Auto Mechanics

Never mind that roadster-driving purists may decry air conditioning as a pointless luxury of the coddled. The fact is that the practice of changing interior cabin temperature to make driving more...

No mechanic is too experienced to take using an automotive lift lightly. Automotive lifts have caused thousands of deaths and even more injuries. When using a lift, be sure you have been trained...

It's common for a Chevy flex plate to rust enough around the crankshaft to cause a problem in removal. There's a tool that is designed to turn the flex plate or flywheel--a spanner wrench that...

What do Rollerblades, fishing reels, bicycle wheels and air conditioners have in common? They all use something called bearings to help their parts spin around. In fact, most anything mechanical...

If you want to share your knowledge of car repair and help others fix their automobiles, setting up a video blog or uploading videos to YouTube is a great way to go. Video sharing sites like...

Several parts of an automobile must be able to withstand a certain amount of pressure. If these parts are bolted down, it is absolutely vital that the bolts are tightened enough to handle the...

One of the regular maintenance items for your Kia vehicle is changing the fuel filter. Like any filter, its job is to filter out impurities in the product being filtered through it. In this case,...

Identification of the small block Chevy (SBC) engine requires searching for numbers and codes, and referring to sources to help identify size, date of casting and assembly, and, among other...

Whether you are rebuilding an old engine or just doing some internal engine repair, you will need to get the engine block cover off. The engine block covers are bolted into place with up to 20...

A typical engine is cooled with a fan that is mounted to the engine itself; the fan runs while the engine is turned on. An electric fan negates the need for a factory-installed fan, and allows the...

Radiator leaks can cause the cooling system in your vehicle to fail and force your engine to overheat. The cooling system has a lot of different components, but the biggest one--the radiator--is...

The engine block in a standard automobile holds the cylinders of the combustion engine, which is usually made of cast metal to help protect the engine. In automobile accidents, it is common for...

Was there ever a time when you really wanted to find out if your car alternator was actually producing electricity or not? Your car does not hold electrical charge or it simply won't charge the...

The universal joint in most vehicles connects the driveline to the rear axle and is a critical part of your drivetrain. When the universal joint--or U-joint--goes out, it can rattle; if not fixed,...

Saturn cars have been popular since they came out in the 1990s; but like any vehicle, they require maintenance. One problem is leaky rubber grommets on the valve cover, which will cause oil to...

Flushing your vehicle's cooling system is something you should do on a regular basis. If you have a separate coolant tank, you should flush it as well. The reservoir tank on a Subaru Outback...

Converting between metric drill bit sizes and their English (inch) equivalents requires some simple math. There is no exact equivalent in English-sized drill bits for most common metric sizes....

Antifreeze is essential for the proper functioning of the car's engine, as it helps prevent the formation of iron oxide that form plugs in the radiators. These plugs in the radiator can damage the...

The internal combustion engine has been in use for over a century, and though it has been modified with the advancement of modern technology, it is still constructed using the same general parts...

The MAF sensor, or mass air flow sensor, is a critical part of your engine. It measures how much air is coming from the air filter into the engine and tunes the air-fuel ratio. If the sensor is...

Ford's safety compliance certification label on the driver's side door jab will identify the automatic transmission with a single letter. A metal identification tag can be found on other Ford...

Having a leaky oil pan means that you're dripping oil on your driveway, and if left unchecked, you'll run out of oil and damage the engine. Replacing the oil pan isn't a difficult task, but it...

Sooner or later we all need car repair services. Carl exhaust repair or car brake repair are among some of the more common problems headed for the nearest garage ramp. If you're on a lower budget...

The Saturn Vue is a popular vehicle with positive opinions among its owner base. Many of the vehicles exhibit no problems for most of their lifespan. However, when problems do appear, the air...

Nissan Sentras are popular cars that generally do not suffer from any specific, well-documented problems. While this helps prospective buyers avoid the worry associated with serious deficiencies...

