Automedia.com - CarCare - Repair Articles

Steering Rack Replacement

The easiest way to think about rack-and-pinion steering is as two gears. One round. One flat. The round gear is called the pinion and is connected to the end of the steering wheel shaft. As the steering wheel turns, so does the pinion gear. The flat gear is called the rack. As the pinion turns, the rack travels either left or right. The front wheels are connected to the rack by way of tie-rods and steering knuckles. The rack and pinion are enclosed in a housing and mounted to the chassis. It’s the miracle of steering!..

Rear Drum Brake Diagnosis

This particular weekend started with a call from a pal who had a vexing problem. His usually trustworthy and freewheeling Toyota pickup truck had rear wheels that refused to turn. The pickup truck was a basic Eighties model with even more basic drum brakes out back. Running through possible problems and finding solutions is what we were going to do on this given Saturday. Freeing the rear wheels to return to their usually rolling selves should be basic, or so we thought...

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

An engine that's burning oil spews obvious signs and signals. Clouds of smoke at startup or when getting on and off the throttle visually show where that quart of oil every 500 miles is going. If the dipstick is reading low and there's no sign of oil smoke, suspect an oil leak. While the source of oil leaks can be hard to locate, a common and relatively easy to repair source of oil leaks is from where the valve cover meets the cylinder head. If oil is going missing and the area around and under the valve cover is soaked then it could be time to replace the valve cover gasket...

Engine Rehab

Rebuilt is a relative term. This is especially true when used in conjunction with the word engine. On the low side of an engine rebuild is a can of motor honey poured into the crankcase and a set of crossed fingers behind the salesman who hopes the rod knock will go away just long enough to get the car off the lot. Legitimate rebuilt engines are in reality remanufactured. Engine teardown and inspection is followed by machine work. Every part is returned to original or better-than-factory tolerances. The process essentially brings an engine back to new. The middle ground is anywhere in between the motor honey and remanufacture, and why the phrase 'rebuilt engine' holds broad meaning. The catch is that determining if the engine needs a complete rebuild or will benefit from a freshen-up only becomes apparent with the engine out of the car and apart...

Door Panel Removal

There are a great number of reasons to remove an interior door panel in a car or truck. At the core of the problem is something behind the panel either broken or in need of upgrade. Electric window motors sometimes go kaput. Window registers can skip off their track. Weather strips can stop fighting the elements. Factory door mount audio speakers can sound better with an upgrade. A ding or dent may require convincing via its backside. The list of reasons can go on and on, but the task at hand is always the same. Remove the door panel to access and repair the problem at hand...

4x4 Hub Swap

A few of the great reasons to own a 4x4 truck, SUV or Jeep-type vehicle are practicality, a sense of self-sufficiency and the confidence to explore remote roads or venture outdoors in inclement weather...

Adding Seat Covers

Seat covers can be both functional and aesthetic. Some of us have only owned vehicles whose drivers' seats are reminiscent of the "birth" scene in Alien: padding and springs bursting through the upholstery. The more-upscale motorist might be interested in kid- or pet-proofing the upholstery in their new minivan or SUV, so seat covers can both hide the old and protect the new...

Affordable Exhaust Manifold Swap

Historically, most cars and trucks have used cast-iron exhaust manifolds to scavenge spent gasses from the engine's cylinder heads. The rationale: Cast iron has good thermal properties, so such items such as spark plug wires can be routed closer to it than to other materials which expel more heat. Also, cast-iron manifolds are apparently cost-effective to produce in mass quantities...

Aiming Headlights

How many times have we all been blinded by an oncoming vehicle and flickered our high beams, only to have the other driver melt our corneas by responding with their brights? The conclusion: Those low beams are jacked up (both literally and figuratively)...

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting I

Even though it's stifling-hot inside your vehicle, you know that relief is just a twist of a key, a push of a switch, and a few blocks of driving away. Except that this time, something is amiss: Only hot air is coming out of the dash vents—or no air at all. So now, besides the discomfort you're feeling, you're also anxious over the thought of a visit to the repair shop...

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Part II

When your car's air conditioning blows hot instead of cold, you should start by checking out the controls of the Air Management System on the dash, as covered in Part 1 of this article. If that doesn't do the trick, the next step is to look under the hood at the Refrigerant Cycling System. Before you do anything, though, take a look at a service manual for your car, not only for information on how the system works, but also specifics involving its pressure and temperature control features. The manual can tell you both procedures to follow and how far you can go with the basic testing that we're going to discuss. It will also inform you of the hazards and safety precautions when working on the system...

Air-Line Controller

Here's the symptom: When you start your mid-'90s or newer Toyota 4-cylinder car, the engine starts okay, but the idle speed is extremely low. You might even have to keep your foot on the accelerator pedal for a minute or so, just to keep it from stalling. The check engine M.I.L. is not illuminated and, when the engine warms up, all seems to be normal, or at least a bit better. Perhaps the idle compensation function—a noticeable idle speed boost when the transmission is put into "D" or "R," or the A/C is turned on—is not spot-on either, but the cold-running problem is getting really irritating. For a relatively quick fix, here's the lowdown on the low-down idle for this common Toyota engine and many others similar to it...

Align It Yourself

Most people think that wheel alignment is best left to the professionals. This is true in many respects, but some alignment specs are easy to check yourself, and toe is one aspect of alignment that can be checked at home. This can come in handy after replacing steering or suspension components so that the vehicle won't be wildly out of adjustment for the trip to the alignment shop, or at the very least provide a better understanding of the alignment process...

Aluminum Wheel Repair

The typical American use-it-up-then-toss-it-out mentality makes us overlook a lot of things that can indeed be repaired rather than replaced. In fact, most people probably don't know that aluminum wheels fall into the repairable category. Whether you want your wheel(s) rebuilt because a new one is really expensive or you simply have a soft spot for a wheel that's no longer available is irrelevant...

Auto-Trans Rear Seal Replacement

Automatic transmissions are one of the least self-serviceable components on a vehicle. The complexity of these transmission's internal parts requires specialized knowledge to rebuild them. However, a few auto-trans woes can be cured at home...

Automatic Transmission Maintenance

Like the human body, your vehicle runs on fluids: gas, engine oil, lubricants and the lesser-known transmission fluid. Without a sufficient supply of all the above, your vehicle can come to a grinding halt or, worse yet, a vital and expensive component completely dies...

Automatic Transmission Service

Vehicles' vital fluids normally perform two important functions: lubricating and cleaning. As the fluid circulates through the parts, it gathers the dirt and metal shavings that can accumulate over time. If you're lucky, this debris will settle on the bottom of the pan or housing and not circulate through the system...

Automotive Gauge Selection

Installing aftermarket gauges can give you an eagle's eye view into what's going on deep inside your vehicle. Monitoring your engine's oil pressure, coolant temperature, and keeping tabs on your charging system can alert you to conditions before damage or breakdown occurs. For the performance enthusiast, a vehicle's interior seems naked without proper gauges, and no racecar hits the track without an array of gauges...

Automotive Wire Splicing

Sometimes you'll find a certain make and year of vehicle with a common problem that warrants a specific article, which covers both the cause and proper fix. In this case, we'll focus on a potentially baffling drivability symptom on the Hi-Lux pickup and 4Runner dating back to the mid-'80s. This malfunction typically appears on higher mileage, off-roaded (in the wet) and/or frequently "steam-cleaned" examples of these otherwise fine machines...

Auxiliary Horn Install

Silly little bolt-on. Silly little part. Silly little truck. There was a set of angry Hella horns sitting in the garage that had come off another car during its previous life. Coincidentally, there was a cute little trucklet sitting in the driveway with a set of wussie OEM horns what's freeway presence would benefit from some anger in its voice. Seemed like an easy project to entertain an evening drinking beer with friends in the garage. Now repeat: You got your chocolate in my peanut butter...

