Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Before a state inspection, your car has a series of sensors that have to report as "ready" before the inspection can take place to check your emissions. The problem is, many people...

Chevrolet trucks use torsion bar springs for the front of most four-wheel-drive models. The compact nature of torsion bars allows room for the front differential and CV axles. One advantage of...

Shock absorbers dampen the suspension of most automobiles, and when they wear out they require replacement. Fitting a shock to a car is a simple process once you have removed the old shock. Just...

Older Corvettes use a tachometer cable; these classic Corvettes were and are the most desirable of the breed. The cable on the first tachometers was not the best idea, though it did work well...

In the normal course of driving, particles like brake dust, soot and other contaminants embed themselves in your paint and dull the shine. Professional detailers use a clay bar to remove these...

If a carrier bearing fails in a differential, metal shavings from the bearing usually will have contaminated the oil in the housing. You should remove the axles and thoroughly clean the...

Automotive air-conditioning compressors can fail because of a lack of lubricant, a malfunctioning clutch or from bearing damage. In most cases, you must completely replace the compressor. The...

If you must replace your clutch, replace your transmission or have it rebuilt, you will have to remove the transmission. Removing the transmission on a Subaru is straightforward and similar to the...

The tires on cars and trucks are held on with lug nuts. These attach to lug bolts, which are the studs the wheel is mounted on. The most common number of lug bolts per wheel on cars is four or...

An Isuzu window lift mechanism is a single-post, cable-operated window regulator with a separate window motor. The window motor operates the cable by using a gear. Before working on a faulty...

While many turn in their car for someone to do maintenance, often times you can do this by yourself. Here are the steps to change your cars oil and oil filter.

Ignition coil problems are somewhat common for the Audi A4 B6 and other VAG car owners. This article will help you through the process of changing the ignition coil.

The air-conditioning condenser sits in front of the radiator on your Buick Regal. Depending on your particular Regal model, you may first need to remove the air duct and possibly the strut brace...

The fuel filter on many Honda vehicles is within the fuel pump-fuel gauge sending unit, which itself is stored within the fuel tank. You will need to remove the unit from the tank in order to...

Having a cigarette burn in the fabric of your car seat not only makes the car look bad, but the odds are good the burn will tear a bigger hole in the car seat over time. Repairing the cigarette...

A bad compressor in your Dodge Caravan's air conditioner will make it harder to get cool air, since the air won't be compact enough to be thoroughly cooled in the condenser. Replacing the...

Ford Escort owners are fortunate when changing the fuel filter on their vehicle; the Escort's fuel filter is located in the engine bay (driver's side) against the firewall. The fuel filter in most...

This article will tell you how to change a fuel injector or fuel injector O-ring as well as intake manifold gaskets and Throttle Body gasket.

Changing a flat tire should be the next thing that you should learn after learning how to drive. If you are in the middle of a highway driving alone and one of your tires suddenly becomes...

The ignition switch on a Dodge diesel is on the steering column. The switch and cylinder are one unit. You'll know when your switch has failed when you turn the ignition key to start the vehicle...

The Ford Windstar sliding door panel is much easier to remove than the front door panels. While the front door panels have electronic components, multiple screws and panels to remove, the sliding...

When fixing your car or something around the home, you may need to reuse a bolt which has been stripped, which means that the threads have been deformed or damaged. You could replace the bolt...

Subaru Foresters use an air conditioning compressor to push freon coolant through a series of lines to an evaporator and condenser. This system dries and cools the interior of the SUV. The...

A worn ball joint on a Camaro causes a knocking noise over rough surfaces when beginning to loosen in its pocket. A severely worn ball joint is dangerous inasmuch as it will come out of its pocket...

The manufacturer recommends that the timing belt be replaced every 60,000 miles. From results on the history of this engine, it's important not to exceed this limit. This is an interference engine...

A Jackson Racing supercharger increases the performance of your vehicle dramatically. However, over time, you can become bored with this level of performance and want more. At that point, boost...

