General Car Maintenance

It's time to quit procrastinating. The winter season has already hit some of us and on its way to the rest of us. This article will give pointers on how to prepare your car for winter.

Turbochargers and diesels are like peas and carrots. The two complement each other so well, it has actually become quite difficult to find a current diesel engine of any description without one.

There are few things more frustrating than to turn the key to start your car and hear that clicking sound that means your battery is dead. This always seems to happen on the coldest day or night...

Replacing the shocks on the Ford Escape is a quick and easy process. The shocks are small and are held on by two bolts. You'll remove one on top and one on the bottom. Whether you are replacing...

Most modern cars have replaced the old arrangement of belts hooked to the central motor shaft with a single serpentine belt. This belt runs the alternator, water pump and air conditioning...

Clogged radiators are responsible for a multitude of potentially dangerous engine problems. Repairs of clogged coolant systems should be done as soon as possible to prevent serious and sometimes...

The EGR valve, or exhaust gas recirculation valve, in your Mustang is essential to its being able to pass emissions tests, maintain good fuel mileage and smooth idling speeds. The valve passes...

Fully functioning wiper blades are essential to keeping your windshield clear and free of debris, especially during inclement weather. While windshield wiper blades will always become worn from...

You can easily program the three HomeLink buttons installed as features on certain Acura car models to open any garage door or automated gate. Programming the buttons saves you the hassle of...

The importance of obtaining appropriate maintenance for your vehicle cannot be overstated. Your Kia Sportage is a significant investment. Provide for its basic maintenance on a regular,...

Optima batteries are long-lasting batteries suitable for use in starting vehicles, cranking over engines and running households, as in an RV. They are made by Johnson Controls.

Any vehicle that drives on public roads must have at least one license plate to help identify its owner. Cars and other vehicles purchased new do not come with license plates, instead after filing...

The air conditioning clutch relay transfers power, like a switch, from the interior A/C controls of an automobile to the A/C compressor, engaging the compressor clutch. Checking an A/C clutch...

In areas with heavy storms and rain, or any other weather issues, one of the best ways you can protect your car is by using a tarp. There are tarps made specifically for cars that allow the cars...

Cars and trucks with a differential in an axle housing driven by an open drive shaft have a pinion shaft seal used to contain 90W gear oil inside the housing. A pinion gear translates the...

Motor oil is important to ensure that your car runs properly. Though it doesn’t need to be changed more often than once in three thousand miles or so, using the best motor oil can improve your...

We all want our car to run for a long time, especially when we don’t have the money to go out and buy a new one. It is always a problem when a car breaks down and you have to get it towed to the...

When you drive often or if you’ve bought a used car, the mileage can be very high. Once a car gets to the point of about 100,000 miles or more, there is a risk of your car having a break down and...

If you plan on doing a lot of traveling during the winter months, be prepared for the unexpected. Below are some good tips for winter driving and maintaining your car for those winter trips.

Due to the high expectations placed on car paint---a lustrous shine, an ability to stand up to extreme weather, etc.---it is some of the most sophisticated paint you can buy. The downside is that...

Small engines (defined as anything too small to power a car) are used in a number of ordinary and extraordinary applications. These can range from leaf blower to mine-sweepers, and rarely is...

The alternator in your vehicle is a critical component responsible for the charging of the battery as well as providing electricity to the ignition system. Changing it can be tough on some...

Coil boot plugs are becoming the standard in newer vehicles, replacing the old coil and spark plug wire system. With a coil boot, or coil-on boot plug, each spark plug has its own ignition coil,...

The rear end of a car contains two gears called ring and pinion gears. The ring gear is round with teeth on one side. The pinion gear can be best thought of as a spear that has teeth that spiral...

The airbag warning light in a Ford Windstar may come on when the airbag malfunctions. However, once the airbag assembly is fixed, you'll need to know how to reset the airbag warning light in your...

Vehicle air conditioning (A/C) systems depend on several interconnected parts, with the compressor being only one component. All parts of this system, from condensers to evaporators, are...

A simple yet detailed method to ship your car with the best company for the best price possible

Touch up paint application can vary from spot to spot. There might be a drip, a glob, or just too much that looks like a lump, and a bad looking touch up can spoil the paint job on any car. If a...

Universal joints are a critical component of the drive line in your car. Understanding how to recognize a worn universal joint before it fails will save you from having to replace more expensive...

Many home mechanics go through the process of draining and refilling their engine coolant only to discover that it has not made a difference in the ability of their engine to maintain the correct...

Though similar sounding, "automatic" and "automated" truck transmissions are miles apart in terms of function and principle. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but each has its place in the...

Whether you are concerned about the environment or just want to save some money, you can do so if you reduce vehicle emissions. Most people don’t put much thought into their daily travel routine,...

The great "clutch vs. torque (Stall) converter" debate has been going on at least as long and as colorfully as any concerning a carbonated beverage. Torque converters have a number of advantages...

The knock sensor is a small part on a car engine. It helps regulate the air-fuel mix that enters the engine and notifies your car's computer when the engine is knocking. It stops the fuel from...

License plate issuance differs from state to state. Some states issue a plate number for a particular automobile, and that plate number remains with the automobile regardless of how many times it...

Maintaining your Dodge diesel should always include regular fuel filter changes. Diesel fuel will often contain water and other contaminants; the filter is keep those things from entering your...

Dings, nicks, and scratches on a vehicle can be very frustrating for an auto owner. A new paint job can cost thousands of dollars. Luckily auto touch-up paint products cover up small dings and...

Drum brakes are common on most utility or boat trailers. They consist of two half-moon shaped pads that are held in place by the backing plate. The adjuster mechanism and the hydraulic cylinder or...

Buying a new car is a huge purchase, and you want to protect your investment. One of the best things you can do for you car's engine is break it in properly. All makes have different recommended...

Remote keyless entry devices operate car door locks by synchronizing with the car's computer. The process for synchronizing (or programming) a keyless remote requires following a series of...

The modern internal-combustion engine, which is used in various forms to power the vast majority of automobiles today, was developed in the 19th century. Engines continue to benefit from new...

Front end grinding noises while the car is in motion are a symptom of a mechanical malfunction or failure that demands inspection. Diagnosing the problem is a matter of inspecting certain parts of...

No one wants wasps anywhere, whether they're in your home, garage, garden or car. Wasps, unlike bees, can sting repeatedly and will attack when they realize their nest is being poisoned. This is...

When synthetic oil was first launched onto the market for use in vehicles on the road, it quickly became a liability, causing oil leaks that could lead to serious engine damage. However, the...

The check engine light on your Dodge Caravan model is designed to warn of possible problems in one or more of the vehicle systems. The first generation of on-board diagnostics (OBD I) used during...

Exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs) are an important component for any diesel motor. EGTs are a representation of the temperature that occurs in the combustion chamber of the engine. Air and fuel mix...

People that maintain and repair their own vehicles and equipment will eventually have a situation where they need a hydraulic press. Handymen seldom need a hydraulic press unless they don't have...

There are several reasons why you might need to install longer wheel studs, which are the component that the wheels are fastened to. If you are planning on running wheel spacers on your car to...

Though wheel bearings are small, they play an important roll in a car's suspension. Located between the hub and the axle or spindle, wheel bearings ensure the wheel stays in its proper orientation...

Rust is the dreaded result of water and oxygen attacking the metal on the body of your car. Rust can quickly destroy the beauty of a car and, if left untreated, it can even get on important...