Basic Auto-Body Repair

Whether your daily driver is a used vehicle that came with its own set of dings and scratches, or you've just suffered the first assault of an errant shopping cart on a new auto, don't worry. Repairing minor body damage is neither a difficult nor intimidating task. With the help of conventional workshop tools (such as a sander and an electric drill) along with a little elbow grease and some common supplies from your local auto parts shop, these scratches and dings can all disappear...

Battery Replacement

Needless to say, if you don't have a powerful battery residing in today's electricity-dependent automobile (42-volt systems are right around the corner), your car becomes a large, curb-hogging paperweight. Proper care (topping off electrolyte levels with distilled water, making sure terminals aren't corroded) can extend battery life to as much as five years, although harsh climates can cut that figure in half. Today, modern electronics incrementally drain a battery non-stop, even when your car is sitting in the garage; if you've parked your car at the airport for a week and had a moment of anxiety firing it up when you return, this is why. Vibration, wacky alternators delivering too much or too little of a charge, or plain old abusive behavior will lead to premature battery death as well...

Belt-Less Water Pump Replacement

The stereotypical water pump has a fan attached to its snout. The engine's accessory-belt system spins a pulley, which in turn rotates the pump's impeller to circulate coolant through the engine...

Blower Fan Repair

It can slowly creep up, intensifying with each passing day, or hit from seemingly out of nowhere. It can be barely noticeable, easily ignored, or so hugely annoying that you don't even want to turn it on. It can be characterized by an alarming shake at high operating speeds, and sound like a garbage disposal chewing through an errant utensil...

Brake Boost

To achieve big power, it's basically a given that high-performance cars run a radical camshaft. Trouble is, many hot rodders think more about the go rather than the slow. So when they're ramming around town with a performance grind on your bumpstick, they may encounter a problem with stopping if their rod relies on a factory-style, vacuum-powered brake assist unit. This system can present a substantial problem with braking at low engine rpm, due to an inadequate vacuum supply to the brake booster because of the cam's extreme lobe shape. On top of that, other areas of the car, such as automatic transmissions and A/C systems, also need vacuum, which then takes it away from the brake system...

Brake Noise

You're cruising toward a column of cars waiting at a stoplight. You apply your brakes and are then rewarded with a sound that, like fingernails on a chalkboard, raises goose bumps on your neck—and maybe the blood pressure of the driver in front of you. Sound familiar?..

Brake Shoe Replacement

Whoever said that people are only interested in bad news was obviously thinking more about newspaper sales than the maintenance of their own personal motor vehicle. Back in the beginning of the twentieth century, during the very infancy of the automobile, F. Peter Dunne observed, "One man's news is another man's troubles." I'm not sure if he was thinking of the automobile when he made that statement, but it certainly is true—it's a whole different story when the troubles are yours!..

Bulb and Lamp Replacement

Even though the activity has been at the core of many jokes, changing a light bulb at home is by most accounts a fairly painless experience. Switch goes to off. A ladder or similar comes out. Out screws the old bulb, and in with the new. Presto! The procedure is largely the same when it comes to automobiles, with the main difference being the different types of light bulbs involved. While tripping over the cat might be the result of a burned out kitchen bulb, staying afoot of automotive bulbs is of vital importance for safe driving. More modern vehicles will tell you when a bulb or lamp has burned out, and even when it's time to file taxes, or mow the lawn. Older vehicles require the driver to occasionally inspect bulb and lamp condition...

Buying a Battery

Automobile batteries will usually last as long as they're supposed to unless neglected. If your car came to you new off the lot then there is no mystery involved in when and what kind of battery to choose when the time comes. The battery under the hood of that mint condition 1991 Dodge Colt Vista Wagon you just picked up off eBay may be of more uncertain origin. Worse is that your car might not even have the right battery for it. New car or used, the best time to choose and buy a new battery is before the one presently under the hood gives up all together...

Camber Caster Toe Adjustment

A suspension alignment is one of those automotive maintenance chores that most of us put off until a set of tires worn to unusable tells us it's already too late. Bringing the three key alignment measurements into the numbers specified by the manufacturer can prevent expensive tire replacement bills, and vastly improve vehicle handling, braking, and safety...

Car Painting Tips

Remember that old refrain about being "Young enough to repaint, but old enough to sell"? If your vehicle falls into the former category—or even the latter—applying a fresh coat of paint can truly transform that faded finish into a good-as-new look. The decision isn't so much IF you should paint, but HOW. Should go the custom route or just take your vehicle to one of those production paint shops?..

Catalytic Converter Replacement

To car enthusiasts, catalytic converters are often viewed as a government conspiracy to limit horsepower. This is because catalytic converters are the least-understood emissions-system component. In reality, the "cat" performs a vital function: converting many toxic byproducts of internal combustion into harmless carbon dioxide and water vapor...

Changing Motor Mounts

THUNK upon acceleration can be unnerving. It can also foreshadow an expensive fix if not diagnosed and corrected before serious damage is done...

Classic Master Cylinder Rebuild

There is no black magic involved in rebuilding a master cylinder. They are simple hydraulic pumps and come in single- and dual-chamber configurations. Many Detroit vehicles equipped with manual or power drum brakes through the mid-Sixties have a single-chamber master. When disc brakes were introduced around that time, dual-chamber master cylinders were required: one chamber for the front brakes and one for the rear...

Clutch Replacement

Think of the clutch as a switch between your engine and the transmission. Every time you press on the clutch pedal, you turn the switch off, and no engine power gets to the transmission. Light goes off. When you let the pedal back out, the switch turns back on and away you go. Light goes on. If you let the clutch pedal halfway out, the clutch transmits roughly half the engine power to the transmission and acts more like a dimmer switch...

Clutch Replacement - How to fix or repair

For the average auto owner, farming out major repairs is usually wise. Sure, saving on labor charges can be enticing, but hidden costs often undermine good intentions. (As a worst-case scenario, one emergency-room trip can make any at-home auto repair extremely non-worthwhile.) Besides, most shops offer some kind of warranty on their work, so the car owner has some recourse should the repair fail within a specified length of time. (Parts-failure warranties can be denied if the manufacturer deems that they were improperly installed by a do-it-yourselfer.)..

Clutch Replacement - How to fix or repair

Computer Chip Upgrade

In the good old days, car buffs could fiddle with their carburetors, make a few adjustments and end up with improved performance. The power increases focused on the enthusiast's particular application, ranging from outrunning the other guy's Camaro or heavy-duty hauling for a functional pick-up truck...

Cool Tools: The Advanced

If you've read other "Cool Tools" articles about the different types of tools, you'll be familiar with a variety of basic hand tools and some simple diagnostic ones. Here we address some more advanced equipment for electronic testing. Beginning mechanics shouldn't be put off by that lofty-sounding description, since the following tools have been selected for their usefulness, ease of operation, and low cost...

Cool Tools: The Basics

For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. Now, if you've ever experienced the automotive equivalent of this old saw (or wrench, if you prefer), then you know that for want of the right tool, a repair job can turn into a pain in the knuckles...

Cool Tools: The Diagnostics

Having covered some practical hand tools in earlier "Cool Tools" articles for repair and maintenance of your vehicle, we now can scope a few simple diagnostic tools. In spite of the fact that vehicles are getting more and more complicated, all of these test tools can still be used to great effect on even the newest of passenger cars and light trucks. So, even if the manufacturers aren't exactly keeping it simple, you still can...

Cool Tools: The Specialized

In "Cool Tools: The Basics," we addressed some necessary tools that make a wide range of jobs go much faster and easier. Now we'll move on to tools with a more narrow purpose. While these tools may not be very versatile outside of their specifically intended use, they are extremely good at doing what they do, and will save you time and collateral damage by the bucket...

