Auto Repair

Engine mounts on a Volvo secure the engine in place. There are two or three mounts on a Volvo, depending on the year of the vehicle and the model. The only time mounts need to be changed is when...

Many Chrysler vehicles are equipped with "key fobs," also called "keyless remotes," that can be easily programmed at home. In addition to Chrysler products, these instructions will also work for...

Headlights that are dull and yellow not only look bad, but can be dangerous at night since the lights don't shine as bright as they should. Yellow or dull headlights don't need to be replaced, but...

Adjustable ignition timing allows the engine to maximize the power of the fuel it uses by igniting it at the right time to allow complete combustion of the air fuel mixture. This results in...

Acura brakes use a caliper and rotor design for maximum clamping force. The brakes for the Acura typically use a 15/16-inch master cylinder to push fluid through steel tubing, called brake line,...

Skunk2 control arms, also called suspension arms, are the most basic element of the 2004 Civic suspension. The control arm joins the shock, the wheel hub and tie rod together. While the factory...

The Nissan Maxima has a series of O2 sensors installed into the exhaust system of the vehicle. The upstream or front sensor is located on the exhaust manifold, underneath the vehicle. The sensor...

Typical problems caused by a faulty ignition module include inaccurate timing advance and retard, hot engine stalling and no starts. The Ford EEC 4 TFI module was located on the side of the...

The Ford F-150 is the best selling pickup truck line in the world, as well as the perennial best selling passenger vehicle in the United States. Rugged, versatile and dependable, the F-150 is part...

Auto body repair takes some skill but almost anyone can do it with a few tips and instructions. The most important part is to have the right tools for the job. All of the tools needed to repair...

Troubleshooting tail lights can be done alone or with an assistant. For obvious reasons, the lights must be working properly. In some states, there are stiff fines and "fix it" tickets issued for...

The oxygen sensor on a Honda CRV monitors the emissions coming from the exhaust port of the engine. These sensors send information about the contents of the exhaust to the vehicle's ECU, which...

The serpentine, or S-belt, is a single rubber belt that snakes its way through a series of pulleys attached to the engine of a car. The belt is driven by the engine and provides power to all of a...

The Dodge pickup-truck series was manufactured with various dashboard designs, most of which follow a standardized path to disassembly. Proper replacement of the dash does not require tremendous...

The Dodge Caravan has been a front-wheel drive minivan since its inception. Front-wheel drive vehicles all employ constant velocity (CV) drive axles that bridge the connection from the...

Removing Chevy hinges involves removing the doors, which are very heavy and need to be supported properly. A floor jack with a cushioning material between the door and the jack should be used to...

The Ford straight 6-cylinder 4.9-liter engine utilizes a one-piece rear main seal surrounded by a seal cover. To remove these seals, the transmission must be removed to gain access to the seal....

The 22-RE engine is found in Toyotas and has been in service for many years. The crankshaft retaining bolt is a standard-thread bolt with 215 foot pounds of torque. The bolt is not accessible...

A carburetor is a multi-faceted engine control device. Having such a range of responsibilities, a maladjusted carburetor can effect the engine performance to a degree that can cause a wide variety...

Tuneups on late-model vehicles are limited to ignition, intake plenum and cleaning of the fuel injectors. Sparkplug fouling is a thing of the past, which can only occur if there is a mechanical...

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...

As automotive brake systems have evolved, the need for improvements in brake-pad efficiency has been addressed by auto manufacturers. The organic pad compounds of the 1970s didn't provide the...

The ball joints--one on each side--are key components in the suspension of the front end on most vehicles. Whether you drive a car, truck, SUV or minivan, it probably has ball joints. These...

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has created a set of guidelines and regulations for auto salvage yards and other companies that recycle old vehicles to follow. The regulations...

Removing VW Beetle ball joints is extremely difficult. The ball joints are pressed into the upper and lower control arms and need to be removed with a special tool. When removing the joints, you...

The side marker lights on the Toyota Corolla help provide additional visibility when you are driving, particularly when make changing lanes. Your side marker lights are set up to illuminate at the...

The master cylinder on your Ford F-150 model develops the necessary pressure in the brake system to slow or stop your truck. However, worn or damaged pistons, valves, cups or housing may leak,...

The master cylinders on a Honda are generally good for the life of the vehicle. However, a seal failure inside the master cylinder can cause the cylinder to fail. This usually results in an...

The valve cover gaskets cover the internal working parts of the upper part of the Jaguar 4.0 engine. This top section of the engine is called the "head." Underneath the valve cover are cams, valve...

Do-it-yourselfers and installation techs love removing and installing Ford radios. Although the radios require a specific tool to remove, no dash panels or screws need to be removed first. The...

The valve cover on your vehicle protects the upper half of your engine, called the engine head, from external contaminates. It also keeps the engine oil inside the engine so that the oil can...

The valve cover gasket in a 2000 Plymouth Neon keeps oil from leaking into the spark plug wells, as well as keeping engine oil from leaking down the side of the engine. When you have an oil leak...

The wiper motor on your 2002 Chevy trailblazer controls the action of the windshield wipers. Although this part is normally good for the life of the vehicle, there are times when it can fail. This...

The starter or electrical motor on your Ford vehicle turns the engine crankshaft to get the engine running. Problems with the starter armature, pinion gear, bushings, field coil and related...

The first generation of On-Board Diagnostic [OBD-1] systems of the early 1980s used a red or amber Check Engine dashboard light to alert the driver of an abnormal operation in one or more of the...

Ford's 289 engine was Ford's most popular small block from 1963 to 1968. Known for its reliability, durability and light weight, the 289 is one of the easiest engines to repair. Unlike many other...

The ABS brake system in a GMC vehicle uses a sophisticated ABS module to sense wheel speed. If the vehicle's wheels stop moving while brake pressure is being applied, but the vehicle itself is...

XM radio is a satellite radio system that allows you to listen to a radio station almost regardless of where you are in the country or the world. The service uses satellites to beam the...

Bleeding a radiator on a Peugeot 405 is necessary after you've flushed the system. Air can get trapped in the system and that can cause problems with the water pump and cooling cycle. To purge the...

Alternators are small electric generators that charge the battery of a vehicle. A vehicle typically has just one alternator, which is plenty, to charge the battery. When the alternator...

Alternators rarely fail, but when they do, they require replacement. It's the battery's job to start the car and provide power on demand. The alternator is what keeps the battery in shape....

Automobile air-conditioning problems can often be resolved by replacing a switch or refilling the liquid that supplies the refrigeration process. There can also be bigger problems that might...

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,...

GMC brake systems are relatively simple in design to ensure reliable performance for the life of the vehicle. However, regular maintenance and servicing are required. Most brake problems on GMC...

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...

If you need to replace a rear speaker or fix the internal door components in your Grand Marquis, you will need to remove the door panel. Removing the rear door panel is easier than removing the...

Chevy has been making cars since 1911 as part of the GM company. The Chevy line has been known throughout its history for its engines, including the big block V8 engine, introduced in the 1950s,...

The Ford F150 pickup truck is manufactured with rear leaf springs, which are stacked strips of heavy-duty steel that support the body off off the frame. This design is simple, and is best used...

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...

Flux-cored wire is held on a wire spool and used with a Metal Inert Gas welder. The same welding procedures are used for both solid wire and flux-cored wire. Flux-cored wire does not rely on a...