Car Parts & Accessories

Diagnosing problems with the fuel lines in your car is difficult unless you are experiencing acceleration problems. The fuel system operates under pressure to keep gasoline or diesel flowing smoothly…

In the context of automobile engines, overflow bottles and expansion tanks are separate entities. Expansion tanks have been the norm on most vehicles since the 1970s, but overflow bottles were an…

In the 2005 model year, Chevrolet began phasing out the aging Cavalier and introduced its eventual replacement, the Cobalt. Unfortunately, it was nowhere near as successful as its predecessor, and…

Defrosting a gas cap is something people might not think of, but its very important in the winter time. Learn about defrosting a gas cap with help from an expert in the automotive industry in this…

A key cylinder in a Schlage lock that is difficult to turn is most likely in need of a replacement key plug. The key plug is the portion of the Schlage lock that is the keyhole and contains the bottom…

Speedometers have a margin of error. Different types of speedometers are used in the automotive industry, and although the exact margin of error varies by type and manufacturer no option provides a…

Getting an engine to run, much less run well, is no simple task. While any high-school auto-shop student may tell you how air and fuel gets into the cylinder, ignites and gets back out, the fact is…

A vehicle's rear differential sends power from the driveshaft to the axles. When cornering, the inside tire turns slower than the outside tire. The differential allows the tires to rotate at different…

The 1998 Nissan Frontier came equipped with a 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder engine and either an automatic or model FS5W71 five-speed manual transmission. The gear oil in the manual transmission…

Anti-Slip Regulation, or ASR, is a secondary safety feature that works with the Anti-Lock Braking System, or ABS, on cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles. Also called Traction Control System, or…

Supercharging is one of the ultimate ways to increase the power output of an engine. By forcing pressurized air into the engine, superchargers substantially raise the volume of air the engine has…

Turbochargers are the ultimate way to squeeze the maximum amount of horsepower possible out of an internal combustion engine. However, to run efficiently, turbochargers require an entire system of…

Poor reception makes it difficult to listen to a radio broadcast or communicate on a two-way radio. The signal strength of the reception depends on the power output of the station and the device…

As delivered from the dealership, a Yamaha V Star 650 is provided with a pair of ignition keys and a metal tag with a key code. The code allows the V Star's owner to order a new set of keys matched to…

Computers vs carburetors, CVT vs DIY and overhead-cam vs pushrod: these are the conflicts that both divide us and serve to spark the fires of innovation and understanding. Both OHC and pushrod engines…

Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is an essential part of maintaining optimal car function. The main ingredient in antifreeze is glycol, with most modern car engines using a mixture of glycol and…

Radio-controlled helicopters like the Blade CP by E-flite require occasional maintenance or replacement of parts to remain in flying order. One of the parts that may need to be replaced or…

You can connect the transmission and reception lines from Motorola radios to the ZR310 repeater module to rebroadcast the signals received by your radio. The Zetron repeater is a component that works…

Overhead camshafts are installed in the engine head above the valves and cylinders. Normal camshafts are located in the engine block beside the cylinders in in-line engines, and between the cylinders…

Volvo vehicles are equipped with the optional Geartronic transmission that permits the driver to select a gear using a steering wheel paddle-shift operated by the thumbs and without the aid of a…

A bicycle dropout is a component that allows the rider to remove the rear wheel without derailing the chain. It is part of the fork end of the bicycle, which is a slot that holds the axle of the…

Liquid can do serious damage to an Evo N610c. Even if it doesn't reach the motherboard -- the most important component contained inside the computer -- it can cause the keyboard to malfunction or…

Despite its lacking performance and high sticker price, the Corvette’s 1953 release was a complete success. In 1960, the Corvette finally crested the 300-horsepower mark and stayed that way…

An automobile's transmission is responsible for converting an engine's power into torque with the aid of gears and clutches. As one type of transmission, the A604 is known for releasing and applying…

Installing a locking gas cap on a 2007 Ford Mustang will add a layer of security when attempting to safeguard the vehicle's fuel from thieves and vandals. A locking gas cap requires the owner to use a…