Cooling System Diagnosis

An overheating car can make anyone hot under the collar. The old cliché "heat kills" especially applies to engines: high temperatures make hoses and gaskets brittle, can cause cylinder heads to distort, and create other unhappy problems. Granted, some heat is needed during start-up to burn off condensation that accumulates while the vehicle isn't running (which explains thermostats, EGR valves, and such). But once the vehicle is warmed up, excessive heat becomes the engine's archrival...

Cooling System Flush

Draining and filling your cooling system used to be a whole lot simpler. Back in the early days of ethylene glycol coolant/antifreeze, all you had to do was reach for the drain petcock at the bottom of the all-metal radiator and let it dribble into the drain pan. Then you refilled the radiator with a fresh 50/50 mix of coolant and water until you could see it at the "Full" line embossed into the radiator tank. After tightening down the radiator cap, off you went, with nary a need for a second look at your work. Try that procedure on a modern passenger car or truck today and you will likely end up with an abbreviated drive and maybe a "cooked" engine to go along with it!..

Custom Fit Performance Spark Plug Wires

The concept behind high performance spark plug wires is simple. A stronger current to the plugs helps them to make a hotter spark, and burn the fuel-air mixture inside the cylinders more completely. A better burn means more power, smoother idle, and can even bring along a bit more mileage thanks to an increase in efficiency...

CV Joint Axle Replacement

For many years, the much-ballyhooed invention of the wheel has overshadowed the most likely, near-simultaneous invention of an equally important modern innovation: the axle. Without the axle, the wheel would not do anyone much good. Rocks can roll as well and, while this may be great for music, it's not very useful for transportation purposes...

CV Rehab

Front-wheel-drive vehicles transfer the power from the transmission to the wheels through drive axle assemblies. These drive axles have constant-velocity (CV) joints at each end. The joints are protected by rubber boots whose purpose is to keep contaminants out and lubricant in. Cracks or tears in the boot can lead to CV joint failure, as can normal wear and tear. Signs of worn or damaged CV joints include lubricant leaks, clicking sounds during turning, clunks during acceleration or abrupt deceleration and frontend vibrations...

Dash Painting

Even if your car's interior isn't showing signs of age, one of the most cost-effective and dramatic enhancements you can make is to paint the dash. We don't mean just slopping on a few coats of paint with a brush or trying to mask off the stereo and A/C vents and get silly with a spray can. The process is fairly involved and may require a pro, depending on your tools and level of experience. Here's an overview of what's required, using a Lexus IS 300 as an example...

Dent Repair

As anyone who has gotten into a fender bender knows, there's nothing inexpensive or quick about well done automotive paint and bodywork. Professional paint and bodywork is something best left to professionals. The materials and equipment required to reproduce a factory finish are beyond the scope and the budget of most do-it-yourselfers. That said, a $3,000 repair bill for a car that's worth $500 doesn't add up. Sometimes pulling or hammering out a dent and painting the word "ouch" on the fender are all that's required to restore function and utility...

Distributor Cap Replacement

In automobiles, most plastic parts have finite lives. The distributor cap is a prime example of a component that eventually succumbs to heat and vibration. But even if its plastic housing hasn't broken or cracked, carbon deposits and eroded metal terminals can cause distributor-cap failure...

Distributor Rotor Replacement

Technology often improves performance and efficiency. Automotive ignitions received a notable technological advance in the Seventies when "points" type systems began giving way to more-modern electronic ignitions. Before then, many grizzled old-timers were local legends for their points "twiddling" skills. These spark masters would file the ignition points to remove carbon buildups, expertly set the point gap, adjust the dwell through a slide-up door in the distributor cap and perform others acts of black science that sent the spark to the plug at precisely the time the fuel arrived. As a result, engine "miss" was cured...

Do-It-Yourself Bedliner

Everyone who uses their pickup bed realizes the value of protecting the box against dings. For years, the only solutions were drop-in plastic bedliners or cut-your-own rubberized mats. The main drawback to plastic liners is that they trap moisture, which encourages rust. Mat-style liners protect the floor, but don't do much for the sides...

Electric Cooling Fan Install

It's no secret that engine accessories rob your engine of horsepower. Ever notice how the idle slows slightly when your air conditioning kicks on? That's because it's siphoning off power to operate the system...

Eliminate Rattles

Perhaps one of the most annoying problems you'll find in a vehicle is a nuisance noise. While not necessarily a hazard, that irksome rattle or squeak can drive you batty on even a short trip. Maybe you figure you can live with those auditory interruptions—just turn up the volume on your sound system and forget about it. Or, you can figure out how to track them down and eliminate them. If you have mischievous small children, or you purchased your vehicle used, you might be surprised at what you'll find behind the A/C vents...

Engine Bay Billet

It's been said that the last five-percent of a project vehicle is the hardest. That may or may not be true—it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If you're just adding some trim pieces to the engine bay, then it's icing on the cake. For an interior dress-up, things can get a bit more complicated...

Engine Gasket Replacement

Composite and silicone gaskets seal metal-to-metal surfaces in today's engines. Plenums, carburetors, head covers, valve covers, exhaust systems and oil pans all use gaskets to match surfaces perfectly, control air and fluid pressure and to prevent leaks. Composite gaskets are just that—a variety of materials (cork, paper, rubber, felt) combined together and designed for specific applications. A gasket sealant or adhesive usually aids their assembly and function. Silicone (or formed-in-place) gaskets are created from a special compound that is applied directly to the parts in question and is allowed to cure in place...

Engine Swap: An Overview

It's probably one of the worst mechanical scenarios you could imagine: your late-model vehicle has just suffered a catastrophic engine failure, and since it wasn't a warranty-related problem, you'll have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Even though you may not know the exact cause, it will help to determine the problem since that will help you decide exactly which repair option is best...

Engine Swap: Tips and Tricks

Once you understand the basics of what's involved when replacing an engine, whether or not you've decided to go ahead with the project, here are some tips and tricks to help you with the actual mechanical procedure...

Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valves Explained

Under certain temperature conditions inside a running engine, nitrogen and oxygen combine to form sky-darkening nasties known as nitrogen oxides, or NOx. These compounds combine with other tailpipe crud known as hydrocarbons and, presto, smog—the kind of air that can be seen. One way to help an engine reduce these smog-forming gases is to recirculate spent exhaust back into the engine by way of the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system...

Exhaust Manifold Gasket Replacement

Few things are as annoying as the incessant sputtering of an automobile exhaust leak. Worse, the leak is often difficult to locate and sometimes only heard during hard acceleration, which makes it all but impossible to find while the vehicle is stationary. Fortunately, knowing a few simple tricks will help you quickly identify and correct problem areas...

Exterior Trim Renewal

A variety of car-care products are available to restore and protect painted finishes against the effects of oxidation, ozone and other atmospheric contaminants. However, waxes and polishes can actually create problems when they're over-applied onto plastic bumper covers and other non-metal trim pieces. Trim renewal products are formulated to cut through errant wax and other surface contaminants...

Fan Upgrade

An internal combustion engine needs three precious ingredients to create power: air, fuel and spark. On the path to more power, the automotive performance enthusiast will endeavor to squeeze more air, fuel and spark into the engine in order to get more power back out of it. More power is always welcome, but as with any performance modification there is always a tradeoff. As anyone who has thrown a few more logs on a fire knows, the more fuel, air and spark added to any combustion situation, the more heat produced...

Finding a Good Mechanic

So how's your car running? At the moment, everything's just fine, right? Then this is the perfect time to find yourself and your wheels a good mechanic...

