Auto Repair

Is your car using too much oil? How to do some tests to find the reason. Learn about common leak sources and prevention.

The techniques here give you the ultimate level of control over your naturally aspirated car's performance, allowing ease of future modding.

Do it yourself (DIY) replacement of the timing belt, water pump, and oil seals on the 4-cylinder Toyota Camry and similar cars, with photos, lists of tools, and parts recommendations.

Proper maintenance helps prolong the useful years of your car. I’ll tell you how I'm keeping my old car running as good as new with little cost for upkeep.

If your steering wheel vibrates or your car shakes while driving at highway speed, find out why. Don't spend money unnecessarily on an alignment or other services that won't fix this problem.

Check for cooling fan problems using this simple guide and tips.

Test your vehicle catalytic converter in your own garage.

Tires are a huge expense for car owners, but before you purchase discount tires, consider their speed ratings. Find out how to avoid uneven tread with cheap tires.

How to drain and replace the ATF on your Camry, or flush the ATF if necessary. Includes videos of flushing the ATF with and without the help of a 12-volt oil pump.

How to tell if your MAP sensor is bad and how to test it in your garage.

Common faults that cause a "Reduced Engine Power" message, and what to do about them.

The 7-speed DSG has made many improvements over the older 6-speed variant, but it's not without its problems.

Complete description of Case backhoe hydraulic cylinder repairs, rebuilding, and replacement, with step-by-step photos to guide you through the process.

How to replace the timing belt and pulley yourself on the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Spectra. Step-by-step instructions, plenty of photos, and a video!

Diagnose alternator and charging system problems with this practical guide to get your car back on the road faster.

A malfunctioning sensor can cause performance problems, turn on the "Check Engine Light" and fail an emission test. Testing a sensor is usually done with a DVOM. Test the ECT, TPS and pressure sensors

Diagnose a water pump failure faster with these three simple step-by-step methods.

Eight ways your car radiator can cause your engine to overheat, plus troubleshooting tips.

If your engine won't turn over, this guide will help you find the most common—and not so common—problem sources.

Fluid leaking from a car could mean immediate repairs are needed, or it could be something totally normal. In this article, you will learn how to identify the leak and figure out what, if anything, needs to be done about it.

Install a car thermostat replacement in minutes without causing coolant leaks, damage to components, or engine overheating.

How to do a timing belt replacement for the Toyota V6 Camry, Avalon, Solara, Sienna, HIghlander, Lexus ES300 and Lexus RX300. Video instruction, lots of photos, and step-by-step instructions.

The charging system consists of the alternator and the batteries. The alternator's task is to keep the batteries charged and produce enough amperage to run the vehicle.

Here are the most likely reasons for bad clutch performance, a noisy clutch, or strange behavior by the clutch pedal. Look for your symptoms here.

The power steering pump must be the easiest part to replace in the 1989 Chevy. It's easy to reach, an easy process, and so rewarding!

The classic 1989 Chevy Dually employs a braking system consisting of disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the rear. The drum brakes are a little more complex than they are on today's models. Let's go over that system here.

Diagnose the most common problems with your car's starting system without special equipment or knowledge, based on the symptoms described here.

Diagnose clutch drag and follow some simple steps that may help you correct clutch operation.

If you recognize one or more of these symptoms, have a look into your camshaft position sensor before it gets you in trouble.

Performance car enthusiasts have been asking this question for years and continue to ask it. Both are great engines that offer subtle trade-offs over the other. Understand which one is right for you.

Testing spark plug wires to solve power loss, trouble starting, increase in gas consumption and other performance issues.

Simple, easy-to-understand, proven methods on how to earn the highest salary as an automotive technician without stealing from the customer.

Though old news, 6-speed DSG transmissions are still on the road in many vehicles. So let's look at some of the more common problems you might encounter with yours.

Find out why your car battery discharges by applying these simple tests at home.

If the oil bypass valve on your oil filter housing breaks, you can replace it yourself with an aftermarket part rather than have the entire oil cooler housing replaced.