There are not many things worse on an engine than initially starting it on extremely cold days. Not only are all of the seals harder than usual, but the engine oil becomes thicker and the fuel doe not…

A speedometer is standard equipment on all Sea Fox boats, along with a fuel gauge. The fun part comes because they are combined in the same instrument -- you must push the "Mode" button on…

Chevrolet produced the compact front-wheel drive Cobalt from 2005 to 2010 before replacing it with the Cruze. The Cobalt, which featured a four-cylinder engine, was available as a coupe or sedan.…

HHO stands for Hybrid Hydrogen Oxygen, a term used to define a fuel system that uses water in addition to fuel for engine combustion. HHO system proponents claim the system can increase gas mileage,…

Automotive electrical systems are ostensibly simple and hardy, but they do have a few weak links. The ground strap and grounding system that helps keep your system simple may also prove its undoing,…

Hardiebacker is a brand name for a line of fiber cement boards used in construction projects. Fiber cement is a versatile backing material that works well in a number of different applications,…

Most fasteners used in aircraft manufacturing are installed wet. The rivets or bolts are covered with sealant during installation. The process prevents moisture from penetrating the aircraft and…

Code P0440 on the 2003 Dodge Dakota is a trouble code relating to the evaporative emission, or EVAP control system. The EVAP system works by routing gas fumes into a charcoal canister, and they are…

Thermos catalytic heaters have not been manufactured since the 1970s. The heater runs off catalytic heater fuel, or white gas, and was designed to be used as a small space heater. When first ignited,…

Automotive exhaust systems are fairly durable these days. Whether through concerns for quality or regulation compliance, the systems are far superior to those of yore. Even so, a muffler might suffer…

Laying your own asphalt driveway or road is a job you may never have to do. However, a roller compactor is an invaluable tool if you do. The Wacker Roller Compactor is a walk-behind compaction tool…

The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix was equipped with a 3.8-liter 200-horsepower V-6 engine in the base model. A 3.8-liter SFI supercharged V-6 was available in upgraded models. The fuel cap light illuminates…

A water coolant problem in the Yamaha 9.9-horsepower outboard requires little in the way of tools. Before you resort to the toolbox, though, you first need to ensure the water that comes from the…

The suspension rods on a GE WHDSR315DAWW washing machine stabilize the washtub. The rods are instrumental in keeping the washing machine from literally bouncing across the floor during the wash and…

Double-wishbone suspension has been around for awhile, but the later versions have seen the most improvements. Double-wishbone suspension incorporates two wishbone-shaped arms, also called A-arms,…

Owning a classic muscle car can be an exhilarating experience, but it is often not without some occasional frustrations. In 1969, materials and methods of Ford electric systems and components were…

Nickolaus August Otto had been searching for a reliable engine to power transportation and industry for several years. In 1876, he discovered how to control the rate of burn in an engine cylinder, and…

Portable drills from Black & Decker can be equipped with either a keyed or keyless chuck. The chuck is the part of the drill that opens and tightens to hold a drill bit firmly. Keyless chucks are…

The traditional open differential is like a 1980s office drone: it shows up, does its job to the minimum required specifications and then goes home. The limited-slip differential is like that…

Norcold is a brand name owned by the Thetford Co. The N300 is a compact refrigerator/freezer combination designed for use in RVs. It features 2.7 cubic feet of space but is run by gas rather than…

It has been said that Honda is the Japanese auto industry's research and development division, a fact borne in spades by VTEC. This now-ubiquitous system and variations have all but defined the…

The 1994 Chevrolet C/K 3500 series dually pickup truck came in standard, extended cab and crew cab configurations. It featured twin-wheels in the rear, hence the moniker “dually.” The…

Natural or liquefied petroleum gas in houses runs through black iron pipes to gas water heaters, dryers and ovens. When a pipe for a gas oven is no longer needed, a cap placed over the end of the pipe…

The Advanced Encryption Standard describes a mathematical formula, or algorithm, for converting electronic data into an unintelligible form, called ciphertext. Ciphertext cannot be read by anyone…

A metric thread is designed to be installed in a very specific way. Learn how to insert a metric thread with help from an expert in the automotive industry in this free video on auto repair.