Auto Repair

The brake system on your Ford Mustang requires periodic inspection and maintenance. Unfortunately, it is not until we notice strange smells, noises or mechanical changes coming from a brake...

The ignition switch on a Dodge diesel is on the steering column. The switch and cylinder are one unit. You'll know when your switch has failed when you turn the ignition key to start the vehicle...

When rebuilding an engine, you will often find rust in the cylinders. Before installing your pistons and new piston rings, it is essential to remove the rust so that the piston rings ride smoothly...

The ignition lock on a Buick Reatta is a cylinder that sits inside the steering column. The lock prevents unauthorized starting of the engine. When the lock fails, you may or may not be able to...

The ignition switch and cylinder assembly on a BMW 533i uses a simple retaining pin to secure it to the steering column. The ignition switch unlocks the cylinder lock and allows the vehicle to be...

The ignition switch in a Ford Focus uses a simple ignition lock and switch mechanism that is secured to the steering column. The switch uses a chip that is coded inside the key, which allows the...

The ignition switch on a Ford Thunderbird unlocks the ignition lock cylinder and sends an electrical signal to the starter motor so that the Thunderbird's engine can start. Over time, the ignition...

The ignition switch in your Chevrolet truck isn't the whole assembly on the steering column, rather just the electric switch connected to the lock cylinder. If the switch is bad (test it by...

Most Acura models are equipped with power assisted brake systems that are hydraulically operated. All front brake systems are disc brakes. The rear brakes can be either disc or drum, depending...

The lock cylinder on an Isuzu Rodeo is a small metal cylinder in which you insert your key to unlock the tailgate. Over time, the small metal tumblers inside the cylinder can rust or wear out so...

Rear wheel cylinders are the hydraulic braking component for drum brakes. Internal pistons on both sides of the cylinder extend outward from inside the cylinder when demand is placed on the...

When rebuilding an engine, you often find rust in the cylinders. Before installing your pistons and new piston rings, it is essential to remove the rust so that the piston rings ride smoothly...

As a result of the air/fuel mixture igniting within the engine, the engine produces carbon monoxide. That carbon monoxide, generically referred to as "exhaust," is routed out of the engine and to...

Newer model, manual transmission equipped Isuzu vehicles, utilize a hydraulic circuit to operate the clutch. The clutch pedal is attached to the clutch master cylinder. Pressing the clutch pedal...

The door lock or lock cylinder on a car or truck is a small metal cylinder you insert the vehicle's key into when you want to lock or unlock your door. Lock cylinders usually need to be replaced...

Removing a Ford, GM, or Chevy ignition lock cylinder requires the use of a special tool called a pin punch. The pin punch is a small pin that pushes against a release tab underneath the cylinder...

Drilling out bolts in a vehicle's cylinder head should only be done as a last resort. It should only be done if the bolts have become so old and rusted that they won't come out any other way. The...

When rebuilding an engine, you often find rust in the cylinders. Before installing your pistons and new piston rings, it is essential to remove the rust so that the piston rings ride smoothly...

The key switch for your Ford truck's ignition system is more properly called a lock cylinder and is in the steering column. If you need to replace the switch, you also will replace the old key....

The doors and the ignition switch in your car use lock cylinders that work with your keys. If you change a lock cylinder, you need to change the key as well. A new lock cylinder should include its...

If your Ford Focus is not starting, and you know the battery and alternator are good, the problem could lie in the ignition system. The ignition switch is a whole cylinder inserted into the...

With a worn-out mechanism or electrical contacts, the ignition switch in your 1998 Chevrolet S-10 will fail to energize the starter solenoid properly. The switch is easy to replace, but you must...

Bolts that break off in a cylinder head are extremely difficult to remove. About the only thing you can do is drill them out. Since there is a significant risk of damaging the threads on the...

Inside the "bottle" jack is an inner working machine that is comprised of a reservoir, a main cylinder, a main piston, a pump piston, pump cylinder, check valves, a release valve, oil, oil ports...

