Auto Repair

The starters in Ford Explorers have occasionally had mechanical problems resulting in the vehicles not starting or having trouble starting. The starters can also wear out over time or get damaged...

A worn out or broken valve cover gasket on your GM vehicle can leak engine oil out of the cylinder head and require replacement. Depending upon the particular model you might have to remove one or...

Your car's battery will provide you with at least three, four, even five years or more of dependable service, supplying the juice your car needs to get going. Ranging in price from about $60 to...

Tie rods are used in the steering mechanism of a car. You can know instantly when your tie rods need to be replaced because the steering will be off, and your Taurus feels misaligned. Replacing...

The smoke coming out of your car's tailpipe can tell you a great deal about the condition of the engine, cooling system, transmission and other parts of your car. If you aren't already in the...

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...

Wheel studs are the bolts used to hold tires in place; if one breaks, it must be replaced. This procedure is not challenging and requires basic tools with the exception of an air-powered wrench,...

A dent in your car door can be an eyesore. While many turn to a bathroom tool for the answer, tackling the dent with a pink rubber plunger in hand, this method may not be the one for you. Small...

The windshield wiper motor controls the function of the wiper arms and blades. Slow or sluggish wiper blade action indicates a dying wiper motor. Because windshield wiper motors are sealed units,...

Removing a headlight switch is normally a simple procedure for most automobiles. The headlight switch is typically on the turn-signal stalk, so removing the stalk and replacing it will normally...

A valve stem is a spring-loaded device that helps keep air in your tires. The valve stem has a small attachment that allows air to enter when pressed, for when you need to inflate your tires....

The turn signal switch is one of the safety mechanism on a vehicle. It allow drivers to operate their left and right turn signals. It is a common mistake to confuse the turn signal lever as being...

Replacing a heater core in a Dodge truck is not easy. It requires you to remove several objects from the truck first, including the entire instrument panel. It will take a lot of time and effort,...

The wheel bearings in a Ford Taurus are located in the hub/bearing assembly. Replacing the hub/bearing assembly is a straightforward process -- remove the brakes, then the bearing, and reassemble.

Most GM window motors can be replaced without removing the window regulators. The window regulator is the apparatus used to convert the rotating motion of the window motor into the up-and-down...

The dwell meter is a necessary piece of equipment for tuning early-model vehicles that use a conventional points type distributor. The coil, which is similar to a capacitor, is charged for the...

The 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck is manufactured with a rotor and caliper braking system design, which uses hydraulic fluid to sandwich a rotor between two pads via a caliper piston. The rotor...

The Celica was a sport-compact coupe sold by Toyota Motor Corporation from 1970 to 2005. The model was appreciated by enthusiasts for its good looks and strong reliability record. Removing the...

Many automobiles use gas-powered shock absorbers on their rear axles to provide cushion from harsh road conditions, and vehicle stability at highway speeds. These shocks can wear out and require...

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...

Repairing the paint on your vehicle can be extremely stressful---especially if you received a quote from a professional explaining that the couple of chips on your sedan will cost $500 to fix. ...

Maintaining your car is important because you want to make sure that you keep your oil up to date, as well as other parts such as your tires, etc.

The blower motor assembly in the Kia Spectra is located under and behind the glove compartment. The blower motor pushes hot or cold air into the compartment via an electrical motor that turns a...

When you notice a scratch, scuff or paint chip on your bumper, you generally have three choices: you can leave it alone and wait for it to get worse (and it will), you can take it to a body shop...

The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV that sits on a truck chassis that uses a live rear axle design with rear shocks and front struts. After years of normal use, the shock absorbers in the rear can leak...

The Toyota Tercel was manufactured from 1978 to 1999 in the United States, usually with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder motor. Some early models had a 1.3-liter engine, and a turbo was also offered for...

The headrests on a 2004 Ford Mustang are titled forward to keep whiplash to a minimum. However, many find this uncomfortable and want to replace them. The headrests on are a little tricky to...

The Buick LeSabre uses disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels. However, changing the rear brakes is a bit different than changing the front ones because of a few extra components. You must...

Replacing an air conditioning compressor on a 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan requires the use of a reclaimer--a machine that captures the Freon, filters out the contaminants and recharges the system. It...

Buy remote starters for the security and convenience of starting the car from a distance before getting in. Hit the remote start button as you're finishing breakfast, and the car can begin to heat...

Making your car last as long as possible is the name of the game these days. Over time, car ceilings, or headliners, can pull away from your car roof. Not only is this unattractive, drooping...

The Chevrolet Malibu is manufactured with a pressurized coolant system that uses a finned radiator to cool the engine. This radiator is made of aluminum and copper, and is prone to corrosion and...

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...

The Subaru Outback is manufactured with rear shock absorbers that cushion vibrations from varied terrain. These shocks can wear out and require replacement, which should take the average backyard...

The fuel pump relay is a circuit that helps provide power to your fuel pump. Since most modern vehicles have electric fuel pumps, they will have fuel pump relays. The fuel pump relay in your GMC...

Tecumseh engines are found on a large number of power tools. Lawnmowers, wood chippers and chainsaws are typical perches for Tecumseh engines and can run for years maintenance-free. Due to the...

Replacing a muffler can be a rewarding job that is quickly completed with a few tools---or it can be the task from Hades. A simple look at the muffler will help you determine which way the job...

The 1998 Volkswagen Jetta was manufactured with rear plastic bumpers, which can be removed or replaced when they become damaged. The average backyard mechanic will spend about 30 minutes removing...

The Chevrolet S10 pickup truck series was manufactured with a 12-volt alternating generator system coupled to a single battery. The standard 105-amp alternator can provide sufficient electricity...

Although the Ford Escape does not have a specific maintenance interval for the fuel filter, it is likely you will have to replace the filter after two or three years. The fuel filter on your...

Chevrolet uses reciprocating internal combustion engines in most of its product line, and, while most are manufactured well, some have inherent design flaws and even recalls. Many different sizes...

Although it is unusual for the headline switch on a Ford Taurus to malfunction, it can happen. Some symptoms of a faulty switch include persistent headlights (headlight won't go out when you turn...

Removing Toyota bumpers is an easy process that takes patience and a small bit of know-how around auto repair. A trained mechanic can do this in about five minutes but it may take a little more...

Replacing engine mounts in a GMC Safari is only necessary when a mount's bushings have failed. When that happens, you need to replace the entire mount. Even if only one bushing has failed, you...

The valve cover gasket on a Mustang keeps the oil in the head of the engine from escaping. It also keeps the oil out of the spark plug wells. When you notice oil leaks at the top of your engine...

The bumper on a Volkswagen Jetta is held in place with screw bolts. You normally only need to remove the bumper if your bumper is damaged or if you need to access something directly behind the...

The computer on your Honda fuel-injected engine uses the Idle Air Control (IAC) valve to control idle speed. When you fire up the engine for the first time during the day, the engine is below...

The term "ignition timing" refers to the point at which the spark plug is fired by the coil, and is measured in degrees of crankshaft rotation. This common adjustment is critical to the efficiency...

An ignition control module takes the signal from the pick-up coil or hall-effect sensor and triggers the coil based on that signal. Some modules also trigger injectors and control timing as well.

The power ignition distributor distributes an electrical charge to the spark plugs in the cylinders in your engine. It ensures a proper firing order for your engine and times the ignition of the...