How to remove and replace the fuel filter to help with rough idle, lack of performance or low fuel pressure. For VW MKIV, Jetta, GTI, and Audi A4.
If you recognize one or more of these symptoms, have a look into your camshaft position sensor before it gets you in trouble.
If your engine won't turn over, this guide helps you find the most common—and not so common—problem sources.
Find that parasitic battery drain that's causing your car battery problems whether you have a newer or older vehicle model.
Learn how coolant loss happens, where to look for the leak, and what tests you can do at home to find the leak source faster.
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.
What are the best spark plugs for your car? Can platinum or iridium breed new life into your engine? Should you upgrade?
How to replace the radiator on your Toyota Camry. No special tools required. Plenty of photos and step-by-step instructions.
This is a guide to finding, cleaning or changing the MAF sensor on your Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault Trafic or Nissan Primastar van. This sensor is often the cause of low power, an inability to rev properly and rough running. Follow this easy to follow guide to find out how to change it yourself.
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.
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?
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.
The 7 speed DSG has made many improvements over the older 6 speed variant, but it's not without its problems.
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.
This collection of repairs for Honda Harmony lawnmower transmissions is growing monthly. If your Harmony transmission has a problem, we probably have the solution!
A pictorial tutorial on changing the 12V battery in a 2004-2010 Toyota Prius. While more difficult than most cars, a Prius battery replacement is still within most homeowners abilities.
How to test your vehicle yourself to investigate common and not-so-common reasons for a sluggish engine.
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.
The four noises that car owners complain about most often: CV joint noise, water pump noise, belt noise, and heat shield noise. What your noise means and what might fix it. Plus a car buying tip.
I discovered how to avoid expensive car repair bills when the "check engine light" is on. I’ll help you understand what it means and how to reset it. If it’s a catalytic converter warning, you’ll be able to try a low-cost solution first before going to a mechanic.
DIY How To Rear Door Handle, Door Latch or Door Lock Actuator Repair. Detailed step by step photos and no special tools required. Save money doing it yourself.
DIY How To Honda Accord engine head gasket, timing belt, water pump and radiator replacement / replacement.
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.
Signs and symptoms of a bad heater core in your car: fog, drips, and funny smells in the cabin, no heat in the cabin, the engine overheating.
Complete description of Case backhoe hydraulic cylinder repairs, rebuilding, and replacement, with step-by-step photos to guide you through the process.
Clean and replace the throttle body for VW and Audi 1.8T engines, to cure rough idle and carbon build-up.
Did your car mechanic say you need a new catalytic converter because your check engine light is on with code P0420 — and it will cost you $800? I found an alternate solution that worked for me, using high-octane gasoline. I explain it in detail so you can try this first.
Car thermostat replacement is not difficult when you know what to pay attention to. Check these tips for a successful repair job.
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.
Learn how to check a starter solenoid or remote relay in a few minutes using this simple step-by-step guide.
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.
There are a few types of transmission you might find in your vehicle, here are the differences between them.
If you think you may have rodents or mice living in your vehicle, here are a few tips on where to find their hiding places and how to evict them permanently!
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.
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.
There are certain precautions to take seriously when cleaning your car or your results will look like a 4 year old reconditioned it. I will cover basic steps, tools, and products to use that will make car cleaning more enjoyable, less time consuming and will generate professional results, after all, the reason you clean your car is to make it stand out above all the dirty cars you park n
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
Regular automotive preventative maintenance is conducted at intervals that, allow you to discover potential issues before they become serious problems down the road.
Simple, easy to understand proven methods on how to earn the highest salary as an automotive technician without stealing from the customer.
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.
How to troubleshoot a mass airflow sensor in a few simple steps, what to look for, and how to interpret your results.
Change transmission fluid now using this simple guide and prevent serious damage to your transmission and family budget.
Diagnose the most common problems with your car's starting system without special equipment or knowledge, based on the symptoms described here.
DIY on changing out your coolant temperature sensor that can lead to rough idle and a number of other problems. This DIY works for Audi and VW across the board depending on year.
How to do a timing belt replacement for the Toyota V6 Camry, Avalon, Solara, Lexus ES300 and Lexus RX300. Lot of photos and step-by-step instructions.
I’ll tell you how I'm keeping my 18-year-old car running as good as new with little cost for upkeep.
Changing the transmission fluid in your car is as easy as changing the oil. A new filter and fluid cost about $30 (at the time of this writing, 2018).
If you failed a smog test because of an old, borderline catalytic converter, this simple, no-cost home remedy will surely make you pass a second smog test. Better yet, if your vehicle is old use the procedure before your first smog test.
Troubleshoot your potentially bad brake booster using the simple tests in this guide to save time and money.
The most common reason for a slipping automatic transmission, and the most common reason for a slipping standard transmission. What to do to fix it in either case.
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.
Automatic transmissions are great to drive ... when they're working well. Let's look at what to do when they're not.
Have you been having trouble starting your car, truck, van, or SUV? Here are some signs that you have a dying battery.
Five common brake problems: soft brake pedal, pulling to one side while braking, vibration while braking.
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.
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 engine cranks but won't start, this guide tells you where to begin your diagnostic and what to do next.
One of the most nerve-wracking diagnoses that an engine can receive: BLOWN HEAD GASKET. Dive into this article to learn the 3 most common signs your engines developed a bad head gasket.
How a variable displacement compressor automatically adjusts its capacity by adjusting its piston displacement, and how such adjustment is being controlled is discussed in more detail in this hub.
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.
This guide helps you diagnose turn signal problems, when one or more of the signal lights refuses to work.
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.
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.
This guide shows you how to locate, remove & clean your exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve on Renault Trafic, Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro & Nissan Primastar vans. Cleaning helps your diesel engine run smoothly and it's possible to bypass the valve to increase performance & economy.
Tips and precautions to use when replacing your brake pads, so you can get quality results on a Honda or any other vehicle.
DIY for Jetta, Golf, GTI, Passat, New Beetle, A4 on cleaning or replacing the MAF (mass air flow) sensor. Step-by-step pictures, part numbers, and tools required for the job.
Fluid leaking from a car could mean immediate repairs are needed, or it could be something totally normal. How to identify the leak and figure out what, if anything, needs to be done about it.
Does your Toyota erratically change steering direction? Do you notice thumping or or a tugging sensation when accelerating from a slow speed and turning? New control arm bushings may be needed.
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.
DIY Toyota or Lexus Fuel Pump replacement. Many photos and step by step instructions. No special tools required. Relatively safe and easy and not too time consuming.
Getting rid of rodents that damage your car or truck can be challenging, but there are several approaches that can do the job.
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.
The most likely reasons for bad clutch performance, a noisy clutch, or strange behavior by the clutch pedal. Look for your symptoms here.
The important function of a working PCV valve, how it works, signs that it's failing, and how to test.
Changing the brakes and rotors on a Ford Expedition. These instructions should work for models made in 2007-2017.
Car starter problems? Don't blame the starter motor yet. These 5 troubleshooting tips will help you find the culprit.
Recognizing symptoms of a bad EGR valve will help you troubleshoot potential problems sooner and restore engine performance faster.