A fuel injector on an Infiniti Q45 can cause a misfire as easily as a spark plug or other problem in the ignition system can. In the past, the cylinders depended on the collective shared fuel...

Removing an ignition-lock cylinder is usually only possible with the ignition key. However, in a pinch, you can drill the lock out. This should only be used as a last resort, since you can...

The 2004 Toyota Tacoma was manufactured with a hydraulic braking system, which requires purging of the master cylinder, lines, calipers and wheel cylinders after repairs. This "bleeding" must be...

If your Honda's head gasket has sprung a leak or blown, it needs to be replaced. Instead of taking it to an auto mechanic, you may want to change the gasket yourself to save money. This is a...

Repairing Buick brakes involves restoring brake pedal pressure. Low brake fluid level caused by air getting trapped in the lines is the most common problem. Since the system is not air-tight, it...

Rebuilding your brake system's leaking wheel cylinders can restore them to factory performance. This a low-cost alternative to a replacement cylinder. Never use a brake cylinder hone on an...

The master brake cylinder of your vehicle will occasionally stop working---due to age or malfunctioning parts---and then must be replaced. Generally, most cars, no matter what style, year or...

Removing the cylinder head from a Dodge Caravan engine is professional-level work. This should not be attempted by anyone other than a skilled mechanic. There are several engine parts you must...

A bad ignition switch will make it nearly impossible to start your GM vehicle. If you must remove the ignition switch, remember that the exact process can vary due to the large number of GM...

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...

Replacing a cylinder head in your Honda Civic or other vehicle is a dangerous, complicated and difficult job. This particular type of repair should only be attempted by someone with experience...

The ignition switch on your vehicle operates the ignition. Many vehicles use a combined ignition cylinder lock and switch assembly where the switch is located on the back of the cylinder lock....

The ignition switch is the component on all vehicles that is usually mounted on the right side of the steering column where you insert the ignition key. Removing an ignition switch on many...

Drum braking systems use a hydraulic wheel cylinder to press twin shoes into the interior of a drum, stopping the vehicle. The rubber seals on both sides of the wheel cylinder can become worn and...

The brake booster also know as a power booster on a Chevrolet Suburban is a circular steel piece mounted on the firewall behind the master cylinder. The brake booster utilizes vacuum created by...

The reservoir on a Ford Ranger is the plastic bottle located on top the clutch master cylinder where the fluid is stored. It is almost always a clear material so that the fluid level can be seen...

The clutch slave cylinder in a Saturn needs to be bled anytime you change the clutch fluid or the cylinder. If air is trapped in the clutch fluid lines, the clutch will not engage properly and it...

Brake boosters for the Ford Explorer don't typically need replacing. However, if you press on the brake pedal and the pedal goes all the way to the floor (and there are no fluid leaks), that's a...

The power brake booster provides vacuum to the brake system so that it's easier to stop the 1995 Ford Thunderbird (also referred to as the T-bird). The booster is mounted on the firewall of the...

Bleeding a clutch slave cylinder is necessary to make sure all of the air is out of the hydraulic lines. Since air (even the driest air) still has moisture in it, you want to make sure that as...

The initial timing on a small block Chevrolet should be 16 to 18 degrees before top dead center (BTDC) with the engine idling and the vacuum advance hooked up. When the engine is initially cranked...

The distributor on a Chevrolet rotates as a result of contact with the gear on the rear of the camshaft. There is a recess in the bottom of the distributor with a blade in the center that is...

The 350 is quite possibly Chevrolet's most popular small-block engine. Although the 350 is known for its durability, this does not mean that the engine is always problem-free. A blown cylinder...

When your brakes feel squishy or air bound, test them in this manner. With the ignition on, pump the brakes rapidly 3 or 4 times and push down hard as if you were trying to stop the car quicky. If...

The intake manifold in your Chevy Astro van distributes the fuel/air mixture to the cylinder heads. Replacing one is usually a job best left to professionals, as is the case with most modern-day...

The device you use with the ignition key in your Ford F250 pickup truck is comprised of two main parts: The ignition switch and the lock cylinder. If either of these these parts is faulty, it...