Do It Yourself Auto Repair

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...

A pulley is a devise used to transfer power from one component to one or more other components. A Chevrolet 305 engine features a single pulley which transfers the power generated by the engine to...

The GM alternator used in all Chevrolet models is easy to install, as it is connected using only a few wires. The alternator converts the engine's mechanical rotations into an electrical current...

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...

Automobile air conditioners use a compressor to circulate freon through a condenser/evaporator system, lowering the inside temperature through air induction. This compressor can fail and not move...

The automotive air conditioner (A/C) compressor circulates freon through an evaporator and a condenser to cool the ambient air inside of a vehicle. This compressor is prone to failure due to 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...

The Mazda Miata was manufactured with an optional air conditioning system, which uses a compressor to circulate freon coolant. This compressor can fail due to a lack of lubricant, malfunctioning...

The timing of the moving parts is critical for an internal combustion engine to function. In a four-stroke engine, the camshaft that opens and closes the valves, allowing fuel and air to enter and...

Most trucks are equipped with an air-conditioning system, which uses a compressor, evaporator and condenser to keep the interior of the truck cab at a lower ambient temperature. The compressor...

Plymouth automobiles were manufactured with optional air conditioning, which uses a compressor to circulate freon through a series of lines and equipment. The compressor can fail for several...

Few noises produced by an automobile are as recognizable as the power steering whining noise that sometimes sounds like a squeal. This familiar sound is commonly heard when the vehicle is turning...

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...

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...

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...

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

The timing belt on your Hyundai Tiburon is an item that you need to maintain and replace routinely, since usage and varying weather conditions will cause the belt to eventually wear out and break....

Automotive air conditioners use a compressor to circulate freon through the evaporator and condenser. This compressor can wear out and require replacement, usually due to a lack of lubricant or...

Pickup trucks use similar air-conditioning systems as most other vehicles, except that they are typically larger. The compressor pumps Freon through the system, and this compressor can fail due to...

The Toyota Corolla was manufactured with an optional air conditioning system, which uses a compressor circulate freon through the evaporator and condenser. This compressor can wear out and require...

The General Motors 3800 series 3.8 liter V-6 motor uses a serpentine drive belt system, which turns the rotational forces of the motor to operate several pulley-driven parts. This primary belt can...

The drive belt operates several components in your Dodge Durango's engine, and the engine can't run without it. While cracks in the drive belts are fairly common, some can be a problem--in...

The Mazda Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) is a minivan that uses a serpentine drive belt system to power several pulley-operated pumps and devices. This belt can wear with age, and require...

The hardest part of installing a new water pump on your Jeep is always the beginning, removing your water pump pulley belt. Most do-it-yourself mechanics dread having anything to do with...

Subaru's overhead cam engine was introduced in the late '80s and is still used today. Unlike Subaru's earlier push-rod engines that used a chain and sprockets to rotate the camshaft, the new...

A power steering pump belt is used to transfer the rotating energy produced by the engine to the pump, where the fluid within the pump is then directed to the rack and pinion unit. Over time, the...

Most Volvo 740s utilize a timing belt rather than a timing chain to keep the camshaft synchronized with the crankshaft's turning motion and to maintain exact valve timing. For the uninitiated, the...

The Honda Accord uses an optional air-conditioning system to lower the temperature inside the car; the system has a condenser, evaporator and compressor that circulate Freon through a channeled...

Replacing a serpentine belt on a Chevy Cavalier or Pontiac Sunfire can be a nightmare. To replace the alternator you must remove the serpentine belt. I like to save money and do the repairs...

Always make sure that the replacement alternator for the Ford Tempo is of the same maximum amperage. At the same time, look at the pulley and make sure that it is of the same type and that the...

When replacing an alternator on a Ford 302, check the label on the alternator that states the amperage rating. The alternators differ in their amperage output ratings depending on how the vehicle...

Removing a serpentine drive belt from an engine usually requires a type of socket tool to loosen the belt tensioner. Depending on the vehicle, you can either use just a ratchet wrench or may need...

Putting an alternator belt on your vehicle normally requires that you know how to apply tension using an auto tension pulley. The auto tension pulley automatically applies the correct tension to...

The alternator on a Ford Taurus powers the electrical components on the car. Over time, this electrical generator may die. The most common symptom of a dying or dead alternator is the battery...

The belt tensioner on new vehicles is an auto-tension mechanism that automatically applies the correct tension to the serpentine belt. Of course, every vehicle is slightly different in terms of...

The drive belt on a Nissan Maxima is a serpentine belt. This means that the belt connects several pulleys together that drive various components like power steering, air conditioning, the cooling...

The alternator belt on a 1998 Pontiac Firefly requires you to install a drive belt, since the alternator belt is actually part of the drive belt, or serpentine belt. If the belt teeth become...

The drive belt on your vehicle is responsible for connecting the various pulleys in your engine bay. These pulleys, collectively, power the water pump, alternator, fan, air conditioner and a few...

Replacing the serpentine belt on a GM truck is necessary when the belt begins to crack and show signs of wear. If there is any fraying or teeth missing or damaged, the belt will likely skip or...

The fan belt on a Toyota Avensis is actually part of the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt is a long belt that connects multiple vehicle components together. As the belt ages, it will begin to...

To replace the drive belt on your Toyota Previa, you must remove the serpentine belt from the pulley system on the front of the engine. The serpentine belt, or drive belt, controls the movement of...

The serpentine drive belt in your Jeep Liberty is an important part of the engine. It keeps numerous other parts working, like the alternator and the water pump. If the belt becomes worn and loose...

Your Chevy Cavalier needs all its parts in good condition to operate. The belt tensioner keeps the accessory drive belt tight as it travels across the pulleys for multiple parts like the...

The Ford Ranger is manufactured with an optional air conditioning system, which uses a compressor to pump freon through the condenser and evaporator. This compressor can wear out and require...

The serpentine belt on a Ford Mustang is tightened with an auto-tensioning mechanism. This means that there is a device on the front of the engine that applies the correct amount of tension on the...

The serpentine belt on a 1993 Chevy is a ribbed belt that drives several of the engine's peripheral devices, such as the air-conditioning compressor, the alternator, and the separate pumps for...

Toyota recommends to change the timing belt on the 1MZ-FE engine every 90,000 miles. Do you want to change the timing belt on your Toyota V6 yourself, but you're not sure how? My article...