Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Chevrolet big-block V8 engines were introduced in the late 1950s and have powered many medium-duty trucks and heavy car models ever since. The timing belts on these engines ensure that the truck...

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...

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...

Prepare to remove the engine on your Subaru Outback days or weeks in advance of the actual task by getting organized, gathering the necessary tools and setting up your garage or place you intend...

From the mid-1950s until the mid-1980s, most Chevy small-block engine fuel pumps remained essentially the same. Barring the size of several fittings and the fuel pump body's assembly, most 1980s...

Engines have become more durable in recent years, but the average shelf life of an engine is still only about 15 years. High performance engines, like many of those used in Jeep vehicles,...

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...

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 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...

Your Jeep's thermostat is small, but very important to your vehicle's engine. The thermostat controls the coolant circulation once your engine has been running. A blocked, cracked or fixed...

Careful planning is perhaps the most important task in removing the engine from your Dodge Van. Besides the special tools required for the job, an adequate location with enough space, light and...

The cooling system on your Chevy van requires regular flushing to keep the engine running smoothly. If the cooling system is not purged at least once a year, deposits can build up in the engine...

The exhaust manifold on your Pontiac Fiero collects exhaust gases at the cylinder-head exhaust ports, and guides them toward the header pipe and out of the system. Removing the manifold or...

Do you need to reset your check engine light in a 2001 Lexus IS300? A check engine light needs to be reset when new parts are installed and the system needs to read it. It is also necessary to...

The alternator converts engine revolutions into electrical power, which is used to charge a car's battery. Replacing a GM (or Delco) alternator in your car is a simple procedure, and can be...

You should change the oil filter on a vehicle every time the oil is changed. Changing the oil and filter regularly is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to prolong the life of an...

If you take your vehicle to a shop to fix the problem causing a service engine light, the shop will reset the light when they are finished. If you perform the repair yourself, you will need to...

Smoking vehicles will never pass inspection, cause pollution, stink, and can be signs that your car is in really bad shape. There are several causes of a smoking vehicle, some can be severe...

You should change the fuel filter on your Buick vehicle every 30,000 miles; this is part of the regular major tune-up schedule. Always use extreme caution when working on any part of the fuel...

The vast majority of engine overheating problems can be traced to a defective thermostat rather than a problem with the radiator itself. The thermostat operates like a switch to prevent the...

Ford Escort owners are fortunate when changing the fuel filter on their vehicle; the Escort's fuel filter is located in the engine bay (driver's side) against the firewall. The fuel filter in most...

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 fuel filter in your Toyota Camry is designed to prevent contaminants from reaching the engine through the fuel tank. Occasionally, the fuel filter needs to be replaced to maintain the vehicles...

The sole purpose of an oil pan is to store the oil used by the engine. Oil pans are one-piece designs, which makes them fairly durable. However, they can sometimes crack. Oftentimes the crack can...

The motor mounts on a Nissan Altima hold the engine in place. They perform a very basic--but very important--function. The mount is actually secured with two large bolts. One bolt connects the...

Are you wondering how to reset your check engine light in a 1998 Honda Accord? Resetting your check engine is sometimes required when you install new parts into your car and the light does not...

The fan clutch on a Toyota is a silicone-filled device that engages the fan when the temperature of the engine rises above the value of the thermostat. As the temperature drops, the fan blade is...

The idle air control valve (usually referred to as the IAC valve) is an important part of your engine. The valve regulates the average rotation of your engine at idle. If your IAC valve is faulty,...

If your Thunderbird fuel filter is clogged, your engine will likely sputter and have reduced power. The fuel filter keeps harmful objects and contaminants from entering your engine; unfortunately,...

The Chevrolet Aveo is an inexpensive small car that was introduced in 2004. Several Aveo owners have complained about faulty thermostat housings; the housings are made of plastic, rather than...

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve on your Crown Victoria helps reduce tailpipe emissions and improves engine efficiency. The EGR valve is located at the rear of the engine bay. Cleaning...

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...

The Monte Carlo is a midsize luxury coupe, produced by Chevrolet from 1970 to 2007. Models built from 1970 to 1988 were rear wheel drive vehicles, based on General Motors A-body platform. Models...

The fuel pressure regulator in your Chevy Blazer is used to help keep the fuel system's pressure constant. If the regulator is bad, the result is often low pressure in the system. Symptoms can...

Recognizing the symptoms of a faulty water pump on your Jeep is the first step to replacing it. An engine that regularly overheats is a good sign that your water pump is failing. Water leaking on...

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...

YES! The average person can change there own oil in there vehicle for 1/2 the cost of taking it to a five and dime shop or MORE if you take your car to a dealership for this service.

Later models of the Toyota Celica had a 1.8L four-cylinder engine. While this engine isn't that different from other Toyota four-cylinders, it does require extra work when replacing the...

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...

Removing engine rust is essential to making sure that the integrity of the engine block isn't compromised. Rust is like cancer for automobiles; it ruins the structural integrity of all engine...

Painting an engine block without removing it requires that you be able to spray the inside of he engine bay and not over-spray the paint on any parts that you don't want painted. This can be quite...

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...

If you care for your car yourself, you probably want it to last as long as possible. Here are some important tips you may not know, that will help you get the most miles out of your car.

Radiator hoses are one of the most commonly overlooked maintenance components within any automobile, until they fail. Radiator hoses are made from rubber, which corrodes over time. To compound the...

Symptoms of sugar in a gas tank include a car being sluggish, jerking and stalling. The telltale sign of mischief is sugar granules on the outside lip of your gas tank. While apocryphal stories...

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 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...

The water pump is an essential piece of equipment used to circulate water and coolant throughout the engine to keep it from overheating during operation. Replacing or repairing the water pump on...

An engine thermostat is an essential component of the engine cooling system. It regulates the temperature of the coolant and ensures that your engine remains cool. Thermostats work because of a...

When your Jeep Cherokee overheats or makes a kind of "duck" noise, your water pump may be failing. Replacing a bad water pump is essential to the life of your vehicle. This can be a challenging...