Consult eHow’s collection of auto repair How Tos before visiting the mechanic. Diagnose car problems from the muffler to the headlights and save a bundle in the process. Charging a dead battery or fixing a flat tire? eHow’s got the basics covered. Bumper crunched following a fender bender? eHow’s even got helpful suggestions about repairing minor dents and dings. Whether fixing it yourself or arming yourself with knowledge so you don’t get taken to the cleaners at the body shop, eHow can help.
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The blower motor works in conjunction with the heater core to provider heat to the cabin of your Toyota truck. Coolant heated by the engine flows through the heater core. The blower motor draw...
Changing the oil in a car is essential to long life and proper functioning of your vehicle. Part of an oil change is installing a new oil filter. However, sometimes the old filter will break. A...
The Chevy Cavalier uses rear brake shoes instead of a caliper and brake pad design for the rear wheels. Brake drums are easier to maintain than caliper assemblies, but they do not have the...
The Chevy Silverado is a full-sized pickup truck. It uses an ABS system to monitor the brake pedal pressure and pump the brakes automatically for drivers if the wheels lock up. This is designed to...
The fuel filter is the component that filters the contaminates out of the fuel running to the engine. On most vehicles, the filter is located underneath the hood on the passenger side, secured to...
Fiberglass body parts have a variety of advantages over steel parts, but a major drawback: It cracks and shatters on impact. Repairing the damage is more complicated than repairing steel, but is...
On 1973 Chevrolet models, the ignition switch, also known as the ignition lock cylinder, is located on the right side of the steering column, just behind the steering wheel. There are small metal...
If a windshield has been cracked or otherwise damaged, you need to replace it before the damage becomes greater. The exact replacement procedure--along with the actual size of the glass--will vary...
Auto glass not only serves the purpose of providing a perfect view for the driver, it also helps keeping the roof intact in car crashes. It also supports the air bags in unfortunate accidents. If...
From start to finish, autobody work takes a lot of time, materials, tools and safety equipment. If anything is left out, the project either won't be done properly or won't be done safely. The best...
The AC vents on a mustang are secured by screws and retainer clips. The vents allow the free flow of air into the passenger cabin, but for cost reduction purposes, Ford made the vents out of...
Reflex wiper blades are special wiper blades that do not use a traditional wiper hinge. Instead, the blade uses a semi-rigid design that conforms to the windshield to prevent streaking and...
Troubleshooting a misfire on the 3800 engine begins with isolating the misfiring cylinder and then pinpointing the cause. This same procedure can be used on other engines as well. Follow these...
The automatic transmission in your car, like any other engine and vehicle component, requires proper attention and maintenance. Over time, mechanical and electronic components wear out and,...
Internal parts in your carburetor can wear down and fail, causing leaks and fuel blocks. Restoring carburetor operation is possible by replacing worn or damaged components with new ones provided...
The camshaft position sensor tells the computer what position the camshaft is in, and the computer calculates ignition and fuel injection timing from this signal. The symptoms of a faulty camshaft...
A cracked or broken windshield, either in the front or the back, is a dangerous thing to be driving with. A damaged windshield needs to be removed immediately for replacement. The exact removal...
The air and fuel ratio on a vehicle with a carburetor can be manually adjusted for the optimum fuel ratio. On fuel-injected vehicles, this is done automatically. Adjusting the oxygen and gas...
The mass airflow sensor measures the volume of air moving through the air intake system. The sensor, also called a MAF sensor, is usually secured to the air intake tubing that runs from the filter...
Disc brakes are the most common brake type used on passenger cars and light trucks today. Repairing this system is a straightforward operation, but there are a few caveats of information to be...
The rubber molding that surrounds a windshield protects the glass edge and helps prevent dirt and debris from working their way into the urethane sealant once the windshield is installed. To...
The speed sensor is a magnetic coil that is screwed into the bottom of the transmission. The sensor monitors the rate at which the transmission gears turn and relays this information to the...
A stop lamp switch (also known as a brake light switch) is located underneath the brake pedal on a car or truck. When the pedal is pressed, the switch activates and turns on the brake lights. You...
Those 4th generation Camaros with the pesky rectangular fog lamps--located low to the ground and susceptible to rocks, etc--can be a difficult item to remove/replace. Here's an easy way to...