Oxygen sensor problems in Honda Accords are rare and relatively easy to resolve, compared with other issues. Sometimes, they can be fixed in minutes, though the particular placement of these...

If you work as a mechanic, or if you run an automotive repair business, you simply cannot afford to ignore proper safety procedures. Implementing the right safety procedures and policies serves a...

That old Holley of your running too rich or too lean at idle? How no clue how to make it run right? Well don't worry no one is born with that knowledge. So I'll outline a few simple steps that...

You spent a lot of your hard-earned money on your car, and when it has a problem, you don’t want to take it to just anyone. We all hear stories of consumers being ripped off by shady mechanics, so...

If the front suspension of your vehicle starts feeling sloppy, or if you start to notice poor tire wear, the reason may be bad ball joints. Replacing them should take about an hour, and requires...

The C4 transmission is a three-speed automatic transmission used in Ford medium-duty, rear wheel-drive car applications. This transmission debuted with the Ford Mustang in 1964 and was used in...

Holley has been building carburetors for a long time now, so there are a lot of different types out there to choose from. If you buy a used carb, it's nice to know what model it is so you can...

An auto shop has many tools and pieces of equipment to perform different jobs. With such tools, a mechanic has the power to turn a pile of junk parts into a fully restored vehicle.

Though it is known by some as VW's "flappy-paddle" gearbox, the Tiptronic is actually a very advanced and reliable transmission. First introduced by Porsche, the Tiptronic is not an...

In spite of their overall popularity, Honda Accords have a history of transmission problems, affecting most models since 1998. The problems have prompted both recalls as well as after-purchase...

Working with steel means always having the possibility of rust forming at one time or another. But typically when you work with steel, you end up with a part that's designed to be painted or...

The small-block Chevy engine has been produced in several variations for over 50 years, making it one of the easiest engines to build and find parts for. But since there are so many different...

Long block is a term given to a nearly complete engine assembly. The major components of the engine are pre-assembled and ready to install and have original accessories added. If an engine has...

S-10 pickups have been popular since the '80s because they're affordable, easy to work on and have lots of aftermarket accessories. If you want to lower your truck or install airbags, replacing...

When building a custom car, you run into unique situations that the typical mechanic might not experience. Rinsing out a rusty gas tank is one of them, and cleaning the contents out of a tank is...

There are lots of reasons to remove a truck gas tank--a hole in the tank, replacing the fuel-sending unit, a bad fuel line connection--but the removal isn't that difficult. The easiest way to...

Changing the diameter of a vehicle's tire can drastically affect every aspect of its performance, from acceleration, to braking, to fuel economy. From one extreme to the next, a vehicle can gain...

When Volkswagen introduced the New Beetle, it sparked a styling trend in making old vehicles new again. But as the cars get older, things need to be fixed. A leaky oil pan can lead to a loss in...

If you're looking to take your car into the shop, you probably want to find a mechanic, if you haven't done so already. When you're looking for a mechanic, here are steps that you can take in...

When buying a used car, you may not get all the options you want. A tilt steering column is option that isn't often available, which is a matter of convenience and safety. Swapping out the...

The question of efficiency differences between manual and automatic transmissions was once easily understood. Manuals resulted in better gas mileage, and automatics were easier to drive. If that...

The crankshaft position sensor and throttle position sensor are perhaps the the only parts of an electronic fuel injection system that the computer simply cannot function without. The throttle...

GM has manufactured several types of transmissions over the years. If you need one for a project, knowing what you've got comes in handy. Identifying a GM automatic transmission can be done with a...

The power steering pump is a key part of your vehicle, and if it goes out, steering can get sloppy and jerky, potentially causing an accident. Replacing a power steering pump isn't that simple;...

The rack and pinion system in your vehicle is key to proper steering and safety. If yours goes out, your steering will suffer. It will take an hour or so to replace it, but it can be done with...