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 joys of owning an automobile can be so priceless, going to a movie with friends, hanging out at the mall with your girl, but what happens when you jump in your car and turn the key to hear the...
Think you have a low battery or bad Alternator? Here is a way to test both systems in one step.
Scrapping a car is the term used to describe taking a car to the Metal Recycler. Metal Recyclers will pay you for junk cars, trucks, and vans, as well as other types of metal, which can be a great...
There are quite a few jobs that you need to leave to the professional but regular maintenance on your car can be cheaper and done just as good if you do it yourself. The process of replacing...
Waiting long times in an auto-shop for a brake change and cost you a lot of money. Change your own brake's pad will save you alots of money and very easy to do. There's no skill needed to change...
You will learn how to get your headlight to work if a bulb goes out on you.
How to fix a burn hole in a car seat. This repair tip works best with fabric seats. This tip can be used to repair burns in other fabrics and items such as a couch or even carpet.
On some vehicles---mainly pickup trucks---the fuel pump is contained within a module that includes the fuel level sending unit. This module is contained within the fuel tank meaning the tank must...
Changing the rear brakes on a Ford vehicle depends a lot on the exact model. Some, like the Mustang, use calipers and brakes exclusively, just like the front brakes, while others have drum brakes...
The serpentine drivebelt in your vehicle needs to be changed at around 100,000 miles. However, conditions like the belt becoming worn, cracked or contaminated will require you to change it sooner....
One of the most critical issues you can have with your automobile is a fuel leak. In addition to the irreversible damage a fuel leak can cause over time, there is a major risk that the leak could...
The small-block Chevy 350 engine has two freeze plugs on either side of the engine block and two in the rear of the block on both sides of the camshaft. They are offered in steel or brass. The...
Removing rear drum brakes for replacement is considerably different than doing so for disc brakes. Rear drum brakes use brake shoes rather than pads, which mainly work with the parking brake....
It is becoming difficult to find parts for a Solex carburetor. The most popular replacements that have abundant parts availability and are more versatile are the Zenith, Rochester and the Weber 1V...
The wheel studs on a 1995 Ford Windstar are a softer material than the lug nuts. When a lug nut is installed on a wheel stud and torqued down, the nut tends to pull on the threads. It is good...
The brake booster is a vacuum-driven component responsible for providing vacuum pressure to the brake system. The pressure generated by the booster improves the braking in your vehicle by creating...
Torsion bars are used on independent front suspension systems instead of coil springs. They apply a downward pressure to the lower control arm. In addition, they allow a slight twisting motion of...
The brake light switch on a GMC Denali is a simple plunger-style on and off switch. It is located on the top rear of the brake pedal arm. The plunger on the brake light switch faces forward...
The Edelbrock carburetor is a square-bore design with a single accelerator pump, two main metering rods, vacuum secondaries, electric or manual choke, fast idle cam, singular float bowl and two...
Serpentine belts snake along an onset pulley system. They became widely popular in the early 1980s, replacing the old multiple V-belt systems that employed offset pulleys powered by the engine...
A "check engine" warning light isn't necessarily a sign that something serious or dangerous is going wrong with your vehicle. Cars and trucks today contain powerful computers that control and...
As you depress the brake pedal, the master cylinder on your GM model forces brake fluid and develops pressure in the brake lines and hoses to help you slow or stop the vehicle. But wear and parts...
The Buick Park Avenue uses a standard size 1-DIN slot for the radio unit. While the head unit will be quite sufficient for most people, some people prefer to modify the factory settings by...
Many people want to be able to customize the factory audio system in their Xterras. To do this, the factory radio needs to be replaced. Many aftermarket units are available, and include options...
Rear brake lines on most vehicles are connected to the rubber brake line running to the brake caliper via a tube nut. On the other end of the line is another tube nut connecting the brake line to...
The factory stereo in a Chevy Trailblazer is a basic CD changer and radio head unit. Unlike other GM vehicles, the Trailblazer's unit is located behind the dash and is secured with screws rather...
