Cars

Though the F-150's strong and versatile engine offers a number of routes to power, probably the easiest and most reliable is that of forced induction. Though the trend today is toward centrifugal...

Most automobile engines begin to drain your wallet once they go over 200,000 miles. Repeatedly checking and adding oil, blue smoke coming from the tailpipe and clattering sounds may ruin your day....

Toyota's luxury line of vehicles; Lexus, combines the Japanese automaker's track record of durability with elegance and premier styling. When performing maintenance or aftermarket upgrades,...

A Jeep Cherokee uses an electric fan as an auxiliary fan for engine cooling and for cooling the air conditioning condenser when the air conditioning is in operation. A radiator temperature-sensing...

Cabin air filters prevent pollutants and allergens from entering the passenger cab of the vehicle. The Honda Element features two cabin air filters that sit side by side. Depending on the type of...

Diesel engines need to have their fuel filtered for contaminants before it is used. However, unlike gasoline engines, diesels depend on the fuel itself for internal lubrication, so it is critical...

The starter is a compact, high-torque electric motor used to spin the engine up to a high enough RPM that it will start. Though model specifics will vary, the starter on any car, including a Ford...

With the advent of today's halogen headlights, and the complex shape of the headlight covers permitted with them, replacing an entire lens has become a very expensive proposition. This is why...

Expanded metal comes in many different shapes and forms, but no matter which one it is, it can be awkward and difficult to cut. There are some easy ways to cut expanded metal correctly, but it...

General Motors (GM) used the Chevrolet Crossfire fuel injection system in the Corvette from 1983 to 1985. The system increased the car's performance while also cutting down on its emissions.

A gas-to-electric car conversion is an involved process that requires extensive knowledge of car mechanics. If you are interested in converting a car, you should consider several key areas while...

The water pump is the heart of your engine's cooling system. It is this pump that sends coolant through the radiator and into the engine block, where it works to keep the engine at the optimal...

Many versions of both the Dodge and Chrysler Neon have had head gasket problems and failures. According to AA1Car.com, many Neons experience head gasket failure fairly early in their lifetimes,...

Ford engine coolant temperature sensors, or ECTs, are devices designed to measure the temperature of the liquid coolant passing through the Ford engine block. In this way, the vehicle can get some...

Adjusting the valve train when using a solid lifter cam involves the same procedures used as when adjusting for a hydraulic cam. The only real difference is the clearances involved, which are...

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...

Converting your vehicle to an electric fan system has several benefits. For one, removing the fan that's mounted on the engine reduces parasitic drag and can increase horsepower. Also, the fans...

When it comes to the upscale mid-size car market, the Infiniti G37 and the Lexus IS 350 spare no expense on their road to class superiority.

The Wrangler JK drew a lot of interest when it was introduced in 2007. After a long history of popularity, Jeep released the newest version of its widely successful Wrangler series. These...

The cigarette lighter on a 2000 Chevrolet Impala is used not only as a lighter but also to operate other 12-volt devices. The lighter has larger-gauge wire and a higher-amperage fuse, which can be...

When adjusting bearings on a trailer, or any vehicle, the bearings should be packed well first. There should be a grease seal on the inside the hub that seals against the spindle. When the...

At any time the front brake pads on a Chevy Malibu are replaced, the rotors should be machined so that the new pads have a smooth surface to ride on. If the rotor is not turned, the front pads...

When buying brake pads for a Chevrolet Blazer, don't deviate from the original specifications. There are organic, semi-metallic and metallic pads. Each of these pads is designed to work in a...

Camper shells go over the top of a pickup truck's bed and are good for camping or protecting cargo. They also make a truck look more like a sport utility vehicle.

Removing a serpentine drive belt from an engine usually requires a type of socket tool to loosen the belt tensioner. Depending on the vehicle, you can either use just a ratchet wrench or may need...

