Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Antiques, collectibles and all kinds of other products are made from tin, making it a very popular item to have on your shelf. But like most metals, tin is also susceptible to rust. Unchecked rust...

If you have discovered that your floorboards, seats or car dash are wet following rain or morning dew, it is likely that you have a leaky window, even if you haven't actually seen rain coming in....

Older model GMC trucks and vans are equipped with chrome exterior door handles on the driver and passenger doors. These handles can rust and ruin the appearance of the vehicle. In addition, the...

Air is heated when compressed. Because of this heating, water present in the air condenses as the compressed air cools. This can be a problem when using a paint gun. As the water accumulates, it...

An air leak coming from your car's window can mean one of two things: You have a problem with your window, or you have a problem with your window weatherstripping. Life would be much easier if all...

Severely rusted shock bolts represent a danger to both you and passengers of your vehicle if the rust is severe enough to compromise the integrity of the bolt. They should be removed and replaced...

A manual car window can need repair for several reasons. To fix the window, you will need to determine exactly what the problem is. Gaining access to the inside compartment of the car's door or...

When you buy sheetmetal from the steel supply shop, it comes coated with a rust inhibitor so that the product doesn't rust before it gets sold. But if you try to weld to that surface, you're going...

The Toyota Corolla has been around for a long time--it was introduced in 1966--yet it remains as popular as ever today. Body styles and designs have changed drastically over the years, and the...

Rust is like cancer for automobiles. If you don't catch it immediately when it starts, it will spread across the entire body of the vehicle. Removing rust from steel components is a challenge. You...

Spark knock in a modern Subaru engine has become a thing of the past with the advent of the knock sensor. When the knock sensor detects a spark knock in your Subaru's engine, it sends a message to...

The Cadillac Seville uses fog lights below the headlights to enhance nighttime vision and to help illuminate the road when there is fog on the road. You'll need to check the fog lights every six...

The fog lights on the Toyota Sequoia should be checked every six months to make sure that they are functioning properly. The fog lights on the Sequoia sit below the headlights and illuminate the...

From time to time, we all make contact with inanimate objects in our cars. The damage can range from a total loss to a small scuff. The less-drastic impacts result in paint transferring from the...

The steering wheel lock plate holds the steering column bearings in place while providing recesses for the steering wheel locking bolt to latch and lock the steering wheel. Introduced in the...

Rounded wheel bolts are special types of bolts that use an inverted hex head. The bolts are usually used on wheel calipers, but they can also be used as locking bolts and nuts on the wheel hub...

The headrest on a Buick uses special clips to keep it from coming up all the way out of the seat. Some people don't like the headrest, or want to remove it to so they can install a custom headrest...

A stuck window on your car can be an inconvenience and a security risk. It is a problem you don't want to leave unaddressed, but mechanics and dealerships often charge hundreds of dollars for what...

Fixing the "auto headlights," or daytime running lights, on a 2003 Chevrolet Impala may or may not be a simple task. The headlight system typically fails because of faulty or pinched wiring. In...

The wiper motor on a 1994 Grand Prix powers the windshield wipers. While there is no service life for the motor, they do tend to wear out after 100,000 miles. If your wiper motor has failed, you...

There are many kinds of bolts on a vehicle. The wheels themselves use wheel stud bolts, traditional hex bolts and round wheel bolts. The round wheel bolts are actually an inverted type of hex...

Bolts are used on automobiles to hold various components together. You'll encounter a variety of sizes and types of bolts when working on your vehicle. It is always important to use the correct...

Bolts that have been installed using locktight can be difficult to remove. locktight, usually spelled "loc-tite" or "lock-tite," is a compound that is put onto the threads of a bolt to help...

Every year hundreds and hundreds of people go out to put their key in the car door lock during the icy cold winter months to find that that the keyhole is frozen solid. This simple trick might...

Starter bolts on a Toyota pickup transmission, also called a "tranny," are the bolts that hold the starter motor in place. The starter helps to turn the engine over when you turn the ignition key....

