General Auto Repair

An alternator's sole purpose is to convert the energy produced by the crankshaft to electrical energy by way of a belt and pulley system. That power can then be used to power components such as...

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...

Replacing the alternator on your Dodge Stealth requires lifting the vehicle. Several other components must be removed to obtain access to the mounting bracket bolts. Although it's not exactly an...

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...

The Ford Windstar was introduced in 1995 and features a 3.0 or 3.8 liter engine. Both six-cylinder motors may have come equipped with or without A/C and multiple accessories. Each motor, and what...

The Chevrolet S-10 pickup endured 23 years of production in the United States. Although a few different generational designs occurred as the truck matured, one of the mainstay features of this...

The belt tensioner on a vehicle is an important part of the drive belt as it is used to tighten the belt. Drive belts need to be replaced once they are worn out, and if not replaced they may break...

Before trying to replace an alternator belt, be sure to have the routing diagram and the correct replacement belt. There are a couple different types of alternator belts used in today's engines,...

A tensioner pulley on most newer cars -- from the mid 1980s to present -- is actually part of a two-piece component called the automatic belt tensioner. The tensioner's job is to apply the correct...

Alternators rarely fail, but when they do, they require replacement. It's the battery's job to start the car and provide power on demand. The alternator is what keeps the battery in shape....

In a Honda engine, pistons travel up and down inside cylinders in the engine block and are driven by rods connected to the crankshaft. Top dead center is when the piston is farthest away from the...

The 2002 third-generation Ford Explorer most commonly featured the Cologne V6 4.0-liter engine. Although a 4.6-liter V8 was also available in 2002, the V6 engine accounted for most of the sales of...

The 2002 Buick Rendezvous features a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine. The serpentine belt in this engine incorporates an inline multiple pulley system powered by the crankshaft. One belt operates...

The Sedona was first introduced in 1999 by Kia, a Korean automobile manufacturing company. Known as the Kia Carnival, it was renamed in the United Kingdom and the United States as the Sedona. It...

Most vehicles today run with a serpentine drive belt, also known as an S-belt. The belt is driven by the engine crankshaft and provides rotation to the alternator, power-steering pump, water...

Different engines use different drive belts routed along a pulley system to power the engine components. The main pulley is the crankshaft pulley; most often the lowest pulley in the center. From...

A pulley kit for water pump replacement is one of many necessary tools. Learn about tools needed when replacing a water pump on a Mazda 626 from an auto mechanic in this free car repair video.

When placing the pulley as a part of water pump replacement, make sure it's centered and tight. Learn about placing the pulley when replacing a water pump on a Mazda 626 from an auto mechanic in...

Adjust the impact wrench slowly in water pump replacement when removing the pulley. Learn about removing the pulley when replacing a water pump on a Mazda 626 from an auto mechanic in this free...

It is necessary to find the top dead center of a car engine if the distributor has to be removed for some reason. All cars come from the factory with a timing mark on the crankshaft pulley, but...

The serpentine belt in a 1997 Grand Am drives the alternator, air conditioning, power steering, crankshaft and most importantly, the water pump. Replacing the belt can be done without raising the...