Front End Rehab

The myriad parts that comprise the steering system of an automobile are often referred to collectively as the front end. This phrase is often uttered by your mechanic directly before the word 'rebuild' then followed by a large repair bill or estimate. When and if you regain consciousness after the heart palpitations, visions of budget tightening measures, and your mechanic waterskiing across a lake behind a shiny new boat, you will surely be thinking, "I can do this myself, and save money!" This statement may or may not be true. Rebuilding a front end is a difficult but not impossible task for the do-it-yourselfer...

Fuel Filter Replacement

With practically every new car on the road today powered by fuel injection, keeping the fuel system clean is more critical than ever. A tiny grain of dirt can clog injectors, leading to erratic performance and lousy gas mileage. Changing your fuel filter every 10,000 miles or so will guard against contaminants that can cause engine damage and burn out the fuel pump. (As always, check your owner's manual for recommended maintenance schedules and procedures.)..

Fuel Filter Swap

Back in the days of carburetors and mechanical fuel pumps, changing out the fuel filter was a simple affair. A sharp knife or scissors, a few hose clamps, a foot or so of fuel line, and a new fuel filter took care of things for ten thousand miles or so...

Fuel Pump Replacement

An engine needs fuel to run. Since fuel is flammable and generally explosive, it is kept in a tank a safe distance away from the explosions going on inside the engine. This presents the problem of how to get the fuel from the tank to the carburetor or fuel injection system that feeds the engine the fuel. Employing gravity would be the simplest, but driving around with 30 gallons of fuel above the vehicle would not do much for handling, or safety. Enter the fuel pump...

Fuse Replacement

The electrical system in your vehicle is something you never think about until something goes wrong. Wipers stop wiping. Blowers stop blowing. Mirrors stop adjusting. Then what? Any number of things could cause an electrical component to fail, but if something that was working fine quits suddenly, suspect a blown fuse. The good news is replacing a fuse is something you can easily do...

Gear Shift Tightening

Is that manual transmission in your front-engine/rear-drive import requiring a lot more movement than you care to expend in order to select a gear? For instance, are you ramming your fist into the radio controls to find 1st and 3rd gears? And also committing what might be interpreted as an act of aggression on your front-seat passenger's left thigh when engaging Reverse? Unless this is somehow working to your benefit, you might consider the following simple repair...

Getting Windows Back on Track

We take windows for granted when they work properly. Once they come off their rollers and derail from their tracks, though, our tunes change. Bad weather and bad guys looking to get into your vehicle are just two reasons to repair non-rolling windows...

Grille Replacement

Auto manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve fuel economy. One solution is to use lightweight materials, so many parts that used to be made of metal are now manufactured in plastics. The compromises here are often durability and aesthetics...

Hatchback and Hood Lift Repair

If the hatchback or hood of your vehicle isn't holding up its end of the bargain anymore, it may be time to replace those tired old lift supports. Using broomsticks, baseball bats, old family photo albums, emergency roadside kits, spare tires, or some other makeshift support in place of factory engineered equipment is a head injury waiting to happen. You may not think much about it, but the materials that comprise the hatchback or hood are heavy. Real heavy. All that steel, glass, insulation, wiper motor, rubber trim, lock mechanisms and whatever can add up to a couple hundred pounds in a hurry, and are the absolute last thing you need to knock you on the noggin while attempting to retrieve that errant pint of ice cream that rolled out of the grocery bag. The lift supports work in much the same way as shock absorbers, and like shock absorbers they eventually wear out and lose their lift...

Hatchback Rattle Repair

As your ride ages, small things wear out and generate far more angst than their worth should justify. As the owner of an oft-driven '92 Mustang GT that has seen more than 150,000 ticks on the clock, I can attest to the general deterioration of the little things that must be kept up with. There is a part named Steve, which will wear out on the Fox-body Mustang. It is the hatchback receiver post (called striker assembly PN F1ZZ-61404A42-A on our 'Stang) which is engaged by the lock mechanism mounted on the hatch lid itself. If this glorified bolt becomes maladjusted or defective, the hatch may not close properly...

Head Gasket Basics

Understanding why a relatively inexpensive head gasket costs so much to replace means first realizing what it sits between. In the engine block are pistons that travel up and down in cylinder bores. The pistons are connected to rods, which in turn are connected to a spinning crankshaft from which the vehicle takes its power. Bolted to the top of the engine is the cylinder head. Inside the cylinder head are valves that open and close to let air and fuel into the cylinders and expel the spent exhaust gas...

Headlight Bulb Upgrade

Unless you're driving a high-end luxury car or sport-utility that is factory-equipped with the latest in lighting technology, your vehicle can probably benefit from an easy headlight bulb upgrade. Nothing enhances night driving safety more than better vision. Several headlight bulb manufacturers offer replacement bulbs that will significantly improve your vehicle's lights. Best of all, you can do it yourself in about 15 minutes for under $100...

Headlight Replacement

Oddly enough, many of us will drive with a non-illuminating headlight for weeks—until someone alerts us. (With any luck, it won't be a person wearing a badge.) There's no reason for this: most headlights are relatively simple to replace...

Headlight Types and Functions

Drive through the countryside on any given night and you'll see a circus of lighting variations. You'll encounter good, old-fashioned stock headlamps with their yellow blur, pinpoint blue-white lights on high-end imports, and pick-ups with lights hanging off every available surface. What's the deal?..

Heater Care

The eternal optimist in all of us anticipates that a simple flip of the heater switch on that first really cold, blustery day of winter means that our vehicle will instantly be as warm and cozy as the toasty home we just left...

How to Change a Flat Tire

Picture this: You're in a sporty little car that has just suffered a flat tire. You've pulled safely out of traffic, turned on your flashers and found the pieces of your jack system. You weren't too good at Rubik's Cube, and the collection of metal you've just retrieved doesn't look any less complicated. All you really have to do, assuming there's any traffic at all, is stand there with tire iron in hand and look confused. In no time, somebody will surely stop to help...

Ignition Timing Adjustment

Regardless of make or model, basic automotive engine maintenance is generally divided into four categories: lubrication, fuel, intake/exhaust, and ignition. Most do-it-yourself enthusiasts have no trouble with routine oil changes or air filter replacements, but giving your ignition system a tune up is a little more technical and is often met with some apprehension. It is true that some specialized electronic gadgetry is required, but the equipment usually costs less than a single trip to the local mechanic and will become a welcome addition to your automotive tool arsenal. You'll need a timing light (available at nearly any auto parts store), a tachometer (if your vehicle's instrument panel doesn't already have one), and a small selection of basic hand tools...

Inexpensive Wheel Upgrade

Not long ago 16- and 17-inch tall wheels were found only on exotic cars. Today, minivans have 17s as standard equipment. Also, many spend thousands to replace perfectly good 16s and 17s with 18-, 19-, 20-inch and taller wheels. This expensive trend has spawned a cottage financial industry to loan money for wheel purchases: Maybe it's God's way of saying you can't afford to be that stylish...

Inspect, Replace and Repack Wheel Bearings

Every wheel on every vehicle spins around thanks to smaller wheel bearings. The bearings themselves contain rollers that spin around inside a cage to bear the load of the vehicle on the axles. The rollers are often tapered, or angled, against the cones in which they spin in order to handle the immense loads placed against the wheels when turning right or left. With proper care and lubrication, most wheel bearings should roll down the highway for over 100,000 miles with no complaints...

Installing Auxiliary Lights

You've just selected a set of nifty auxiliary lights for your 4x4 or sport compact car. Now, where do you put them, and what's the best approach to installation?..

Installing Tire Chains

Tire chains can approximately double your vehicle's starting and stopping traction on snow and ice. For this reason, many states that have mountainous roads require chains to be installed during low-traction conditions. (Chains are illegal in some states because of the damage they can inflict on bare pavement.)..

Interior Upgrades

In another story, we tackled the easy stuff first: dress-up items for the engine bay. Now we're ready to move on to something a bit more challenging—the interior...

