Auto Repair

The Chevy Monte Carlo has changed from the the V-8 equipped rear-wheel-drive platform of the 1970s and 1980s to the V-6 equipped front-wheel-drive platform of the modern version. But the ignition...

Backfiring can cause serious damage to an engine if the problem is not quickly fixed. The problem can usually be traced to the carburetor or distributor. The carburetor delivers the air/fuel...

When the air conditioning (AC) goes out in your car in the midst of summer, you may think it's the worst thing that can go wrong. Before you panic over how much the repair is going to cost,...

The Lexus SC 400 is manufactured with a pressurized coolant system that uses a finned radiator to stabilize the engine temperature. This radiator can become corroded or damaged, requiring...

One of the common maintenance issues with many vehicles is replacing the rear lights. Sometimes the bulb pops and needs to be changed, and other times the entire lens is damaged. Here's how to...

Air brake chambers are the primary part of the air brake system in highway and long-haul 18-wheelers. While the front and rear brake chambers of a vehicle are slightly different, they function in...

A broken car horn is a bigger problem than some people might think. It can be annoying at times, but not when it's needed to alert other drivers. The standard response when the horn breaks down is...

The Taurus is one of the all-time best selling cars from American automaker Ford Motor Company. The Taurus was first offered as a 1986 model, and since then the Taurus name has been used on...

The master brake cylinder of your vehicle will occasionally stop working---due to age or malfunctioning parts---and then must be replaced. Generally, most cars, no matter what style, year or...

The main body of the master cylinder consists of two brake-fluid reservoirs, from which the brake system is supplied--a primary piston that provides the displacement that pushes the brake fluid...

The ampere (amp) is the standard unit of measure for electrical current. A standard 12-volt car battery may produce 600 amps or more, especially those designed for extremely cold weather. An...

The Cash for Clunkers plan has been such a huge success that the government ran out of money for it far quicker than they expected. Thousands of cars have been consigned to the scrap yard for...

The base coat of a vehicle is often referred to as the color coat. The base coat is the actual color of the car that you see. The base coat is actually very dull when left alone. What makes a car...

Solenoid valves are devices designed to allow the passage of air or fluid through a chamber and govern the strength of its flow. These devices are different from normal valves in that they have...

Some cars' exhaust systems will produce an odd burble or bubbling noise. For the most part this is deliberate when it occurs in vehicles upon acceleration, but not always. Many "street racers" and...

The cam position sensor on a Ford 4.0 V6 is located on the dipstick side of the engine in the forward part of the block. The computer uses the camshaft sensor to determine the firing of the fuel...

Shocks are available in several varieties. The least-expensive shocks are the older, standard, oil-filled shocks. The problem with these stems from the fact that they fail once they become heated...

Always make sure that the replacement alternator for the Ford Tempo is of the same maximum amperage. At the same time, look at the pulley and make sure that it is of the same type and that the...

When replacing an alternator on a Ford 302, check the label on the alternator that states the amperage rating. The alternators differ in their amperage output ratings depending on how the vehicle...

The clutch is one of the most important parts of your car, not only as the method to switch gears but as an emergency out. Most clutches are cable actuated, and this cable must be properly...

Touch-up paint can be a valuable tool when trying to cover small scratches and chips that inevitably strike the surface of your car's doors over time. However, these paints often do not match the...

The Yukon is a slightly upscale version of the Chevrolet Tahoe. In 2000 the Yukon underwent a major redesign. The process of removing the door panel is the same in all models from 1995 to 1999,...

Oxygen sensors are an integral part of the engine of Honda cars. Not only do oxygen sensors improve gas mileage, but they also decrease pollution and conserve fuel by making the car run...

Gasoline combustion engines operate by exploding gasoline vapor in the combustion chamber, which drives the piston down, turning the engine crankshaft. Unlike diesel engines, gasoline engines...

A car's O2 sensor is a main component in keeping your car in smooth-running order. There are many warning signs that are caused by problems with your O2 sensor and the following will help you...

