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Car Maintenance

Car Maintenance

Become a car maintenance expert after browsing the extensive collection of auto How Tos penned by eHow’s virtual mechanics. Tired of paying someone else to handle your oil changes and tune ups? Do-it-yourself car maintenance tips are available at eHow. Beyond general maintenance pointers and advice, clean freaks can find great How Tos on washing a car and auto detailing. Somebody spill coffee in the backseat? eHow’s even got car upholstery information.

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Showing 1-50 of 244 results

  • How to Replace the Spark Plugs in a HEMI 5.7

    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...

  • Troubleshooting 4 Stroke Scooters

    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,...

  • What Cars Do When You Have a Bad Spark Plug?

    The spark plugs in a car's engine will determine how well your car performs. Each manufacturer provides a maintenance manual to purchasers of its vehicles that states how often you should change...

  • How to Change an Ignition Coil

    Ignition coils are the heart of the ignition system on your car. The coil is responsible for sending a high voltage electrical charge to the distributor so that it can be sent to the spark plugs...

  • How to Replace Spark Plugs' Aluminum Heads

    Changing the spark plugs on a vehicle with aluminum heads is a little different from the process for cast iron heads, but is just as important. The spark plugs are a vital part of your ignition...

  • How to Replace Crown Vic Spark Plugs

    Changing the spark plugs in a Ford Crown Victoria is not unlike most other similar-size cars in the class. The spark plugs are a crucial part of the ignition system, as they deliver the spark to...

  • Audi Distributor Rotor Removal

    The distributor rotor is a small but important plastic device located inside of the distributor. As the motor spins, the rotor spins with it, sending a spark signal to each spark plug wire, which...

  • How to Check Spark Plug Firing

    Testing spark plugs can help you determine the condition of your ignition system. If your engine is running roughly, skipping or missing, a great place to start is the spark plugs and wires....

  • How to Change a Spark Plug Wire in a Contour

    Changing the spark plug wires on a Ford Contour is not much different than any car out there. The procedure is not difficult, but you do have to pay strict attention to details so as not to mix...

  • How to Set Ignition Timing on a Civic

    Gasoline burns relatively slowly. It is not the explosion we all imagine, but a slower, controlled burn. As the fuel burns in a car, the hot gases expand with an increasing pressure until the...

  • How to Check for Blow-by in a Car

    Checking an engine for blow by requires expertise not usually found in a do it yourself set-up. Certain steps will require precision instruments and expert knowledge to read the instruments and do...

  • How to Use a Spark Plug Gap Tool

    An engine's sparkplug is an essential part of the ignition system. At the end of the plug is a small gap between the plug and the electrode. Spark jumps across this gap and provides the engine's...

  • How to Change Spark Plugs in your Vehicle

    This article will provide you with the basics to replacing the spark plugs in your vehicle. Learning how to do this can save you hundreds on repair shop bills just for a basic tune-up.

  • How to Change Plugs on an Aluminum Head Engine

    An engine's spark plugs are an essential part of the ignition system. The plugs deliver the spark that ignites the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders. Fouled or old plugs can often run rough,...

  • How Can I Change the Spark Plug of a Chevy Trailblazer?

    It is important to replace the spark plugs on your Chevrolet Trailblazer every 20,000 or 30,000 miles to maintain engine performance and fuel economy. However, if you mostly drive your Trailblazer...

  • Ford Windstar Gas Mileage Problems

    If your Ford Windstar van is experiencing poor fuel mileage, there could be many reasons or combinations of reasons. Proper maintenance is the first preventive measure to ensure that the vehicle...

  • Troubleshooting a Chevy 350 Engine

    To troubleshoot a Chevy 350 engine expediently, you must figure out if the problem is the ignition, electrical, fuel or mechanical. If the engine is not making noise (i.e. banging or knocking), it...

  • Why Does My Ford Taurus Idle Rough?

    Rough idling can be caused by a number of things. If the engine's self-diagnostic system isn't of any help, then diagnosing the problem is a process of elimination. An engine requires three...

  • How to Replace Spark Plug Wires on a Chevy Beretta

    Spark plug wires on your Chevy Beretta should be replaced every 30,000 miles. The plug wires are responsible for delivering the spark to the engine cylinders from the power distributor. This is a...

  • Facts About the Car Engine

    The majority of modern cars are powered by four-stroke, internal combustion gasoline engines. This type of engine has been refined as automotive technology has continued to advance over the past...

  • How to Install SBC Valve Stem Seals

    If you notice oily black deposits on the spark plugs of your small-block Chevy (SBC), if your "Service Engine Soon" light comes on for no apparent reason, you might think it's major. If your car...

  • Ford 289 Tuning Tips

    Ford's 289-cubic-inch small block engine was one of Ford's most popular engines of the 1960s and was commonly used in the Mustang, Falcon, Fairlane and Cougar. Due to is relatively basic design,...

  • How to Change Chevy Beretta Spark Plug Wires

    The Chevy Beretta spark plug wires are in the back of the car due to the fact that the Beretta uses a mid-mount engine design. After 30,000 miles, the spark plugs in the Beretta should be changed....

  • How Does an Auto Starter Work?

    Automobile starters are precision machines, designed to ignite a small amount of fuel so that the engine can be cranked with the smallest amount of work possible. The timing of the ignition must...

  • Why Does My Ford Engine Shake at Idle?