Isolating and replacing problematic relays

Coursing through the copper, inside a myriad maze of wires stuffed into the nooks and crannies of the modern automobile is the electricity required to run primary systems such as the starter motor, and secondary gadgets, like heated rear view mirrors. Since different levels of electrical power are required for running some devices over others, the automobile incorporates a relatively old-school electromechanical device to activate more modern innovations...

Jack Safety

While the scissor jack in your trunk is fine for emergency wheel changes, when it comes time to working underneath your vehicle a floor jack and two or more sturdy jack stands are the tools for the job. A heavy-duty floor jack used in conjunction with jack stands will provide safe vehicle support. Never work under a vehicle supported by a jack alone...

Jump Starting a Dead Battery

Many people would rather call for roadside assistance than lift their own hoods. The rest of us know how valuable time is and know we can be back on the road in less time than it takes for assistance to arrive. Particularly when the problem is a dead battery, jump-starting it yourself can be more efficient than waiting for help...

Leather Preservation

As anyone who's ever been to Palm Springs realizes, skin preservation is big business. Chemical peels, Botox, moisturizers and wrinkle creams are apparently making a lot of dermatologists and washed-up-actresses-turned-infomercial-hostesses a lot of money. But, just as your skin needs care and moisture, so does your leather upholstery...

Maintaining and Recharging Your AC

Despite what you may have read on the Internet, or heard from certain late night AM radio hosts, there is no secret government agenda to make us all run banana oil or mind control serum cleverly disguised as refrigerant in our automotive air conditioner systems...

Malfunction Indicator Lamps

My, how times have changed. Back in the days when leaded fuel was sold at "service stations," as they were quaintly called, motorists had to be concerned with only a few warning lights that each monitored the condition of an important vehicle system. Colorfully dubbed "idiot lights" by the gauge-reading contingent, these did little more than indicate it was time to get your car off the road as soon as possible. Today's instrument panels, however, display a Christmas tree of warning lights that provide a wealth of information (some might say too much). Question is, what do those lights all mean? Are life, limb, and property at risk if you continue to operate your vehicle? And isn't it going to take a lot more than an idiot to interpret them all?..

Mirrors and Towing

Towing a trailer can be a challenge. With the added length and width of a trailer behind your tow vehicle, there's a lot to keep track of so having adequate mirrors is essential. Without them, your chances of running into trouble increase greatly. The problem is, the outside mirrors that come standard on your vehicle often are not satisfactory for towing because they usually don't allow you to see around and beside your trailer...

New Twist on Taillamp Replacement

Although most newer vehicles use push-in style bulbs for the tail, signal and running lamps, there are still a few equipped with the push/twist type metal socket bulbs, and innumerable older models sport the same setup...

New Wheel Attire

No single vehicle modification is as popular or as immediate as changing your wheels and tires. It's often the first thing people notice when they check out a customized ride—or the only thing that makes them notice it at all...

No-Toil Oil Check

Of all the fluids in your vehicle, one is absolutely crucial to the survival of your engine—oil. A thin layer of oil molecules rides between every surface inside your engine. These molecules lubricate surfaces and prevent heat-producing friction from destroying your engine in short order. Keeping an eye on your engine oil level is not only important—it's easy!..

Oil Change 101

The American drive-through mentality is a boon to the quick-lube industry. After all, we can sometimes get our fast-food fix and car's oil changed during our lunch hour. Convenience comes at a price, though...

Oil Change for Beginners

With various oil change franchises from coast-to-coast offering oil-and-filter jobs for cut-rate prices, it's getting tougher to rationalize changing your vehicle's oil yourself as a way to save money. So, if you get dirty and grimy, you don't necessarily save any money, and when you're through you have to find someplace to get rid of the old oil, why bother?..

Oil-Pan Gasket Replacement

Puddles of oil on the ground beneath your car's engine are annoying. For the lucky few, the source can be a loose oil-pan drain plug, a dipstick tube that's come unseated from the engine block or an oil filter that's either not screwed down or has a cracked gasket...

Organizing your Garage

In every well-fed garage there is a surplus of chemicals clogging the shelves. The "That could work!," the "This might help," some "I thought you'd like it!," and a selection of "What the heck" will, in an active or post-active garage of any serviceable standard, indubitably inhabit one or two shelves and a box or three. We are not to ask ourselves "Why—" but "How," and never "Should I—," but "What if!—"..

Oxygen Sensor Replacement

Tune-ups aren't what they used to be but, in a sense, that's good. These days, one of the few things that needs to be replaced on a regular basis in a late model vehicle is the oxygen sensor. Putting in a fresh oxygen sensor is easy, not unlike changing a spark plug, although it may be a bit harder to get to in some cases...

Paint Chip Repair Advice

Chips happen. No matter how carefully we choose our parking spots or how far behind rock-spewing trucks we drive, no vehicle is immune from the occasional paint chip. Although repairs don't require going to an auto body shop, we're not going to fool you into thinking paint touch-ups are a breeze. The basics are simple, but they require patience and finesse. Think of the process as both a skill and a character builder, and you'll get through it easier...

Pattern Failure: Crankshaft Pulley

The term "pattern failure" literally means a failure along a pattern, i.e. a similar and repeatable failure both in time and nature. Many of the typical auto parts failures discussed in my car-care articles are of a design-specific nature. That is, certain part designs tend to fail along a pattern, irrespective of vehicle make and model...

PCV Valve

Countless explosions occur every minute your engine runs. While the good majority of this internal combustion is confined to the combustion chambers, a small amount of the controlled explosion sneaks by the piston rings and creates blow-by gases inside the engine crankcase. These combustion by-products must be vented away for proper engine operation...

Pedal Cover Replacement

Driving a motorized vehicle in the modern world commands the utmost attention. Even though we often take driving for granted, it is actually a perilous activity. Ever changing road conditions. Never ending obstacles. Attention grabbing electronic devices. Traffic! With all the action unfolding before your eyes and in your hands, it's easy to forget the constant fancy footwork going on out of sight, under the dash...

Performance Brakes

If the time has come for you to R&R the brakes on your car, stop and think. How much can you improve the performance of the original setup? Will substituting high-performance aftermarket parts for the factory-replacement pieces make a big difference?..

Plus Sizing Rims

Imelda Marcos isn't the only one who knows that fashion begins at the ground and works its way upward. The automotive equivalent of Imelda's obsession is "plus-sizing," the practice of upgrading to tires that take taller-than-stock wheels. In culinary terms, the diameter of the donut doesn't change, the hole just gets larger...

Power Steering Box Replacement

Unless you drive a car or truck equipped with rack-and-pinion steering, there's a good chance your vehicle utilizes a frame-mounted powering steering gearbox. Durable and relatively simple in design, these steering boxes (or "steering gears" as they're often called) multiply driver input and generate an impressive amount of force with which to steer your vehicle. Though they lack the precise feel of a modern rack-and-pinion assembly, the basic mechanical design of the steering box has been used since the turn of the century and is found under countless domestic and imported cars and trucks. These mechanisms eventually wear out, however, and require adjustment or complete replacement. The difficulty of either task depends greatly on the amount of engine compartment space available, despite the relatively simple work involved...

Precision Sport Shifter Install

To the driving enthusiast, there's simply nothing better than rowing through the gears on a standard transmission. Whether it's a heel-and-toe downshift into a corner or an up-shift after the apex, getting the right gear is what it's all about when it comes to true performance driving—a satisfying click, a foot on the gas, and a smile on your face...

Professional Windshield Install

While doing things yourself can provide the satisfying experience of a job well done, sometimes the financial outlay in tools, materials, and time do not add up to any savings over having a professional install performed. In the case of an automotive windshield install, this can be particularly true. When it comes time to replace a modern automobile windshield there's more to consider than just seeing clearly...

