General Auto Repair

The General Motors HEI (high-energy ignition), introduced in the early '70s, became the standard General Motors ignition system after 1974. Its simple one-wire hookup makes it a common retrofit to...

If you suspect sugar has been put in your gas tank by a vandal or merry prankster, don't fret too much about it ruining your car's engine even though it can be a headache to fix. Sugar does not...

If you work with motorcycles or perform your own transmission fluid changes, you will have been introduced to gear oil and specifically hypoid oil at some point in your mechanical learning. That...

The oxygen sensor is a device located in the engine of your car that determines the mixture between oxygen and fuel. This information is relayed to the fuel control computer, which can then either...

Ford's large displacement engines have always been known more for their monster torque and pulling power than their high-RPM revs. The company's little-known iron behemoth 534 is no exception.

Whether they are fluid-filled, polyurethane or traditional rubber, a mount's job is to support the weight of the engine or transmission and to prevent unwanted vibrations from snaking their way...

Exhaust Brakes (a.k.a. Jake or Jacobs brakes) are one proven way of reducing brake wear on heavy trucks, and increasing downhill safety. After installing one of these simple butterfly valves, the...

Car ignition systems control when the spark fires during the engine cycle. This is accomplished either mechanically or electronically. Distributors are of the mechanical variety. Vacuum Advance...

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle that uses both electrical power and gasoline to run its engine. What this means is that the Prius essentially has two engines: a gasoline engine (on the 2001...

The Ford Taurus uses an electrical water pump to circulate engine coolant throughout the engine. The electric motor inside the pump can burn out, or the seals inside the pump may begin to leak,...

The Vortec V-6 engine is a trademarked name given to an engine model produced by General Motors displacing 4.3 L, or 262ci (cubic inches). The "Vortec" moniker references cylinder head airflow...

Many early import automobiles shared a common feature--their reputation for fuel economy and reliability. One of the tradeoffs for that economy, however, was a lack of power that was translated...

The Neon was a compact front wheel drive car built by Chrysler from 1994-2005. Neon engines utilize an oil pan mounted underneath the engine to collect oil as it circulates through the engine....

The Chevrolet 3.4L (3400) V6 is just one variant of a huge family of 60-degree V6s in production since 1980. Though this engine has seen constant improvement over the years, no amount of...

Ford diesel engines utilize a mechanical water pump to circulate engine coolant. Over time the seals inside the water pump can wear out and cause the pump to leak, subjecting the engine to...

The 2002 Toyota Echo is one of the model year entries of the compact, entry-level car from Toyota that saw its production run last from 1999 to 2005. It came as either a two-door or four-door...

Marine and automobile engines may seem similar to the untrained eye, but there are actually many differences. A boat's engine is built to withstand a heavier load and must be completely...

The fuel filter is a necessary part of a vehicle, its purpose being to filter any impurities out of the fuel before it reaches the engine. A clogged or dirty fuel filter can restrict or even...

The Pontiac Grand Prix featuring the 3.8-liter supercharged engine comes equipped with two drive belts. The primary serpentine belt functions as a serpentine belt does on most cars. The secondary...

Engines require three things to run: air, fuel and spark. Though the main throttle butterfly controls the majority of the engine's airflow, all engines must include a provision to feed the engine...

The Rio is a subcompact car produced since 2000 by South Korean automaker Kia. The Rio was redesigned for the 2005 model year and in 2009 it is offered as a four-door sedan and five-door...

All cars require maintenance and repairs to keep them running smoothly and safely. Making small repairs yourself can help prevent long-term problems and is a good way to save unnecessary trips to...

One of the biggest expenses of a new or used car is the cost of professional repairs and maintenance. While regular service is necessary to keep a car safe and running its best, many of the work...

The Toyota Camry remains one of the best selling cars of all time, a mid-size sedan known for it quality, reliability and value. Various engines have powered the Camry over the years including a...

An engine power flush is a procedure in which a high-pressure solution is flushed into an automobile engine in order to clean out contaminants that could harm its performance. Performing engine...

