Auto Repair

The valve cover has an important job for the engine: It keeps the valves protected and lubricated. If the valve cover gasket goes out, then the valve cover will leak out oil, potentially damaging...

The BMW 635CSi was manufactured with rear shock absorbers that provide high-speed stability and ride dampening. These shocks can wear out and require replacement, which will take the average...

Toyota Motor Corporation uses a silicate-free antifreeze for the cooling systems on its vehicles. A distinctive pink-colored antifreeze, it features a longer lasting shelf-life than the standard...

Inside your car door is a set of mechanisms that allow the window to go up and down at the touch of a button. One of the most important is the lift mechanism. A small motor is attached to...

The low profile of Lincoln floor jacks make them perfect for the amateur DIY as well the professional mechanic. Over time, however, you may need to troubleshoot various problems with the Lincoln...

Constant velocity joints, or CV joints, are present on most every car and truck on the road today. They are expected to last at least 150,000 miles, but if they break out of their protective...

The Chevrolet Silverado has been popular since its introduction, but the 1988 to 1998 models have one major problem: Sagging door hinges. One of the steps in removing these doors is swapping out...

Most Volvo 740s utilize a timing belt rather than a timing chain to keep the camshaft synchronized with the crankshaft's turning motion and to maintain exact valve timing. For the uninitiated, the...

Automobiles manufactured with front disk braking systems use rotors and wheel bearings to stop the vehicle and keep the wheels rotating, respectively. These parts can wear out over time and...

Chevrolet Camaros were manufactured with electric windows, which use a small motor to turn a window regulator crank and operate a pane of glass inside the door. This motor can wear out and require...

Installing new Bilstein shock absorbers onto a motor home can improve high-speed handling and dampen suspension jolts from a bumpy road. The shocks are sized for each model but use a standardized...

If the clutch fan on your 2005 Chevrolet Blazer is damaged, you probably have noticed the engine overheating, overcooling or some fan assembly vibration. First, whatever you do, do not stand next...

The Ford Windstar was introduced in 1995 and features a 3.0 or 3.8 liter engine. Both six-cylinder motors may have come equipped with or without A/C and multiple accessories. Each motor, and what...

A stripped head bolt is difficult to remove. If the bolts on your engine head become stripped, usually due to over-torquing, you'll need to drill them out. Drilling involves serious risks but is...

Rear view mirrors are often secured to the windshield of a vehicle, but are sometimes secured to the headliner or roof. However, most rear view mirrors encase the mounting apparatus with a small...

The exhaust studs on a Volkswagen are fairly difficult to remove. While the process itself is simple, it takes an incredible amount of physical force to remove the studs. The exhaust studs hold...

The engine cover on a Winnebago protects the engine from dirt and dust. Unfortunately, this means you must remove it if you want to do any work on your Winnebago. You'll remove the mounting screw...

Camshaft sensors, formally called camshaft position sensors, help your engine maintain emission and idle efficiency. The sensor itself cannot be fixed; it must be replaced. A faulty camshaft...

Class C motorhomes are manufactured with hydraulically operated braking systems. The calipers, rotors, drums and shoes of these systems require routine maintenance to perform well. An average...

Flowmaster makes exhausts for the Ford F-150, These typically amount to a replacement muffler with a special resonance chamber with baffles that produce a sound unique to the company. Flowmaster...

Using extensions when torquing bolts may be necessary if the bolt is in a hard to reach place. The extension will allow you to reach the bolt while the torque wrench allows you to torque the bolt...

Removing an ignition-lock cylinder is usually only possible with the ignition key. However, in a pinch, you can drill the lock out. This should only be used as a last resort, since you can...

If you think your Jetta's radiator fan needs replacement, there are some tests you can perform to make sure. Disconnect the fan motor's electrical connector and connect the battery power and...

You may be having trouble with your Chrysler Concorde cruise control system. That's not uncommon for Chrysler vehicles with more than 60,000 miles on them. However, before you start replacing...

The air conditioning unit, or AC unit, in an RV should retain its refrigerant for the life of the vehicle. However, if the compressor dies or the AC lines leak, the air conditioning system will...

