Do It Yourself Auto Repair

The alternator in your Mazda Protege keeps the battery alive by charging it while the engine is running. Without the alternator, you would need to jump your car every time you needed to drive it,...

Ford ball joints hold the suspension together. Without ball joints, a Ford suspension would travel side to side to such a degree that the tie rod and steering knuckle would separate from the...

A rear axle shaft is found on vehicles with rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. The rear axle transfers power from the rear differential to the drive wheels. The axle uses two joints to provide...

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...

Ford has made a litany of transmissions over its long history, some more durable than others. No matter which type of transmission the vehicle is equipped with, there comes a point where the...

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...

If your car is having problems starting, you may have a wet distributor cap. If the car usually starts, but has trouble starting on rainy or humid days, the distributor cap is the most likely...

Oil on the floor of a garage is a sign that there may be oil leaking from your vehicle. One of the main causes of an oil leak is a worn rear main seal no longer providing a proper seal. Depending...

In this hard economy that we’ll facing today many people are do it yourselfers. One of our biggest expenses is auto repairs. What can we do if our cars need simple repairs or maintenance? How can...

Torque refers to the "tightness" of a bolt or nut. Heavy trucks use specific torque specifications to make sure that important components don't come loose during normal vehicle operation. Use a...

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...

Transmission leaks can come from different parts of the transmission. The most common area for leaks is the pan at the bottom of the transmission that holds the fluid. Between the pan and the...

The front axle joints on a 1995 Dodge Ram are flexible joints on the axle shaft. The shaft transfers the power from the transmission to the front drive wheels. The axle joints prevent the shaft...

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...

When your Jeep starts to overheat, it is a sure sign of a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Heater cores may become clogged, trap air inside or fail all together. No one wants a...

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...

A transmission's components spin and create heat during operation. If enough heat is generated, the transmission will fail. To cool the transmission and the fluid within it, two transmission...

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...

The ignition switch in a Ford truck is held in place by a small pin inside the base of the switch. The switch has no recommended service life, and it may fail suddenly. When it does, you will need...

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....

Dented hoods are notoriously hard to fix--even for professional body shops-- because they don't always return to original condition. If you're to achieve success, however, you'll need to take a...

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...

The Toyota Camry was first produced in 1980 and continues to be one of the most popular car models sold. The timing belt on the Camry requires replacement about every 90,000 miles. The timing belt...

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...

If you've got a dent in your plastic bumper (since most are plastic these days) but don't want to shell out the dough to get it fixed at a body shop, don't worry--you may not have to. Depending on...

Replacing your auto's thermostat takes just a few minutes and can be done easily without any automotive experience. A thermostat and gasket can be purchased for around ten dollars.

Although the water pump plays an important role in the engine's pulley system, the main purpose of the 350's water pump is to pull antifreeze from within the radiator, distribute that antifreeze...

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...

The half shaft on a Subaru Outback transfers power to the drive wheels from the transmission. The half shaft is the shorter of two front drive shafts, located on the passenger side of the vehicle....

You should change your Chevrolet's fuel filter every 30,000 miles, or every two years, whichever comes first. In most Chevys, the fuel filter is mounted outside the fuel tank, so you won't have to...

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....

The Chevrolet Cavalier has fuel filter clip that is confusing to some. When the nut is turned, it does not unscrew. The way to overcome this is by using a "backup wrench," which is basically a...

A torque wrench is an essential tool for anyone repairing machinery. Torque wrenches can range from inexpensive beam-type models to ultra-expensive dial types, but for home use the best choice is...

The front axle on a Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers power to the front wheels from the transmission. The axle has two joints, called CV joints, that flex and allow the axle mobility when turning and...

While many turn in their car for someone to do maintenance, often times you can do this by yourself. Here are the steps to change your cars oil and oil filter.

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 indicator lights, also known as the turn signal lights, on a GMC Jimmy are the amber-colored lights located on the front and rear of the vehicle. Most states require these lights to be...

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 timing belt on your Hyundai Tiburon is an item that you need to maintain and replace routinely, since usage and varying weather conditions will cause the belt to eventually wear out and break....

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 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...

The GMC Sierra pickup was manufactured with optional power windows, which use a motorized window regulator for window operation. This motor can wear out and require replacement. The average...

Torque wrench calibration is important to the safety and effectiveness of your home and car repairs, as well as the functionality of the torque wrench itself. Use your torque wrench safely and...

Torque ensures that a fastener properly holds a given part in place. Without a torque wrench, you have no knowledge of the exact amount of force you apply to the fastener. Click style torque...

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...

A U bolt is a bolt that is shaped like a "U" -- hence, the name. The top two points on the bolt are threaded and nuts are screwed onto them to secure them to various types of components. On...

The latch inside your Dodge Dakota truck may be just a thin piece of metal, but it is a very important piece. If the latch is not in precisely its correct position, you'll find it very hard to...

The solenoid on your 1996 Ford Mustang engages the drive gear of the starter motor to the flywheel. The solenoid's internal contacts may burn out, the windings may break or short out, or the...