Radiator Flush

Most motorists know it's recommended that our vehicle's oil should be changed about every 3,000 miles. Drivers are less educated, however, about proper intervals for their vehicle's other vital fluids. For the cooling system, antifreeze manufacturers recommend changing the coolant once a year, and some service manuals stipulate flushing and refilling the radiator every 24 months, regardless of mileage...

Radiator Leak Repair

Engine coolant takes away the heat produced by internal combustion. The radiator channels the heat away from the coolant in order to keep the metal parts that make up the engine from turning into a useless cracked and molten lump. Passages inside the radiator are connected to fins, which wick away heat from the coolant and send it away from the engine compartment. Hot coolant meanders its way from the engine into the labyrinth of channels and passages inside the radiator, and then returns to the engine considerably cooler through the miracle of heat transfer...

Ramping Up to Under-Car Fun

When it's time to change the oil or flush the radiator in your car the usual drill is to bust out the big old heavy jack and jack stands and do the whole pump it up, balance it out, and lower it back down onto the jackstands procedure. For serious automotive monkey wrenching tasks such as brake, suspension, or drivetrain work, a jack and jackstands (or even an overhead hydraulic rack) is the only way to go...

Rearview Mirror Attachment

The adhesive that holds rearview mirrors to windshield glass can lose its gripping power over time—especially if the mirror gets bumped. Aside from the obvious safety compromises, driving without a rearview mirror can encourage the men in blue to turn on their cherries for a closer look-see. Fortunately, you can re-glue the mirror to the windshield by spending a couple bucks and a half-hour or less...

Remanufactured Engine Basics

No engine, despite what often-repeated tall tales and infomercials would have us believe, runs forever. Even the best of engines will eventually wear out. The engine under your hood is comprised of a great number of precisely machined moving parts that work together under brutal conditions to harness the power of internal combustion. If your engine's get-up-and-go has got up and went, or folks call the fire department because of the cloud of smoke emitting from your old bucket, it may be time to consider a remanufactured replacement engine...

Removing Window Tint

When old window tint starts to bubble, the glass looks like it has malignant melanoma. Light splotches disbursed over dark tint give the car that urban-beater attitude—whether that's your intent or not...

Replacement Rotors

To get an idea of how the rotors and brake pads work on your vehicle, grab a paper plate and spin it on your finger. As it spins grab it with your other hand. It stops instantly. The spinning plate is your rotor and your fingers and thumb are the brake pads. If the plate was spinning an awful lot faster and you tried to grab it, your hand and the plate would get hot in the process from the friction created. The energy of the spinning paper plate is converted into heat by the process of the hand grab. Not that you could actually spin the plate that fast, but you get the idea...

Replacing Axle Seals

As much as you try to ignore it, that pesky spot of oil on the driveway isn't getting any smaller. Sure, you can put a tray of some sort under the car, use cat litter, or some type of space age polymers to sop up the drips. You can even try parking in a different spot, but the oil will keep on dripping. While oil spots on the driveway are certainly a nuisance, the fact that the oil is no longer in the engine crankcase or transmission can pose a real problem for your transmission and your budget...

Replacing Balljoints

As people as diverse as Liz Taylor and Eddie Van Halen can attest, joints wear out. In cars, ball-in-socket joints degrade over time (similar to their human counterparts). Lack of lubrication and dirt inside moving parts will accelerate the demise of a vehicle's joints...

Replacing Brake Shoes

Brakes are a vehicle's most important part. They probably have the toughest job: stopping thousands of pounds of metal, plastic, flesh and bone that can travel at high speeds...

Replacing Disc Brake Pads

Poll most professional drivers/racers about a car's most important system and many will vote for brakes without hesitation (so to speak). Steering is also toward the top of the list, but without good brakes, driving at speed can be a kamikaze mission waiting to happen...

Replacing Engine Mounts

Next time you put your foot to the floor to accelerate away from a stop, or motor on up an on-ramp, take a second to fully appreciate what's happening. All the power created by the miracle of internal combustion going on inside the engine is smoothly making it's way to the ground without the vehicle rattling itself apart from vibration, or the engine twisting its way through the hood. Despite the engine's best efforts to twist itself out of the engine compartment, the process of acceleration is largely uneventful thanks to the system of engine mounts holding the powerplant firmly in place...

Replacing Fuses

Electrical problems can present one of the biggest troubleshooting challenges in automobiles. Unlike flat tires or other easily visible problems, electrical shortcomings can be tough to track down...

Replacing Mechanical Fuel Pumps

Fuel pumps fall into two camps: electrical and mechanical. Contemporary autos, being fuel injected and subject to complicated electronic engine management controls, use electric fuel pumps. Generally, these are manufactured to last the lifetime of the vehicle—which is not to say that professional mechanics don't have occasion to change them. Clogged fuel filters cause back pressure that can burn the pumps out, and if you stop to think about where all that crud in the fuel filter has been, you'd quickly sympathize with a pump's plight. Electric pumps also tend to be located in remote places—such as inside the fuel tank—so if replacement is needed, take the vehicle into the shop...

Replacing Rotors

Servicing disc brakes is normally a lot easier than working on drums. Rotors and calipers have fewer, larger parts than the average drum-brake system, so the average-skilled do-it-yourselfer can usually perform routine disc maintenance...

Replacing Shock Absorbers

Ah, the miracle of the modern automobile. Turn the key and within seconds thousands of pounds of technology assembled from parts made all over the world is rolling down the road unabated, as if gliding on an invisible cushion of air. The tires, suspension, springs, and shock absorbers are all seamlessly engineered provide a smooth and predictable ride. The shock absorber is at the heart of the suspension. The obvious benefit of a shock absorber is that—working together with the springs—the shocks soak up the bumps and deliver a smooth ride. Without the shocks the car would flail about wildly on the springs...

Replacing Spark Plugs

For many, replacing spark plugs is an exercise ripe with nostalgia, recalling their first experience with engine maintenance as they helped mom or dad check the plug gap on the family's chariot...

Replacing Starters Solenoids

One of life's great ironies is that you generally don't know you need to replace your starter or solenoid until you've already gone through the trouble of checking out your battery and cables for wear and corrosion, and perhaps having the battery charged. Such a clean up is a good idea before beginning a starter replacement. Vehicles that have starter-mounted solenoids should have the solenoid replaced as well...

Replacing Window Door Glass

Life is full of ups and downs, but—when it comes to your vehicle's windows—that's a very good thing. Unless the glass is altogether gone .....

Ride Height Adjustment Effects

You probably don't think much about your bumpers, at least not until you hit something. There's another reason, though, to keep them in mind, especially if you drive a light truck. Pickup owners often put extra demands on their vehicles, such as towing, hauling, off-road exploration, and so forth. That's why we upgrade them with aftermarket parts. However, when doing so, it's important to keep the domino effect in mind...

Roadside Diesel Repair

Economy and reliability are great reasons to own a heavy-duty diesel 4x4, so even when the conditions are bad it's easy to feel a bit over-confident when driving an old reliable diesel-powered truck. Compared to a computer-controlled gasoline engine with its electronic spark ignition system, a mechanically injected diesel is downright simple. The lack of a distributor, wires, spark plugs and some sort of electronic control means that you have considerably fewer parts to fail. Then what makes a diesel decide not to run?..

Rust Prevention

The joys of winter also bring along a lot of ice and snow-melting salt poured onto the roadways of the states that comprise what is known as the rust belt. While salt is an inexpensive and effective way to keep the roadways free of slippery winter buildup, the chemicals work their way up into the chassis of vehicles and promote the insidious destroyer of iron and steel known as rust...

Scratch Repair

Unless your driving habits keep you away from the public at large, sooner or later your pride and joy will sport scratches. Face it—we're obsessed with appearance. Still, many people choose to live with scratches. Big mistake. The car body is no different from the human skin—when damaged, it's exposed to the elements and, left unprotected, it will start to fester (except for fiberglass or plastic panels, which will just look bad)...