Diagnose engine backfires with this guide and prevent potentially serious engine damage.

DIY how-to instructions, with photos, for replacing the head gasket, timing belt, water pump and radiator on a Honda Accord. The repair pictured here was done on a Honda F23 2.3L I4 engine, the engine also used in the '98-'99 Acura CL, '98 Odyssey, and '98-'99 Oasis.

In this article, you'll find step-by-step instructions for a Toyota or Lexus Fuel Pump replacement with photos. There are no special tools required, and it's relatively safe, easy, and not too time consuming. The OEM fuel pump provider for Toyota and Lexus is Denso.

Clean and replace the throttle body for VW and Audi 1.8T engines to cure rough idle and carbon build-up.

How to replace a clogged fuel filter and clean the throttle body on a Camry.

Does your engine crank, but won't start? This guide tells you where to begin your diagnostic and what to do next.

If your engine fires and coughs after it's been turned off, this guide helps you target the different systems and components you should pay attention to.

How to test your alternator's voltage regulator to avoid replacing components unnecessarily.

Use a car battery hydrometer on a dead car battery or suspected bad car battery to learn its state of charge and health in minutes.

Having problems with your car's thermostat? This article shows you how to check your thermostat in a few minutes without removing it from your car.

Batteries are the heart of the electrical system on cars, trucks and boats. The battery is a storage unit that converts chemical energy into electrical voltage. Problems can effect the entire vehicle.

Troubleshoot your potentially bad brake booster by using the simple tests in this guide to save time and money.

In this article, we'll discuss how a variable displacement compressor automatically adjusts its capacity by adjusting its piston displacement, and how such an adjustment is being controlled.

Common brake problems, such as a soft brake pedal, pulling to one side while braking, or vibration while braking can have serious implications for your car's health (and your health, in turn!). Learn more about the most common brake issues and their solutions, here.

How to replace the radiator on your Toyota Camry. No special tools required. Plenty of photos and step-by-step instructions.

Ten possible events that can trigger a "check engine" light in a Honda. Read the ten questions here; they will give you useful information that will help your mechanic diagnose the problem quickly.

Sources of engine rough idle problems and related symptoms for a faster diagnosis and repair.

Brake fluid leaks: learn how to find a leak in the brake system before it's too late.

Of all the faults the ZF 6HP automatic transmission can throw at you, the E Clutch fault is by far the hardest to determine the cause of.

I discovered how to avoid expensive car repair bills when the "check engine light" is on. If it’s a catalytic converter warning, try my low-cost solution first before going to a mechanic.

Voltage-drop test your charging system circuit before condemning your alternator.

Learn how to test a fuel pressure regulator to save money and time in car repairs.

The starter uses the battery and battery cables to provide the power to crank over the engine. The starting system can be tested to find a slow-crank or no-crank problem.

This guide helps you diagnose turn signal problems when one or more of the signal lights refuses to work.

The important function of a working PCV valve, how it works, signs that it's failing, and how to test.

Water leaking into a car can lead to mold, corrosion, computer issues, and bad smells. Water can leak into your passenger compartment from outside or inside the car, often from the windshield.

Tips and precautions to use when replacing your brake pads, so you can get quality results on a Honda or any other vehicle.

DIY (Do it yourself) Toyota MZFE V6 Fuel Injector Replacement. Detailed instructions with plenty of step by step photos. Replacement method can be used in the Camry, Avalon, Sienna, ES300 & RX300.

DIY instructions for cleaning or replacing the MAF (mass airflow) sensor in a VW Jetta, Golf, GTI, Passat, New Beetle, A4. Included are step-by-step pictures, part numbers, and tools required for the job.

Troubleshoot an inductive or Hall effect type crankshaft position (CKP) sensor using a digital multimeter.

Diagnose and fix common vehicle charging system problems using a few tools and this guide.

Check the main causes of low engine oil pressure and know how to troubleshoot your car's oil pressure.

How to replace worn rear suspension struts and springs on your Camry. Video included.

