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.
Showing 101-150 of 11,904 results
Auto glass damage can have a variety of causes, including bouncing rocks, car thieves and hail. While some small scratches and chips can be repaired either by a professional or at home, more...
Arguably the most important part of any motorcycle is its wheels. Without them, the bike would not move or turn. Keep your motorcycle rolling correctly and safely by straightening your rims regularly.
The Chrysler Town & Country minivan uses motorized window regulators for power windows. The motors meshed with the regulator can wear out or become damaged, and can take the average backyard...
An old axiom among mechanics is that for every part in a car, there are 10 ways for it to break. Given that the average car has 14,000 separate parts, and the average engine has over 1,000, it may...
Air tools are time and labor savers. Used in the home or small shop they help make better and faster repairs. Each tool needs an adequate supply of compressed air to operate it and a compressor...
Radiator fans that don't come on pose a serious problem because this could cause overheating and inevitable engine damage if driven for long periods of time. Therefore, it is important not to...
Stone chips are perhaps the most irritating type of paint damage your vehicle can suffer. The chips, usually caused by small rocks kicked up by passing cars or lawn mowers, are too small to...
Torsion bar suspensions use a special type of spring known as a torsion bar or torsion rod in order to resist the bumps and movement that a car or truck normally encounters on the road. Unlike the...
Based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Holley Performance Products has been designing carburetors for more than 100 years. Holley carburetors are installed in every NASCAR Sprint Cup team, according to...
Choosing an air compressor will depend on several factors including how large your operation is and how much you are willing to spend.
If your car starts overheating while you are driving, turn off your air conditioner and turn on your heater to cool the engine off. Drive to a place where you can park the car and repair it. If...
Dodge Ram engines, particularly the 5.7-liter Hemi and the 6.7-liter Cummins diesels, are durable, rugged motors that usually rise to the demands of severe workhorse duty. The 4.7-liter PowerTech...
If your Ford Focus is not starting, and you know the battery and alternator are good, the problem could lie in the ignition system. The ignition switch is a whole cylinder inserted into the...
Freeing stubborn rusty bolts can be challenging, but fortunately there are many tricks available. It is very important to take your time and free the whole bolt rather than break it---extracting a...
The brake switch on a Honda Accord sends an electrical signal to the brake lights. This switch is set to be always "hot." This means that power is constantly flowing to the brake lights, even when...
For more than three decades, Ford trucks and sport utility vehicles with four-wheel-drive (4WD) have had a solid reputation for dependability. Due to the rugged nature of 4WD activity, occasional...
The General Motors TH700R4 automatic transmission is a four-speed overdrive model produced from 1982 to 1993. Although it's considered one of the best transmissions produced by GM, it may be prone...
The Honda Odyssey minivan was introduced in 1995 and is still in production today. Seven-passenger seating and Honda's reputation for reliability give this minivan a strong following. The...
Does your GM car or truck Radio display LOC and does not turn on? Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Cadillac, Oldsmobile vehicles used a theft system to lock the radio when power is lost. This...
Replacing a battery on an automobile is a relatively easy task as most car repairs go. This 2007 Grand Prix is harder than most because of the cars design. This car is loaded with electrical...
Before you paint a car body, you will need to remove the paint that is on the body if it is peeling or bubbling so that when you prime it and paint it the paint will stick and not peel or bubble...
Cummins diesel engines power everything from stationary generators to large over-the-road semi trucks. Cummins diesel engines have been used in Dodge heavy duty pickup trucks since 1989 and have...
There can be different reasons why you might need to remove the fuel tank from your Ford Taurus vehicle. Even if you don't need to replace the tank, you might need to clean it out every year or...
Drilling and tapping a hole in thicker gauge metal is a fundamental part of fabricating metal. Using the optimal drill bit is imperative in producing a functional and strong final tapped hole. If...
The thermostat on your Ford Mustang controls the car's temperature by opening and closing to allow coolant to flow. You need to install a new thermostat in the engine if the old one ever gets...
