What does P0401 code mean? Find what causes it and learn how to fix this check engine code from a mechanic who has done it countless times.This trouble code "insufficient EGR flow" means that there is not enough exhaust gasses flowing back into the incoming air to the engine. EGR stands for "exhaust gas recirculation". The EGR system consist of three parts: EGR valve, DPFE (differential pressure s...

Using a Coil Spring Compressor ...

Anyone can replace a flat tire. In fact, in some places, knowing how to do so is one of the requirements to get a driving licence. In this guide, we cover the four simple steps it takes to replace a flat tire, whether safe in your garage or stranded in the middle of nowhere.You'll need a spare tire, a car jack, and a lug wrench, so make sure you always have these items in your car. Once you make i...

Before you start air conditioning troubleshooting you need to realize that it is not as easy as you might think. There are many things that can go wrong when trying to fix your AC system yourself.Probably the most common problem that people run into when attempting DIY A/C repairs is that they get dirt and other debris in the system and/or they don't put the correct amount of freon in the ac syste...

To pull out a bushing from a blind hole Sometime it can be hard to get out a bushing or race for a ball bearing, press fitted in a blind hole. A well known method is to tap the bushing, place a ball in the bottom and let the tap (or a screw) "press" the bushing ...

Is the brake light on dashboard lighted up? Then you must pay attention because your vehicle is trying to tell you that there is something wrong with your braking system.Sometimes this icon will illuminate along with the ABS light and sometimes it will turn on by itself. Since your braking system is the most important safety mechanism in your car or truck, you need to be sure that it is in working...

The Right Way to Use Your Turn Signals The turn signals on your car are an essential safety device that allows you to communicate your intentions to other drivers...

How To Tell Engine Carbon Accumulation No. 1 First and most obvious is the increase in fuel co...

Taboos in Run-in Period 1,New cars should be properly lightenedEverything in your new car is new, so don't challenge its capacity when you first drive. Because the car in the running-in period, a lot of parts have not been worn out, too much bearing capacity is ...

The Expansion Valve of Automobile Air Conditioner Is Out Of Order The most common failure of the air conditioning valve expansion valve is the jam, and the conges...

"Hidden Features" Of Fuel Cap No 1. The first function is to remind us which number of gasoline should be added to the car, because many owners do not know the most appropriate number of gasoline when they just buy a new car. In fact, there is a label on the oil...

Valve Spring Inspection Valve springs should be inspected before installing them on the cylinder head. In fact, all valve train components and their geometry should be checked before reassembling the valve train. Valve springs are made from different metals depe...

Headlight bulb replacement can be easy, but there are things you should know. It is essential to be ready to fix your cars lights if they even have a problem. Not only is a burned out light a safety issue, but also it can cost you if you get pulled over by police for this problem. Fixing this issue yourself can be done, but you need to know a few things first.The Truth Behind Headlight Bulb Replac...

The most commonly known tool for separating ball joints is the pickle fork. What is essentially a long two-prong wedge, the pickle fork is also known as a part destroyer. Do not use a pickle fork on a reusable part. If you are removing the joint in order to replace or service something else, the pickle fork will only cost you more money. The reason is that you can’t save the dust boots, a fork wil...

Why won't my car start? Find what are the common reasons a car won't start and what to do to get your car up and running again.As a rough guideline, problems with the battery, alternator and starter are the most common causes of a car or truck failing to start.As a professional mechanic, I have diagnosed and fixed hundreds of vehicle that were unable to start up. I have listed solutions to the mos...

So we'll share the right way to Test a Fan Clutch with you by our clutch alignment tool.Step 1With the engine off, inspect the fan blades carefully. Make sure the blades are all in good shape and secured to the fan hub. Replace the fan if necessary.Step 2Look carefully around the fan clutch for signs of oil leakage. Fluid-coupling and thermostatic fan clutches are filled with silicone-based oil; i...

