Auto Repair

Rear wheel cylinders are the hydraulic braking component for drum brakes. Internal pistons on both sides of the cylinder extend outward from inside the cylinder when demand is placed on the...

Discovering that sugar has been put in the gas tank of a car may cause extreme panic for the vehicle's owner. This is largely because legend has it that the sugar will melt in the tank and then...

All states require a vehicle inspection that basically checks to make sure that your car is in good working order. This is to keep you and other drivers safe. If an emissions check is also...

MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensors are employed on more than half of all fuel-injected engines and are used to regulate air-fuel ratio by measuring manifold vacuum pressure vs. outside air...

The windshield washer pump on your Mazda Protege cannot be repaired. When they are faulty, the internal motor has burned up and must be replaced. Fortunately, replacing the washer pump is not...

Though GM cars as a whole are no more likely than any other brand to experience catalytic converter failure, the company has recently begun hearing complaints of premature converter failure on...

The 1998 Volvo S70 brakes use a hydraulically operated disk system, with integrated anti-lock mechanisms. The calipers, pads and rotors need routine maintenance, which is often overlooked until...

The engine cooling system on your vehicle is designed to counteract the natural heating of the engine caused by the internal combustion process. One safeguard in the system is your thermostat....

Headlights and taillights may be the most underrated parts of a car. They allow us to see clearly and to be seen by other drivers, ensuring the safety of everyone on the road. These lights are...

Automobiles are manufactured with pressurized coolant systems that require overflow tanks to accommodate the expansion and contraction of coolant fluid. This reservoir tank is typically a...

Damage to your car often necessitates professional work and care to return the vehicle to its original state. But when the shiny clear coat on your car isn't damaged, just slightly faded, it seems...

The driveshaft, also known as a propeller shaft, on a C4 Corvette is the long tube that takes power generated by the engine and delivers it to the rear wheels. The drive shaft must be removed if...

Converting between metric drill bit sizes and their English (inch) equivalents requires some simple math. There is no exact equivalent in English-sized drill bits for most common metric sizes....

The idle air control valve, commonly referred to as the IAC valve, is responsible for adjusting idle speed. The IAC valve works closely with other electrical components to control the air moving...

Cars are great when they work, but they will always need maintenance. When they do break down, the problem isn't always obvious. To run a diagnostic check on the car, you'll likely need to take...

The park/headlight switch on an Isuzu Rodeo is a combination switch that controls both the headlights and the tail/side marker lamps. The switch features a shaft that can be set in two positions....

The GMC Sierra pickup was manufactured with optional power windows, which use a motorized window regulator for window operation. This motor can wear out and require replacement. The average...

If you were involved in a fender bender, it may be cheaper for you in the long run to replace the fender yourself. Rather than make an insurance claim, for example, you might want to simply...

Removing the exterior door handles on a Chevy Celebrity must be done when you are replacing the handle, or lock assembly. The Celebrity's door locking mechanism must be removed before the handles...

Large pop rivets take a toll on your hand during a day of work. Pneumatic rivet guns automate the process, removing the strain of setting rivets and increasing productivity. There is a minimal...

To remove the door panel from your car, you'll need to remove the window knobs (usually called switches or handles). Most newer vehicles have power windows and locks instead of manually operated...

The Honda Civic is a great car to work on because it is easy to modify and fit with aftermarket parts. There are also many companies that manufacture parts specifically for the Honda Civic, making...

The Nissan Sentra is a compact car produced by Nissan Motors since 1983. In the past decade, the Sentra has been powered by engines ranging from 1.3 liters to the 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder...

Automotive air conditioners use a compressor to circulate freon through the evaporator and condenser. This compressor can wear out and require replacement, usually due to a lack of lubricant or...

You should remove and replace the door handle on your Lincoln Mark VIII if the handle is broken or the door lock assembly is no longer functioning. The Mark VIII uses two bolts to secure the...

