Auto Repair

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

A guide to replacing the struts and shock absorbers in your car. What you need to be aware of and tips for a successful repair.

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.

Your mechanic says you need a wheel bearing . . . what's that? In this article, you'll find pictures, videos and an explanation of what a wheel bearing is, what it does, where it is, and the noise it makes when it's damaged.

It can be challenging to get rid of a rodent infestation in your car or truck, but there are several remedies that can solve the problem.

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.

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.

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.

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

DIY repair of the rear door handle, door latch, or door lock actuator. Detailed step-by-step photos and no special tools required. Save money doing it yourself.

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

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.

Regular automotive preventative maintenance is conducted at intervals that, allow you to discover potential issues before they become serious problems down the road.

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.

Clean your MAF sensor in minutes using a simple procedure. Fix rough idle problems and other performance issues.

A clicking starter is not a good sign, but those clicks can help you diagnose and fix the problem.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

How to replace an in-tank fuel pump and its associated filter assembly, with pictures. The disassembly and the assembly of parts, the testing of the installation, and trouble-shooting.

If your car stalls while driving, check the sensors that most often cause this condition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Starting a workshop business or auto repair shop can be very profitable if you get the basics right.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

If your car doesn't start when cold, this guide will help you get going.

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.

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

Test your vehicle catalytic converter in your own garage.

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

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

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

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

An explanation of the types of sensors found in an engine, including their typical functions and locations.

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.

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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

IAC motor troubleshooting is a simple procedure on most vehicles, and you probably already have the tools for the project.

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.

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.

Use a digital multimeter (DMM) to test your MAF sensor before replacing it. Sometimes you won’t even need a multimeter.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Learn how to replace a timing belt and water pump on an Accord/Acura CL F23 2.3L I4 engine (w/ video). The replacement should be performed every 100,000 miles or 10 years; whichever comes first.

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

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

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

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

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

Do a timing belt replacement project in your own garage using these recommendations, tips, and procedures.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Car starter problems? Don't blame the starter motor yet. These 5 troubleshooting tips will help you find the culprit.

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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 car jerks when accelerating, check these common sources of trouble to speed up your diagnostic and repair.

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

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.

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

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

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

This is a guide explaining how to replace the DPF exhaust pressure sensor on the OM651 engine, which is the engine fitted to the C220, C250, E220 and E250 Mercedes cars, plus the Sprinter and Vito vans. This sensor often fails and then the car mistakenly reports the DPF filter as being full.