Auto Mechanics

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...

With an older vehicle, or just one that has gone through a lot of hard use, the ball joints tend to wear out. Replacing the ball joints can be a little tricky, but it's definitely something that...

According to dictionary.com, a mandrel is a "shaft or bar the end of which is inserted into a workpiece to hold it during machining." This strict definition includes rotating clamps, such as...

An old axiom among mechanics is that for every part in a car, there are 10 ways for it to break. Given that the average car has 14,000 separate parts, and the average engine has over 1,000, it may...

Air tools are time and labor savers. Used in the home or small shop they help make better and faster repairs. Each tool needs an adequate supply of compressed air to operate it and a compressor...

Choosing an air compressor will depend on several factors including how large your operation is and how much you are willing to spend.

Floor jacks differ tremendously from the emergency jack that normally comes with modern vehicles. Floor jacks use fluid to provide lift; the small emergency jacks use simple screw systems. Floor...

Changing the fuel filter on your vehicle is part of a good maintenance schedule, but most don't do it. On the Ford 6.0l Superduty Diesel engine found in the F-250, it's important to regularly...

In essence, a camshaft's purpose is to convert the rotational movement of the crankshaft to the reciprocal motion required to actuate the valve-train. What that means is that the cam spins around...

When Ford introduced the new body-style F-250 trucks, they soared in popularity, partially because of the super-powerful Powerstroke diesel engine. Routine maintenance for a diesel engine is...

The Lexus LS400 is a popular car, but as it gets older, parts start to break. The hood struts aren't a critical moving part of the vehicle, but if one goes out, it's certainly inconvenient. The...

Rusted bolts can be easy or difficult to remove, depending mostly on accessibility. There must be enough room to work. The head of the bolt or the threaded end must protrude far enough to grab...

The Honda CRX was a popular car in its time, and there are still tons of them on the road today. This car, however, is plagued with electrical issues, particularly fuel pump related. If the fuel...

The valve cover has an important job for the engine: It keeps the valves protected and lubricated. If the valve cover gasket goes out, then the valve cover will leak out oil, potentially damaging...

If you think your Jetta's radiator fan needs replacement, there are some tests you can perform to make sure. Disconnect the fan motor's electrical connector and connect the battery power and...

A stall converter (also known as a "torque converter") is a fluid coupler used between an engine and drive device to prevent engine stalling at low RPM. Used in place of a traditional clutch, the...

Building a custom car or truck includes putting together a drivetrain that's suited for your application, and one of those key aspects is the transmission. Finding that transmission is as easy as...

When the hood latch went out on your 1988 Honda, you may not have noticed it until you had to get under the hood. Then it was a problem. But replacing the hood latch takes only about half an hour....

George Pepperdine, founder of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., founded Western Auto Supply Company. Although the business began as a mail-order firm, it grew to include more than 1,200...

Stripped and broken threads are a fact of life in auto repair. Even if the threads are damaged beyond a simple re-tap, the mounting hole can still be fixed and reused. Helicoil inserts allow you...

In the broadest sense, rear suspension is what keeps the body of a car off the ground and the rubber on it. Rear or all-wheel-drive cars use a much more complicated setup than front-wheel drives,...

Like most major automakers, Ford Motor Company offers a basic warranty on all new cars its sells. In addition, Ford offers buyers a series of additional warranty plans, known as extended service...

Removing the cylinder head from a Dodge Caravan engine is professional-level work. This should not be attempted by anyone other than a skilled mechanic. There are several engine parts you must...

The Ford C6 transmission was essentially an upgraded version of the C4, Ford's base three-speed auto. The C6 used heavier-duty components to handle the additional torque of larger engines, and the...

How to stop engine knocking in just a few easy simple steps. You, yes you can do this at home. Although this does not stop knocking in all cases, it will help to extend the life of ANY engine, and...

Perhaps the easiest business to scam people is the auto mechanic business, because who knows anything about cars except mechanics? They start talking gasket this and catalytic converter that, and...

Cars get broken into all the time. Fixing a car that's been broken into can be a inconvenient, but having someone fix it for you can be expensive. Fortunately, replacing a broken door lock isn't...

Dial-bore gauges (DB) or dial indicators, when used in conjunction with a micrometer, can give very accurate and precise inside measurements. Used for holes of at least two inches in diameter,...

On a Chevrolet engine, the oil cooler is one of the crucial items to the vehicle. If it's not working, or a hose is ruptured, the vehicle will leak oil and you could seize your engine. Accessing...

The ignition coil in your car is a relatively simple device. It consists of a few coils of large gauge wire (called a secondary winding) wrapped by another winding of small gauge wire with...

When the power steering on a vehicle goes out, it makes steering a chore. Worse yet, it can cause problems with other parts connected to the steering system. A common problem is a broken hose, and...

The reservoir on a Ford Ranger is the plastic bottle located on top the clutch master cylinder where the fluid is stored. It is almost always a clear material so that the fluid level can be seen...

The starter is one of the key components of any engine. It physically cranks the ignition from a dead start and gets the engine moving. If you have a problem with the starter in your 1997 Ford...

When an engine mount goes out on a GMC truck (or almost any vehicle), the engine can cause vibrations throughout the truck, which makes for an uncomfortable ride. It also causes additional stress...

One of the more common items that will need to be replaced on an aging Honda Civic is the upper control arm, which is part of the steering mechanism on the front wheels. When the bushings wear out...

When your engine is running, it generates a great deal of heat is by burning fuel. The cooling system is designed to contol that heat, and part of that system is the cooling fan. Rear-wheel drive...

The turn signal or "blinker" first turned up on the 1938 Buick, and in 1940 Buick introduced the self-canceling system we still use today. The color amber was adopted voluntarily by the auto...

Brakes are an essential component of a vehicles driving system, and would be rendered useless without the addition of brake pads. Brake pads do the same job on a disc brake setup that brake shoes...

Engines wear out. It's an unfortunate reality, but not every engine built will last for 200,000 miles, so sometimes you have to replace it. The lifting and moving process can be difficult. In this...

The lifeblood of your vehicle is the fuel. Without it, your Chevy truck won't go anywhere. But if the fuel is dirty, you're going to do damage to your engine and that's not good, either. Fuel...

If you've got bad rear shocks, chances are, you've got some back pain, too. That's because shocks are integral to good ride quality. So if they're bad, it's time to replace them. It sounds like a...

Mercedes-Benz automobiles are engineered to be reliable, long-lasting vehicles. But even the most robust machinery requires periodic repair. A Mercedes is notoriously expensive to fix and...

The rear end of a rear-wheel drive vehicle is a key part of the drivetrain. If it's broken or worn out, it can cause drive problems, and the vehicle won't move. Taking it apart isn't difficult, it...

Tire size is more important on vehicles produced with fuel injection and computer-controlled engine functions than on the earlier models with carburetors. Speedometer error would be the most...