Do It Yourself Auto Repair

The steering wheel on the Renault 5 is held in place by a single center retaining hub nut. The steering wheel needs to be removed if you need to access the steering column or any of the switches...

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...

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...

The cruise control switch in an Oldsmobile Alero is mounted on the steering column. The switch, while reliable, can fail suddenly due to an electrical short or from the electronics burning out....

GMC is a division of General Motors that produces light duty trucks, sports utility vehicles and vans. GMC makes most of its trucks side-by-side on the same assembly lines as their almost...

Ford cruise control switches are basically "plug and play." The cruise control switch is located on the steering column of Ford vehicles and uses a retaining clip to hold the switch in place. The...

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...

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...

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...

The power steering pump on your Saab 9000 helps you steer the vehicle with ease. This becomes an important safety issue once you imagine how a bad pump will keep you from easily guiding the...

The General Motors Truck Company, better known as GMC, is renowned for its rugged truck models. Removing the dashboard from a GMC truck is a tricky process but it can be mastered by an enthusiast...

A Lincoln headlight switch is designed to last the life of the vehicle. However, these parts do not have a specific service life associated with them. When they fail, it is normally due to an...

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...

The headlight switch on a 1990 Jeep Cherokee is held in place by a retaining spring. No special tools are needed to change the switch. Replacement switches must be purchased from a Chrysler...

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...

The combination switch on a Kia Sportage is multipurpose: It controls the turn signals, cruise control and headlights on your vehicle. When this unit fails, you will lose all control over these...

There are several potential problem areas that need to be routinely checked and maintained to ensure that your Dodge truck steering stays aligned. The steering components on the Dodge Ram 2500...

A steering wheel puller helps you to remove a steering wheel from your vehicle once you have pulled out the center nut. The puller grabs onto the center hub while a screw pushes the steering wheel...

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...

If you have a lot of play in your steering wheel, chances are that your outer tie rods are worn. If your tie rods are worn, replace them immediately because it is very dangerous to drive a vehicle...

The ignition switch on a Mazda is secured to the steering column. While some vehicles use a simple release pin to access the ignition switch, Mazda uses a different method that requires removing...

The Volkswagen Jetta uses an integrated ignition switch to unlock the ignition and start the car. If the switch fails, you won't be able to start the engine, but the key will still turn. While the...

The ignition switch on a Ford F100 is held to the steering column with a retaining tab inside the steering column. An access hole in the column allows you to easily remove the switch and cylinder...

An ignition key lock tumbler is the ignition switch and cylinder assembly that is secured to the steering column on most automobiles. The ignition key lock tumbler unlocks the ignition and allows...

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...

Trucks come in all shapes and sizes, but yours may not have the options you want. Some trucks come with a tilt-steering column, which is convenient for entering and exiting the truck. Plus, the...

Steering column covers protect the wiring on the steering column that runs to the turn signal, headlight and cruise control switches. To access these switches, you'll need to remove the cover on...

The ignition tumblers and the lock cylinder of an ignition lock are a sealed unit. When you remove the ignition tumblers, you must remove the casing along with it. Normally, the only time you must...

The ignition tumbler inside the Nissan Quest minivan is secured to the steering column with a retaining clip. The tumblers are small pins inside the cylinder lock that act like a puzzle. When you...

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.

The steering wheel lock plate holds the steering column bearings in place while providing recesses for the steering wheel locking bolt to latch and lock the steering wheel. Introduced in the...

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...

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...

The 2001 Chevy Impala came equipped with a standard 3.1L V-6 engine, in a front-wheel drive configuration. The wheel bearings for this car are a hub and bearing assembly driven by the drive axles...

A bad ignition switch will make it difficult for electrical power to reach the starter solenoid on your 1993 Toyota T100, or it will cut power once the engine has started. You can easily fix the...

Tie rods are an important part of your steering system that transfer steering movement to the wheels. If you have a lot of play in your steering wheel, chances are that your outer tie rods are...

The Honda Civic uses a double-wishbone front suspension system and pressed-in wheel bearings called hub bearings. This system is durable and light weight, perfect for the small, nimble Civic. When...

If the steering in your vehicle starts to get stiff and difficult to maneuver, the power steering pump may need to be replaced. If that's the case, remove the power steering pulley and install it...

The power steering pump on a Ford vehicle works in conjunction with the power steering gear, to aid the driver in steering. On a Ford light truck or car, it is pressed onto the power steering pump...

If the mechanical assembly or contact points inside the ignition switch on your GMC Jimmy have worn out, you may have a hard time providing power to the ignition or electrical system, if at all....

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 front wheel bearings on a 1994 Mercury Topaz are pressed into the steering knuckle. This requires the steering knuckle to be removed and the bearing to be pressed out and the new one brought...

The Cavalier is a compact car produced by Chevrolet from 1982 to 2005. It is a front-drive vehicle that, over the course of its production run, was available with inline-four-cylinder, V6 and...

The air bags in a Ford will need to be removed if you want to remove the steering wheel. The air bag assembly is just behind the center steering wheel cover. To remove the air bag, you'll need a...

The wiper switch on a Honda Accord is contained in the steering column. The wiper switch controls are on the left side of the steering wheel on a stalk that extends out of the column. If your...

Removing a headlight switch is normally a simple procedure for most automobiles. The headlight switch is typically on the turn-signal stalk, so removing the stalk and replacing it will normally...

The turn signal switch is one of the safety mechanism on a vehicle. It allow drivers to operate their left and right turn signals. It is a common mistake to confuse the turn signal lever as being...

The wheel bearings in a Ford Taurus are located in the hub/bearing assembly. Replacing the hub/bearing assembly is a straightforward process -- remove the brakes, then the bearing, and reassemble.

The power steering pump pulley on a Jeep Cherokee has a tapered center hole, which is pressed on the power steering pump input shaft. The tool for extracting the pulley is too large to fit on the...

A vehicle's power steering system is centralized at the power steering pump, which operates to provide the system with fluid. The power produced by the engine is transferred to the power steering...