Car Maintenance

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...

Turtle Wax Polishing Compound is a specific product that a lot of consumers have trouble with. Turtle Wax Polishing Compound is for cleaning oxidized paint on painted metal, chrome and porcelain...

The O2 sensor measures the content of the exhaust coming out of your Accord's tailpipe and adjusts the air to fuel ratio accordingly based on the information it receives. Over time, the O2 sensor...

The clutch on a Chevy truck is a hydraulic system that needs to be bled annually to prevent air from building up in the clutch fluid lines. When there is air in the clutch line, you will not be...

Having a new paint job is like starting over with your car. It's fresh and new, ready for you to make sure it never gets chipped, scratched or damaged. Caring for the clear coat on that paint job...

The mass air flow sensor on a Pontiac controls the air flowing through the intake system. When this sensor fails, your Pontiac will have a hard time starting and you may experience frequent...

The air filter on your Ford Escape filters the outside air before it gets into the air intake and throttle. You need to change the air filter every time to change the oil in your Escape, or at...

Most Dodge Grand Caravan models come standard with a cabin air filter, also known as a air conditioning filter or A/C filter. The filter is located in one of two locations, depending on your Grand...

When it's time to get maintenance done on your Dodge truck, a service light indicating that maintenance is required will illuminate. This maintenance light, however, will not go out until or...

When diagnosing a coolant leak on your Ford Ranger the best possible scenario will be a busted radiator hose. The worst possible scenario is of course a blown head gasket. When troubleshooting...

Galvanized rims on a trailer are an excellent and common choice due to their heavy-duty nature and ability to stand up to the elements. Since trailers can be subjected to anything, from mud when...

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...

Most cars that are produced have some sort of emblem or car ornament installed on the hood of the car and even on the truck. This includes BMW. If you own a BMW, you may find that you want to...

Touch up paint comes in small bottles. A small brush is attached to the cap, used for applying the paint. You can purchase Toyota factory touch up paint from your nearby Toyota dealer. You can...

There is a lot riding on your tires. Take a step back and look at how much of your car is actually touching the ground: not very much. Probably around a square foot or so of rubber connects your...

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...

Getting the air out of your truck radiator is of primary importance. Air in the cooling system can lead to overheating, which can potentially lead to severe engine damage. Air can get in the...

Rotating and balancing tires is an important maintenance procedure to help the longevity of the tires. Many people are too busy or forget when they last had their tires maintained and front tires...

The spark plugs in a HEMI 5.7 engine need to be replaced every 30,000 miles. The spark plugs are what create the spark necessary to ignite the fuel in the combustion chamber. When the plugs go...

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...

Stains can make their way onto carpet inside of your auto if you drop a food or drink item onto the carpet or simply by tracking dirt and other debris onto the carpet when you step into your auto....

Four-stroke engines are gasoline-only and require no oil additives like a two-stroke engine. Four stroke engines are commonly used on newer metric and American-made motorcycles, scooters, mopeds,...

Diesel engines need a high viscosity oil or a synthetic oil . Since these engines combust at much higher compression ratio than gasoline engines, the oil used in the motor has to be able to...

When you get your new tires fitted and out of the shop, you may notice a blue discoloration on the whitewalls or letters of the tires. This thin blue film is nothing abnormal: It's a protective...

Despite regular washing or even a deep soaking with soap and water, headlight lenses may still maintain a dull, hazy finish. While commercial cleaners are available that may restore the lenses to...

Swirls that result from a bad car wax job are actually microscopic scratches in your car's paint job. Many people will tell you that you need a power buffer to erase them, but if you've never used...

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...

Low profile tires look sporty and provide crisp handling. They are most common on sports cars and other performance vehicles.

You recently purchased a new perfume. While smelling the perfume, you accidentally spilled it in your car. You cleaned up the perfume, but the smell is still lingering. Getting a perfume smell out...

All tires contain a Department of Transportation manufacturer code.Part of that number, when uncoded, equals the week and year that the tire was manufactured. Locating and decoding the date...

The Ford Focus is one of the world's best-selling compact automobiles. Like most vehicles, the Focus needs to have its automatic transmission fluid checked every 5,000 miles after the odometer...

An ugly scratch on the otherwise perfect surface of your automobile is a disheartening sight. Before you rush to buy filler paint or start a part-time job to save for a professional paint job,...

Removing the hub from a large four-wheel drive truck like a Chevrolet or GMC can seem like a daunting project, but is a rewarding challenge if you need to perform maintenance and want to improve...

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...

Regular auto maintenance can save you time and money. More importantly, regular maintenance will insure a safer ride.

Gauging tire pressure on a regular basis will not only save you money, your vehicle will handle its best. This includes its stopping power. So, the real issue is safety. I think we've all heard...

Car wont start. It just goes click or it will not turn over fast enough to start. It is probably your battery. Here is a few steps to making your car run again.

Subaru introduced the Impreza to their line of economical automobiles in 1993. The Impreza has become known for its reliability and excellent traction in slick conditions due to its standard all...

Most Volkswagen vehicles use "switchblade" keys and key fobs. The process for programming these remotes is the same, no matter what Volkswagen model you have. You must have at least one programmed...

Oil in your water is very bad for your engine. Oil in water can also make your car smoke, which may lead to problems with local authorities for emissions violations. Usually, your oil filter will...

For most motorists, the relationship between their vehicles and themselves is multi-faceted. In most cases, people appreciate their vehicles because of the mobility and the sense of freedom and...

If you'd like to know the original paint color of a vehicle to repaint or touch up scrapes, one of the ways to find out is by looking up the Vehicle Identification Number, more commonly referred...

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...

To extend vehicle life over 200,000 miles, ConsumerReports.org suggests, "Buy a car that has performed well in government and insurance-industry safety tests and has the latest safety equipment."...

The low beam on the HID lights of an Accord should be checked twice a year to make sure that they are working right. Obviously, if you experience a burn out on the bulb at night, you'll know when...

When you are painting your house and you spill paint on your car, it can be a frustrating experience to remove it. The correct way to remove the paint is to use car polish cutting cream and a...

HID bulbs use a special gas, usually Xenon, to illuminate the road ahead of you while driving. HID lights also have a longer service life than regular halogen bulbs, sometimes up to 40 percent...