    Depending on the year and model of your Ford, the engine might be internally or externally balanced. Sometimes, especially with externally balanced engines, the harmonic balancer can get out of...

  • Ford Mustang Maintenance

    Many people who drive Ford Mustangs care about the car's performance, so keeping it in good condition is vital to them. Regular maintenance on the Mustang mainly involves inspecting and/or...

  • Range Rover Tips

    The Range Rover is a SUV vehicle built by the English Land Rover company. These vehicles have gone through many incarnations since their inception in 1970. Due to their unique design, the Range...

  • How to Find Spark Plugs on the BMW 330I

    The E46-generation BMW 330i is part of the fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series. Replacing the spark plugs is a part of routine maintenance that will keep the motor running happily. This is not...

  • Gasoline Engine Parts & Definitions

    Gasoline engines use small, sudden gasoline explosions to drive pistons that the crankshaft turns into rotary motion. Gasoline engines mix fuel and air before entering the cylinder, then ignite...

  • How to Tune a Car

    Your car's engine needs to be tuned every 30,000 miles. A full tune-up requires a number of checks and changes for every type of vehicle and a few more steps depending mainly on the year of your...

  • How to Get Better Gas Mileage(revised)

    I will explain how to keep you're vechicle in top shape and save money on gasoline. Only people who have basic car knowledge should do this, but anyone can learn how to do these things which i...

  • Chevy Spark Plug Problems

    Spark plugs are one of the most important components within any Chevrolet engine, as they are responsible for igniting the air/fuel mixture. Not all spark plugs are manufactured the same way...

  • Ford Pickup Engine Problems

    Few modern mechanical devices are as reliable as the Ford pickup engine. Millions of these trustworthy motors are in service on highways across the globe. While enthusiasts may tout the Ford as...

  • How to Replace PT Cruiser Spark Plugs

    The recommended service interval for your PT Cruiser's spark plugs is replacement at 3 years or 60,000 miles. Faulty spark plugs can cause serious engine misfires, check engine lights and poor...

  • How to Put Spark Wires on a Toyota Celica

    Spark plug wires help transmit an electrical pulse to your spark plugs, which allow your engine to start and run smoothly. Replacing spark plug wires is one of the most simple repairs that can be...

  • How an Ignition Coil Works

    The electrical system in your vehicle works on 12 volts, so every component must be based on 12 volts, as well. There is a wire connected to the ignition coil (known as a "hot wire") that carries...

  • How to Tune Up a 1985 Toyota Truck

    The 1985 Toyota truck was manufactured with a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder gasoline motor that requires routine maintenance. The most distinguishing mechanical feature is the solid front axle, which...

  • How to Maintain Aircraft Engines

    Airplanes are currently the fastest and easiest way to travel around the world. Flight safety is in the hands of aircraft technicians. Their job is to make sure everything works perfectly and that...

  • How to Replace the Distributor Cap on a Nissan Sentra

    As part of the ignition system, the distributor cap on your Nissan Sentra is designed to route the electrical voltage to the spark plugs in sequential order to allow the engine to run properly....

  • How to Change Spark Plug Wires on a Vehicle

    Replacing the spark plug wires is simple and a must to insure proper maintenance of your vehicle. It will help it to run longer and better.

  • How to Change the Spark Plug Wires on a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue

    The spark plug wires on your 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue deliver the spark from the distributor to the spark plug. The spark plug wires (also called plug wires) are capped at both ends to ensure an...

  • How to change the spark plugs and distributor cap in a Ford Escort

    Today, I will be changing out the spark plugs and distributor cap in my Ford Escort. So let’s get started, just follow the steps below to continue.

  • How to Figure Out Why Car Wont Start

    Find out why your car or truck will not start. This method is meant for gasoline internal combustion engines(regular gasoline car or truck motor). A motor only needs a few things to make it work....

  • The Best Ways to Gap Spark Plugs

    There is a common misconception in the world of automobiles that spark plugs --- the very things that bring life to your engine --- come from the factory ready to be put into the car. The truth...

  • How to Install a Spark Plug Wire on a Contour

    The spark plug wires on your Ford Contour are responsible for making sure that an electrical spark is delivered to the combustion chamber from the distributor. Without plug wires, your engine will...

  • How to Change a Spark Plug in a Ford Freestyle

    The spark plugs in your Ford Freestyle ignite the compressed air and fuel in the combustion chamber. As fuel is drawn into the combustion chamber, it is compressed by the pistons. Once this...

  • Automotive Electronics Troubleshooting

    If your vehicle has an electronic issue, there are several ways of troubleshooting the problem. By inspecting the vehicle yourself, you may be able to save costly mechanic fees by diagnosing and...

  • How to perform a compression check on a Saturn S-Series car

    Today, I’m going to perform a compression check on a Saturn S-Series car. Now this procedure can be done for any car. So let’s get started, just follow the steps below to continue.

  • How to Tune Up a Chevy Avalanche Truck

    The Chevy Avalanche separates itself from the rest of the Chevy family of trucks as a cross between the pickup and sport utility vehicle. But, just as in any other gasoline engine, components wear...

  • How to Replace Bosch Platinum Spark Plugs

    Bosch platinum spark plugs are considered "high performance" plugs. The platinum tip offers improved spark over stock or factory plugs, resulting in a cleaner burn inside the engine's combustion...

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