Car Maintenance

Over the years, the number of safety features found on vehicles has steadily increased. One addition designed to assist drivers with small children is the Child Safety Lock, which is a standard...

Replacing drum brakes is often thought of as a project that is too difficult for the average car owner to do by themselves. This is not true. By taking your time and paying attention to the...

Jeeps are most recognized by their open cab, functionality and rugged look. The removable hardtop is constructed of metal and plastic and can weigh over 200 lbs., depending on the Jeep model....

Improving the sound of your Toyota Corolla's audio system can be accomplished in several different ways, but one of the most effective and simplest is to replace the existing stock speakers with...

A hard frost has settled overnight in your town. You'd like to drive to work, but without a working rear defroster it is difficult for you to back down the driveway as you can't see where you are...

The GM 12-bolt rear axle assembly receives its name due to having 12 bolts on the rear cover of the housing. This rear axle was available in GM's high-performance intermediate cars, full-size...

You should check the rear wiper on your Toyota 4Runner every six months, replacing it as necessary. The rubber compound typically wears out after half a year. Take your old blade to the dealership...

To replace a faulty rear main oil seal (a vital part that prevents engine oil from leaking), the transmission usually must be removed, a costly and time consuming operation that is not discussed...

The General Motors Turbo-Hydramatic 350 (TH350) is a mid-mounted 3-speed automatic transmission for rear wheel drive vehicles. Towing a vehicle with an automatic transmission requires that careful...

The Miata is a two-seat roadster produced by Mazda from 1989 to the present. The Miata was designed as a unibody vehicle, meaning it does not have a full frame underneath it. Therefore, Miata...

Jacking up a car is an easy procedure if the proper precautions and steps are followed. There are many procedures that require raising the rear end, including brake repair, axle removal and brake...

All too often, we hear about vehicle accidents due to brake failure, where the driver ran into another vehicle or a person, or even off the side of the road. To help avoid such a situation, it's...

Tire rotation is necessary to ensure longevity of the tread life. Front tires wear more quickly because of steering, braking and weight of the engine. Front-wheel-drive transmissions and torque...

A luxury car like a Mercedes will not last long without proper care and maintenance. There are many maintenance operations on the car that are best left to professionals. However, there are some...

The drive shaft is a mechanical shaft or pole that transmits mechanical power from an engine to a vehicle's wheels. The shaft is equipped with rotating gear apparatus at both ends that connect to...

The brake system in automobiles works on the principals of hydraulic pressure. The pressure delivered to each wheel is distributed by a proportioning valve.

The Ford Escape is a big vehicle, but it won't last very long without proper service. The truck needs regular maintenance like any other vehicle, which primarily means changing and replacing...

Under normal operating conditions, headlights will usually last at least a couple of years. However, headlights, like any other automotive part, are subject to failure at any time. If your...

Like any vehicle, your Ford Expedition truck needs regular maintenance and service to keep it running in top condition. Basic maintenance includes checking the levels of fluids and condition of...

Making your own car cover is both cost saving and slightly challenging. Sometimes it is difficult to find a cover with the right fit for your vehicle, or perhaps you may prefer a fabric more...

The Ford Windstar was a minivan that was sold by Ford Motor Company from 1994 to 2003. During this time, the Windstar developed a long list of reliability issues including known head gasket...

The right and wrong way to rotate tires is often disputed between tire technicians, automobile makers, and tire manufacturers. However, rotating the tires in any fashion is more important to...

Many owners of the Oldsmobile Aurora have a hard time finding the vehicle's battery. Unlike in most other vehicles, the Aurora's battery is located beneath the rear-seat cushion. Other than...

Finding the jack points on any car including Audi A6 can be daunting the first time around. You want to avoid injury and also damage to the car. This guide explain the proper placement of the jack...

Whenever you work on your dashboard or in the front seat of your SUV, it is always a good idea to remove the rear view mirror so you don’t knock it off. It’s much more difficult to reinstall the...

