Auto Repair

Using an automotive vacuum gauge to diagnose engine condition, and component function, is almost a lost art. Today's computer controlled engine management systems are beginning to take the place...

The idle air control valve (usually referred to as the IAC valve) is an important part of your engine. The valve regulates the average rotation of your engine at idle. If your IAC valve is faulty,...

The throttle body on a Pontiac Grand Prix is responsible for delivering the fuel to the engine. Carbon deposits can sometimes build up on the inside of the throttle body opening and the throttle...

The EGR valve on a Jaguar recirculates the exhaust gases from the manifold back into the engine for a better burning of the spent fuel. When this valve is dirty, you may notice an extremely rough...

The PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve is an emission reduction valve found on modern vehicles. Replacing the PCV valve on your Pontiac Sunfire is simple and quick. A replacement PCV valve...

The idle air control valve (usually called an IAC valve) helps maintain the proper idle speed on your vehicle. The Toyota 4Runner idle air control valve is mounted on the throttle body, as it is...

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve on your Crown Victoria helps reduce tailpipe emissions and improves engine efficiency. The EGR valve is located at the rear of the engine bay. Cleaning...

Saturn cars have been popular since they came out in the 1990s; but like any vehicle, they require maintenance. One problem is leaky rubber grommets on the valve cover, which will cause oil to...

The idle air control valve, commonly referred to as the IAC valve, is responsible for adjusting idle speed. The IAC valve works closely with other electrical components to control the air moving...

The Honda Civic may have a reputation as an indestructible vehicle, but it, too, is prone to failure. A common problem with seventh and eight generation Honda Civics is a faulty gas tank door. If...

The 1991 Ford F150 is one of Ford's most popular trucks. It's fairly reliable, but it does have a few common problems that owners need to be aware of. Before taking your F150 to a Ford dealership...

The Jeep outfitted with the 2.5L engine is a fairly reliable vehicle. However, over time, some common issues arise with the Jeep's relatively low displacement power plant. These problems are...

Easy to follow instructions on how to check the air pressure in your tires.

Tire pressure is incredibly important for gas mileage, safety, and also to keep your tire from wearing out too early. Many times small air leaks can be very troublesome and force somebody to keep...

An oil hydraulic flow divider is a broad term which can mean a number of things, all pertaining to a pressurized oil system. Such systems might be found in high-performance racing vehicles or...

There have been many advancements over the years in the effort to reduce automobile emissions. These include removing additives like lead from gasoline, developing engines that get better mileage...

A proportional valve is a vital component of all automobiles and trucks, allowing them to stop properly. When a vehicle is in motion, it generates momentum, which must be overcome if a vehicle is...

EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. This type of valve is commonly found on any model gasoline or diesel vehicle produced since 1984. It functions to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxide a...

Oxy-acetylene torches are a common tool on jobs that require modification to steel. Torches are used to cut, notch, and braze thick steel beams and heavy metal plate. Unlike other methods of...

First, the paint is poured into a quart-sized reservoir that has a special one-way valve on the top. This valve allows air to flow inside the reservoir while preventing the paint from spilling out...

The crankshaft position sensor and throttle position sensor are perhaps the the only parts of an electronic fuel injection system that the computer simply cannot function without. The throttle...

A vacuum booster uses vacuum pressure from the engine to boost the amount of pressure going to the brakes. The check valve on vacuum booster regulates the amount of pressure in the booster. If...

In essence, a camshaft's purpose is to convert the rotational movement of the crankshaft to the reciprocal motion required to actuate the valve-train. What that means is that the cam spins around...

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...

The fuel tank on your Ford Ranger may develop problems that make it necessary to remove or replace it. Some tank leaks, holes or contamination issues can only be fixed with the tank off the...

The idle air control on an Isuzu Trooper is a valve that opens and closes to meter the air flowing into the throttle at idle. When the Trooper is not idling properly, this is a major cause. There...

The idle control valve on an Isuzu Trooper 3.5 is located on the side of the throttle body. The throttle body sits on the back of the engine near the firewall. The valve controls the amount of air...

The idle air control (IAC) valve in a Honda Accord controls the idle speed through the throttle body. When the IAC is dirty, the idle speed will suffer. If it's bad enough, the Accord simply won't...

The EGR, or exhaust gas recirculation, valve is a small metal disc bolted to the intake manifold near the carburetor on GMC trucks and vans. The EGR valve draws exhaust gases from the exhaust...

The valve cover has an important job for the engine: It keeps the valves protected and lubricated. If the valve cover gasket goes out, then the valve cover will leak out oil, potentially damaging...

A standard stamped rocker arm on a Chevy relies on oil to reduce the friction created as it slides across the valve stem when it opens the valve. Anything in the engine that causes resistance...

The valve covers (rocker arm covers) on a V-6 Buick are stamped steel covers attached to the top of the cylinder heads. The valve covers protect the rocker arms, valve springs and valves, and...

When it comes to cars, the unexpected is usually bad and changes in state are almost always for the worse. The following are some of the more common sounds made by a worn engine at start up. Some...

The exhaust gas recirculation valve, or EGR valve, recirculates the exhaust gasses in the Isuzu Rodeo for more complete burning. The valve itself opens and closes to allow the exhaust gases to 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...

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...

The EGR or exhaust gas recirculation valve on a Chevrolet pickup is located on the intake manifold near the carburetor. The EGR valve draws exhaust gases from the exhaust system and reintroduces...

The heater core on a Ford car or light truck operates in conjunction with the engine's cooling system to provide heated air to the passenger cabin. Engine coolant flows from the vehicle's engine...

You must drop the fuel tank on your 1988 Ford Mustang in order to replace the electric fuel pump or a damaged tank, or to fix leaks. It's important to follow the correct procedure to prevent an...

The valve cover gaskets on a 1988 Ford Mustang keep the oil from escaping the top of the engine, known as the engine head. Over time, the gaskets may shrink and dry up on the outside, while...

Troubleshooting Chevrolet's 350 small-block engine can seem like a daunting task, particularly when trying to figure out what to check first. Thankfully, the 350 uses a fairly simple engine...

Why clean the throttle body on your Toyota? The Toyota 4 cylinder engine is one of the best in the world, but it has one weak spot. The design of the P.C.V. system is such that blow-by gases get...

Every tire has a valve used to inflate and deflate it. The valve is built into the valve stem, a black plastic tube that protrudes a couple inches from the wheel rim. The stem has a threaded metal...

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...

The Ford Escape is available with two different engines. Both engines have idle air control valves and other than location, replacing the valve is the same in both engines. A faulty idle air...

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 idle air control valve (commonly called the IAC valve) helps your Honda maintain regular idle speed. The valve is electrical and works in conjunction with the throttle body on the intake...

The valve cover gaskets on a Jaguar XJ8 help to seal the valve covers to the engine head. If the car starts leaking oil, this is usually one of the first seals to fail on the Jaguar. With two...

When replacing an air conditioning compressor on a Ford Explorer, you must use a reclaimer. It is illegal and harmful to the environment to release fluorocarbons into the atmosphere. If you don't...