Auto Repair

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 alternator in a Toyota diesel pickup is a power generator that powers all the electrical components in the truck. When the alternator dies, the battery won't charge, and the electrical...

There are many troubleshooting options available if your Ford Taurus refuses to crank or start. Troubleshooting your own vehicle gives you the opportunity to avoid mechanic fees and can be done in...

You might be surprised or frustrated when your Camaro comes back from emissions testing with a failed inspection. But don't worry---there are emission issues that can be diagnosed at home. Some...

When you are experiencing car trouble, diagnosing the problem can often be harder and more time-consuming then fixing the problem once you find it. Dealerships and auto repair shops can charge...

Although the front disc brakes on the Subaru Legacy provide 75 percent braking for the vehicle, it's not uncommon for the rear pads to wear quickly. One of the main reasons is because they're...

Rear disc brakes are becoming more and more popular on cars and light trucks. They feature rear rotors, calipers and brake pads. Rear disc brakes work better than drum brakes and require no...

Tie rods are the direct link between the steering gearbox or rack-and-pinion unit and the wheel. On a vehicle with conventional steering, the tie rod ends are connected in the middle by an...

The Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, Grand Voyager and Chrysler Town and Country all employ the same braking systems. The parts may be slightly different between the regular Caravan...

When your car or truck starts to overheat the best thing to do is deal with that problem immediately. An engine that is overheating means that there is a lot of strain on the internals and...

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...

Vehicles with rear drum brakes will often need adjusting to maintain braking power. For Hondas this adjustment is done automatically. When the brake shoes inside the drum brake wear down, they...

Over the years, Chevrolet has gone from a single coil to a coil installed in the distributor cap to individual coil on plug designs. The method used to control the dwell time that charges the coil...

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...

Replacing the headlight lens on a Toyota Tacoma is usually only necessary if the lens is cracked or if there is a significant amount of moisture getting into the headlight assembly. You can buy...

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...

Dial-bore gauges (DB) or dial indicators, when used in conjunction with a micrometer, can give very accurate and precise inside measurements. Used for holes of at least two inches in diameter,...

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...

Weather stripping protects your car from wind and moisture, keeping the elements away from your door and windows. Door seals are needed to keep your window mechanisms in good working condition and...

Some effects of a broken engine control unit (ECU) vary among vehicle makes, models and years, but many symptoms are common among different cars. The ECU is expensive, so it's important to...

The rear axle in a Ford Mustang usually doesn't fail. However, there are two weak points in the axle. The inboard and outboard CV joint on the axle allows the axle to flex. However, the joint also...

Using two six-volt batteries in place of a 12-volt battery might be an option in some situations. How well it works depends partly on the wires used and the amount of current to be drawn from the...

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...

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 Mazda Miata was introduced in late 1989 and has gone on to become the best-selling roadster of all time, according to the "Guinness Book of World Records." The Miata has developed a cult...

The mid-sized Chevy Corsica was introduced in 1987 and stopped production in 1996. It featured front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. The front brakes compensated up to 80 percent braking...

The Tercel was Toyota's compact car until 1998 when it was replaced by the Toyota Echo. The Tercel was equipped with a 1.5L engine and had a traditional cooling system. If the thermostat in your...

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...

Maybe you want to restore it, maybe you want to replace it with an entirely different bumper. Whatever the case, removing an old, rusty chrome bumper can be challenging due to the fact that the...

The muffler on a Dodge diesel is secured to the exhaust piping with mounting bolts. The constant heating and cooling of the exhaust system may create a phenomenon of "cold fusion" between the...

The front wheel bearings on a 1994 Mercury Topaz are pressed into the steering knuckle. This requires the steering knuckle to be removed and the bearing to be pressed out and the new one brought...

Replacing headlights has always been a necessary evil on vehicles. The Dodge Intrepid is no exception. It uses halogen capsule headlights and requires the removal of the headlight assembly in...

Spark plug wires are an essential part of your Chevrolet Prizm's performance. The spark plug wires are connected to the spark plugs and bring the electrical spark in order to ignite the fuel...

The brake pads on the 2003 Oldsmobile Alero need to be checked every six months for wear. The brake pads contain a friction material that wears away over time. Eventually, the pad material will...

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 Buick Regal LS features front disc brakes and may come with rear disc or rear drum brakes. Replacing the front pads is more common on the Regal since it provides 80 percent braking power for...

There are hundreds of reasons why a "Check Engine" light may come on in your vehicle. Since the implementation of On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II) in 1996, diagnosing the reason through the...

Because the Volkswagen Beetle engine is air-cooled, the air delivery system is vital to maintaining the proper running temperature of the car. This makes the fuel to air mixture, regulated by the...

Remote keyless entry is a convenience most people take for granted, until something happens to their remote. Whether you've lost a keyless entry remote for your Ford Focus and need to program the...

The 1994 Chevrolet Camaro with the 3800 series V-6 motor was manufactured with an air conditioner as optional equipment. This system uses a compressor to move freon through a condenser and...

The Chevrolet Trailblazer was introduced in 2002, replacing the Blazer. The brake configuration was the same as the Blazer; and like the later model Blazers, the Trailblazer featured either rear...

The Chrysler Sebring was manufactured with a hydraulic braking system that uses a caliper/pad and drum/shoe setup to stop the vehicle. Later or upgraded models can have four wheel disc brakes. The...

When you've spent a lot of money purchasing, insuring and maintaining a car, what you don't want or need is a dent marring the look of that car. No matter what the cause--a careless driver, a...

In the evolution of the internal combustion engine, it took a long time to advance after the creation of the carburetor to its next phase, the fuel injector. However, when it did, car engines were...

The radiator on a Chevy S10 should last the life of the vehicle. However, over time, the radiator may rust for several reasons, most of which involve poor maintenance. The radiator fluid should be...