Do It Yourself Auto Repair

The O2 sensor (also known as the oxygen sensor) works in conjunction with the engine computer to precisely meter the air/fuel ratio fed into your engine. The O2 sensor measures the amount of...

The Ford Ranger nameplate refers to a compact line of pick up trucks produced by the Ford Motor Company since 1983. The Ford Ranger's camshaft sensor is located on the engine block and is used to...

The throttle position sensor (TPS) on most vehicles is located in the engine compartment. It sends input to the electronic engine control so that ignition and fuel injection timing can be adjusted...

A cam sensor is an electrical device mounted into the engine block of vehicles without distributors to prompt the ignition to fire each cylinder at the proper interval. A cam sensor is not needed...

The MAP sensor in your 1998 Jeep Cherokee is responsible for measuring the airflow going to the engine. MAP stands for "manifold absolute pressure". As the name suggests, the MAP sensor is mounted...

The process to replace the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor on many Buick models is rather involved, since you must remove the drive belt and balancer/pulley from the crankshaft. Then you will...

The computer on your Pontiac 3.8 model uses the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor to control ignition timing. Consequently, a bad CKP sensor will have a direct impact on engine performance....

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...

A wide-band oxygen sensor works just like a narrow-band O2 sensor, except that it is used for high-performance tuning applications. The sensor measures a broader range of air-flow specifications...

The oxygen sensor is used to monitor the amount of oxygen in the exhaust system's gas stream. The sensor is located on the exhaust manifold and proper operation is dependent upon electrical...

Camshaft sensors, formally called camshaft position sensors, help your engine maintain emission and idle efficiency. The sensor itself cannot be fixed; it must be replaced. A faulty camshaft...

The cam position sensor on a Ford 4.0 V6 is located on the dipstick side of the engine in the forward part of the block. The computer uses the camshaft sensor to determine the firing of the fuel...

The crank sensor (properly known as the crankshaft position sensor or CKP) on a GMC Sierra is a small magnetic sensor that measures the rotation of the crankshaft. The crank sensor measures engine...

The camshaft position, or CMP, sensor on your Buick is located on the front side of the engine near the timing chain. Depending on your particular vehicle, you might need to look under the power...

A malfunctioning camshaft position (CMP) sensor has a direct impact on the fuel economy and engine power of your Ford F-150. Neglecting the problem or waiting for the sensor to reach the end of...

The throttle position sensor, often referred to as the TPS, helps maintain your vehicle's idle speed. If your TPS is defective, it must be replaced. The Mazda MX6 was sold between 1987 and 1997....

The camshaft sensor, officially known as the camshaft position sensor (CPS), is a vital part of a car's engine. The sensor sends signals to the vehicle's ECU (computer) to notify it of the...

Keeping your car's oxygen sensor in good working condition is important for the health and performance of your car. The oxygen sensor helps your car's engine produce relatively few emissions, and...

The GM 3.1 crankshaft position sensor is a cylindrical-shaped sensor located behind the crankshaft pulley. The sensor has three wires on its connector. One outside wire is the 12V power and the...

A Ford Taurus with a four-cylinder engine will have two sensors. There are three or four on a V-6, depending on the year. The computer will set an oxygen sensor code every time the signal is...

The throttle position sensor (TPS) on a Pontiac Fiero is a potentiometer used by the computer to determine the amount and rate of throttle opening. The sensor sends a voltage of less than one volt...

The manifold absolute pressure sensor, or MAP sensor, is used to measure the amount of air flowing through the intake system and into the engine. The sensor sends airflow rate data to the Honda...

The Nissan Maxima has a series of O2 sensors installed into the exhaust system of the vehicle. The upstream or front sensor is located on the exhaust manifold, underneath the vehicle. The sensor...

The Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor monitors crankshaft position and speed. Your vehicle computer uses this information, along with data from other vehicle sensors, to maintain ignition timing....

The crankshaft position sensor (also known as the crankshaft speed sensor) monitors engine RPM and assists the crankshaft to maintain proper timing and engine valve clearance. A faulty crankshaft...

