Auto Mechanics

Engines are comprised of internal components which can move at very high rates of speed. Due to the weight of the rotating and reciprocating parts, as engine speeds increase even small amounts of...

On a Chevrolet truck or car running a V6 or V8 engine, a set of transmission cooler lines typically runs from the front of the vehicle by the radiator into the transmission. This small radiator...

The Ford Escape is a mid-size SUV that has a higher center of gravity than most vehicles, which causes it to sometimes sway from side to side when turning. The truck comes factory-equipped with a...

When determining the axle ratio in a Dodge Ram for the purpose of changing to a different ratio, several things should be considered. On newer vehicles, the shift points in the transmission, the...

Modifying the radiator fan to turn on manually is usually done because something in the system is not working properly, and the vehicle owner does not want to replace a part, usually due to the...

The radiator is one of the key parts of the cooling system in your Honda, and if it springs a leak or gets clogged up, not only will you not cool your engine properly, but you risk overheating and...

One of the things that the Ford Focus was known for when it was first introduced was its innovative suspension design, built for better handling as well as a supple ride. The front suspension is a...

Time was, a typical Ford engine's spark was controlled by a mechanical distributor, which dispersed spark among the various spark plug wires based on the gears at the base. Ford has changed their...

The Buick Regal was a popular vehicle in the 1980s, mostly for its luxury features and affordable pricing. But since then, the lowrider scene has grasped on to the Regal, and it's become an iconic...

The air filter of any vehicle is designed to stop particulates and dirt from getting into the engine and damaging it. On a Polaris Ranger RZR, this is particularly important as it's an off-road...

When you put gas in your car, all sorts of debris can make it from the pump to the tank. If that debris gets into the engine, then you can have all sorts of problems with your fuel system,...

You are burning a lot of oil or your engine went bad. It is a little work but can be enjoyable specially if you have a kid that wants to.

The GM 700R4 transmission was used in several different vehicles over the years, including the Astro van, S-10 pickup and Silverado. This engine is popular because it was one of the first to...

On an Audi engine, the mass air flow sensor is designed to measure the amount of air coming into the engine through the throttle body, and then send the information to the computer, where it...

The rear suspension on some family sedans is held up by a pair of leaf springs, which not only provide ride quality, but keep the axle centered on the vehicle. If one of those leaf springs breaks,...

On your Ford F-150, the tie rod is responsible for properly aligning the steering, as well as making sure that you can turn from side to side. If the tie rods go out, you'll experience sloppy...

Whenever you change the oil on your Ford Focus, the next thing you want to change is the air cleaner, also known as the air filter. That's because the air cleaner is responsible for filtering...

The spark plug wires on your Ford Ranger are responsible for transferring the spark from the distributor to the spark plugs, and if the plug wires go out, they need to be replaced -- but first,...

The serpentine belt on your Cadillac is a key part of your engine. It's designed to take the energy from the motor and transfer it to the power steering pump, alternator, air conditioner and water...

Keeping up on the maintenance in your Chevy Cavalier is an important part of keeping your car running well. Changing the air filter every 10,000 to 12,000 miles is a must and is an easy task to...

It used to be that the distributor on your GMC engine would control the spark going to each spark plug, but now there are individual coils on each spark plug, with each individual ignition module....

When assembling an engine, whether for racing or simply to replace an old engine, the most important things to assemble properly are the pistons and connecting rods. If these two items are not...

Your transmission went and the shop wants to charge more than the ehicle is worth. This could help. Do not attempt if you are not mechanically inclined.

Motor mounts are a vital part of any car, and a Dodge Neon is no exception. They help maintain torque when the vehicle's engine is hitting high RPMs and keep the engine from moving too much while...

The mass air flow sensor on your Ford Windstar is designed to measure the amount of air that comes in through the intake, which allows the computer to adjust the fuel pressure and flow...

The Ford Taurus was a popular vehicle when it was introduced in the 1980s, and its popularity persevered until the line was discontinued in the early 2000s, just to be brought back again at the...

Spoked (laced) motorcycle wheels are an attractive alternative to mag wheels. Consisting of a hub, rim and two different lengths of spokes, the wheel assembly can be adjusted to run straight and...

The sway bar on your front suspension does a lot of work, as it ties the front wheels together and helps to stiffen the handling as well as improve the ride quality. When the bushings in the sway...

Your Ford F-150 4.2L engine's thermostat is the gateway between the radiator and your engine. When it's closed, it stops coolant from traveling through the two components, and when it opens, fresh...

Harley-Davidson throttle controls feature a pull-open cable and a pull-closed cable. This gives very positive control to the throttle position. The pull-open (forward) cable operates the throttle...

Harley-Davidson Shovelhead motorcycles employ an element type oil filter. The oil return line carries pressurized oil back to the oil tank. The pressure forces the return oil through the filter...

The damper is a spring-like component of a car's suspension system. It comes standard on most car models, including Hondas. They are located behind the wheels. Removing and replacing these parts...

Turbos are among some of the biggest mechanical issues to normally go wrong with cars. From turbo spikes to lagging, there are many problems that can go wrong with a turbo during normal driving...

Before fuel injection, electronic control units and catalytic converters, trucks had much simpler engines. Back then, getting a truck to run correctly meant almost daily tune-ups, depending on the...

Installing a new exhaust can increase horsepower and the sound output of your vehicle, as well as improve the appearance over the stock unit. But before you can install an exhaust, you must first...

Power steering used to be a luxury feature on some vehicles, but today, it seems like most cars and trucks have some form of assisted steering. Most cars use a hydraulic system to aid in turning,...

In a Pontiac Trans Am, as in most vehicles, the radiator hoses direct the flow of coolant from the radiator, to the engine and back through the radiator. If one of them is busted or leaking, you...

Manual transmissions last much longer than their automatic counterparts; however, over time they too become worn down, and certain parts will need replacing. One of the problems which manual...

On a Chevrolet V8 engine, the engine can heat up to some high temperatures. One of the ways the manufacturer minimizes heat is by installing an oil cooler that drops the temperature of the oil...

The engine is the heart of your vehicle, and if it needs to be replaced, it can be a chore. But besides all of the complicated wiring, plumbing and grunt work involved in an engine swap, there's...

The starter motor on a vehicle is designed to turn over the engine with just the power from the battery, which gets the motor rotating and the engine running correctly. If the starter on your...

The control arms on your vehicle are critical to the proper operation of your front suspension, and if a ball joint goes out or the bushings need to be replaced, you must remove the control arms...

The Toyota Prius is equipped with two types of batteries. The first one, found in almost all automobiles, is a lead-acid (Pb-A) 12V accessory battery. The second battery is designed for hybrid...

One of the most common modifications on an automobile is to swap out small factory rims with larger rims. However, to avoid losing power and affecting your speedometer, the tire size must also be...

Many mechanical modifications to your vehicle require lifting the vehicle up in the air to do the work. Doing that means using a jack that capable of lifting the vehicle and supporting it until...

You car's battery cables transmit electric current from the alternator back to the battery and down to a ground point, completing the circuit. If the cables are damaged, you risk losing power and...

The light switch on your truck is responsible for turning on the headlights, marker lights and running lights on your Chevrolet truck, and it's not indestructible. If the headlights overload the...

Need an easy fix to help make your car run better? change the spark plugs. It will run better. If you are tired of your car or truck sputtering and want it to run like a well tuned video game...

Any mechanic will tell you, they are nothing without their tools. Screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets and many, many other metal tools are very expensive. Many of these tools are used daily and some...