A loss of power and grinding gears in between shifts are telltale signs that your Nissan Sentra's clutch needs to be replaced. Thankfully, with the right tools and a little knowledge you can inspect and replace your clutch, saving money in the process. So here is the right way to change a Nissan Sentra Clutch by our clutch alignment tool.DisassemblyStep 1Follow the procedures in the owner's manual...

An AC clutch engages and disengages the compressor when your car's air conditioning is turned on and off. Once an electrical current from the on/off switch sends power to the magnetic coil, it causes the outboard clutch to pull in toward the compressor, locking up the pulley and engaging the compressor. Because the clutch is attached to the compressor shaft, if it becomes disengaged, it will not m...

A bearing separator comes in handy when replacing the steering pump, rebuilding your alternator or performing any other similar repair job in your car or any other piece of equipment. A bearing separator is very effective in removing bearings, pulleys, gears and bushes fitted too close to the housing or other components, leaving regular jaw pullers no chance to do their job. Save on repair costs a...

What Causes a P0300 Code?Low Fuel PressureVacuum LeakEGR system malfunctionInternal Engine Problems (such as low compression)Less Common CausesFaulty CoilFaulty Spark Plugs and/or WiresCamshaft or Crankshaft sensorsIgnition moduleComputerTo troubleshoot, repair and maintain your vehicle, you'll need diagnostic and repair information that is specific to your car or truck. For this I personally use ...

Premium Conventional Oil – standard new-car oil (5W-20 or 5W-30 oil with 10W-30 oil as an option for high-temperature areas such as the desert in summer).Full Synthetic Oil – made for high-tech engines where the oil needs to flow better at low temperatures and be at it’s top lubricity even at high temperatures. This oil type also costs more and some engines have features that synthetic oil doesn’t...

Because driving it is so much simpler, many motorists prefer an automatic transmission—but what vehicle owners need to know is that this critical automotive system requires some special maintenance and care. Some things to be aware of: Watch out for any leaks or stains that might appear under the vehicle, especially if they appear to have a red hue. This could be spilled fluid. If you’re leaking f...

If the driver’s experience with automatics and manuals is quite different, what’s happening under the hood is largely the same. Both types work to allow your engine to operate within a narrow range of speeds while allowing the car itself to experience numerous output speeds.In both types of cars, gears are used to leverage the engine’s torque and allow that engine to keep whirring along at a reaso...

What is a master cylinder and what does it do? It is an integral part of a braking system that is used to transfer energy or power from the brake pedal to the brake pads and shoes in order to safely stop the vehicle.Your brake pedal is connected to the brake master cylinder. When you step on the pedal, a small rod is pushed into it. This pushes on a piston inside a bore (hole) in the cylinder. Thi...

Learn how to change oil by yourself. Full picture guide with step by step instructions written by a real mechanic who has done it hundreds of times.There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to changing engine oil. there are many misconceptions floating around. If you ask five people on the street how to perform an oil change, chances are you are going to end up with five different answers.I...

Auto Air Conditioning TroubleshootingBefore you start air conditioning troubleshooting you need to realize that it is not as easy as you might think. There are many things that can go wrong when trying to fix your AC system yourself.Probably the most common problem that people run into when attempting DIY A/C repairs is that they get dirt and other debris in the system and/or they don't put the co...

Filter replacement is a big part of auto maintenance and not something that vehicle owners should neglect. Although it is important, it can be hard to know how often air and oil filters should be changed. You definitely don’t want to ignore them, but you shouldn’t be replacing them more often than necessary either.Maintaining Your Engine’s Air FilterHow often should the engine air filter be replac...

1. Wait for Your Car Engine to Cool DownFinding a spark plug that fits your vehicle is simple. What I do is go to the spark plugs and enter my vehicle year, make and model into their "filter by vehicle" search.If you skip this step, you might find it impossible to remove the spark plugs from your engine without ruining the threads. This is especially true for aluminium cylinder heads. While it is ...

