Auto Repair

Several parts of an automobile must be able to withstand a certain amount of pressure. If these parts are bolted down, it is absolutely vital that the bolts are tightened enough to handle the...

If the alternator on your vehicle goes out, you wont be able to keep your battery charged for long. The Hyundai Sonata has fairly easy to access alternator, and changing it doesn't take that long....

A torque wrench is a device designed to tighten bolts to a specific tightening or torque specification. This measure of tightness protects both the threads of the bolt and the threads of the...

Torque wrench calibration is important to the safety and effectiveness of your home and car repairs, as well as the functionality of the torque wrench itself. Use your torque wrench safely and...

Torque ensures that a fastener properly holds a given part in place. Without a torque wrench, you have no knowledge of the exact amount of force you apply to the fastener. Click style torque...

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've ever stripped a bolt while working on engine, you know the value of a torque wrench first-hand. This specialty tool is a lifesaver when it comes to not only tightening down nuts and...

Those who own an Acura MDX are faced with a bit of a good-news/bad-news situation. The good news is that Honda (Acura) makes some of the nicest interiors per dollar in the industry, and some of...

The Honda Accord is one of Honda's most reliable automobiles. The Accord's transmission is generally reliable, but not bulletproof. The automatic transmissions are typically more prone to failure...

Changing the diameter of a vehicle's tire can drastically affect every aspect of its performance, from acceleration, to braking, to fuel economy. From one extreme to the next, a vehicle can gain...

The question of efficiency differences between manual and automatic transmissions was once easily understood. Manuals resulted in better gas mileage, and automatics were easier to drive. If that...

An impact driver isn't absolutely essential but if you want to work on cars quickly and efficiently, it is a necessity. It becomes even more of a necessity when you work at an automotive repair...

Ford F-150 pickup trucks have a well-deserved reputation of rugged dependability, especially with its towing capacity exceeding 10,500 lbs. But with that reputation comes the desire of F-150...

Torque is the applied tightness of the retaining bolt without over-tightening (which can mash threads to the mating surfaces) or under-tightening (which can lead to the bolt not holding the...

Using extensions when torquing bolts may be necessary if the bolt is in a hard to reach place. The extension will allow you to reach the bolt while the torque wrench allows you to torque the bolt...

The Ducati line of motorcycles are essentially racing motorcycles. These sport bikes are made by Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. The brakes on the Ducati bikes are...

When installing a set of heads on a Chevy, the surface preparation is important to prevent leaks. The surface on the head and the block must be free of gasket material, dirt, dust and all grease....

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a popular sports-coupe. The Eclipse was introduced in 1990 and has undergone several body style changes. All models of the Eclipse have a fuel pressure regulator. The...

The tires on an all wheel drive vehicle will wear somewhat evenly because power is being distributed to all wheels. There are tread depth markers on most tires being sold today to indicate whether...

The front and rear wheel studs replacement procedures on a Mustang are slightly different. However, both require wheel and brake drum/rotor removal, and installation of the actual stud is the same...

The control arms in a Passat connect the wheel hub, tie rod and shocks. The control arms use bushings to help control arm travel during normal driving. Over time, these bushings fail. Usually,...

The CRX was a popular compact hatchback that Honda sold from 1984 to 1991. The car was built from the Honda Civic platform and shared many components with the Civic. All models of the Honda CRX...

An automatic transmission converts linear motion into rotational force. Unlike a manual transmission, an automatic transmission uses computers and a torque converter to connect the engine to the...

The front brakes on a Dodge ram use a rotor and caliper assembly to slow the truck down. Hydraulic fluid is forced through steel lines connected to a caliper assembly at each wheel. The caliper...

Oil is the life blood of your vehicle's engine. Oil lubricates many of the moving parts to reduce friction and engine temperature. Keeping the oil flowing will add years of life to the engine, and...

