eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Consult eHow’s collection of auto repair How Tos before visiting the mechanic. Diagnose car problems from the muffler to the headlights and save a bundle in the process. Charging a dead battery or fixing a flat tire? eHow’s got the basics covered. Bumper crunched following a fender bender? eHow’s even got helpful suggestions about repairing minor dents and dings. Whether fixing it yourself or arming yourself with knowledge so you don’t get taken to the cleaners at the body shop, eHow can help.
Showing 1-50 of 373 results
Automotive air-conditioning compressors can fail because of a lack of lubricant, a malfunctioning clutch or from bearing damage. In most cases, you must completely replace the compressor. The...
Subaru Foresters use an air conditioning compressor to push freon coolant through a series of lines to an evaporator and condenser. This system dries and cools the interior of the SUV. The...
The manufacturer recommends that the timing belt be replaced every 60,000 miles. From results on the history of this engine, it's important not to exceed this limit. This is an interference engine...
A Jackson Racing supercharger increases the performance of your vehicle dramatically. However, over time, you can become bored with this level of performance and want more. At that point, boost...
Automobiles are manufactured with optional air conditioners, which use a pressurized freon coolant system to cool the interior. A compressor circulates this freon, and can fail for several...
The timing belt on your Hyundai Tiburon is an item that you need to maintain and replace routinely, since usage and varying weather conditions will cause the belt to eventually wear out and break....
Automotive air conditioners use a compressor to circulate freon through the evaporator and condenser. This compressor can wear out and require replacement, usually due to a lack of lubricant or...
Pickup trucks use similar air-conditioning systems as most other vehicles, except that they are typically larger. The compressor pumps Freon through the system, and this compressor can fail due to...
A faulty water pump can lead to engine overheating, and as a result, permanent engine damage. To avoid this, it is recommended that you change your water pump at the first sign of wear. On the '98...
The Toyota Corolla was manufactured with an optional air conditioning system, which uses a compressor circulate freon through the evaporator and condenser. This compressor can wear out and require...
The General Motors 3800 series 3.8 liter V-6 motor uses a serpentine drive belt system, which turns the rotational forces of the motor to operate several pulley-driven parts. This primary belt can...
The drive belt operates several components in your Dodge Durango's engine, and the engine can't run without it. While cracks in the drive belts are fairly common, some can be a problem--in...
The Mazda Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) is a minivan that uses a serpentine drive belt system to power several pulley-operated pumps and devices. This belt can wear with age, and require...
The hardest part of installing a new water pump on your Jeep is always the beginning, removing your water pump pulley belt. Most do-it-yourself mechanics dread having anything to do with...
Cadillac first began manufacturing its bespoke Deville model in 1949, and in 1994, mated its newest generation platform to GM's newest super-motor, the Northstar V8. This engine was a quantum...
Subaru's overhead cam engine was introduced in the late '80s and is still used today. Unlike Subaru's earlier push-rod engines that used a chain and sprockets to rotate the camshaft, the new...
A power steering pump belt is used to transfer the rotating energy produced by the engine to the pump, where the fluid within the pump is then directed to the rack and pinion unit. Over time, the...
Most Volvo 740s utilize a timing belt rather than a timing chain to keep the camshaft synchronized with the crankshaft's turning motion and to maintain exact valve timing. For the uninitiated, the...
The Ford Windstar was introduced in 1995 and features a 3.0 or 3.8 liter engine. Both six-cylinder motors may have come equipped with or without A/C and multiple accessories. Each motor, and what...
The Honda Accord uses an optional air-conditioning system to lower the temperature inside the car; the system has a condenser, evaporator and compressor that circulate Freon through a channeled...
Replacing a serpentine belt on a Chevy Cavalier or Pontiac Sunfire can be a nightmare. To replace the alternator you must remove the serpentine belt. I like to save money and do the repairs...
The air conditioner in a Chrysler PT Cruiser keeps you cool in the summer; but if you don't use it on a regular basis, you could end up with a malfunctioning unit. There are essentially three...