The Pontiac G6 was introduced as a 2005 model, when it replaced the Pontiac Grand Am. The G6 might be best remembered as the "Oprah car" when it gathered much attention after the popular talk-show...
The Ford Crown Victoria is one of the longest-tenured vehicles in the history of Ford Motor Co. It has featured rear disc brakes since the early 1980s, though the car also has been available with...
The GMC Jimmy was a mid-size SUV sold by General Motors until 2001, when it was replaced by the GMC Envoy. The Jimmy was built on the same assembly line as the Chevy Blazer and the Oldsmobile...
Polypropylene is widely used in the construction and automotive industries. When cracks or breaks develop in a component made from polypropylene, the defected area can generally be welded. Like...
Floor jacks differ tremendously from the emergency jack that normally comes with modern vehicles. Floor jacks use fluid to provide lift; the small emergency jacks use simple screw systems. Floor...
If you have to wiggle the transmission shift selector or push it forward to start your GMC Sonoma, the neutral safety switch may be defective and need to be replaced. Installing a new safety...
The Dodge 4.7-liter PowerTech V-8 engine has received mixed reviews from owners since its debut in 1999. Yet most of its quality issues center on lack of scheduled maintenance that will doom any...
A vacuum booster uses vacuum pressure from the engine to boost the amount of pressure going to the brakes. The check valve on vacuum booster regulates the amount of pressure in the booster. If...
Automobile power windows are made possible by internal electrically operated window regulators. The electric motor that cranks the regulator can wear out, and require replacement. The average...
An impact driver isn't absolutely essential but if you want to work on cars quickly and efficiently, it is a necessity. It becomes even more of a necessity when you work at an automotive repair...
Had a car accident? Need car repairs? Filling a car insurance claim? Don't trust the insurance companies or the auto repair shops to treat you right. Here's how to keep them honest.
"C5" is the General Motors code name for the fifth-generation of the Chevrolet Corvette. Production of the C5 Corvette began in 1997 and ended in 2004, with the introduction of the...
The Toyota Echo was produced from 1999 to 2005. The Echo replaced the popular Toyota Tercel model but was eventually replaced by the Toyota Yaris. The door panels on the Echo remained the same...
You should flush out your cooling system on a regular basis; but not everyone does this. Ignoring this maintenance could lead to problems with leaky gaskets, overheating and rust in your radiator....
Ford F-150 pickup trucks have a well-deserved reputation of rugged dependability, especially with its towing capacity exceeding 10,500 lbs. But with that reputation comes the desire of F-150...
The Cordia uses a rear drum braking system that requires routine maintenance to operate properly. The adjustment screw on the bottom of the brake assembly often needs attention and is only...
A key fob is a wireless device that is used to remotely lock and unlock a car, as well as perform other functions such as setting off an alarm.
The water pump is an essential piece of equipment used to circulate water and coolant throughout the engine to keep it from overheating during operation. Replacing or repairing the water pump on...
Torque is the applied tightness of the retaining bolt without over-tightening (which can mash threads to the mating surfaces) or under-tightening (which can lead to the bolt not holding the...
Because exhaust manifolds and headers are made of iron, they are particularly susceptible to rust. Rust by itself usually doesn't present a problem for exhaust components. However, removing rusted...
All Saturn vehicles use a window regulator to move the window up and down, and some models have optional power motors instead of hand cranks. These electric motors can wear out and require...
The Ford F-150 is manufactured with optional electric power windows, which use a motorized window regulator to raise and lower the glass. This motor can wear out and require replacement. The...
The Jeep Cherokee was manufactured with optional power windows, which use a motor-driven window regulator to raise and lower the glass. Damage to this motor, or any break in the electricity...
Removing the interior door panels on a Subaru is widely standardized, no matter what the model. If you must replace a side-view mirror, replace the power window module or motor, or upgrade the...
Trouble codes on a Honda are denoted by an illuminated (check engine) light on the instrument panel. The illumination of this light means that the engine computer recognizes a problem in its...