Do It Yourself Auto Repair

The instrument panel on an Oldsmobile Silhouette is held in place with 4 screws and is covered by a bezel. Occasionally, the panel malfunctions and needs to be replaced. The most common reason for...

An engine's head gasket serves the purpose of sealing the automobile's engine cylinders against water or coolant from elsewhere in the engine. A blown head gasket can allow water or coolant to...

Known switch problems cause fires in many Ford vehicles every year. The switch can be replaced to correct the problem, but a permanent solution is questionable. The design of the switch leaves...

On many Ford vehicles, a known cruise control switch problem will cause the module to corrode and eventually catch fire. Many owners have opted to simply turn off or disconnect the cruise control...

Window tint on your vehicle can wrinkle and buckle, potentially obstructing your vision and ruining the tint. The options are replacement or repair, depending on the extent of the wrinkles and the...

The Kia Sedona cruise control unit is secured to the steering column with two screws. The cruise control monitors vehicle speed and controls the throttle using an electronic switch device. This...

Torque refers to the "tightness" of a bolt or nut. Heavy trucks use specific torque specifications to make sure that important components don't come loose during normal vehicle operation. Use a...

The cruise control switch in an Oldsmobile Alero is mounted on the steering column. The switch, while reliable, can fail suddenly due to an electrical short or from the electronics burning out....

Is your Ford Escort not starting, or are you struggling to keep it running? A failing fuel pump could be the culprit. The electric fuel pumps on fuel-injected cars provide constant power to the...

The Chevrolet Camaro has optional electric power windows that use a motor to drive the crank on the window regulator. This motor can wear out or become damaged, requiring replacement. The...

Replacing a broken power window at home will save you the expensive costs of taking your Audi into the shop. Just because your car is foreign-made or expensive doesn't mean the repair has to be...

The Pontiac Firebird was manufactured with optional electric power windows, and the motor that drives the window regulator can wear out and require replacement. The motor is wired through a switch...

The Ford cruise control switch is secured to the steering column with a simple retaining pin or clip (depending on the year of your Ford). The cruise control module monitors the Ford vehicle's...

When inspecting the ball joints on a Ford pickup, the tire should be lifted clear of the floor. There should be no more than 1/32-inch of play when the bottom or top of the tire is pushed in and...

Harley Davidson motorcycles from 1982 on use a front brake caliper that has two main pieces--the caliper and the pad holder. The brake calipers should always be inspected prior to riding for leaks...

We have all or will get a dead battery someday. It's not a big deal and it's very easy to jump start.

When you are driving down the road on a hot summer day, you don't expect your cool air to stop blowing. The annoyance of turning your fan on and being hit with a blast of hot air is enough to ruin...

You've had your car only six months. Then one day you spot it from a hundred yards away--your first dent. After careful inspection, you notice the paint hasn't been scratched. The dent itself is...

The Dodge Neon, a front wheel drive compact car built by Chrysler from 1994-2005, utilizes plastic door handles mounted on the interior door panels, to allow passengers and the driver to exit the...

Prepare to remove the engine on your Subaru Outback days or weeks in advance of the actual task by getting organized, gathering the necessary tools and setting up your garage or place you intend...

The heater motor wheel or fan, on a Dodge vehicle, is a plastic fan that attaches to the electric heater motor. This fan is used to draw outside air into the passenger cabin while the heater or...

As the cold refrigerant in the air-conditioning system moves through the evaporator and absorbs heat from the passenger compartment, it is then routed to the condenser and released to the outside...

GMC is a division of General Motors that produces light duty trucks, sports utility vehicles and vans. GMC makes most of its trucks side-by-side on the same assembly lines as their almost...

Ford cruise control switches are basically "plug and play." The cruise control switch is located on the steering column of Ford vehicles and uses a retaining clip to hold the switch in place. The...

Ball joints are "ball and socket" type joints that keep the suspension of a vehicle together. The ball joint normally connects the control arm to the steering knuckle and tie rod in the front of a...

