Professional Car Maintenance

When you register a car, you may be required by your state's Department of Motor Vehicles to have a smog check performed on your car. Instead of having to find a auto mechanic that also does smog...

Chrome and alloy wheels have long been a source of problems for slow leaks and bead leaks on cars and trucks. While they look nice and add to the overall appearance of the vehicle, they are prone...

Snap-on has a long history of making professional grade auto mechanic tools that are reliable and designed to make a mechanic's job easier. Its line of torque wrenches is no exception. Whether you...

Regardless of whether they are providing electricity to power a car or an entire city, alternators essentially work in the same way. Through the use of coiled copper wire and magnets, an...

Most home mechanics avoid replacing their own brake lines because of the seeming difficulty of bending the brake lines. Those who have tried to do this know how easy it is to kink the line and...

People tint their car windows for a variety of reasons. Some do it for privacy while others for controlling the temperature of their vehicles. Others do it for reasons of vehicle safety because...

Clack, clack, clack. That's the sound you don't want to hear when driving a front-wheel drive vehicle. The loud clacking noise you hear when turning means the constant velocity joints are shot. A...

Cylinder plating refers to coatings that are given to engine cylinders or the metal piece in which cylinders are drilled or formed to give the pistons space to move. This is one of the most easily...

Checking an engine for blow by requires expertise not usually found in a do it yourself set-up. Certain steps will require precision instruments and expert knowledge to read the instruments and do...

Maintaining your Honda car to last for many years is not a big secret. First you did the best thing by buying a Honda to begin with. They are fantastic cars that hold their value and are known...

The modern internal combustion engine is a remarkable device in many ways. It is literally the engine of our mobile society, bringing goods to market and people to wherever they need to be. Even...

Cylinder head rebuilding tools fall into one of three basic categories: Assembly/Disassembly, Measurement and Machining. For a quick rebuild of stock cylinder heads in good condition, the only...

The Accord is one of the most popular sedans produced by Honda, a leading Japanese automobile manufacturer. This car has gained notable recognition since its inception in 1982, mainly because of...

Many versions of both the Dodge and Chrysler Neon have had head gasket problems and failures. According to AA1Car.com, many Neons experience head gasket failure fairly early in their lifetimes,...

How do you know if an automobile extended warranty is right for you? If you don't have $4,000 to pay for a new engine, or $2,000 to pay for a new transmission, you may consider protecting your...

The muffler on a Dodge diesel mutes the resonance created by the engine. Over time, the muffler may need to be changed due to corrosion or rust caused by excessive moisture in the air. The muffler...

The serpentine drive belt wraps around the pulleys on the car's engine and drives the cooling fan, the alternator and numerous other parts, If the tension on your car's belt is not correct, it can...

Gel coat consists of polyester resin that's pigmented to match any color needed. Gel coat is used on fiberglass applications such as boats, hot tubs, showers and pools. Gel coat is a very strong...

BMW owners have the option of purchasing an extended warranty coverage called the BMW Maintenance Program Upgrade. This package offers an extended period of coverage for maintenance of all new...

Steering problems on a Chevy truck can be an indication of a serious problem in your vehicle and should be paid close attention. Knowing how to troubleshoot these problems efficiently can save you...

The drive shaft is a mechanical shaft or pole that transmits mechanical power from an engine to a vehicle's wheels. The shaft is equipped with rotating gear apparatus at both ends that connect to...

Alignment is the state of arranging or placing items into a line, as defined by Funk & Wagnall's "New International Dictionary of the English Language." The verb tense of alignment is "align."...

A fuel leak from a gas tank can not only be costly but can be very dangerous if the leak were to catch on fire. Several things can cause a gas leak including rusting of the straps holding the...

The transmission of your car is a mechanism that changes the gears of the engine as you drive. The transmission makes your car go, and if it is not in top shape, you can be left sitting still...

Legally purchasing R-12 refrigerant for recharging or refilling motor vehicle air-conditioning systems requires certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 609 of the...

A manual transmission, or the gear box, is a type transmission used in motor vehicles that uses a clutch to change the torque in the internal combustion engine. Manual transmissions, in other...

If you own a GM car, you may need to order parts at some time during the life of your vehicle. To order the correct part, you will need the official part number. GM parts usually have a number on...

The oxygen sensor in a Dodge helps to monitor the air-to-fuel ratio by testing the emissions coming out of the exhaust. It gathers the data from the exhaust and sends a signal back to the Dodge's...

You can make an auto body panel mold to repair or customize your vehicle. While it is not difficult process, it is one in which you have to practice working with the modeling, casting and...

A broken windshield is usually the result of an unpleasant incident such as a rock or other debris striking the glass, or intentional damage caused by vandals or thieves. You'll deal with your...

Getting your car serviced whether it is for an oil change or something more severe is very important for the vehicle. Maintaining proper service on your Acura will extend the life of your car and...

If you decide on a career as an auto mechanic it can be rewarding as well as challenging. When there are an excessive number of challenges, some auto mechanics will quit and move on to other...

Recently the boys (ages 11 to 14) and I piled into a car and drove ten hours from Detroit to Washington D.C. Here's how we did it without killing each other.

A Mitsubishi automatic transmission, like any other automatic transmission, is a device connecting directly to the engine of the vehicle which is designed to translate the comparatively stable...

In modern cars, fuel injection systems are used to regulate not only the amount of fuel entering the engine, but when it's introduced. In the United States, all cars are required to use fuel...

Extended car warranties are also called vehicle service contracts. They are available for mechanical malfunctions and ordinary wear and tear on all types of vehicles. Anyone who owns a vehicle...

If you are an automobile mechanic, chances are you use an automotive car lift on a regular basis. Whether you're a tire tech or a muffler installer, or your duties require access to the underside...

The alternator was integrated into the electrical system of the engine on vehicles in the 1960s, replacing the old generators. Although the alternator works much like a generator, its main...

The flywheel of a car or truck connects the engine's crank shaft to the transmission through the torque converter. Both manual and automatic transmissions connect to a a flywheel. The flywheel is...

With profits throughout the auto industry shrinking, repair shops are being pressured to find backdoors into your wallet by overcharging for car maintenance and unnecessary repairs. Between...

The GM certified warranty consists of a 12/12 warranty, which covers a vehicle for 12 months or 12,000 miles. Buyers can also add a 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for additional...

While used engines are readily available from scrap yards, auctions and private sellers, new engines are scarcer, often only available from the car manufacturing company. For most consumers,...

Every car needs regular maintenance. Most cars have specific requirements that are due at 100,000 miles.

Many people get scared when they hear the word “timing belt.” The reason for that is if you don’t install it correctly, your engine would have problems. But not to worry, just follow the steps...

Spark plug wires are the channels by which electricity travels from the distributor or electronic ignition to the spark plugs. When everything is working in sync, the vehicle runs fine. However,...

The Mercedes Benz company produces expensive luxury automobiles. While these vehicles have been designed and manufactured to exacting specifications, like any mechanical device the Mercedes...

A car battery is a rechargeable cell that supplies the vehicle with electrical energy. Volts and amps needed to operate the electrical functions of the vehicle are obtained through an internal...

The Toyota Corolla fuel pump is electric, so the fuses and relays should be checked before looking at the fuel pump itself. If the fuel tank is not empty but the engine is still having trouble...

The fuel injection system in your Ford truck is one of the most trouble-free components in your vehicle. But, once you've driven 75,000 miles on the engine, it may be time to clean it. The two...

The development of engine innovation today includes forced induction as a focus for improving engine output. Turbochargers are the most common form of forced induction found on vehicles as...