The oxygen sensor on a Dodge Ram helps to monitor the exhaust gases (emissions) coming out from the exhaust. However, it also serves as a device that monitors the air/fuel ratio going into the...

The speed sensor is a magnetic coil plugged into the bottom of the transmission on most vehicles. Replacing the speed sensor is a matter of unscrewing it and screwing in a new sensor. The speed...

The mass airflow sensor measures the volume of air moving through the air intake system. The sensor, also called a MAF sensor, is usually secured to the air intake tubing that runs from the filter...

The speed sensor is a magnetic coil that is screwed into the bottom of the transmission. The sensor monitors the rate at which the transmission gears turn and relays this information to the...

The O2 sensor is a device found on all modern production vehicles that monitors a vehicle's emissions. O2 sensors send information about the emissions to the vehicle's computer. The computer then...

This article explains how to replace an O2 sensor. It is based off of a 2001 Hyundai Tiburon but the general procedure should be the same for any car.

The throttle position sensor, also called the TP sensor, helps to regulate the throttle position on a car's engine. A faulty TP sensor can cause an illuminated check engine light in your Cavalier,...

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...

Bypassing an oxygen sensor--also called an O2 sensor--can only be done using a dummy O2 sensor. Oxygen sensors are part of the vehicle's emissions control system and it may or may not be legal to...

The oxygen sensor in your vehicle controls the air to fuel ratio. "Faking out" an oxygen sensor refers to the process of bypassing the sensor so that the sensor does not relay the correct...

Cleaning an oxygen sensor on a Toyota Corolla is not a common practice because, normally, the sensor is simply replaced when it goes bad. However, cleaning the sensor can be done as a temporary...

The oxygen sensor on a Dodge Ram Hemi monitors the air to fuel ratio coming out of the exhaust manifold. Since the oxygen sensor, also called an "O2 sensor," is responsible for controlling...

The O2 sensor in your Ford E-150 Van measures the ratio of air to fuel to make sure that the van isn't running too rich or too lean. The sensor relays information to the van's computer allowing it...

The crankshaft position sensor on your Chrysler vehicle is part of the ignition system and monitors engine speed. The engine computer uses electrical current signals from this and other sensors to...

The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) on your Chevy S10 is an electrical detector with an internal coil. This sensor reads the speed of a rotating toothed metal disc mounted on a shaft inside the...

The oxygen sensor on a Mitsubishi Eclipse measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust and relays that information to the vehicle's engine control computer. The computer then uses that...

The throttle position sensor on am Isuzu Rodeo is located on the throttle body. It is positioned directly opposite the throttle linkage, on the other side of the throttle plate. The throttle...

The air flow meter on your Nissan Sentra measures the amount of air flowing into the air intake system. By doing this, it helps to control the air to fuel ratio. The air flow meter sends a signal...

The camshaft sensor in a Nissan Sentra is located in the distributor with the crankshaft sensor. When the distributor cap is removed, they both can be seen---they look like two discs resembling a...

The crankshaft sensor on 1999 and earlier model Nissans is located in the bellhousing, on the radiator side. It faces in toward the ring gear on the flexplate. The 2000 and later Nissans have the...

Over time, exhaust byproducts can obstruct an oxygen sensor's ability to read oxygen content in the exhaust stream, in which case, you will notice a drop in fuel economy. However, a malfunctioning...

The knock sensor in a Nissan Xterra performs a critical job. It "listens" to your engine to make sure that the engine is firing properly. If too much fuel gets into the engine, the compression is...

The oxygen sensor on your Ford Contour SVT measures the amount of toxins released from your exhaust and sends this information back to the vehicle's computer. The computer can then adjust the air...

The EGR sensor on your Ford F-150 recirculates the exhaust gases back into your engine for a more complete burn. The sensor itself, however, has a separate sensor to help it do its job. This is...

Fuel injection has made operating a gasoline-engined vehicle exceedingly simple. They start easily in cold weather, offer better performance and achieve better gas mileage. Fuel injection requires...