Diagnosing Car Problems

The camshaft position sensor monitors the rotation of the engine and supplies the on-board computer with information concerning degrees of rotation for identification of piston position in each...

When liquid refrigerant is forced through a restricted opening, it changes from a liquid to a gas. This change of state causes the refrigerant to become cold, and as it passes through the system,...

controls the power steering system of the Yukon. Power assisted steering uses hydraulic fluid to help the driver turn the steering wheel left and right. When the system fails, steering becomes...

Starters come in two styles -- a starter with a solenoid attached and a starter with a remote solenoid elsewhere. The solenoid is the magnetic switch that activates the starter. It is similar to a...

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...

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...

Transmissions can malfunction for a variety of reasons. Whether you have a standard or automatic transmission, your transmission essentially works the same -- it transfers power from the engine to...

Tuneups on late-model vehicles are limited to ignition, intake plenum and cleaning of the fuel injectors. Sparkplug fouling is a thing of the past, which can only occur if there is a mechanical...

The O2 sensor is plugged into the exhaust of a vehicle and measures the ratio of air-to-fuel making its way into the engine indirectly. It acts as an emissions control device. Since the ideal...

The differential pressure feedback (DPFE) for the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sensor on the Ford Winstar is located in the center of the engine, close to the number 1 cylinder. This sensor has...

"Take care of your Honda and it'll take care of you" is a catchphrase used often by Honda riders. But even though Honda motorcycles are well known for being powerful, reliable workhorses, they...

Diagnosing an air-conditioning system in a 2001 Dodge 3500 is a moderately challenging process and requires some automotive knowledge. The procedure takes in the electrical and mechanical aspects...

Overhauling an automatic transmission can cost thousands. Spending a few minutes learning the basics of how they work can save you a lot of headaches and money.

Holley carburetors are extremely popular for their ease of adjustability and lack of moving parts. They contain two float bowls--one for the primaries and one for the secondaries. The float bowls...

A light bar on a Renegade is generally an after-market installation and subject to the quality of installation. The lights should be of the totally sealed category. The wiring connectors should...

An overheating car can quickly change the way a person is able to get around. This article will explain how to diagnose and overheating car and repair the problem, in most cases avoiding a costly...

Almost EVERYONE has had to emission test their vehicle by now, if you've ever failed the emissions test you know how frustrating it can be. With this article you will be able to diagnose your own...

The inner and outer tie rod ends on a car connect the steering rack or parallelogram steering linkage to the knuckles on the front axle. Tie rods are designed to allow limited flexibility,...

When a torque converter goes bad in your vehicle prepare to shell out some bucks. The transmission will have to be removed from your vehicle to replace it. There are a few symptoms to look out for...

The catalytic converter on a vehicle is a complex filter for the exhaust system. Constructed of metal exterior housing, the interior of a converter is comprised of a honeycomb-shaped mix of...

The Chevrolet Blazer has two variants with two completely different front-end designs, but fixing them is a similar process. The K-5 Blazer, the larger of the two, has a solid front axle design,...

Body control modules can be troublesome devices, especially when they make your vehicle do strange things as a result of the BCM malfunctioning. A BCM is defined as a computer component in a...

Several factors may make power steering hard to work when the vehicle is cold. The issues range from mild to severe, and you'll probably want to try the least expensive troubleshooting methods...

For those who have at least a day to devote to removing the tinting on your car, I have a few practical tips that may help out. For those who are not looking to work hard; I would highly-recommend...

At some point in your life, you will need all the help you can get to see where you’re going when driving, especially at night or during foggy mornings. Imagine my despair when I discovered my fog...

A fuel pump is an essential component to your car's engine. It keeps fuel pumping to the engine and to the fuel injection system. After normal wear and tear on your car's fuel pump, you may notice...

A driver is responsible for all legal requirements of a car on a public road. If the brake lights aren't working, a police officer may stop the car and issue a warning to make the repair within a...

When troubleshooting an auto air compressor, it is good to remember that there are many components in the air conditioning system that can affect the performance of the compressor. The state of...

The air compressor is actuated through the use of an electromagnetic clutch mechanism on the front of the clutch. The clutch is in the center of the pulley. The pulley rides on ball bearings...

It can be difficult to diagnose a cracked block on a car engine. Many different things can be wrong, but all of those things can also mean something else is wrong. If you recognize a couple of the...

Your vehicle can make a variety of noises, some meaning that the car is damaged in some way or that a part in your car is malfunctioning. Car maintenance can get expensive, so you should be able...

Using a compression tester will help in the diagnoses of a poorly sealed cylinder on a gasoline or diesel engine. By conducting this basic test, you can tell if an engine has a severe problem by...

When your Chevrolet Aveo's car alarm won't work, your car is left vulnerable when it is unattended. While the locks will generally still work, the alarm will fail to sound if an intruder does...

The replacement interval for replacing the timing belt on the 1998 through 2000 Ford Ranger with a 2.5 engine has been determined through its service history to be every 60,000 miles. At the rate...

All vehicles from the mid-1970s to the present day use a central computer for engine management. This management is used to control all functions of the engine as well as making the vehicle...

When your car won't start, but it will crank, the engine isn't getting fuel or a spark. You can troubleshoot the fuel system in your Kia Spectra before you take it in to a mechanic.

When your car won't start, but will crank, the engine isn't getting fuel or a spark. You can troubleshoot the fuel system in your Nissan Sentra before you take it in to a mechanic. It is always...

The Mazda 6 is a mid-sized, front engine, front wheel drive sedan introduced by Mazda in 2002. Variations include a five-door hatchback and a five-door station wagon. The Mazda 6 was named one of...

Steam engine technology is fairly simple. Steam produces the energy to power the mechanical gear, which does the work. Steam power has had all sorts of uses including in textile and iron...

Because it is such and integral part of the drive system of a motorcycle, we don't always think about how it works or how to fix it. You can save yourself money fixing it yourself, but what if you...

A newer entry into the family sedan market is the Mazda 6. While it's not a Camry or an Accord, this Mazda has done pretty well since it entered the market in 2003. While it provides a decent...

The Mercury Cougar had a decent life span for a car. Although most popular as a hot rod in the late 1960s, it later enjoyed a metamorphosis as a luxury coupe until 2002. You'll still find lots of...

The Mercury Villager enjoyed a decent run as one of the more affordable mini-vans, but is no longer produced. These family vehicles share a lot of the same parts with their sibling, the Nissan...

If you're the owner of a Geo Metro, you're part of a small select group. Another name for the Suzuki Cultu, the Geo was manufactured in the U.S. from 1989 to 2001, first under Geo and then under...

The Geo Tracker was a cute little SUV with a 9-year run that ended in 1997. You'll still find the occasional Tracker breezing down the road, though. The Tracker owner has the additional challenge...

Recommended by "Consumer Reports" as a pickup truck, the GMC Sierra, is a reliable truck and sibling to the Chevrolet Silverado. It comes in two versions, the regular 1500 and the heavy duty 2500....

The Accord is Honda's family sedan that offers a reliable, comfortable ride with a better fuel economy than cars of similar sizes. Most people who buy Honda are looking for reliability, and while...

The Honda Prelude is a sporty Honda that offers all the economy and reliability typically found in Hondas. The amps required to power just the routine electrical items add up. Most people have...

The CR-V is Honda's answer to the small SUV market. With better fuel economy than most SUVs, the CR-V also brings Honda's well-known reliability, which includes the electrical system. Still, it's...

The Hyundai Sonata is great little family sedan that provides a decent ride. The electrical system seems to keep getting better with each year. However, people who have held onto their Sonata for...