The Isuzu NPR is a large diesel truck used primarily by commercial businesses. While unimpressive, the factory radio does its job, but some drivers may want a more powerful unit. Like on most...
Serpentine belts became widely popular in the early 1980s. Replacing the old multiple V-belts that connected to offset pulleys powered by the engine crank, serpentine belts snaked along all of the...
Car tires can take a lot of punishment, so springing a leak in one takes some effort, meaning repairing will take effort as well. If the leak was a side effect of excessive tire wear, the tire...
The Ford Escape radiator fan motor can be replaced individually. The motor is purchased without the fan blade, which must be transferred to the new motor. Before replacing a radiator fan motor it...
The 1965 Chevelle was available with or without power brakes. The master cylinder for manual brakes differs from the master cylinder for power brakes and is not interchangeable with the master for...
The Hyundai Santa Fe uses an axillary third brake light. The idea behind the third brake light, especially on wider vehicles, is that it will be easier for the driver behind you to see when you're...
The fuel lines on your Toyota Corolla are made up of two main parts: the metal pipes and rubber hoses. Any piece of the lines that is leaking or damaged must be replaced. Hoses need to replace...
If you have been driving behind another car or truck, only to have a rock fly up and crack your windshield, you know how frustrating it can be. Instead of taking it into an auto repair shop for an...
An O2 sensor measures the contents of the exhaust gasses coming out of the engine. These types of sensors are typically plugged into the catalytic converter or exhaust system to measure how many...
Your car's headlights are constantly exposed to the elements, sometimes leaving them discolored or foggy. To refinish a headlight, carefully sand away the damaged part and polish it. Refinishing...
Changing the timing belt on any car, especially a high-end German model like the Audi TT, is a time-consuming task. It can be done by the experienced home mechanic with the proper tools and good...
Changing the struts on your Ford Mustang is difficult and best left to a professional if possible. The struts must be changed together to maintain balance on the car. The strut assemblies are...
Upgrading your Jeep with better tires and suspension is a must if you want to take it off-road. Shock absorbers are generally good for 50,000 miles but should be changed to better suit your needs....
The alternator in your Honda Civic helps extend the life of your battery by recharging the battery during use. If you alternator is faulty, your battery will not be able to hold a charge and your...
Before attempting to replace the ignition switch on a Ford, the air bag must be deactivated to prevent accidental discharge of the system. The ignition key tumbler and the ignition switch should...
The fuel pump in a 1999 Dodge truck is located in the fuel tank, and it is a return-less type pump with a regulator as an integral part of the pump. Over a period of time, all fuel pumps will wear...
Although the Nissan Quest has been around since 1993 and endured three generational designs, replacing the front brake pads has remained virtually unchanged. Since the Quest's front brake pads...
Shortly after the release of the Ford 500 in 2005, a technical service bulletin was released on the rear brakes. Caliper piston problems and premature rear brake pads wear caused by dragging...
Vehicles in the United States all use a double flare brake line. The double flared line sits against a brake component (either the master cylinder inlet or outlet fittings, or the brake hoses at...
Take care to count the number of threads when removing tie rod ends on a Honda so the new rods are installed with the same number of threads. This will keep the front-end alignment consistent....
The 1999 Ford Ecoline van uses a radiator and coolant to cool the engine. You should check and replace the coolant every 30,000 miles. To make sure that your system runs in top shape, consider...
The EK chassis refers to the sixth generation of the Honda Civics manufactured between 1996 and 2000. Although fog lights were an option, many EK Civics did not come with them. There was, however,...
A piston has grooves which have been cut into the side of it to hold the piston's three rings. The grooves are known as "ring lands." The purpose of the rings is to seal the combustion chamber....
Although it is still possible to blast with sand, the term "sandblasting" is most commonly used as a generic term to describe media blasting is general. Prior to media blasting, paint and rust had...