This relatively new system has created...

Nearly all new Toyota vehicles come with a keyless entry remote. This small remote attaches to your key chain and can be used to unlock and lock your car, in addition to activating the panic...

Trailer decals are a challenge to remove from any surface. You don't want to just pull them off and leave part of the decal or adhesive residue. To properly remove the decal and adhesive...

The Ford F150 is a reliable truck that doesn't require a lot of maintenance. However, the truck uses standard halogen bulbs for its headlights, and they require occasional replacement. Replacing...

If you have noticed the air quality in your Mazda becoming poor or the windows fogging up, the cabin filter inside your vehicle may need to be replaced. You should install a new cabin filter about...

With the terrible gas prices these days, you want to get the best possible MPG or miles per gallon out of your car, truck, or suv. In this article, I will share with you the best ways to greatly...

Even the cleanest of cars can sometimes emanate a musty smell that no air freshener can cover up! Learn how to prevent musty smells in your car.

You need to have your car's fuel injectors cleaned periodically. Newer, lower mileage cars warrant less frequent injector cleaning than older, higher mileage ones. Cleaning the fuel injectors will...

The wiper blades on a GMC vehicle should be checked every six months to make sure they are functioning properly. Wiper blades typically fail where the rubber compound meets the glass. When the...

Automobile headlights are one of the most often used and least considered parts of a vehicle. When issues arise with this part of the vehicle, the most common remedy is to simply replace the bulb....

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....

Driving a car with a faulty or burnt out headlamp can not only get you a ticket, but it can be dangerous as well. If you have a Dodge Stratus, changing the headlight is an easy process. You're not...

Wheels are some of the most vulnerable parts on a car. Not only can they get bent from hitting potholes and bumps, but over time alloy wheels can get dull and scratched. Restoring an alloy wheel...

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,...

One of the easiest ways to increase engine horsepower and torque on a 4-cylinder 2.0L Volkswagen Jetta MKIII is to install a performance chip. Not only does a performance chip yield substantial...

If you've ever worked on an old motorcycle, you probably found after a few times that it was fairly easy to do. Depending on the manufacturer, you basically needed to have a metric or standard set...

A Ford engine can be rebuilt in several ways. Be it a 4, 6, 8, or 10 cylinder, many companies makes kits in a variety of flavors, from stock to racing. Known as one of the more reliable...

Replacing the springs and shocks on an older BMW 3 Series like the E30 is one of the best ways to make it feel like new again. Old, worn-out shocks ruin the ride and handling of a car. When...

The Subaru Outback was originally a special trim level package of the Subaru Legacy, offered from 1995 to 1999. For the 2000 model year, Subaru took the Outback name and used it on an entirely new...

Most modern vehicles are equipped with cabin air filters, although each manufacturer may refer to them by a different name. The Chrysler cabin filter is officially known as the A/C filter. Unlike...

3M manufactures a line of window films for residential, commercial and automotive use. The films adhere to glass in order to provide UV protection as well as shield direct sunlight. The films come...

A vehicle's crankshaft sensor sends a signal to the computer to tell it where the engine is in its revolution cycle. The sensor works by picking up the pulses in the magnetic field caused by the...

Your 2008 Honda Civic has several maintenance items that need to be installed on a regular basis. Most of the items require a service technician or experienced professionals. The two primary items...

While preventative maintenance can keep a vehicle's engine running smoothly for years, there's only so much you can do to maintain the vehicle's paint job, especially on the hood. When wear and...

During the winter your truck goes through a lot. Most people drive there cars in the summer, and the trucks in the winter. Before you rely on your truck, check it over and make sure everything is...