A Jeep uses courtesy lights that are activated by a relay system. When the doors are closed, the electrical circuit is broken by the door pushing against a pin on the door frame, and the lights go...

Automotive fuel pumps use a vacuum diaphragm to push fuel through a series of steel and rubber lines to the intake manifold of a vehicle. In modern cars and trucks, they are commonly installed in...

The 1994 Chevrolet Suburban was manufactured with optional power windows that use a motorized regulator to move the window glass. Several factors can cause window failure, including the battery,...

Chevrolet Blazers use submerged fuel pumps that are mounted to the top of the fuel tank, making them a challenge to replace when they fail. Complete disconnection and removal of the fuel tank is...

The glow plugs in a tractor work the same as glow plugs in any diesel engine. However, their exact location may differ according to the tractor. Because engine size and design ultimately determine...

Windshield glue is typically just urethane adhesive. The adhesive is applied using a caulking gun and is normally black in color. It's used primarily to secure the windshield to the frame of a...

Getting rid of rust on car paint is hard. Rust tends to spread rather fast and can hide underneath paint if it begins behind a panel that you cannot see. Since moisture can get to places that are...

Removing glue from chrome must be done with care because it is easy to scratch chrome. Because of this, removing glue from chrome is a tedious process. You will need adhesive remover and a few...

Removing stubborn brake bolts is tricky since rust and corrosion often set into these types of bolts. Brake dust, road salt (in northern climates or areas near the ocean) and high humidity can all...

The plastic cowl grill on the Ford Mustang is an overlooked part when it comes to detailing your car. The flat-black finish is unprotected and little is done to preserve the factory finish. As a...

If you want to make your vehicle last, it is essential to keep the exterior clean. Paint chips and scratches allow water and the elements to penetrate deep into the vehicle's shell, causing rust....

Ford trucks equipped with diesel engines have been around since 1983. The Ford diesel engine costs more than its gasoline counterpart, but the expense is offset by better fuel economy, more power...

The air intake system on a Chevrolet Cavalier funnels a massive amount of air to the engine. The intake system itself is essentially nothing more that a large piece of plastic tubing with an air...

Installing the distributor in a Ford is similar to many other American small- and big-block engines. You must block the distributor correctly. This means that the actual position of installation...

A common problem with the air conditioning system in the Chevy Lumina is leaking seals in the compressor. It is no longer legal to vent air conditioning refrigerant into the atmosphere, so...

Rusted car and truck frames need to be repaired before the damage makes the auto unsafe to drive. A weak frame can increase the likelihood of driver injury during an accident. In some cases it can...

Check the oxygen sensors on a Dodge Intrepid 3.5 after roughly 100,000 miles. If the sensor fails, you will probably notice your vehicle running richer. You'll notice a stronger fuel smell in the...

The Ford Taurus is known for its durability and long-lasting performance. Because of its long life span, the Taurus might begin to break down on the interior before the exterior. The first step to...

A small-block Chevy distributor distributes the power through the sparkplug wires to the sparkplugs. This electrical charge produces the spark necessary to cause the fuel inside the combustion...

A wide-band oxygen sensor works just like a narrow-band O2 sensor, except that it is used for high-performance tuning applications. The sensor measures a broader range of air-flow specifications...

Replacing the power window motor in most Fords requires removing the door panel and some door components. The average backyard mechanic can replace a Ford power window motor in about 30 minutes.

Maintaining the appearance of your car can prove impossible. Eventually, most cars fall victim to minor scuffs or scratches in the paint. Unfortunately, such scars have the ability to immediately...

The light bulbs for the interior overhead lights in the the 2001 Acura sometimes require replacement due to overuse or a simple short circuit. Luckily, replacing these light bulbs is not difficult...

Arguably the most important part of any motorcycle is its wheels. Without them, the bike would not move or turn. Keep your motorcycle rolling correctly and safely by straightening your rims regularly.

The Chrysler Town & Country minivan uses motorized window regulators for power windows. The motors meshed with the regulator can wear out or become damaged, and can take the average backyard...