Diagnosing Car Problems

GM is generally regarded as a fairly reliable automaker. Though standardization on "corporate" engines companywide has helped to reduce engine malfunctions over the years, every so often a bad egg...

Utilized in most tractor-trailer applications, air brakes use compressed air to release the brake's actuator springs, which naturally default to the locked position. This is a generally reliable...

The torque converter is a fluid coupling that transfers power produced by the engine to the transmission above 500 to 800 RPM. These couplers allow your car to idle without driver input, and most...

The ignition switch in a vehicle is responsible for sending a signal to the starter motor so that the engine will start. While the switch has no scheduled service life, in most vehicles it lasts...

If you've owned your vehicle for any length of time, you know when it sounds normal and when something sounds "off." However, there are a variety of car sounds your car will make when there is...

CV joints on a vehicle allow flexibility in the drive shaft. The joint itself is like a ball and socket. It's packed with grease, called axle grease, to help with lubrication. The joint is covered...

At first blush, a throttle seems so simple: the right pedal pulls on a cable that's connected to a shaft. This shaft rotates and opens a butterfly valve to let air into the engine. However, even...

The throttle position sensor is one of the most crucial components of any fuel injection system, right after the computer and fuel injectors in terms of importance. GM Sensors have traditionally...

Age, wear and tear can take its toll on even the finest of cars. This even includes the Mercedes-Benz automobile. Regular maintenance can prevent some problems, but servicing your car as soon as a...

The Ford Econoline van is a popular model made by the Ford Motor Company typically used by businesses to haul equipment. The Econoline van uses a standard fuel pump delivery system that pumps...

Total ignition timing, or total timing advance, is denoted on a placard under the hood of most vehicles. If there is no placard, consult a service manual. Total advance depends mostly on the type...

The condition described by most as "boiling" sometimes isn't. Though excess heat in the power steering system can indeed cause the fluid to boil, there are other conditions that can mimic the effect.

The 1987 Mercedes transmission was mostly reliable and trouble-free. However, user error often contributed to premature transmission failure. The most common problems with the '87 transmission...

Saturn was originally created to be GM's import-fighter division, a bulwark to the coming invasion of small Asian compacts that would not compromise the other divisions' American identity. ...

With its history of endemic auto recalls, it may shock some to learn that Dodge/Chrysler hasn't yet begun to just forward all of its mail to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...

Short of the near-legendary SRT-4, the 2000 Dodge Neon may be the best of the lot from both a performance and quality standpoint. Early on in the second-generation's run, the Neon used the ACR...

Small cracks in large pieces of concrete are rarely anything to worry about, unless that chunk of concrete is a dam and you are standing at the bottom. Seemingly innocuous, the heater-core...

The LeSabre shares at least one thing in common with the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang: it is in the small club of cars that have been in continuous production by the same manufacturer for...

No stranger to recalls, especially on vehicles produced just prior to its sale to Daimler, Chrysler issued a recall in 2007 for four-wheel-drive Dodge Dakotas and Durangos. Unlike the irritating...

Acura luxury cars are relatively trouble-free vehicles produced by the Honda Motor Company. Only two recalls have been issued specific to Acura engine problems since 1989. Minor issues involving...

The catalytic converter is a filter for the harmful emissions of the combustible engine's exhaust. It converts harmful carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide into carbon dioxide, water...

The revolutionary fifth generation Honda Civic has reached an auspicious (and for some of us, depressing) point in it's life cycle: This VTEC wonder is about to enter the exclusive club of cars...

Since Pertronix (then Pur-Lux) began marketing the first electronic ignition retro-fit for cars in the early 1970s, the race has been on amongst manufacturers to create the most powerful and...

The ball joints on a Chevrolet Blazer connect the upper and lower control arms to the steering knuckle and must be periodically replaced to ensure the safe operation of your vehicle. The most...

Identifying problems in automobiles can be a long and difficult process. A front end shaking can be attributed to a variety of causes: the vehicle being out of alignment; the tires being out of...

When Dodge introduced the all-new, all-aluminum 2.7L V6 as the base engine for it's top-selling Intrepid, the initial reception was quite positive. Though much smaller in displacement than the...