The exact type of rear brakes can vary on cars. Some cars have brake calipers and pads like the front wheels, most use brake drums and shoes that work with the parking brake, and others use both....

The Suzuki Swift is a compact car that was manufactured with a hydraulically actuated braking system, which requires routine maintenance. You can easily replace or resurface the friction surfaces...

Your brakes will develop rust; there is really nothing you can do about it. Even washing your car will cause rust to build up along the brake rotors or outer brake drums. The good news is that...

Auto touch-up paint usually consists of a solvent based paint. These paints are sometimes referred to as oil based paints. Oil based paints must be removed from brushes with chemicals, as using...

When rebuilding an engine, you often find rust in the cylinders. Before installing your pistons and new piston rings, it is essential to remove the rust so that the piston rings ride smoothly...

Condensation forms as an air compressor pressurizes air. Air dryers remove some of the condensation, but condensation will still travel into the air tool connected to the air compressor. When the...

A worn out or damaged component in one or more of several systems like the ignition, starting and fuel may cause a no-start condition on your Ford Mustang. However, most of the time, this is an...

The Pontiac Grand Am was manufactured with optional power windows which use a motorized window regulator to move the glass inside of the door. This motor can fail and require replacement. The...

Removing a door latch from a Ford Focus car is not an easy task. The latch is part of the complete lock assembly, which you must remove. You need to remove the door's inner trim panel and then the...

Automotive power windows use a switched motor to operate a mechanical window regulator. This regulator moves the pane of glass into the door. If the windows don't work, any of several issues is...

Many radios and CD players in cars these days have codes that need to be entered if power is lost to the radio. If, for example, your battery dies, you will need to reset your radio. Or if you are...

Mazda cars, trucks and SUVs have enjoyed a good reputation for being durable, dependable vehicles. Few have experienced significant engine problems. However, some RX-8 1.3-liter rotary engines...

Caster is calculated using a measurement of degrees. These are the same degree measurements one would use to calculate angles for cutting square corners. They rotate around a center point and...

Peeling paint on a car can quickly spread and turn from a small problem into a very large and expensive problem. Getting a car completely repainted can cost hundreds of dollars, but fixing the...

There may come a time when you must install a new lock on the doors of your Honda Civic. The lock is a solid cylinder within the door that connects to the door latch. Open up the door by removing...

As high as gas prices are now, you can't afford to have a leak in your gas tank. Not only will you be wasting money but it could very dangerous with all the fumes. You can either get the gas tank...

The Chevy Lumina was introduced by General Motors in 1990 and ran until 2001. This model had two different on-board diagnostic systems. Prior to 1996, OBD (on-board diagnostics) was integrated to...

The Hyundai Elantra has been around since 1991, but wasn't made available in North America or Europe until 1993. Featuring different four-cylinder engines throughout its generational redesigns,...

Antifreeze is essential for the proper functioning of the car's engine, as it helps prevent the formation of iron oxide that form plugs in the radiators. These plugs in the radiator can damage the...

There are ways to troubleshoot a car check engine light that can save time and money. Do it yourself up front to see if you can fix the problem before taking the vehicle to a repair shop. For a...

When getting a car, truck, or vehicle inspection, many states require the vehicle to go through an emissions check to make sure that the car is not causing too much pollution. Every state is...

Most of the time cleaning the inside of a car is a fairly straight forward process, but what if there is a rancid smell that simply won't go away and is too strong to ignore? No worries - there is...

The Chevrolet Astro was one of the most enduring minivan nameplates. Unlike its chief rivals, the Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, the Astro is powered by its rear wheels (optional...

Pickup trucks use similar air-conditioning systems as most other vehicles, except that they are typically larger. The compressor pumps Freon through the system, and this compressor can fail due to...

Often times, the smaller the car is, the more difficult maintenance can be. This holds true for the Ford Focus and its fuel tank. If you must remove the tank from the car for any reason, it takes...