The A4 is a compact executive car produced by German automaker Volkswagen and is sold through its Audi division. Between 2001 and 2009, the A4 was offered as a convertible based on the B6 and B7...

Cadillac first began manufacturing its bespoke Deville model in 1949, and in 1994, mated its newest generation platform to GM's newest super-motor, the Northstar V8. This engine was a quantum...

Chrysler's long-running PT Cruiser wagon was first introduced in 2000. Spearheading the retro-styling craze, its initial excitement has worn off, while the PT Cruiser remains relatively unchanged...

A fuel injector is a device that mixes fuel with air under pressure for an internal combustion engine. Fuel injectors replaced carburetors in virtually all automobiles during the 1980s, and all...

The Santa Fe is Hyundai's midsize SUV, designed by the Korean car manufacturer specifically for the United States market. It is placed in a class of vehicles referred to as crossover...

Exported from 1990 to 2006, the Q45 was the flagship vehicle of Nissan's luxury line, Infiniti. The Q45 was sporty and performance-based, yet loaded with features characteristic of luxury...

The compact PT Cruiser is a retro-style wagon or convertible produced by American automaker Chrysler. The PT Cruiser debuted in 2000, with the convertible version arriving in 2005. Both body...

Mazda cars and trucks are known for their speed and efficiency, and they are among the top-rated vehicles for long trips involving interstate traveling. Of course, drivers would like to increase...

The Ion was an entry-level compact car produced by American automaker General Motors through its Saturn division. The Ion was produced between 2003 and 2007, replacing the earlier Saturn S Series....

In order to keep your engine running well, you should change your spark plugs regularly, and you can easily do it yourself. It’s a lot cheaper than having a mechanic do it. This will also help you...

The Nissan Maxima is a mid- to full-size car that has been around since the late 1970s. It is marketed as a "four-door sports car" due to its sleek design, smooth, speedy performance and...

A complete engine is broken down into two basic sub-assemblies: The long block and the short block. The short block includes the block and rotating assembly (crankshaft, rods, and pistons). The...

Based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Holley Performance Products has been designing carburetors for more than 100 years. Holley carburetors are installed in every NASCAR Sprint Cup team, according to...

The water pump is an essential mechanical part of your Jeep Cherokee. A water pump circulates a mixture of coolant and water through the engine block and back through the radiator to maintain a...

Even for the least initiated among us, the car battery presents little mystery when compared with the rest of the automotive repair world. A dead battery can usually be recharged with a jump from...

A head gasket is the part of an internal combustion engine that seals the cylinder head to the engine block. The purpose of this component is to make sure that the compression stays at a maximum...

Founded in 1985, the Saturn division of General Motors began selling cars in 1991. For nearly 20 years, Saturn's vehicle offerings have ranged from compact coupes and sedans to sports cars and...

The Cash for Clunkers plan has been such a huge success that the government ran out of money for it far quicker than they expected. Thousands of cars have been consigned to the scrap yard for...

The phrase "small engine" generally refers to a two-stroke engine, typically used in chainsaws, lawnmowers, go-karts, leaf blowers and other small gas-powered devices. This type of engine is...

A heater core on a Chevrolet Cavalier is a small radiator located inside the vehicle's dash that supplies heat to the passenger compartment. Heated coolant from the engine is routed to the heater...

Rebuilding your car's engine can be a time-consuming and expensive undertaking, and before you take such a drastic step, it is important to be absolutely certain that an engine rebuild is really...

Synthetic motor oil is not made from crude oil but is composed of raw materials including methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Synthetic motor oil is used as an alternative to conventional...

Synthetic oils have been in existence for more than 50 years for use in jet engines. The first commercially available synthetic oil for use in automobiles was marketed in 1972.

A reliable way to identify a Chevrolet motor is through the engine block casting code. This code identifies the engine as manufactured by Chevrolet, as well as what year it was cast and what its...

The Chevrolet 350-cubic-inch V8 is one of the most popular engines ever produced. It's so common, that you can find derivations of the original design in even the newest GM vehicles. But because...