Changing the rear-end or differential oil is a necessary evil recommended in all maintenance schedule intervals. The make and model of the vehicle will determine the level of difficulty and items...

It happens eventually, your car's rear view mirror falls off the windshield while you are driving down the street, or you bump it while getting something from the overhead visor. Over the years,...

The Honda Accord is a reliable, fuel-efficient family sedan. To maintain the best possible braking power, the brake shoes on the rear wheels occasionally will have to be replaced. It is a...

Have you ever wondered what it is that gives a limited slip differential its name? If you've ever been in the situation where you are trying to accelerate your vehicle, but one rear drive wheel...

Many people are too lazy to rotate there own tires thinking its to hard and difficult. With these steps in this article you learn how you can do it yourself and also save some money in the...

Changing your own brake pads, even in a large vehicle like the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, is a relatively light-duty car maintenance task. Many of the required tools can be found in the spare...

Home mechanics are getting more and more popular everyday in this hard economy. If your ready to tackle some of those minor repairs, here are the steps to get your vehicle off the ground safe and...

If you have never had your tires rotated, you may notice that when you need new tires, not all of them look like they need to be replaced. Usually, your front tires need them worse than your rear...

Changing a car's rear brakes is not an especially difficult auto maintenance task, and the process tends not to vary too much from one make and model to the next. Assuming that you have all of the...

The rear wheels of your Honda Accord should be changed several times a year. The life of your tires should keep them on the rim for about two years, depending on how the car is driven. But the...

Windshield wipers on a Chevy HHR work to clean mud and other debris from your windshield. They also increase visibility when it's raining. The rear wiper is primarily used for clearing dust, dirt...

Rotating the tires on your Toyota Matrix will help you to wear the tires evenly over time. During normal driving, the front wheels have more weight over them than the rear wheels. Since the Matrix...

Lowering a car's rear suspension affects a car in several ways, not all of them good. It will affect the appearance by making the car look lower and longer. It will have an effect on the handling...

Drum brakes are used only on the rear of some vehicles. Today, many vehicles are being manufactured with four-wheel disc brakes. Vintage cars were made with four-wheel drum brakes, but the braking...

The parking brake system on a vehicle is multifunctional. Many people with automatic transmissions do not bother to use it, feeling the park position of the gear shift will hold the vehicle...

The parking brake mechanism in your car is a simple device. When applied, it extends the rear shoes or contracts the rear pads (depending on what type of rear brakes you have) and holds the weight...

It is important to rotate your tires so that the tires wear evenly and will actually save you money in the long run. The most important thing about rotating your tires is to rotate them properly....

Removing the speaker grilles in your Camaro will be necessary if you're attempting to replace the speakers or have a damaged grille. Only the rear speaker grilles are removable in the Camaro; the...

The rear wiper blade and arm on the Chevy Trailblazer has a history of not functioning like it should, and Chevrolet designed an improved version for the 2007 and up models. For Trailblazers...

The 14 bolt rear end refers to a heavy duty rear end commonly used in larger GM trucks and vans (3/4 ton and up) in the 1970s through 2000. It has a unique differential cover that distinguishes it...

If you are having issues with water inside the cabin of your Volkswagen and have a sunroof, chances are your sunroof drains may be clogged. Keeping these clean will prevent leaks and water damage...

Tuning up the rear brakes on a Saturn S-Series is not that much different from tuning up the brakes on any other car. They have similar brake systems. So to get started, just follow the steps...

Tire wear is caused by friction. This friction is generated from simple driving. It is what actually allows the car to move across the road. If there was no friction, the car would not move...

Ring and pinion gears typically make things move in a forward and reverse direction. These gears are generally used on cars and trucks that employ a rear-wheel drive. The ring and pinion gear...

Headlights are required safety equipment for night driving, so it's not legal in most places to drive with one burnt out. The headlights on a Saab 9-3 are a closed one-piece lamp that protects the...