The starter on a Karman Ghia Volkswagen turns the flywheel to get the crankshaft and pistons turning. When the starter dies, the engine on the Ghia will not turn over. Troubleshooting the starter...

The transmission for most Chrysler vehicles is an automatic transaxle (which is usually just referred to as a "transmission"). Chrysler, in particular, has had numerous problems with their...

Recreational vehicles and motor homes use shock absorbers to cushion jolts and stabilize highway driving. These shocks can wear out, causing a rough ride and high-speed weaving. The average...

Fog light bulbs should be checked every six months to make sure that they are functioning properly. The fog lights on most vehicles sit directly underneath the headlight bulbs. The ballast and...

The Mitsubishi Galant has been sold in the U.S. since the late 1960s, although it was originally called the Colt Galant and the Dodge Galant, before the brand settled the name in 1973. With such a...

In modern automobile engines the fuel pressure regulator (FPR) uses a spring-driven diaphragm to maintain the flow rate of fuel into a fuel injector. This injector in turn delivers the fuel to a...

Troubleshooting a 12-volt battery charger is relatively easy. But you'll need a voltmeter to troubleshoot most chargers. Since the charger is responsible for charging your vehicle's battery, you...

Brake calipers all work under the same premise. A hydraulic piston extends from the caliper bore when demand is placed on the brakes. The movement of the piston squeezes the friction material of...

The radiator fan on a Saturn should give you years of trouble-free performance. However, over time, several things can go wrong with it. When the radiator fan does not work, this is a serious...

There are three areas of concern when repairing power windows and the hardest part of the job is accurately diagnosing the problem. Switches, motors, and regulators are all common trouble spots....

Nobody likes it when they are getting in their car, ready to go, turn the key, and all of a sudden the car won't start. You turn the key again, and once again, the car remains silent and you begin...

Follow the described instructions to remove bird droppings, bugs, tree sap, tar and even rust spots from your car or truck.

Cars overheat for a multitude of reasons if you’re in a situation where your car is overheating there are a few things that you can do to help troubleshoot where the problem might lie, before...

The tail-light parts on a Mitsubishi automobile are normally a single unit and must be replaced as one. Removing the tail lights will require access to the trunk and a few common tools. When...

Ford introduced the 6.0-L Powerstroke diesel V-8 in late 2003 as a replacement for the 7.3-L Powerstroke engine in its F-series Super Duty trucks. The change was necessary to comply with...

Shocks take a beating on a vehicle's suspension. They dampen the impact from the road while maintaining the stability and weight of the vehicle. Coil springs or leaf springs assist the shocks, but...

A standard stamped rocker arm on a Chevy relies on oil to reduce the friction created as it slides across the valve stem when it opens the valve. Anything in the engine that causes resistance...

The most common symptom of a faulty blower motor resistor is a blower fan that only works on one speed, usually high. This can be annoying, but troubleshooting is easy. If you start at the blower...

There are many reasons to replace a headlight. The housing may have gotten faded and cloudy and no longer puts out enough light, or the housing may be cracked or broken. Whatever the case,...

The valve covers (rocker arm covers) on a V-6 Buick are stamped steel covers attached to the top of the cylinder heads. The valve covers protect the rocker arms, valve springs and valves, and...

Removing a tire from a rim can be done without much trouble, but you need to have the right tools. Using Tyrepliers makes the job much easier, and you can remove a tire from a rim in less than a...

Rust is considered to be the cancer of the automotive world, as the damage it causes is rarely fixable. But if you prevent it from happening to your truck in the first place, then you're ahead of...

A stall converter (also known as a "torque converter") is a fluid coupler used between an engine and drive device to prevent engine stalling at low RPM. Used in place of a traditional clutch, the...

When it comes to cars, the unexpected is usually bad and changes in state are almost always for the worse. The following are some of the more common sounds made by a worn engine at start up. Some...

Auto-upholstery is a bumper to bumper experience, encompassing all leather and fabric inside and outside the car. An upholstery project can be an easy endeavor involving simple tools, or it can be...