Do It Yourself Auto Repair

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...

Control arms provide stability and handling while you drive. A series of rubber polycarbonate bushings on your Chevy help dampen road vibration and establish control over metal-to-metal friction...

Most cars produced now days no longer have an actual cigarette lighter inside of the car. The port the lighter uses can still be found in all modern models, but these are now used to power...

Known switch problems cause fires in many Ford vehicles every year. The switch can be replaced to correct the problem, but a permanent solution is questionable. The design of the switch leaves...

The Ford cruise control switch is secured to the steering column with a simple retaining pin or clip (depending on the year of your Ford). The cruise control module monitors the Ford vehicle's...

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...

Often times ball joints go on cars. This happens more often than not when the roads you drive are bumpy and gravel. Sometimes an automobile owner can tell when a part such as a ball joint is...

Jack stands are a must for anyone performing safe auto maintenance at home. They are able to support the weight of a vehicle, which allows work to be performed underneath it. They are typically...

I had no clue about working on cars before joining the military. As a hobby, I purchased an old car that needed repairs and fixed it up to run smoothly. From that investment and experience I have...

If you're looking to replace or repair the transmission on your Chevrolet vehicle you'll first need to identify the model of transmission that you have. Chevy made several models of transmission...

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...

Ford trucks equipped with an automatic transmission, utilize an automatic transmission fluid cooler integrated into the radiator, to maintain proper operating temperatures within the transmission....

The voltage regulator in your vehicle, although one of the smallest components in your engine compartment, serves as a major vehicle safety feature. Your automobile's electronics and battery...

Installing standard transmission bolts must be done using the correct torque procedure. When you bolt the engine to the transmission, these bolts are responsible for keeping the transmission from...

There is no convenient time or place to have a dead car battery. Although a faulty alternator can cause the battery to lose its charge, the more common reason is the failure to turn off some...

The door switch or door lock switch is a small electrical switch that controls the opening and closing of the power door locks. On Dodge vehicles, this switch is usually in the driver and front...

Axles on a Toyota vehicle are secured to the transmission with a snap ring and held in place at the wheel hub with a drive axle nut. The axles have two joints on them, called CV joints, that...

A axle shaft connects the drive wheels to the transmission. Power is transferred from the transmission to the drive wheels though the shaft. The shaft uses two joints, called CV joints, to provide...

Ball joints provide a key service on the suspension system by helping to support your car's weight. After years of service or because of lack of maintenance, the ball joints can wear out and cause...

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...

The back wheel bearings on your vehicle help take the stress and load off the axles and CV joints. The bearings are actual ball bearings that run around the inside of the bearing and hub assembly....

A wheel bearing hub assembly refers to a sealed unit, as opposed to a regular wheel bearing assembly, which is typically mounted inside a wheel hub. The sealed unit makes it very easy to change,...

The control arms keep the drive axle centered underneath a vehicle as the suspension fluctuates up and down. Control arms utilize two bushings, one on each end, and attach to the vehicle's...

Before a state inspection, your car has a series of sensors that have to report as "ready" before the inspection can take place to check your emissions. The problem is, many people...

Every time you do an oil change or pop the hood you should take a look at your radiator hoses and make sure they are in good condition. Over time the temperature fluctuations degrade the hose and...

Most light cars and trucks equipped with an automatic transmission feature a transmission oil cooler built into the vehicle's radiator, to minimize operating temperatures in the transmission....

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 idle air control valve, commonly referred to as the IAC valve, is responsible for adjusting idle speed. The IAC valve works closely with other electrical components to control the air moving...

When getting a car, truck, or vehicle inspection, many states require the vehicle to go through an emissions check to make sure that the car is not causing too much pollution. Every state is...

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...

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.

A leaking gas tank is a major problem in whatever vehicle you are using. This is more than just losing and wasting fuel; since your vehicle generates a lot of heat on the outside, the risk of fire...

Changing your car's air filter is an important factor that can improve the quality of your vehicle. A clean air filter helps cars burn less fuel. This means your car will run more smoothly and you...

The sole purpose of a crankshaft pulley is to transfer the rotating energy of the crankshaft to each of the engine's powered accessories via one or more rubber belts. Because the crankshaft...

Crank bolts hold the crank pulley to the crank shaft in a vehicle. Removing a crank bolt requires that you hold the pulley still while removing the bolt. These bolts typically require 600 to 900...

Automotive fuel tanks suffer brute force attacks by flying rocks, weather-related deterioration and punctures by sharp road debris, and, in some cases, must be removed from the vehicle for repair...

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 caliper slide bolt, or pin bolt, is the lowermost bolt on a brake caliper. The slide bolt holds the caliper to the caliper mounting bracket. When you remove this bolt, the caliper will swing...

Automotive body rusting is the result of metal being exposed to moisture. This exposure to moisture then permits the surrounding air to oxidize the metal surface. Rust on a car's body will...

The fuel tank on your Ford Ranger may develop problems that make it necessary to remove or replace it. Some tank leaks, holes or contamination issues can only be fixed with the tank off the...

Rust is considered to be the cancer of the automotive world, as the damage it causes is rarely fixable. But if you prevent it from happening to your truck in the first place, then you're ahead of...

The clutch is one of the most important parts of your car, not only as the method to switch gears but as an emergency out. Most clutches are cable actuated, and this cable must be properly...

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...

The paint on a vehicle is supposed to feel smooth as glass and look glossy and shiny. Unfortunately, when the clear coat becomes oxidized, it feels rough and looks very dull and flat. Oxidation is...

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 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...

You might be surprised or frustrated when your Camaro comes back from emissions testing with a failed inspection. But don't worry---there are emission issues that can be diagnosed at home. Some...

A Ford starter motor only receives electrical current when the ignition key is turned fully to the right, as the starter is only necessary to start the vehicle. Between the battery and the starter...

There are all kinds of reasons for removing the manual transmission in a Chevrolet vehicle --- for repairs, replacement, or to change the manual vehicle into an automatic. Starting the process,...