Diagnosing Car Problems

Diagnosing a cranking engine that refuses to start may involve troubleshooting more than one system on your Ford Explorer. However, it is a good idea to start with the easier and more common...

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system helps to reduce vehicle emissions by introducing a small amount of exhaust gas into the engine's intake manifold. Re-burning this used fuel reduces...

Testing the fuel-pump pressure output of your Jeep Liberty for possible problems can be tricky. Negative results from one or more tests may not necessarily indicate a bad pump. However, a close...

Car code readers can only be used on OBD II (on-board diagnostic two) systems integrated in all vehicles since 1996. Some GM models began OBD II in 1995. OBD II standardized the location and plug...

Testing your brake master cylinder is a good step towards diagnosing potential braking problems in your automobile. The brake master cylinder serves to create pressure in the hydraulic fluid that...

Bearings provide the mechanical means for engine and transmission parts to rotate around each other. Wheels rotate on axles, pistons rotate on crankshaft arms, engine parts rotate and run drive...

A car's constant velocity (CV) joints normally do their job of keeping the wheels rolling smoothly and securely for more than 100,000 miles. Damage to the protective boots that cover these joints,...

Automotive batteries are the backbone of an automotive electrical system. These devices provide power for start-up, offer a grounding point for the vehicle chassis and can serve as a power source...

If the Check Engine light on your Ford F-150 pick-up won't turn off, you might need to reset the codes on the OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics II) computer. For U.S. vehicles made prior to 1996, when...

The interior lights on a Honda CRV may burn out, or you may experience a blown fuse if you've owned your CRV for a number of years. The electrical system that ties into the interior lights is...

The OBD system in your Mazda 200 MPV is an on-board diagnostic computer system. It generates and stores error codes. These error codes will tell the Mazda technician or the "Do It Yourself"...

The headlights on your Ford Ranger pickup truck are similar to the headlights on most other vehicles. The truck uses standard halogen bulbs, powered by automotive relays and a headlight switch....

The hood latch cable on your Toyota pickup releases the locking mechanism under the hood so that you can open the hood and work in the engine bay. Unfortunately, this cable can occasionally fail...

There's nothing quite like the feeling of jumping in the car to go somewhere only to find that when you turn the key--nothing. Today's computerized cars are less likely to experience starting...

Checking the hub bearings on your car will save you money in repairs and keep you from having an accident or breakdown when a bad hub fails. The hubs on most newer cars are sealed assemblies, but...

Toe wear is one type of wear pattern found on used tires and usually signifies either a misaligned or worn suspension. Though a certain amount of toe--in or out--is desirable to the tuning of...

The Honda Civic uses an on-board diagnostic computer or "OBD" computer to monitor its various electronic-related components. If something goes wrong, then the OBD system generates an error code...

Though any vehicle can experience tire problems, many conditions associated with bad tires become exaggerated in heavy vehicles like trucks. Trucks can quickly expose manufacturer defects, bad...

The master cylinder is an essential part of your automobile's braking system. Without it the pressure you apply when you press down on your brake pedal will never be turned into braking force that...

A catalytic converter is simple enough in construction and purpose that it shouldn't be finicky, but it is. This highly developed device is your car's primary emission control apparatus, and is...

Your Honda Civic tail lights may burn out over time, and this is normal. However, sometimes there are other issues with the tail lights that are not related to the bulbs. Before replacing any...

The Volkswagen Vanagon is a rear-engine, forward drive transport vehicle that is derived from the VW Transporter design. The model debuted in 1980 and was replaced by the front-engine Eurovan in...

Diagnosing your car problem may seem intimidating at first, especially if you lack basic knowledge of car parts. Many car problems are not easy to spot, so it might take an experienced driver or...

The master cylinder is an extremely important part of any hydraulic assisted braking system, like the one found in modern automobiles. Without the master cylinder, the car's hydraulic fluid would...

Starting in 1996, all Nissan vehicles (as well as those of all other manufacturers) sold in the United States were required by the Clean Air Act of 1990 to have OBD-II (On-Board Diagnostics) as...

The wheel bearings on a front wheel drive car help to take the weight, or load, off the axles. The bearings allow smooth rotation of the wheels and keep them rolling straight. Over time, the...

Volkswagen vehicles built after 1996 are equipped with a system of sensors known as On Board Diagnostics (OBD II). These sensors monitor many vital engine functions and help to lower harmful...

The head gasket is sits between the engine block and the cylinder head. This gasket seals the engine cylinders to keep coolant from leaking into the engine and to ensure maximum compression of...

The Jeep Commander was manufactured late in the year of 2005 and introduced as a 2006 model. Because of this, its on-board diagnostic system features the standardized OBD II system implemented on...

The warning lights on a Toyota Camry help to alert the driver of any problems. Warning lights typically come on when there is a malfunction with one or more of the Camry's electronic or...

The moonroof on your Ford Fusion may be showing its age if you've owned it for a number of years. A number of problems can develop with the Fusion's moonroof. Debris can get lodged in the moonroof...

The automotive troubles people usually think of may be simple issues like frozen door locks, flat tires or more. One unique problem is when the ignition key fails to turn when you try to start...

Cadillac cars are popular luxury vehicles in the United States. Electrical problems in a Cadillac can keep you from leaving your driveway, and they can be difficult to diagnose. Before taking your...

The function of shock absorbers is often misunderstood. While properly functioning shock absorbers will increase the comfort level of a vehicle, their primary purpose is as part of the vehicle's...

A car's electric cooling fans are responsible for ensuring air flow over the radiator at low speed, and failure will almost always cause overheating while in traffic. Fortunately, these systems...

The automotive relay is used to control a high-current device, like an electric cooling fan or an a/c compressor clutch, with a low-current switch or computer circuit. This makes the use of...

Ford has used two varieties of tie rod over the years: the standard bronze-bushed, ball-and-socket tie rod and the rubber-injected ball-and-socket on some pickups made in the 1990s. If you notice...

The serpentine belt is a belt in a car used to power several devices which are not connected to the engine itself, such as the water pump, alternator, and A/C pump. While this belt can last the...

A universal joint (or U-joint), which was initially conceived of by the ancient Greeks, is a joint in a rod that allows the rod to bend in many directions. Usually U-joints are found on one of the...

A lead-acid battery is a type of battery called a "secondary cell." A secondary cell may be discharged and recharged multiple times. Many lead-acid batteries sold at automobile parts stores are...

Master cylinders are an important part of the hydraulic system in a Corvette, playing a key role in the braking system and the clutch in a manual transmission. The master cylinder maintains...

CV boots play an important role in keeping a motor vehicle's CV joints in good working order. A torn CV boot can cause serious damage to these drive shaft components.

Transmission failure is a common problem among vehicles with higher mileage and vehicles that have been driven "hard". Sometimes transmission failure can happen when your in a dangerous...

The Oldsmobile Alero was a mid-sized sedan introduced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in 1998. The car was produced until 2004. During this time, several common problems with the...

The intake on a Jeep controls the flow and direction of air coming into the engine. The intake must be free of contaminates in order to function properly. If an excessive amount of dust or other...

The Dodge Ram is a pickup truck made by the Dodge brand of Chrysler. The Ram is considered a "heavy duty" truck and is frequently used for hauling a towing. Unfortunately, the Dodge Ram has had...

The idle air control sensor or valve on an automobile controls the idle speed of the motor. It is also called an idle speed control, automatic idle speed motor and idle speed control solenoid. The...