There are a few types of transmission you might find in your vehicle; here are the differences between them.

When your brake lights don't work, apply these simple diagnostic tests.

Why should you wash your car regularly? It matters to the life of the car, as well as the resale value.

Do-it-yourself Front Wheel Drive (FWD) wheel bearing replacement for most Toyotas and many other cars. Lots of photos, and details about tools needed.

Test the throttle position sensor in a few minutes using a digital multimeter.

This guide will show you how to use a digital multimeter, hydrometer, and other simple tools to troubleshoot, inspect, and clean your battery if necessary.

If you smell gas inside your car, your first guess might be that there's a fuel leak, but here are five other very common reasons you might smell fuel.

Match these common symptoms to your possible manual transmission issues for a faster diagnosis.

AC systems remove heat and moisture using refrigerants such as R134a in a closed system. The pressurized refrigerant boils after a pressure drop using the heat from the cabin of the vehicle.

In this article I'll go through the two different types of check engine light and whether you need to pull over immediately or keep driving. I'll also discuss common reasons and how you might be able to fix it yourself (even if you know nothing about cars).

In this article, I will explain the most common reason for a slipping automatic transmission and the most common reason for a slipping standard transmission. What's more, I'll teach you to fix it in either case.

When your engine starts but stops, concentrate your diagnostic efforts on those systems or components most likely to cause the failure.

Basic electrical knowledge applies to so many vehical components: batteries, starters, alternators, lighting, sensors, actuators, AC systems, electric windows, and computer systems.

Find that parasitic battery drain that's causing your car battery problems whether you have a newer or older vehicle model.

Automatic transmissions need love too. Why and when should you service yours?

What do you do if your brakes are squeaking? Is it safe to drive, or do you need to stop right away? We'll show you how to fix this squeaky brake problem.

How to replace front-end strut mounts (and struts) on the '97–'01 Toyota Camry, with a video. Plus other causes of front-end noise.

This guide shows you how to locate, remove, and clean your exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve on Renault Trafic, Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, and Nissan Primastar vans. Cleaning helps your diesel engine run smoothly and it's possible to bypass the valve to increase performance, and economy.

Automatic transmissions are great to drive... when they're working well. Let's look at what to do when they're not.

How to troubleshoot a mass airflow sensor in a few simple steps, what to look for, and how to interpret your results.

This article will explore signs and symptoms of a bad heater core in your car, from fog and drips to funny smells in the cabin, no heat in the cabin, or the engine overheating.

How to replace the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and guide pulleys on the 2005-2015 Honda V6 Pilot, 2004 Acura TL (same as Accord) with a video showing the repair performed on a 12' Pilot and another on a 04' Acura TL.

Find and fix a vacuum leak in your car in a few simple steps using simple tools.

How to test your vehicle yourself to investigate common and not-so-common reasons for a sluggish engine.

If you are like the millions of people electing to drive their cars beyond the 100,000 mile mark, it would be wise of you to invest the money into getting the proper maintenance needed that this integral moment in your car's life.

Were you told you need an $800 catalytic converter because your check engine light is on with code P0420? I’ll describe a low-cost alternative you can try first.

DIY Toyota I4 (5SFE) engine oil-leak repair. Plenty of photos and step-by-step repair instructions.

The GM 5L40-E is a popular transmission, but it is not without its faults. Here are some of the most common ones.

If your brakes squeak and you want to know why, maybe I can help! Here are four common brake squeaks plus a bonus scraping noise; compare these situations to yours. Questions are welcome.

In this article, I will explain step-by-step how to replace a water coolant outlet (sometimes called a coolant air bleeder) on a 2006 to 2009 Dodge Charger with a 2.7L engine. This guide does not cover the RT, SRT, and SXT trims.

How to remove and replace the driver's-side CV axle shaft and seal on most Toyota Camrys. Detailed instructions and plenty of photos. No special tools required.

Check your fuel pump relay — and other automotive relays — in minutes using three different simple methods.