Scratch-Buffing

Although most of us claim that our aim is true, sometimes the car key doesn't make it into the lock on the first lunge. Tiny hairline scratches are the unfortunate result. Over time, these failed attempts at unlocking doors and trunks can make the surrounding areas look like the corners of Joan Rivers' eyes...

Seat Belt Replacement

Buckling up your seatbelt can save your life. Thankfully we have moved on beyond the point where this is a topic of public argument. The evolution of seatbelts as standard automobile equipment has without question made motoring a safer experience. Seatbelts were first installed in passenger vehicles in the Fifties as optional equipment. By the mid-Sixties lap belts were standard issue. The 3-point lap and shoulder belt became the standard issue moving into the Seventies, and is the seatbelt we know today. While the lap and shoulder harness seatbelt in a passenger vehicle should in theory last as long as the car itself, sometimes this is not the case...

Selecting a Battery

What's the best battery? Ask a dozen different experts and you'll receive a dozen different answers. Some will simply recommend a DieHard. Others swear by immobilized-cell, no-maintenance models. Still others might advocate using the same make and model that's already in the vehicle in hopes of the battery being covered under warranty...

Sensor Troubleshooting: Idle Air Control Valve

As we've mentioned in other articles, many of us freak out when the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light illuminates on our car's instrument panel. Most people don't realize that many computer-recognized problems are faulty emissions-system sensors. You don't have to be a professional mechanic or have a degree in electrical engineering to diagnose and fix sensor problems, especially in older vehicles (i.e., ones that have outgrown their warranties). One component that falls into this category is the Idle Air Control (IAC) valve...

Sensor Troubleshooting: Intake Air Temp

The Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light strikes fear in the stomachs of even the most jaded drivers. Humans seem to have an inherent fear of electricity, and we assume that any computer-related malfunction will be expensive. However, many at-home tests can help vehicle owners narrow down the problem and decide whether or not to tackle it themselves...

Sensor Troubleshooting: Manifold Absolute Pressure

We provided an overview of Check Engine/Service Engine Soon "idiot light" warnings and how to decipher their corresponding trouble codes in the IAT/MAT sensor story elsewhere on this site. Another engine monitor that can be checked and replaced by virtually anyone who has basic hand tools, a scanner to retrieve engine trouble codes, a service manual for their vehicle and a digital voltmeter is the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor...

Serpentine Belt Replacement

With all the increasing complexity under the hoods of today's vehicles, it's heartening to see a component that actually decreases it: the serpentine accessory belt, along with its self-adjusting tensioner...

Servicing Wheel Bearings

Re-packing wheel bearings isn't nearly as bad as getting a lower GI, but it isn't most people's idea of a good time either. Bearings make the wheels go 'round and 'round, and lack of lubrication will cause their rollers to whine. To expound on the old cliché, if the squeaky wheel's bearing(s) don't get the grease, it'll eventually seize, kind of like pistons in an engine that doesn't have oil...

Simple Bumper Scuff Repair

You've been out running errands and, upon returning to your car in the parking lot, you discover that somebody has "kissed" the bumper of your car, leaving an ugly scrape. The perpetrator is nowhere in sight, and an insurance claim isn't feasible since your deductible is higher than the cost of the repair. The size of that ding, though, is way larger than a touch-up brush could handle, so your only option is to use some rattle-can spray paint to cover it up...

Slave Cylinder Replacement

Manual transmissions' popularity is dwindling. For daily commuting in stop-and-go traffic, automatics are a lot easier on the legs and brain—not to mention that less driving skill is required to operate them...

Spark Plug Diagnosis

In times past, one of the easiest maintenance items on a vehicle was checking and changing the spark plugs. That was before engine compartments became shrouded in emission's tubing and computerized sensors. If you're lucky enough to have an automobile where the plugs are relatively easy to reach, take advantage of it. That's because they offer telltale indications of what's going on in the combustion chamber and the internal health of your engine...

Spark Plug Hole Thread Repair

Theoretically, routine spark plug replacement should be a simple task. Crank out the old plug, thread in a new one, and you're done. Fiendish engine gremlins often work against you though, and can turn an easy job into a hand-wringing nightmare. Debris can build up in the threads on the end of the plug, or an overzealous mechanic may have previously cross-threaded the plug. Either way, there's a good chance the abused plug will take out the soft aluminum threads in your cylinder head as the plug is removed. It's not necessarily the ruin of the engine, however, as several spark-plug-hole thread-repair kits are available at nearly any auto parts store. With the right kit and a few hours, the damage can usually be repaired without even removing the cylinder head...

Spark Plug Wire Replacement

Time was when your mechanic tuned up your vehicle you could often get the plug wires installed just for the additional price of the parts, since it only took a couple of extra minutes. And the parts were so inexpensive that many people opted to have the wires changed at every tune-up (15,000- to 30,000-mile intervals). Nowadays ignition tune-ups are less frequently required (60,000 to 100,000 miles), so changing the plug wires might occur less frequently. That's probably a good thing, though, because spark plug wires are now a bit trickier to install and a good quality set can be somewhat costly. But you'd expect them to cost more, wouldn't you, since the wires are built to last longer?..

Spark Plugs

Pity the poor spark plug. It lives in a hole, gets hit with a high voltage shock thousands of times every minute, and has to endure searing heat from explosions. The spark plug has the tough but important job keeping the power producing combustion inside your engine alive and well, for without spark there is no flame. Because the spark plug has to stand up to high voltage and extreme temperatures it is important they are replaced at regular intervals...

Steering Wheel Shifter Redecoration

Air bags are certainly wonderful safety innovations in today's cars and trucks. Their only drawback is that most airbag steering wheels are basically ugly—style is sacrificed for function...

Sunroof Rebuild

How do you rebuild a sunroof? It's much like the omnipresent necessity of any other mechanical part of your car, with moving and non-moving parts that require service with use. This is much like any equipment or device, really—maintain or die...

Suspension Alignment

Sway Bar End Link Repair

The term "pattern failure" literally means a failure along a pattern, that is, similar and repeatable failures both in time and nature...

THE ABCs of EGR

Unless your vehicle fails an exhaust emissions test due to a high NOx reading, you probably haven't needed to know much about your vehicle's EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system. That's fine—you have enough to worry about already, right? Still, it's a vital component so it's important to understand how it works, which might help when making repairs to restore its function...

THE ABCs of EGR Part II

In part one of this feature on the EGR system, we covered both the development and the basic theory behind its operation. Now we'll get into some important information you'll need to know in order to identify and service your car's vacuum-operated EGR system. (As noted previously, electronic systems are another matter better left to a service pro.)..

Throttle Body Injection Rebuild

The first automobiles metered their mixtures of air and fuel into the engine by way of crude devices called spray carburetors. These devices looked very much like perfume spray bottles. As time has marched on, the carburetor has become much more sophisticated, but as air density varies based on temperature and altitude, the carburetor is still limited in efficiency by the inflexibility of its own mechanical design...

Throttle Position Sensor Adjustment

Although there are literally dozens of sensors that provide critical data to the engine management computer of a modern, fuel-injected engine, few are actually adjustable, or can be affected by adjustments of related components. The throttle position sensor, often referred to as the TP sensor or TPS, is one of these rare devices...

Tire Changing

Thanks to roadside assistance, most auto club members and/or new car buyers will probably never have to change a tire themselves. After all, it's cleaner and easier to dial the cell phone and call for help...

Tires: Your Biggest Bang for the Buck

Except for the driver, tires are the single most important performance component on your car. A tire upgrade will produce the biggest bang for your car-modifying bucks...

