Maintenance

Is jump starting bad for your car? You'd be surprised what you find out. What happens behind the scenes will shock you.

This article, via video, will show you how to replace the timing belt, water pump, tensioner pulley and the camshaft and crankshaft seals on a '01 to '05 Honda Civic.

You replaced the brake pads on your car but notice wheel vibration at all speeds when braking. They're new pads, so what could it be? Warped or uneven contact surfaces on the brake disc rotors. I'll explain why you need to get new rotors or have them resurfaced on a cutting machine.

Why don't manufactures include a tire inflator device with the spare tire? Here's how I evaluated the performance of an aftermarket tire inflator.

Apply heat. Scrape with a butter knife. Peel. Apply new tabs, good to go.

If your car won't start and the battery won't take a charge, you don't necessarily have to buy a new battery! You can swap the battery with a traded-in battery from your local auto parts retailer, or a discarded battery from a trash collection center or auto salvage yard.

I show you (via video) how I cleaned up the throttle body and IAC on my 20-year-old Toyota Camry with the I4 5SFE engine.

Both gasoline direct injection (GDI) and port fuel injection engines, over time, develop carbon accumulation in the intake valves and combustion chambers, impacting engine performance. This article, via video, will show you a quick and easy way to clean up your engine.

Diagnose and fix the source of unusual car tire wear patterns.

This article, via video, will show you how to perform a transmission fluid drain and fill operation on a 2014 Honda Accord Sport 2.4L GDI.

Bleed the power steering system using one of two simple methods to prevent expensive repairs and potential road accidents.

If you have a fairly new Honda, at some point your dash will indicate that it is time for a B12 service. What does that mean? What should you do?

There are a lot of myths about what kind of gas you should use in your car. In this article we'll explore the most common stories and talk about which ones might actually be true (depending on your car).

When it comes to additives, there are many claims, many promises... and just as many disappointments. When I hear about a product that "actually works," I'm skeptical, but this time I put the product to the test so that the results can tell the story!

Know the difference between a battery maintainer and a trickle charger, and how they can save your battery and and save you money.

Is your window stuck? Want to save on an expensive car bill? Here are instructions for how to manually lift up a stuck power window on a car. This project is great for any DIYer.

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).

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

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

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

You hate the feeling you get in your gut if you discover a dent on your bumper, a scratch on your bonnet, or rust and peeling paint on the body of your vehicle. But relief is available if you are able to perform the repair on your own.

We rely upon our cars in these times. While it is important to take care of our cars, there are many myths that abound. Some have a grain of truth; others are completely false.

Paying for air is annoying. Here is how you can find free air, and also how to set your tire pressure for the best performance of your tires and your car.

Grinding noises in a car's braking system is a sure sign something has failed or broken and needs immediate attention. Get the noise checked out as soon as possible before driving, the problem could put you in danger.

Is automobile coolant universal? NO. Although every vehicle has coolant, not every vehicle uses the same type, and they are not interchangeable. Coolant can be very hard to identify unless you know exactly what type your vehicle takes. Expand your knowledge and safety.

The cooling system does more than just cool your engine down. It has another vital role it plays!

Check out this article to learn when you need to change your oil ASAP in your car or truck.

Use this guide to clean corroded battery terminals before they turn into an expensive repair.

How do you maintain a car tire? And how do you put air in tires? A beginner's guide to general maintenance of car tires.

How to replace both the rear shock absorbers and suspension springs on a '04 Toyota Sienna.

The article will show you step-by-step how to replace the major front suspension components on a Lexus ES300: the strut, control arm, ball joint, and stabilizer bar link.

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

If you're tired of looking at your dirty and rusty brake calipers and rotors through your alloy wheels, this article will show you step-by-step how to clean up those calipers and rotors, give them a paint job, and make them look like new. If looking to rebuild a caliper, I've included a video.

Videos showing how I did a tuneup on this 1997 Lexus ES 300. I replaced the valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, and ignition wires, and cleaned the throttle body.

This article with video will show you how to replace the front suspension lower ball joint on a '03 -'07 Honda Accord. This method also applies to the '04-'08 Acura TSX.

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

This article will show you step-by-step how to replace the rear shock absorber and stabilizer bar link on a '99–'06 Volvo S80 sedan. The parts may be interchangeable with the '01–'09 S60 and '01–'07 V70. The video shows the replacement service being done on a '04 S80 2.5 Turbo.

Learn the difference between spring, worm, and t-bolt hose clamps and why spring clamps are better for use on the hoses in your car's cooling system . Also, I'll show you how to take the spring clamps off with specialty tools.

This article will show you step-by-step how to replace all the wear components that make up the front suspension on a '99–'06 Volvo S80 sedan. The video shows the repair service being performed on a '04 S80 2.5 Turbo.

This article shows you how to replace the compressor and condenser on a Honda Pilot (2009 - 2012), including how to install new valve stems and evacuate and recharge the system.

How to replace of the rear brake pads on a Mazda 3. Since the parking brake is tied to the brake caliper, this caliper has a spiral brake piston; the piston has to be screwed clockwise back into the caliper. The Mazda 6 has the same issue.

The Audew 2-Cylinder Compressor was designed to inflate tires on cars, trucks, RVs, and travel trailers as well as other inflatables. Bicycle and motorcycle tires, basketballs, and more can be pumped up if the compressor is all that the manufacturer says it is.

Here are step-by-step instructions for replacing the rear brake pads on a Lexus LS 460. The rear brake calipers on this vehicle are "fixed caliper" style, not the usual "floating caliper." This article will be worth reading if you've never worked on a fixed caliper.

How to do a cross tire rotation yourself using two jack stands and one hydraulic jack.

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.

When my car's message center started to read like the car was imploding, and the directional signals worked on a "maybe" basis, I knew something was wrong.

This video shows the removal and replacement of the rear brake pads and rotors on the Toyota Highlander. The pads and rotors are interchangeable with the Lexus '04–'06 RX330, '07–'09 RX350 and the '06–'08 RX400H; therefore, the replacement procedure should be the same.

How to replace the front brake pads and rotors on the Toyota Highlander. These steps work for the Toyota '02–'04 Camry and '01–'07 Highlander, and the Lexus '03 ES300, '99-'03 RX300, and '04-'06 RX330.

How to replace a worn front wheel hub bearing on a 2007 Saturn Ion. This hub bearing design is also used on the '05–'10 Chevy Cobolt, '07–'10 Pontiac G5, and the '05–'06 Pontiac Pursuit.

When a car's fuel injectors become dirty and clogged, a pressurized fuel system service like the one shown here may help with rough engine idle, poor performance, increased fuel use, and bucking under load.