Automobiles are manufactured with shock absorbers at each wheel, to dampen bumps and rough terrain. The function of a shock is to resist the upward motion of the spring, which has the tendency to...

When I brought my car into the dealership, their salesperson said I needed a new fuel filter and battery. Guess what? This was going to cost me over $200. I figured it was easier to do it myself,...

When rebuilding an engine, you will often find rust in the cylinders. Before installing your pistons and new piston rings, it is essential to remove the rust so that the piston rings ride smoothly...

The fuel filter in your Toyota Camry is designed to prevent contaminants from reaching the engine through the fuel tank. Occasionally, the fuel filter needs to be replaced to maintain the vehicles...

Automobiles are manufactured with optional air conditioners, which use a pressurized freon coolant system to cool the interior. A compressor circulates this freon, and can fail for several...

Headlights may be the most overlooked and underappreciated part of a car. Like any material, headlights become damaged and dulled over time. Unlike a dusty dashboard or muddy carpet, however,...

A defective power window switch on your vehicle may be an annoyance. Having a window stuck in the down position, however, also becomes a safety issue if you must leave your car in a parking lot....

The Ford Excursion was produced between 2000 and 2005. It is the longest and heaviest SUV ever produced, according to Edmunds.com. The Excursion shares many components with the Ford Super Duty...

Subaru Outbacks are manufactured with electric power windows, actuated with a switch module on each door panel. The module can be taken out and replaced quite easily and should take the average...

The instrument panel on a PT Cruiser houses the gauge cluster for the vehicle. The instrument panel gives the driver vital information about the water temperature, oil level, speed of the engine...

Scratches on a car's clear coat can be frustrating. They can mar the surface and reduce the appearance of your car. Luckily, if your car has a few scratches in the clear coat of the paint job,...

The Toyota Yaris was introduced in 2007; it replaced the Echo as Toyota's sub-compact offering. Both the Yaris sedan and hatchback use the same shift knob, which makes removal the same for both...

The Honda Accord's shift knob is simple to remove and replace, whether your Accord is the seventh-generation model (2003 to 2007) or the eighth-generation model (2008 to 2010). Both models use the...

If the plastic exterior door handle on your Volkswagen is damaged or broken you must first remove the interior door trim panel before removing the handle. Removing the door handle on a Volkswagen...

The sole purpose of an oil pan is to store the oil used by the engine. Oil pans are one-piece designs, which makes them fairly durable. However, they can sometimes crack. Oftentimes the crack can...

If a door is becoming difficult to close because it is not lining up perfectly with the door striker, the door bushings are probably worn. To test the door hinge bushings, lift up on the door at...

The motor mounts on a Nissan Altima hold the engine in place. They perform a very basic--but very important--function. The mount is actually secured with two large bolts. One bolt connects the...

Rust and other corrosion of a gas tank can lead to engine problems and eventual engine failure, and holes in the tank can render it unusable. You can fix both of these problems by using a sealant...

If you have a lot of play in your steering wheel, chances are that your outer tie rods are worn. If your tie rods are worn, replace them immediately because it is very dangerous to drive a vehicle...

Every time you do an oil change or pop the hood you should take a look at your radiator hoses and make sure they are in good condition. Over time the temperature fluctuations degrade the hose and...

Are you wondering how to reset your check engine light in a 1998 Honda Accord? Resetting your check engine is sometimes required when you install new parts into your car and the light does not...

The indicator lights, also known as the turn signal lights, on a GMC Jimmy are the amber-colored lights located on the front and rear of the vehicle. Most states require these lights to be...

When most people think of exhaust systems on their vehicle, they think of mufflers, but an important component that comes before the muffler is the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter...

Pontiac produced the Grand Am between 1973 and 2005. The last generation Pontiac Grand Am was the 1999 to 2005 model. This model had a center-console mounted shifter covered by a leather boot. The...