Deer whistles have been around since the late 1970s. They are a small device that is attached to the front of a vehicle. As air moves through this device it produces an ultrasonic whistling noise....

Honda stopped production of the Honda Accord Hybrid in late 2007 and only 25,000 units were sold in North America. However, the model does appear to have several known problems, including a...

Car owners dread the thought of waking up and seeing their car splattered with house paint. Despite it sounding like a nightmare, this scenario is a reality, as your car, as long as it is parked...

Electric trailer brakes require a brake controller. This device modulates the electric current sent to the electric trailer brake when the vehicle brake pedal is depressed. The controller is...

The 1973 Chevrolet Corvette is fairly infamous for its many cooling problems. This high-performance vehicle's old brass radiator does not hold up to the task of cooling its large V-8 engine,...

The window regulator on a Ford F100 is secured to the door with large pop rivets, which must be drilled out to remove the regulator. Before replacing a window regulator on a Ford, the motor should...

Removing the tire from the rim of a car wheel is not always the easiest thing to do. If you need to remove a tire, your biggest challenge is separating the tire's "bead" that is tucked inside the...

The pinion seal in a 1997 Chevrolet truck prevents the gear oil from leaking out past the pinion bearing. You should always refill the gear oil after replacing a rear pinion seal. To replace the...

Volumetric efficiency is the measure of success with which air supply is inducted into an engine. This is a very important parameter because it indicates the breathing capacity of the engine....

Recently I was faced with the task of helping my son find his first vehicle to purchase. Being that he is just in his first year of college, we decided to purchase a used car. One of the biggest...

Do you like Mustangs but don't know how to identify them? Follow these easy steps and learn how to easily identify the most popular pony car ever made!

Purchasing a wheelchair accessible van may seem like quite the commitment. Not only do they come in all shapes and sizes, but they can be quite costly. Here are a few tips when deciding what type...

Teaching yourself to drive a manual transmission is one of the most difficult tasks you can undertake. I learned to drive a manual transmission from a friend and thought I would never be able to...

Are you a weekend detailer or do you want to just clean your car a little more than you usually do, and your leather just won't look good, no matter what you try? With these 3 easy steps you will...

An electrical system that uses a battery may benefit by replacing the original battery with one that provides more voltage. The most common example of upgrading a 6 volt system to a 12 volt system...

A CV, or "constant velocity," joint is a flexible coupling used on the drive axles of front-wheel-drive cars. The CV joints enable the drive axles to flex up, down and sideways while continuing to...

The paint on a vehicle is supposed to feel smooth as glass and look glossy and shiny. Unfortunately, when the clear coat becomes oxidized, it feels rough and looks very dull and flat. Oxidation is...

A power inverter in an motor home changes DC to AC power. This makes it possible to run any type of power. Power inverters come in many sizes, so you have to figure out how big yours should be....

Importing a Japanese car may be the best option for you. However, without adequate preparation, importing a Japanese car can become a serious hassle, and in some cases may not be possible at all.

Jeep Wranglers built from 1987 to 1995 (known as the YJ Wrangler) used leaf springs to secure the drive axles to the frame and cushion the vehicle's ride. Leaf springs are flat steel plates...

Regular maintenance of trailers is a must. Greasing trailer bearings is one task that you should include in your routine maintenance. A basic rule of thumb for how often to grease your trailer...

The cabin filter on Mercedes Benz C320 ensures that fresh air enters the car from outside. Over time the filter gets clogged up with dust and particulates. It can get damp and retain moisture,...

As the world-wide community focuses on the environment, the venerable internal-combustion engine is facing intensified scrutiny. Leading the charge into the search for a greener solution, many...

Motorola alternators are a car part provided by the Motorola Electronics Corporation. They can be bought as aftermarket or replacement car parts, and are used in all Hyundai vehicles as standard....

Rust occurs when oxygen and moisture react with metal to corrode and weaken the surface. If this process continues unabated, it can weaken the metal to a point where it will break. Light cars and...