Here is a brief introductory video on the 700R4 / 4L60 Transmission Pump. In this video I show the manuals you can use that walk you through the pump rebuilding process.
I have a cheaper way of fixing it. The thing is that it depends on how deep the burn is. You have to remember that this task is not easy and it only works depending on the burn, the material, or...
The stabilizer bar, or sway bar as it is more commonly known, controls body roll during a turn. The stabilizer links are used to attach the stabilizer to the lower control arms of the vehicle....
Windshield wiper blades on VW Jettas are considered routine maintenance and should be replaced every year to ensure proper functioning and visibility. Repairing the windshield wipers on your Jetta...
This procedure covers the 1984 through 1995 Honda Civic 1.5, VTEC 1.5, Civic 1.6, Civic 1.6 VTEC, CRX 1.5, CRX 1.6 and the Prelude 2.0. It is recommended that the timing belt is replaced every...
The tools needed for body work are readily available for do-it-yourself body repair. Most of the work can be done with basic hand tools, but there are a few power tools needed as well. An...
Prior to replacing the brakes on a Ford Granada, drive the vehicle at 50 mph to check for a pulsating brake pedal when the brakes are applied. This would indicate the rotors are warped and should...
Plastic and heat don't mix. When plastic comes in contact with a hot surface, it's going to melt. When plastic melts on a piece of chrome, like a chrome exhaust pipe, it creates a sticky residue...
The Mitsubishi Galant was manufactured with four-wheel hydraulic disk braking systems on most models. This system uses a pressurized design that applies force to friction rotors with braking pads...
Once automobiles employed front and rear drum brakes. Because disc brakes are more effective, they replaced front drum brakes. Many vehicles still feature rear drum brakes, but all vehicles...
Mazda has produced many engine types over the years--the timing belt replacement is specific to a particular engine family. The sequence of events, however, is the same, for the most part, which...
The most efficient way to disrupt your trip or group ride is a flat tire on your motorcycle. Fortunately, with a little know-how and a few basic tools, you could be back on the road in no time.
The stereo in a Subaru is a basic CD changer and radio module. In most Subarus, the stereo is located in the center of the dash. While sufficient for many drivers, you may want to upgrade your...
Automotive paint guns are not as simple as a home painting gun, which can be plugged in and turned on. Automotive paint guns are available in different styles and types, depending on your painting...
Diagnosing and repairing an air-conditioning problem in a Ford vehicle is a difficult process---in fact, whole semesters are spent at tech colleges teaching students precisely how to do this. ...
Understanding the steps and techniques used in car painting is valuable, not only for someone wanting to paint their car, but for someone paying a professional to paint their car for them. There...
Car engines use small, sudden gasoline explosions to drive pistons that the crankshaft turns into rotary motion for the wheels. The cylinders fire at different times to prevent vibrations.
A fuel gauge on a tractor works the same as an automotive fuel gauge. The most important thing to remember is that the gauge and the sending unit must be a matched pair. For example, a Chevy gauge...
The thermostat on a Dodge truck is rated at 195 degrees F. A thermostat that is stuck closed will cause the engine to overheat. A thermostat that sticks open will cause the engine to take longer...
To properly test an alternator, the battery must be in good condition. It should have a full charge and no dead or shorted cells. Honda Civic alternators are rated for a maximum of amperage...
Every time the brake system on a 1994 Honda Accord is about to be serviced or removed, it is a good idea to check the thickness of the rotors. A worn rotor that is below the acceptable limits...
The differential pressure feedback (DPFE) for the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sensor on the Ford Winstar is located in the center of the engine, close to the number 1 cylinder. This sensor has...
Most repairs on vehicles require some amount of body filler. Body filler is most often called Bondo, which is the most popular, but not the only, brand of body filler. Body filler is a two-part...
Automotive paint is not a simple pour-and-paint process. There are steps to take to get the best paint job possible, including mixing the paint correctly. If the paint is not prepared properly, it...
Ford vehicles are notorious for having consistent problems, especially in older trucks and SUVs. One part that often fails in Explorers and F-series trucks is the fuel pump. The job to replace it...
The windshield of your car protects you from the elements. If keeps you from being exposed to rain, heat, snow and wind. The windshield acts as a shield against debris and bugs and can even...