Trick Tool for Paint Preservation

The maintenance of automotive paint is an ongoing process. When ignored, saving that same paint can be an uphill battle. To avoid the endless cycle of neglect and repair, maintain the vehicle's finish from the start. A core staple of your paint-maintenance practices should be cleaning with a clay bar...

Troubleshooting by Feel

Learning how to effectively use your sense of touch can help you to identify a problem early, determine at least a basic idea of its severity and/or origin, and know what to communicate to your service professional. It's important to realize that in many cases, the sense of touch may be the only means you have of gathering information about a problem during its early stages, when it's not an immediate hazard, and usually much less expensive to repair...

Troubleshooting by Sight

Did you know that cars talk to you? No, we don't mean those electronic voices that tell you the door is ajar, but by non-verbal communication. Your car speaks in a variety of ways that an observant owner can easily interpret—if you pay attention. This article is the first of a four-part series covering the use of human senses (sight, sound, smell, and hearing) to identify effects and causes of common vehicle problems. (With one exception: we'll have to leave use of the sense of taste or lack thereof to those tossing caution to the wind!)..

Troubleshooting by Smell

In our first article, we established that your car "talks" to you in a variety of ways, and covered how to use your sense of sight to diagnose mechanical problems. Now how about smelling your car? It's no secret that vehicles produce a rich variety of aromas. Rather than dismissing them as unpleasant or annoying, they may be telling you something important about your car's condition. As with the article about the sense of sight, we are primarily concerned with smells emanating from under the hood, with emphasis on identifying fluid leakage. We will also cover various causes for under-car odors, as well as exhaust and braking system odors...

Troubleshooting by Sound

To help identify various vehicle problems, we've already covered the senses of sight and smell. Now it's time to listen up, and hear what your car may be saying to you. There is generally only one correct interpretation of the sounds your vehicle emits, and getting it correct can save you time and money. Identifying mechanical sounds takes training and practice. It's not always easy to hear the difference between, say, a failing wheel bearing and an irregularly worn tire, or normal intermittent brake noise versus worn pads going metal-to-metal. Which noises are potentially dangerous, and which could wait until you can set up an appointment with your mechanic? And, just how can you pinpoint the location of a particular sound, anyway?..

U-Joint Replacement

If you're lucky enough to have the rear set or all of the wheels providing the motion to get your vehicle going then you may already know about u-joints. The u in u-joint stands for universal. According to the sixth definition of the word universal from Webster himself, this means universal as in being adaptable to many sizes or mechanical uses, or in this case—universal rotation...

Upgrading Factory Brakes

If the time has come for you to replace the brakes on your car or truck, stop and think. How much can you improve the performance of the original setup? Will substituting high-performance aftermarket parts for the factory-replacement pieces make a big difference?..

Upper Ball Joint Service

Typically, a pickle fork is used to separate ball joints from the steering knuckle/spindle on any car. Unfortunately, the combination of a pickle fork, a heavy hammer and too many blows can destroy the dust boot around the ball joint. This isn't a problem on older vehicles. (GM is one manufacturer that offers replacement dust boots for these cars and trucks.) However, original-equipment upper ball joints on many newer cars such as the current Camaro are sealed, which means that they're unserviceable. If you should tear the upper OEM dust boot, then the entire ball joint must be replaced...

Using a Clay Bar on Automotive Paint

Wash your car and look closely at the paint surface. Run your finger across it. If this finish is anything less than pristine, you're going to notice things with your finger. Things on the paint surface that aren't visible but still there, stuck to it, embedded, adhered to the paint in a fashion that keeps these particles from being removed by a typical washing...

Vehicle Repair Safety

Combat, you say? Aren't we exaggerating a bit here about the potential dangers of car care? Not when you consider that, even for what professionals refer to as "light duty" repair work (such as an oil and filter change), life, limb and property are under threat...

Vehicle Repair Safety

In our first installment on car-repair safety, we focused on the person doing the repairs, both their mindset and proper apparel. Now we'll get down to the nitty-gritty list of flagrant, bone-headed, and all too common car-repair mistakes. What makes these errors especially egregious is that people who call themselves professionals committed them! We encourage you to use your powers of perception to conjure up the appropriate disaster scenario in each case...

Vintage Diesel Car Care, Part 1

All the recent attention given to alternative fuel vehicles has piqued interest in diesel-powered passenger vehicles. Their higher fuel efficiency has rekindled a desire in many drivers to join the "Church of the Lakka-Lakka-Lakka." Or perhaps you already own a vehicle powered by one of Rudolph Diesel's progeny. Either way, you probably would like to be able to make a quick evaluation of the engine, even with its legendary reputation for reliability...

Vintage Diesel Car Care, Part 2

Part one of these articles about evaluating diesel engines ended by discussing the principles and the importance of performing an informal compression test. Let's now move on to how that's actually done, and then let's look at some additional tests and inspections which can show a complete picture of the state of the engine in the vehicle you are considering for purchase (or perhaps currently own)...

Waking Up from Hibernation

Sooner or later, chances are that the "classic car" bug will bite, and you may succumb to the allure of owning an older car. Yet often the "classic" in question is not a fully restored and sorted-out "turnkey" vehicle. More likely, it was somebody's faithful daily driver for years, now shelved in favor of a late-model vehicle or simply retired (along with that "somebody's" driving privilege). In other cases, perhaps the vehicle was parked with a promise of restoration that wasn't fulfilled, and is now just taking up space—and you want to make a deal on this neglected conveyance...

Wandering Woes?

Not having your vehicle go where you direct it is disconcerting, to say the least. On urban freeways or expressways, where higher speeds and close quarters prevail, this problem can be undeniably scary. A common cause for vehicle "wandering," along with other symptoms related to some sort of imprecision traceable to the steering system, is often the steering idler arm. Other symptoms include a "pull" to one side, noise while turning, or noticeably irregular tire wear...

Water Pump Replacement

You don't have to be a Brainiac to realize that a properly operating water pump is key to your engine's survival. Shaft leaks or a wobbly, loose and/or noisy hub indicate that a replacement is needed. Similar woes can also plague fan clutches, where excessive fore/aft play or simple non-operation are replacement indicators. Both units keep operating temperatures under control and prevent boiling fluids from blowing through cylinder head gaskets...

Wheel Repair and Straightening

For as long as there have been wheels on automobiles, there have also been nefarious forces at work, trying to dent, scrape, bend, and damage them. You and your vehicle face many obstacles on the road. Sometimes, despite your best efforts to avoid them, these obstacles will present themselves as unexpected dents, dings, and scuffs. A slam, clunk, or crack often comes more as an unexpected surprise than anything even remotely anticipated...

Window Chip Repair

With the amount of bugs, rain, sleet, hail and all manner of other airborne debris out on the roadways, the windshield of any vehicle has a tough task. The glass in automotive windshields is actually a laminate of one or more layers of glass together with a tough yet flexible plastic to protect against shattering in the case of impact...

Windshield Chip Repair

According to professional repairers, approximately 75% of damaged windshields can be repaired instead of replaced. This is encouraging news, especially when considering that any windshield damage that obstructs the driver's view is illegal...

Windshield Squirters Repair

As bad weather approaches in many parts of the country, having operational windshield squirters becomes a vital safety concern. People in snow country are well aware of how blinding dirty-snow residue can be on windshields while driving into the sun early or late in the day. A simple flick of the squirter can make the difference between getting home safely (i.e., the fluid and wipers clean the windshield) or crashing into something as a result of temporary blindness...

Winter Tires

One of the most common motoring misconceptions: Many drivers think that an M+S (mud and snow) rating stamped on their tires' sidewalls assures decent traction in sloppy conditions. Granted, more-aggressive tread patterns such as those on all-terrain or even mud-terrain truck tires can offer better bad-weather traction compared to pavement-friendly skins, but tire manufacturers actually engineer tires for specific low-grip conditions...