From the mid-1950s until the mid-1980s, most Chevy small-block engine fuel pumps remained essentially the same. Barring the size of several fittings and the fuel pump body's assembly, most 1980s...

The process of removing the door panel in a GMC pickup is universal for 1995 to 1999 models. The GMC interior was substantially redesigned in 1995, including the door panels. Since the GMC shares...

Diagnosing a Ford cruise control is necessary when you suspect that there is a problem with the system. The cruise control mechanism is a switch mounted on the steering column. There are two...

Welding parts is common in restoring an old vehicle or fixing one after an accident. Many times the process involves welding on the visible surface of the body panel; an advantage to welding on...

The radio in your Chevy TrailBlazer is held in place with four screws, but the radio screws are covered by a large center dash piece that must be removed before you can access the radio to remove...

The wiper motor on a Datsun is secured to the firewall on the passenger side of the vehicle. The wiper motor controls the operation of the wiper arm and blade assembly. Check the wiper motor every...

The wiper blades on an Audi perform an important safety task. By clearing away debris, snow, and rain, they allow you to see the road ahead of you. However, if any debris gets lodged in the pivot...

The passenger's side kick panel is the lower panel in your Ford Mustang's foot well. The kick panel must be removed to access the electronic control unit; you may also need to remove it to wire...

The rear wiper motor on a Subaru Forester controls the rear wiper arm assembly. The wiper motor has no predictable service life and is dependent on the usage of the rear wiper. Excessive strain on...

The wiper motor assembly on a Jeep Cherokee controls the wiper arm assembly. Over time, the motor assembly may fail, but there is no designated service life on the motor. When it fails, it can be...

The wiper motor assembly on your Mitsubishi Eclipse powers the wiper arm and blade assembly. Wiper motors on the Eclipse tend to have a long service life, but it is unknown exactly how long they...

The window regulator in most Hondas is a singular post cable-operated unit with a remote window motor. The regulator can be replaced separately. The assembly should be tested prior to disassembly...

Diesel engines are fuel efficient and reliable, and they run for a very long time, so long as you take care of the proper maintenance. One downside to owning a diesel car is that it is hard to...

When replacing a truck transmission, is it good to remember that the transmission is extremely heavy and awkward. Caution is in order so that it does not drop and cause bodily injury. You also...

Engines have become more durable in recent years, but the average shelf life of an engine is still only about 15 years. High performance engines, like many of those used in Jeep vehicles,...

Recycling your old junk car is not only good for the environment but possibly your conscience and wallet as well. While your car may not run, it has lots of parts and pieces that can be useful in...

Most window motors for late-model Chevrolet Silverados include the window regulator. With this type of two-channel cable systems, it is difficult to replace the window motor independently. If...

Checking and adjusting your car's wheel alignment can be done with some basic mechanical knowledge. While all four of the tires should appear parallel and perpendicular to the road, subtle...

Ford trucks have wide beds that can be used to transport a large variety of construction materials and other items. The objects in the bed are secured by a rear hinged door, commonly referred to...

It's aggravating to return to your car in a lot, only to find a car key mark across the side of your door. This small scratch can be an eyesore on what could be a good-looking car. There is a way...

Most of us welcome the opportunity to save significant money by tending to some basic and intermediate car care on our own. Replacing a thermostat can be challenging, but you can be successful if...

Sometimes when looking under the hood of an automobile, you may see a green or white metal oxide resembling rust around the battery terminals. This is caused by corrosive gases coming in contact...

Modern vehicles, such as Dodge trucks, utilize a system known as On Board Diagnostics to monitor vital engine functions and emissions components. When one of these systems fails, it causes the...

The mass air flow sensor in a Volkswagen serves a very important function. It analyzes the amount of air that is being brought in through the air intake system and is being delivered into the...

If you're a car nut, a repair hobbyist or your engine just plain broke down, you might want a new auto engine or spare parts for it. But where to find them? The right combination of seeking out...