One component of the hydraulic braking system’s drum brakes is the rear wheel cylinder. It has two internal pistons on each side extending from the inside of the cylinder when working the braking system. The piston will come in contact with the horns of the brake shoe and will be pushed outward to contact the inside of the diameter of the drum so that the vehicle can come into a stop, thus pressin...

Rear brake shoes are often used in today's cars and light trucks more than disc brakes are used for rear brakes. But, like disc brakes, they can become worn and lose their effectiveness in slowing or stopping the car they are installed on. When this happens, these shoes—or linings—need to be replaced. If you are accustomed to doing some of the more simple maintenance on your car or truck you may w...

As you drive your car, the wheels and tires come intact with varying types of terrain, including speed bumps, rough patches, potholes and over highway hazards. The up and down motion from this can be highly disruptive to your driving experience but fortunately, modern automobiles are outfitted with springs, which absorb much of this motion and keep your ride as smooth as possible.These springs are...

Repair a tire valve in 5 easy steps. Tire safety is an important aspect of the maintenance of our car. A tire valve is responsible for maintaining the air pressure in the tire. Without a tire valve or with a faulty, malfunctioning or broken valve, air will slowly leak from the valve stem causing a loss of air pressure. A low tire or disproportionate and unbalanced tires, as it relates to the tire ...

How to Change OilYou need to regularly check and change your car’s oil to ensure the vehicle runs smoothly and to prolong the lifespan of its engine. Changing your car’s oil is one of the most fundamental DIY skills you should have for car maintenance or repair. Of course, it’s a different story if the oil filter and oil drain plug of your car are very hard to reach.Check and change the engine oil...

If you think that your brakes don't have sufficient stopping power, there could be a problem with the brake booster vacuum hose. This hose is instrumental in making the connection between the master cylinder and the brakes themselves, and when there is a leak, your brake pedal will still feel firm, but the brakes will lack power behind them. Repairing a brake booster leak is a matter of replacing ...

U joints or universal joints are located at both ends of a drive shaft and serve the purpose of transferring engine power and torque from the transmission to the drive wheels. Even the toughest U-joints can wear out and show symptoms like clunking sounds when the vehicle is put into gear, as well as vibration. To avoid a catastrophe, install new U joints by following these easy steps.Step 1: Disa...

Installing replacement coil springs on your car requires the right technique and some specialist equipment. The job is not extremely difficult, but it is risky. If you observe some sensible safety precautions, you stand a better chance of success.Step 1 – Vehicle RaisingFirst, you must raise your vehicle to a height that it is safely off the ground so that you can easily access the coil springs. P...

Troubleshooting problems with your brake master cylinder requires some basic knowledge of car mechanics. You may never have replaced or checked this part before and if you are new to the mechanical side of motoring, you will need some good suggestions on what to listen and look for. Here are some methods you can use to diagnose the more common problems associated with this part.Check the Brake Pre...

Toyota brake repair does not necessarily need a Toyota service department or even a brake repair shop to repair the disk brake pads. The brake pads are small, wearable parts of the entire brake system that will periodically need replacement, so it is helpful to know how to do it yourself. Considering how many Toyota vehicles are on the road, old and new alike, finding replacement parts is as easy ...

You can easily break your key in your car ignition, especially if you're in a hurry and you turn the key too quickly or hard. And, with plenty of rumors about how to remove a key, getting the key out of your ignition can seem impossible. But, with the right household tools and the tips below, removing a broken key from your ignition is simple.Using PliersIf there is enough of the broken key sticki...

If you think that your brakes don't have sufficient stopping power, there could be a problem with the brake booster vacuum hose. This hose is instrumental in making the connection between the master cylinder and the brakes themselves, and when there is a leak, your brake pedal will still feel firm, but the brakes will lack power behind them. Repairing a brake booster leak is a matter of replacing ...