Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Chrysler transmissions are very sensitive especially after a fluid flush. Make sure you use the correct transmission oil to revent any major issues with your car. Chrysler recommends using ATF+4,...

Jeep headlights consist of the headlamp bezel and headlight bulb. Replacement is necessary if the headlight has gone out or the headlamp is damaged. The entire assembly can be replaced, or you can...

The engine mounts on a Subaru absorb the vibration from the engine and keep the engine in place while it is running. The mounts are essentially a rubber bushing encased in a steel housing. The...

The alternator in your Mazda Protege keeps the battery alive by charging it while the engine is running. Without the alternator, you would need to jump your car every time you needed to drive it,...

Chrome rims need to be maintained regularly to prevent damage to the rims. Without regular maintenance, the rims may start to crack or scratch or the chrome plating might chip. If the plating...

A rear axle shaft is found on vehicles with rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. The rear axle transfers power from the rear differential to the drive wheels. The axle uses two joints to provide...

The steering wheel on the Renault 5 is held in place by a single center retaining hub nut. The steering wheel needs to be removed if you need to access the steering column or any of the switches...

Axles use a special joint, called a CV joint, or constant velocity joint. This joint is lubricated by axle grease and protected by a boot, called a CV boot. The boot is held in place with a...

Using jumper cables on an Oldsmobile Silhouette is a fairly simple process as long as you follow the basic rules for using jumper cables properly and safely. The Silhouette is one of the original...

Over time, paint on an automobile's plastic side mirrors can fade or flake. This occurs for a wide variety of reasons, including breakdown of the paint caused by outdoor temperature extremes,...

Once you change a windshield wiper motor, you need to attach the linkage. When you attach the linkage back to the wiper motor drive shaft, there's no guarantee that the wipers themselves are in...

If your convertible top has a separated seam, there are two repair options: sew it together yourself or pay someone else to sew it. There is no need to pay someone to repair a separated seam when...

Daily and general upkeep must be done on any vehicle to keep it drivable and to keep it allowed on the road. One of the most common problems that must be repaired is a taillight that has gone out....

Windshield wiper motors usually fail due to an electrical malfunction, and are relatively easy to replace. However, they are model-specific, so it is advisable to get the production date from the...

Paying for an oil change every time you need it can be costly, inconvenient, and unnecessary. You don't have to be a car buff to change your car's oil. Anyone can do it! It can even be a fun...

Attending your child's baseball game or enjoying a beautiful day at the local golf course can be an ideal way to spend a weekend day. When a foul baseball or golf ball heads into the parking lot,...

Oil on the floor of a garage is a sign that there may be oil leaking from your vehicle. One of the main causes of an oil leak is a worn rear main seal no longer providing a proper seal. Depending...

In this hard economy that we’ll facing today many people are do it yourselfers. One of our biggest expenses is auto repairs. What can we do if our cars need simple repairs or maintenance? How can...

Over time radiators rust internally due to acidic and corrosive coolant that has remained in the cooling system for longer than it should have. When the radiator rusts, it could cause a leak,...

The turbocharger is the part on the vehicle that compresses ambient air and directs it to the engine for maximum performance. The turbo spins at a very high velocity and causes heat and friction...

The Ford Bronco SUV was designed with a rear power window in the tailgate, which uses an electric motor to operate a pane of glass. This motor can fail and require replacement, which involves...

A Ford Probe transmission mount holds the transmission in place and works with the engine mounts to minimize vibration caused by normal engine and transmission operation. The transmission mounts...

Window tint film can scratch easily, requiring partial or complete replacement. Depending on the size of the scratch, and the rarity of the window film, it is possible to match and align the...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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...

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...

Transmission leaks can come from different parts of the transmission. The most common area for leaks is the pan at the bottom of the transmission that holds the fluid. Between the pan and the...

The front axle joints on a 1995 Dodge Ram are flexible joints on the axle shaft. The shaft transfers the power from the transmission to the front drive wheels. The axle joints prevent the shaft...

Often times ball joints go on cars. This happens more often than not when the roads you drive are bumpy and gravel. Sometimes an automobile owner can tell when a part such as a ball joint is...

The motor mounts on the 1998 Honda Accord hold the engine to the frame of the car. The engine mounts use a rubber bushing in the center of the mount to absorb the shock of the engine's normal...

The wiper arms on your Honda Odyssey are an important part of your windshield wiper system. The wiper arms provide a link between the wiper blades and linkage, ultimately receiving power from the...

A car's air conditioning compressor can fail due to a lack of lubricant or a mechanical issue, and a broken compressor usually will have to be replaced. Checking for a broken compressor involves...

The headlight assembly on the Ford Explorer is a sealed unit. Over time, moisture may work its way into the housing assembly due to failure of the seal that holds the headlight housing lens to the...

Unattended rust can develop into several problems. Blisters and ugly rust stains along with the eventual complete destruction of metal body parts can and will occur unless rust is eliminated....

A transmission's components spin and create heat during operation. If enough heat is generated, the transmission will fail. To cool the transmission and the fluid within it, two transmission...