The diagnosis of a misfire in an engine can be more difficult than figuring out why the engine won't start at all; misfire problems are normally minor and are often overlooked. The diagnostic...

Before you start troubleshooting your Ford alternator, perform a visual inspection. Make sure there is no apparent damage to the case, the drive belt is tight and the electrical connections are in...

The crank sensor (properly known as the crankshaft position sensor or CKP) on a GMC Sierra is a small magnetic sensor that measures the rotation of the crankshaft. The crank sensor measures engine...

If the steering in your vehicle starts to get stiff and difficult to maneuver, the power steering pump may need to be replaced. If that's the case, remove the power steering pulley and install it...

Keeping the brakes in your Chevy Avalanche in good condition is absolutely essential--your life depends on it! But even if you do your best to keep your brakes in the best of shape, problems can...

The power steering pump on a Ford vehicle works in conjunction with the power steering gear, to aid the driver in steering. On a Ford light truck or car, it is pressed onto the power steering pump...

The Mazda 6 is available with either a four-cylinder or a V6 engine. The four-cylinder (2.3L) does not have a serviceable thermostat. The thermostat is part of a larger cooling assembly, and must...

The Lincoln LS is equipped with a system of sensors known as On Board Diagnostics (OBD II) to ensure that all the emissions components on the vehicle are operating properly. When one of these...

The power sliding doors on a minivan are a useful feature---they allow small children to enter the van without having to pull the handle, they open with a click so you don't have to let go of your...

The camshaft position, or CMP, sensor on your Buick is located on the front side of the engine near the timing chain. Depending on your particular vehicle, you might need to look under the power...

A compressor is the part of an air conditioner that compacts the fluid to give it more energy. If the compressor is malfunctioning, it reduces the A/C's performance. If you must replace the...

Most vehicles manufactured in the late 20th century came with disc-style front braking systems, which include a caliper, rotor and pads. Any of these parts can wear out and require replacement....

The Ford Taurus is a popular vehicle. However, there are problems specific to the Taurus, such as peculiar noises and quirks, which are the result of poor manufacturing processes that went into...

Like most major automakers, Ford Motor Company offers a basic warranty on all new cars its sells. In addition, Ford offers buyers a series of additional warranty plans, known as extended service...

Removing the cylinder head from a Dodge Caravan engine is professional-level work. This should not be attempted by anyone other than a skilled mechanic. There are several engine parts you must...

A bad ignition switch will make it nearly impossible to start your GM vehicle. If you must remove the ignition switch, remember that the exact process can vary due to the large number of GM...

A Jeep Cherokee uses an electric fan as an auxiliary fan for engine cooling and for cooling the air conditioning condenser when the air conditioning is in operation. A radiator temperature-sensing...

With the advent of today's halogen headlights, and the complex shape of the headlight covers permitted with them, replacing an entire lens has become a very expensive proposition. This is why...

Expanded metal comes in many different shapes and forms, but no matter which one it is, it can be awkward and difficult to cut. There are some easy ways to cut expanded metal correctly, but it...

The water pump is the heart of your engine's cooling system. It is this pump that sends coolant through the radiator and into the engine block, where it works to keep the engine at the optimal...

Ford engine coolant temperature sensors, or ECTs, are devices designed to measure the temperature of the liquid coolant passing through the Ford engine block. In this way, the vehicle can get some...

The Ford C6 transmission was essentially an upgraded version of the C4, Ford's base three-speed auto. The C6 used heavier-duty components to handle the additional torque of larger engines, and the...

Converting your vehicle to an electric fan system has several benefits. For one, removing the fan that's mounted on the engine reduces parasitic drag and can increase horsepower. Also, the fans...

The cigarette lighter on a 2000 Chevrolet Impala is used not only as a lighter but also to operate other 12-volt devices. The lighter has larger-gauge wire and a higher-amperage fuse, which can be...

When adjusting bearings on a trailer, or any vehicle, the bearings should be packed well first. There should be a grease seal on the inside the hub that seals against the spindle. When the...