Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Saturn vehicles use a small metal lock cylinder to secure cargo stored in the trunk. If your trunk has been broken into, in most cases this cylinder will be damaged and must be replaced. Replacing...

The ignition cylinder in a Toyota truck is secured to the steering column by a retaining pin. When you turn the key in many Toyota trucks, a chip inside the key sends a wireless signal to the...

The valve cover (also known as a rocker arm or camshaft cover) is a long metal cover that sits directly on top of the cylinder head. Saturn vehicles are equipped with overhead cam engines, which...

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...

Isuzu Hombres with a manual transmission utilize a hydraulic circuit to open and close the clutch. A rod attached to the clutch pedal connects to the clutch master cylinder. When you press down on...

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...

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 ignition lock on a Buick Reatta is a cylinder that sits inside the steering column. The lock prevents unauthorized starting of the engine. When the lock fails, you may or may not be able to...

The ignition switch and cylinder assembly on a BMW 533i uses a simple retaining pin to secure it to the steering column. The ignition switch unlocks the cylinder lock and allows the vehicle to be...

The ignition switch in a Ford Focus uses a simple ignition lock and switch mechanism that is secured to the steering column. The switch uses a chip that is coded inside the key, which allows the...

The ignition switch on a Ford Thunderbird unlocks the ignition lock cylinder and sends an electrical signal to the starter motor so that the Thunderbird's engine can start. Over time, the ignition...

The lock cylinder on an Isuzu Rodeo is a small metal cylinder in which you insert your key to unlock the tailgate. Over time, the small metal tumblers inside the cylinder can rust or wear out so...

When rebuilding an engine, you 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...

Newer model, manual transmission equipped Isuzu vehicles, utilize a hydraulic circuit to operate the clutch. The clutch pedal is attached to the clutch master cylinder. Pressing the clutch pedal...

Removing a Ford, GM, or Chevy ignition lock cylinder requires the use of a special tool called a pin punch. The pin punch is a small pin that pushes against a release tab underneath the cylinder...

When rebuilding an engine, you 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...

With a worn-out mechanism or electrical contacts, the ignition switch in your 1998 Chevrolet S-10 will fail to energize the starter solenoid properly. The switch is easy to replace, but you must...

Bolts that break off in a cylinder head are extremely difficult to remove. About the only thing you can do is drill them out. Since there is a significant risk of damaging the threads on the...

Removing an ignition-lock cylinder is usually only possible with the ignition key. However, in a pinch, you can drill the lock out. This should only be used as a last resort, since you can...

If your Honda's head gasket has sprung a leak or blown, it needs to be replaced. Instead of taking it to an auto mechanic, you may want to change the gasket yourself to save money. This is a...

The master brake cylinder of your vehicle will occasionally stop working---due to age or malfunctioning parts---and then must be replaced. Generally, most cars, no matter what style, year or...

The cigarette lighter on a 2000 Chevrolet Impala is used not only as a lighter but also to operate other 12-volt devices. The lighter has larger-gauge wire and a higher-amperage fuse, which can be...

Replacing a cylinder head in your Honda Civic or other vehicle is a dangerous, complicated and difficult job. This particular type of repair should only be attempted by someone with experience...

The ignition switch on your vehicle operates the ignition. Many vehicles use a combined ignition cylinder lock and switch assembly where the switch is located on the back of the cylinder lock....

The ignition switch is the component on all vehicles that is usually mounted on the right side of the steering column where you insert the ignition key. Removing an ignition switch on many...

The clutch slave cylinder in a Saturn needs to be bled anytime you change the clutch fluid or the cylinder. If air is trapped in the clutch fluid lines, the clutch will not engage properly and it...

The power brake booster provides vacuum to the brake system so that it's easier to stop the 1995 Ford Thunderbird (also referred to as the T-bird). The booster is mounted on the firewall of the...

Bleeding a clutch slave cylinder is necessary to make sure all of the air is out of the hydraulic lines. Since air (even the driest air) still has moisture in it, you want to make sure that as...

The initial timing on a small block Chevrolet should be 16 to 18 degrees before top dead center (BTDC) with the engine idling and the vacuum advance hooked up. When the engine is initially cranked...

The distributor on a Chevrolet rotates as a result of contact with the gear on the rear of the camshaft. There is a recess in the bottom of the distributor with a blade in the center that is...

The 350 is quite possibly Chevrolet's most popular small-block engine. Although the 350 is known for its durability, this does not mean that the engine is always problem-free. A blown cylinder...

Over time, an engine's valves develop carbon deposits and the valve springs lose their tensile strength. Detonation, backfiring and a decline in power and fuel mileage are common symptoms of...

The ignition key cylinder unlocks the ignition and allows current to flow to the starter motor. Over time, these cylinder locks can fail. The tumblers inside the locking mechanism may stop working...

Ford's 289 engine was Ford's most popular small block from 1963 to 1968. Known for its reliability, durability and light weight, the 289 is one of the easiest engines to repair. Unlike many other...

The master cylinder for the hydraulic clutch release mechanism on a standard transmission is located to the left and a little lower than the power brake booster. There is one hydraulic line...

The master clutch cylinder is part of the hydraulic clutch system in your vehicle. Older clutch systems used a cable actuator to engage and disengage the clutch mechanism. Newer vehicles use a...

When replacing spark plug wires on a Pontiac LeMans, take care to route the wires so they do not interfere with the throttle linkage. Make sure that they are not in contact with any sharp object...

The brake booster is a vacuum-driven component responsible for providing vacuum pressure to the brake system. The pressure generated by the booster improves the braking in your vehicle by creating...

As you depress the brake pedal, the master cylinder on your GM model forces brake fluid and develops pressure in the brake lines and hoses to help you slow or stop the vehicle. But wear and parts...

The 1965 Chevelle was available with or without power brakes. The master cylinder for manual brakes differs from the master cylinder for power brakes and is not interchangeable with the master for...

A piston has grooves which have been cut into the side of it to hold the piston's three rings. The grooves are known as "ring lands." The purpose of the rings is to seal the combustion chamber....

The knock sensor on a Nissan Altima is designed to sense vibrations within the engine block. These vibrations are due to pre-ignition causing spark knock. This phenomenon occurs when a spot in the...

The clutch master cylinder on a Toyota Supra controls the hydraulic fluid for the clutch system. Unlike many cable-driven systems, the Supra uses clutch fluid to operate the clutch. The fluid is...

A valve cover on a vehicle is a steel or aluminum piece, designed to cover the valves and rocker arms of an engine. It usually mounts to the top of the cylinder head. Periodically the valve cover...

The ignition cylinder lock is a device found on older Ford Taurus vehicles before Ford started using electronically chipped keys. The cylinder lock helps to keep the ignition cylinder locked in...

Spark wires, or spark plug wires, are wires that deliver an electrical charge to your vehicle's spark plugs. These wires typically run across the top of the engine on most Toyota vehicles because...

The Thunderbird, or T-Bird, is a rear-wheel drive sports coupe made by Ford Motor Company. The door lock clip on the Ford Thunderbird attaches the key lock cylinder to the door frame, allowing you...

An Isuzu clutch master cylinder can sometimes be difficult to find, so rebuilding the clutch master is sometimes the only option. Isuzu clutch master cylinder rebuild kits may be difficult to find...

A clutch slave cylinder is a common hydraulic cylinder with a rod that extends returns under pressure from an outside spring pressure. When pressure is applied to the slave, the rod will extend...

A bad master cylinder will offer little resistance or no resistance at all, as you depress the brake pedal. The most likely cause is leaking pistons or faulty valves. Instead of trying to rebuild...