An overdrive is a system installed in many Volvos which interrupt the driveshaft leading from the transmission to the drive axle. The overdrive can be engaged and disengaged at the driver's will...

The wheel hub on your vehicle is responsible for tying together the suspension and securing the brakes and the wheels to the driveshaft. All in all, the hub assembly does a lot for your vehicle....

The Audi TT is a twin turbo sports car made by the Audi division of Volkswagen. The TT's brakes use a caliper and rotor design for all four wheels to maximize clamping force on the rotors and...

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular compact cars on the market both today, and for a couple of decades. It is the second oldest continuously produced Japanese automobile to be sold...

A manual transmission uses a clutch assembly to connect the engine and transmission. A manual transmission can be designed two different ways. The most common design is a combined transmission and...

Torque converters are used in automatic transmissions in lieu of a clutch assembly. The torque converter transfers the power to the transmission and drive wheels. It does this by "spooling up" and...

The Maxima is Nissan's flagship sedan, and has been sold in the United States since 1981. For the 1994 model year, the Nissan Maxima was equipped with a 3.0 L V-6 engine, designed and built in...

It happens to home mechanics all the time. You're replacing a part and you realize that putting it back on is not as simple as taking it off. Bolts, such as the manifold bolts in your Kia Sedona,...

The invention of the automatic transmission system provided an added convenience for automobile drivers. The standard manual transmission systems require the driver to actually work the gears that...

Remember Dad under the hood with his toolbox installing a new starter or radiator on the old family wagon? Cars have come a long way in 30 or 40 years, but with new technology it has become...

Torque converters are used in automatic transmissions, with a similar function as a clutch in a manual transmission. The torque converter works with an automatic transmission to measure ideal...

The oil pump in a vehicle disperses oil into an engine's internal parts, providing them with lubrication to ensure operating efficiency. A faulty oil pump can limit your engine's functions and...

The starter motor, better known as a starter, uses electrical power to give spark to your engine. The spark allows the vehicle to crank smoothly and reliably. Before starters, drivers were forced...

The term "half shaft" is another name for a front-wheel drive shaft, which is also called the constant velocity axle or CV axle. You may further hear this part referred to as a CV shaft. There is...

The crankshaft pulley bolt on a Honda Accord holds the harmonic balancer in place. The balancer is a pulley that absorbs the resonance from the engine and prevents the crankshaft from failing...

When you are a do-it-yourself ...er..., sometimes you may have to improvise the tools that you need. For example, let's say that you are tightening the nut on a wheel, axle, brake caliper, or any...

When a torque converter goes bad in your vehicle prepare to shell out some bucks. The transmission will have to be removed from your vehicle to replace it. There are a few symptoms to look out for...

Permatex is an innovative liquid tool found in almost every auto repair shop. Different formulas of the product are used for different applications. Starting in 1909, Constant A. Benoit Sr....

Once you have the brake assembly apart and the old brake components out, be sure that you are installing the new rotors and brake pads correctly. Some service manuals do not cover this procedure...

A radiator's thermostat operates in very much the same way as a gate, in that the thermostat opens and closes. Engines operate at their most efficient within a temperature range specific to that...

An engine's valve cover's primary purpose is to prevent dirt and debris from entering the valve train, and ultimately the engine itself. However, a valve cover also prevents the oil which...

Heads need to be torqued properly so they do not warp, crack or blow a head gasket out. Torquing properly also prevents the head bolts from stretching too far. Heads are made of aluminum and cast...

When major transmission problems develop, you might need to remove the transmission for service. Removing and re-installing a transmission is an involved process and differs in details according...

The camshaft in your vehicle has lobes running along the length of the shaft called "cam lobes." These lobes rotate with the camshaft and press against a rocker arm. The rocker arm pushes valve...

The alternator keeps the battery in your Pontiac going, constantly recharging it as you drive. The battery will quickly drain if the alternator is bad, so it must be replaced in that case. The...