Kia automobiles have been imported to the U.S. since 1992. Recalls due to serious engine problems or failure are non-existent, but several mechanical components in Kia engines have proven to be...

Introduced in the 1998 as the all-new Intrepid's abase engine, the 2.7L had everything going for it: all aluminum, dual overhead camshafts and 92 horsepower per liter. It weighed less than 2/3s...

Though GM cars as a whole are no more likely than any other brand to experience catalytic converter failure, the company has recently begun hearing complaints of premature converter failure on...

Cars are great when they work, but they will always need maintenance. When they do break down, the problem isn't always obvious. To run a diagnostic check on the car, you'll likely need to take...

The Nissan Sentra is a compact car produced by Nissan Motors since 1983. In the past decade, the Sentra has been powered by engines ranging from 1.3 liters to the 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder...

A worn out or damaged component in one or more of several systems like the ignition, starting and fuel may cause a no-start condition on your Ford Mustang. However, most of the time, this is an...

Mazda cars, trucks and SUVs have enjoyed a good reputation for being durable, dependable vehicles. Few have experienced significant engine problems. However, some RX-8 1.3-liter rotary engines...

The Chevy Lumina was introduced by General Motors in 1990 and ran until 2001. This model had two different on-board diagnostic systems. Prior to 1996, OBD (on-board diagnostics) was integrated to...

There are ways to troubleshoot a car check engine light that can save time and money. Do it yourself up front to see if you can fix the problem before taking the vehicle to a repair shop. For a...

One of the greatest conveniences found in today's cars are alarm systems, particularly those which operate remotely. Some systems even allow people to start their cars while yet in their homes,...

The Dodge Dakota was originally introduced in 1986 as a 1987 model to handle the duties that smaller Chevrolet S-10s couldn't. Though offered with both inline 4 cylinders and V6s over the years,...

OTC has a deservedly good reputation for producing quality engine diagnostic tools. Geared toward user-friendliness and diversity, many private shops use at least one of OTC's scanners to read...

If you encounter a problem with your Ford Taurus automatic transmission, you could face a repair bill running in the thousands of dollars. Then again, you may only have a minor problem that can be...

Though it could just as easily be a case of varying fuel quality as one of planned obsolescence, the fact remains that catalytic converter failure amongst fifth- and sixth-generation (1996-2006)...

Launched in 2005 as a 2006 model, the HHR was Chevy's "Hail-Mary" play toward retro-style glory. The base model came equipped with a slightly anemic 143 horsepower 2.2L four cylinder, which...

Slotting neatly between the Ford F-150 and Chevy S-10, Dodge's Dakota was introduced in 1987 as the everyman's pickup truck. Although a generally reliable platform, the Dakota isn't free of its...

Though in production since 1979, the Golf's big brother Jetta has only recently been blessed with a Turbo. Generally reliable, this engine has seen more than 800 horsepower on a stock block, and...

It's happened to all of us who drive. Your heading down the road when suddenly the little check engine light on the dashboard comes on. Don't panic. Chances are the check engine warning does...

The heating system in an Oldsmobile Silhouette consists of the heater core, the fan unit and the engine cooling system. Hot engine coolant is diverted away from the radiator and into the heater...

The electrical system on a Toyota can be checked using a voltmeter. All Toyotas use a simple "power and ground" system -- meaning that there are two, and only two, leads in all of the electrical...

The 1991 Ford F150 is one of Ford's most popular trucks. It's fairly reliable, but it does have a few common problems that owners need to be aware of. Before taking your F150 to a Ford dealership...

Most Chevy vehicles with fuel-delivery problems are minor and inexpensive to fix. Many fuel problems are due to aftermarket parts that may not fit properly on factory-installed equipment.

Investigation of forums and recall guides suggests common mechanical problems and some recall requirements related to the ABS (anti-lock braking system) on the Ford Expedition. The ABS is...

There are a lot of spinning parts in an engine, but one of the crucial items for helping to produce electricity is the flywheel. In some engines it's simply a spinning drum; in others it has fins...