Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Some Jeep owners have encountered problems with electric windows not rolling up or down. The problem could be caused by one of several things, including the electric window motor and the...

Changing the fog light in a Hyundai Elantra can be a difficult and frustrating task, but if you follow these steps, you should be able to do it on your own. If you have changed the fog lights in...

Ford ball joints hold the suspension together. Without ball joints, a Ford suspension would travel side to side to such a degree that the tie rod and steering knuckle would separate from the...

A well-crafted repair manual can reduce the number of trouble calls and can increase user satisfaction. Writing a repair manual is more than typing instructions on a computer. Although writing...

While plastic body panels on cars can save a automobile from expensive dents and dings, even the most careful driver can incur knicks and scratches to the paint job. Small stones and road debris...

The GMC K1500 is a series of trucks manufactured with power steering as optional equipment. The pump that circulates the fluid can leak or become damaged and require replacement. This replacement...

If a belt in your car is squeaking, squealing or just noisy, you can take a few steps to quiet the belt. No matter the exact nature of the belt, be it a fan belt, an alternator belt, or a modern...

If your car is having problems starting, you may have a wet distributor cap. If the car usually starts, but has trouble starting on rainy or humid days, the distributor cap is the most likely...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

The axle on a Dodge Grand Caravan transfers power to the wheels from the transmission. The axle's only weak point is the CV joints on either side of the shaft. These joints provide flexibility in...

The CV joints on a Toyota provide flexibility to the CV shafts. The CV shafts are responsible for transferring power from the transmission to the drive wheels. The shafts must be able to flex...

Most modern autos have started using sealed wheel bearings in the hubs to prolong the bearing lifespan and make replacement simpler. The hub contains the wheel bearings and attaches to the axle...

The CV joints on a 1994 Toyota 4-Runner are on the driveshafts of the 4-Runner. The shafts use these CV joints to provide flexibility in the shaft during corning and straight-line travel (when...

The Dodge Ram 2500 series pickup truck is manufactured with sealed front wheel bearings, which require the removal of the entire front hub to replace. Wheel bearings that are incorporated into the...

A properly functioning power steering pump makes driving an enjoyable experience. This pump helps your Cummins truck maintain a proper steering radius. The steering pump uses hydraulic pressure to...

When your Jeep starts to overheat, it is a sure sign of a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Heater cores may become clogged, trap air inside or fail all together. No one wants a...

The power steering pump in your Chevrolet Suburban helps you turn the wheels of the car easily when you use the steering wheel. If the power steering pump does not function properly, steering will...

Car headliners start to pull away from their boards and sag as a part of normal vehicle wear. The headliner is a simply a piece of fabric glued to a board, so the glue loses strength because of a...

The alternator for the Mercedes Benz is responsible for powering all of the electrical devices in the car. It is designed to last for at least 60,000 miles. When the alternator dies, the first...

The ignition in a Pontiac Aztec uses an electric switch mechanism to start the starter motor. When the switch fails, the key will turn but the Aztec won't start. At this point, you'll need to get...

Dented hoods are notoriously hard to fix--even for professional body shops-- because they don't always return to original condition. If you're to achieve success, however, you'll need to take a...

The Toyota Camry was first produced in 1980 and continues to be one of the most popular car models sold. The timing belt on the Camry requires replacement about every 90,000 miles. The timing belt...

When you push the button in your car to activate the air conditioning, you expect cold air to come pouring out of the vents. If the cooler compressor is not engaging, the air coming out of the...

The outside door handles on a Jeep Rubicon allow you to open the doors of the Jeep. But when they are damaged--from an attempted break in or from years of wear and tear--they'll need to be...

The door latch on a Toyota Tundra is held in place with two bolts. Unfortunately, it's buried under the door panel, which you will have to remove. The door latch has no service life, which can...

Very few models of Toyota vehicles have an easily removable and replaceable fuel filer; in many cases, it requires a professional. The fuel filter needs changing every two years or 30,000 miles....

The rear bumper assembly of your Toyota Corolla is made of polyurethane. While this material is lighter than sheet metal, it is also more prone to unsightly cracking and chipping. If you must...

The Ford Mustang headlight switch on your steering column controls the headlights and turn signals. These switches are designed to last for a long time, but an electrical short or an accident can...

Electric door locks use an actuator inside the door handle to activate the door lock mechanism. The exact location and design of the controls varies according to the vehicle, but they all follow...

If your Pontiac Grand Am car door needs to be replaced due to severe damage or rust, you need to know how to do the job correctly. The Grand Am uses electronically controlled mirrors, door locks...

The door lock on a Chevrolet is fairly reliable and should last the life of the vehicle. However, these mechanisms do occasionally fail. When they do, you won't be able to lock the door. The lock...

I owned a Prius for a couple of years, and found that replacing the headlight is very hard to do, not impossible but hard to do. The car dealer will want several hundred dollars to do this. Why?...

The back wheel bearings on your vehicle help take the stress and load off the axles and CV joints. The bearings are actual ball bearings that run around the inside of the bearing and hub assembly....

A wheel bearing hub assembly refers to a sealed unit, as opposed to a regular wheel bearing assembly, which is typically mounted inside a wheel hub. The sealed unit makes it very easy to change,...

The Chevrolet Cavalier has fuel filter clip that is confusing to some. When the nut is turned, it does not unscrew. The way to overcome this is by using a "backup wrench," which is basically a...

The power door lock actuator on a Crown Vic powers the door lock. The electronic module rarely fails, but when it does, you won't be able to lock or unlock your doors. This is obviously a problem...

Modern cars and trucks are manufactured with air conditioning systems that use an engine driven compressor to circulate freon through a condenser and evaporator. The compressor can fail due to a...

The ignition on a Honda Accord is secured to the steering column using a retaining pin. This pin keeps the ignition in place in the column and prevents unauthorized starting of the vehicle. When...

Wiring a Volkswagon dune buggy uses a different method of grounding accessories and headlights because the vehicle is made of fiberglass. Wiring a VW dune buggy can be quite simple using remote...

The wheel bearings on an Oldsmobile Cutlass are caged roller bearings on an inner race with a separate outer race. There are two bearings installed in the brake rotor and ride on the spindle. The...

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...