When it comes to auto repair, costs vary according to the car part. When it comes to the timing belt, dealers and mechanics recommend replacement every 50,000 to 60,000 miles for most cars, while...
Always make sure that the replacement alternator for the Ford Tempo is of the same maximum amperage. At the same time, look at the pulley and make sure that it is of the same type and that the...
When replacing an alternator on a Ford 302, check the label on the alternator that states the amperage rating. The alternators differ in their amperage output ratings depending on how the vehicle...
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...
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...
Putting an alternator belt on your vehicle normally requires that you know how to apply tension using an auto tension pulley. The auto tension pulley automatically applies the correct tension to...
The alternator on a Ford Taurus powers the electrical components on the car. Over time, this electrical generator may die. The most common symptom of a dying or dead alternator is the battery...
The belt tensioner on new vehicles is an auto-tension mechanism that automatically applies the correct tension to the serpentine belt. Of course, every vehicle is slightly different in terms of...
The drive belt on a Nissan Maxima is a serpentine belt. This means that the belt connects several pulleys together that drive various components like power steering, air conditioning, the cooling...
The alternator belt on a 1998 Pontiac Firefly requires you to install a drive belt, since the alternator belt is actually part of the drive belt, or serpentine belt. If the belt teeth become...
The drive belt on your vehicle is responsible for connecting the various pulleys in your engine bay. These pulleys, collectively, power the water pump, alternator, fan, air conditioner and a few...
Replacing the serpentine belt on a GM truck is necessary when the belt begins to crack and show signs of wear. If there is any fraying or teeth missing or damaged, the belt will likely skip or...
The fan belt on a Toyota Avensis is actually part of the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt is a long belt that connects multiple vehicle components together. As the belt ages, it will begin to...
To replace the drive belt on your Toyota Previa, you must remove the serpentine belt from the pulley system on the front of the engine. The serpentine belt, or drive belt, controls the movement of...
The serpentine drive belt in your Jeep Liberty is an important part of the engine. It keeps numerous other parts working, like the alternator and the water pump. If the belt becomes worn and loose...
Your Chevy Cavalier needs all its parts in good condition to operate. The belt tensioner keeps the accessory drive belt tight as it travels across the pulleys for multiple parts like the...
The Ford Ranger is manufactured with an optional air conditioning system, which uses a compressor to pump freon through the condenser and evaporator. This compressor can wear out and require...
The serpentine belt on a Ford Mustang is tightened with an auto-tensioning mechanism. This means that there is a device on the front of the engine that applies the correct amount of tension on the...
The Chevrolet S-10 pickup endured 23 years of production in the United States. Although a few different generational designs occurred as the truck matured, one of the mainstay features of this...
The belt tensioner on a vehicle is an important part of the drive belt as it is used to tighten the belt. Drive belts need to be replaced once they are worn out, and if not replaced they may break...
The serpentine belt on a 1993 Chevy is a ribbed belt that drives several of the engine's peripheral devices, such as the air-conditioning compressor, the alternator, and the separate pumps for...
Toyota recommends to change the timing belt on the 1MZ-FE engine every 90,000 miles. Do you want to change the timing belt on your Toyota V6 yourself, but you're not sure how? My article...
Over time, internal components on the alternator of your 1998 Ford Econoline may wear out or break, making the unit inoperative in some cases. Still, you may have some options: remove the...
The alternator in a Ford van is a generator that supplies all of the electricity that the van needs. It also charges the battery. Signs of a failing alternator are dimmed headlights, battery...
Replacing the timing belt on a Honda CRV is not an easy task; it's much more difficult than removing the other drivebelts. The main difficulty lies in getting to the belt itself, as there are...
1999-2000 Ford, Mercury has Spark, has Fuel, won't start- Replace Timing Belt
A tensioner pulley on most newer cars -- from the mid 1980s to present -- is actually part of a two-piece component called the automatic belt tensioner. The tensioner's job is to apply the correct...
The 1995 Chevrolet Lumina vehicle series uses a serpentine drive belt that can deteriorate and require replacement. The belt winds through several pulleys, and uses the belt surface to drive...