Auto Repair

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

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.

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

How to do a cooling system check to find the source of leaks, overheating, and overcooling problems.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

This collection of repairs for Honda Harmony lawnmower transmissions is growing monthly. If your Harmony transmission has a problem, we probably have the solution!

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

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

AC system diagnosis can be done by feeling the lines for the correct temperature/ pressure relationship. With gauges hooked up, the pressures can be measured and then diagnosed.

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

Although the auto space is becoming more diverse, it is still predominated by men. Navigating car repairs as a woman can be intimidating especially if you do not know a lot about cars. This tutorial will help you shop smarter for auto repairs.

Automatic transmissions are getting more and more clever, but how do they work?

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Distributor replacement and timing adjustment step-by-step.

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.

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

Do-it-yourself replacement (with video!) of the front end of the Honda CRV: the front suspension strut, lower ball joint, control arm, and sway bar/stabilizer bar link.

This article provides you step-by-step instructions for replacing the upper strut mount and the stabilizer link on a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The repair method can also be applied to the Honda Pilot and the Acura MDX.

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

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.

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

Find the source of valve train noises and other symptoms using this simple guide.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Test your vehicle catalytic converter in your own garage.

How to replace the door glass, door glass guide, window regulator and window motor on a Camry. No special tools required. Most parts can be obtained from a salvage yard and transferred to your car.

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.

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

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

Three common brake noises I encounter every day: a grinding sound, a thumping from the rear, and a squeak. Includes a repair technique for noisy drum brakes that I found by trial and error.

Very simple do-it-yourself instructions for replacing the valve cover gasket on Volkswagen 2.0L AEG engines to help seal vacuum and oil leaks. Includes Jetta, Golf, and GTI.

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!

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

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.

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.

Diagnosing simple fuel pump problems is within the reach of the average car owner. Use this guide to get your car back on the road faster.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Know your engine. A simple guide to what's under the hood of your car with maintenance tips and pictures. Try the quiz at the end to see what you learned.

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

DIY Toyota Camry tuneup, plus PCV valve cleaning. Use iridium plugs for better fuel economy and performance. Also, if you notice an oil leak inside the spark plug tube, I have a video showing you how to fix it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Clutch slippage symptoms, causes and a simple test.

Diagnose a potential seized engine and possible repairs.

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

Find out whether your car's temperature gauge is working right, discovering key symptoms and applying a few simple tests.

Do a cooling system flush to remove rust, scale and other contaminants from the radiator and engine and prevent clogging and overheating.

Identifying the type of noise and when it happens can help you diagnose your transmission problem.

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

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

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.

Diagnose why your car dies while driving or at idle by looking at specific symptoms.

Computer systems operate and monitor almost every system on our vehicle today. Sensors and switches are used for inputs to the computer. Output devices are solenoids, relays, lights, and injectors.

Mice, rats and other rodents can do surprising damage to your car engine and other automotive parts. How do you keep them out of your vehicle?

The average automotive hobbyist can do a passable DIY seat repair to prevent further damage. My technique depends on whether the rip borders on a seam or not.

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

How to replace the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and guide pulleys on the 2005-2015 Honda Pilot, with a video showing the repair performed on a 2012 Pilot.

Is your engine hesitating during acceleration? Get to the source of the problem with this guide.

If your vehicle pulls to one side when braking, check these common sources of trouble.

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

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.

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

Brake fluid replacement is an important part of routine vehicle maintenance, yet it is often overlooked or ignored by owners. This article explains why replacing brake fluid is important and how ignoring this inexpensive job can result in expensive and avoidable repairs in years to come.

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.

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.

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

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

Learn how to check an oxygen sensor and eliminate hit-and-miss repairs using a digital multimeter.

There are common reasons for knocking noises in your car when driving over bumps, large and small. I will cover the five most common ones we see every day and explain how to check the components' integrity and condition.

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

The "check engine" light is your warning system for engine and control-emission problems. Understanding what makes this light go on or flash can save you thousands of dollars in repairs.

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

Recognizing symptoms of a bad EGR valve will help you troubleshoot potential problems sooner and restore engine performance faster.

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

Learn how to recover and recharge an AC system, including a review of compressors, condensers, evaporators, accumulators, receiver driers, H-blocks, orifice tubes, and lines.

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