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 torque converter is a fluid coupling that transfers power produced by the engine to the transmission above 500 to 800 RPM. These couplers allow your car to idle without driver input, and most...

All cars require maintenance and repairs to keep them running smoothly and safely. Making small repairs yourself can help prevent long-term problems and is a good way to save unnecessary trips to...

The condition described by most as "boiling" sometimes isn't. Though excess heat in the power steering system can indeed cause the fluid to boil, there are other conditions that can mimic the effect.

The 1987 Mercedes transmission was mostly reliable and trouble-free. However, user error often contributed to premature transmission failure. The most common problems with the '87 transmission...

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...

If you encounter a problem with your Ford Taurus automatic transmission, you could face a repair bill running in the thousands of dollars. Then again, you may only have a minor problem that can be...

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 Ford Windstar minivan is equipped with a rotary-vane washer pump type and most problems with it may be traced to simple causes: Clogged nozzles, lines or hoses; damaged lines, disconnected...

Sooner or later every car on the road will need maintenance or repair service. While car repairs can be expensive, many of the most basic tasks can be performed at home with simple tools. In many...

A torque converter is the fluid coupling between an engine and transmission that allows the engine to idle at low speed without engaging the transmission. A torque converter uses an engine-driven...

If you care for your car yourself, you probably want it to last as long as possible. Here are some important tips you may not know, that will help you get the most miles out of your car.

Transmissions can malfunction for a variety of reasons. Whether you have a standard or automatic transmission, your transmission essentially works the same -- it transfers power from the engine to...

Honda is one of the most popular vehicle manufacturers in the world. This can be attributed to the fact that its vehicle come in sleek designs, provide comfortable seating, exercise smooth driving...

Cadillac has enjoyed a good reputation for producing quality luxury automobiles with few signficiant shifting problems with its automatic transmissions. Cadillac's transmissions are produced by...

Vehicle automatic transmissions have come a long way since the first mass-market transmissions were introduced in the early 1950s. Onboard computer systems regulate upshifting and downshifting,...

Dodge Durango transmissions are generally trouble-free, providing owners with hundreds of thousands of miles without major repairs or costly overhauls. The primary causes of transmission failure...

The Chevrolet Suburban was manufactured with a front disc braking system; this system uses hydraulically actuated calipers to apply friction pads against a rotor, which stops the truck. When these...

The line of Mercedes 190 cars built between 1984 and 1994 are safe, classic luxury vehicles, but they often suffer from automatic transmission problems. Gear changes may not shift smoothly due to...

The transmission for most Chrysler vehicles is an automatic transaxle (which is usually just referred to as a "transmission"). Chrysler, in particular, has had numerous problems with their...

A stall converter (also known as a "torque converter") is a fluid coupler used between an engine and drive device to prevent engine stalling at low RPM. Used in place of a traditional clutch, the...

Class C motorhomes are manufactured with truck or van front ends that use common disk braking systems typical to the model. These systems use hydraulic calipers that can wear out and fail, or...

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...

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...

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...

Solenoid valves are devices designed to allow the passage of air or fluid through a chamber and govern the strength of its flow. These devices are different from normal valves in that they have...

Keeping the brakes in your Chevy Avalanche in good condition is absolutely essential--your life depends on it! But even if you do your best to keep your brakes in the best of shape, problems can...

The Dodge Ram 2500 has calipers on all four wheels, and any one of these calipers may need to be replaced. If a brake caliper has become damaged, it can affect the brake pads within it and needs...

The 1994 Ford Taurus comes with front disc brakes and may also come equipped with rear disc or rear drum brakes. Replacing the front brakes in the Taurus is a relatively unchanged process no...

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...

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...

Change the brakes on your Saturn vehicle about every 60,000 miles. The Saturn L200 uses brake calipers on all wheels, but only the front brakes use standard brake pads. Still, there are a few...

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...

Overfilling a transmission can actually be more harmful to the transmission than not adding enough. The fluid within the transmission courses though the transmission under pressure. Too much fluid...

The 1967 Chevrolet Camaro uses hydraulic lines to transfer brake fluid from the master cylinder to the calipers and wheel cylinders at each wheel. Over time, the steel lines attached to the...

The Dodge Dakota pickup truck is designed with a hydraulic master cylinder braking system, which uses front disc and rear drum components that can wear out and fail. Troubleshooting a Dakota brake...

The Chevrolet Silverado is manufactured with a hydraulic braking system that uses a combination of rotors and disks and drums and shoes to stop or slow the truck. This system has had a high number...

Automotive brake systems use a hydraulic master cylinder that operates a combination of calipers and/or wheel cylinders to apply friction and stop the vehicle. These friction surfaces and...

The brakes on a Ford Mustang wear down over time due to friction created by the pad material rubbing against the brake disc. Fortunately, fixing the brakes in this instance is a simple matter of...

The Chevrolet S10 pickup truck series was manufactured with a twin-core radiator (with automatic transmissions) that stabilizes the transmission fluid's temperature by circulating it through...

When removing and replacing a brake caliper from a car's wheel, the removal process can vary depending on the make and model. Consulting an automotive repair guide for your model is highly...

Your Ford F-150 pickup needs regular maintenance to keep it running properly. There are certain intervals where you need to inspect and/or replace certain items in the truck. This includes not...

The hydraulic brake system, better known as the disc brake system, is a mechanical miracle that many people take for granted every day in modern transportation. In fact, it was not that long ago...

The Buick automobile line is manufactured with three main types of hydraulic brakes: four-wheel disk, four-wheel drum, or a combination of rear drum and front disk systems. All of these systems...

Anytime a hydraulic brake component on the front braking system of your car is replaced, a bleeding procedure is required. Hydraulics rely on constant pressure from the fluid, and when...

The Chevrolet pickup truck has had several braking system upgrades since it's inception, mostly to the design of the friction surfaces at the wheels. The hydraulic master cylinder design has...

The master cylinder stores your vehicle's brake fluid, which is used to hydraulically operate the brake system by forcing the fluid to the brakes. If the master cylinder is defective or leaking,...

The proportioning valve on a Chrysler meters the brake fluid to the four wheels of the vehicle. The rear wheels normally get less brake fluid than the front wheels because the rear brakes tend to...

The Chevrolet S10 pickup truck series was manufactured with a front disk and rear drum braking system (1982-1997), operated by a hydraulic master cylinder. The 1998 to 2003 models have four wheel...