The power steering assembly in your car transfers the hydraulic power from the steering fluid to each of the wheels so that your car will be more responsive and easier to direct when driving. After a few years of use, you may notice that the steering is not as good as it was. This may be a result of a fluid leaks, often in the hoses or as a result of a bad steering rack. When this happens, there i...

Should you invest the time and money required to have your vehicle’s suspension lowered? It’s a question that many drivers never even think about. Before you make the decision to proceed with lowering your vehicle’s suspension, consider the options and understand the pros and cons that a lowered suspension entails.Why Get a Lowered Suspension?Lowering your suspension is an aftermarket alteration t...

How Often to Change Air Filter in a Car The first thing you need to do when trying to figure out when to change your air filter is to look in your owner's manual. You will find a maintenance schedule that lists when all maintenance items (like air filters and oil filter...

Can You Believe This Car Has Over 60,000 Miles on Its Odometer?So, you washed your car interior and exterior and you are driving around town when your car suddenly starts to cough and sputter. Like any other machine, your car's engine and its engine compartment also need cleaning in order for your car to run like it just rolled out of the showroom. Following are steps to follow on how to clean you...

How long do wiper blades generally last?Wiper longevity depends on where you live. Heat really wears on those rubber windshield squeegees; therefore, if you live in a hot climate, wipers will inevitably require more frequent replacement. Accordingly, if you use your wipers often – and live in a rainy, snowy or icy neck of the country – expect a shortened blade life.A general wiper blade rule of th...

How Often Do You Need to Change Oil?To find out how often to change oil in your car, you should turn to your owner's manual. Most cars these days go anywhere from 7,500 miles to 10,000 miles or more between oil changes.Many vehicles have a calculator built into the cars computer that will calculate oil change frequency for the engine. This calculator takes things into account like temperature, cra...

You understand certain colors when it comes to driving. Green means “go.” Yellow means “caution.” Red means “stop.” Traffic lights are supposed to change color, but what does it mean if your car’s exhaust starts swapping shades? It could mean nothing, or it could be a sign that there’s a problem you need to have checked out. Before your next drive has a chance to “go up in smoke,” review the car e...

What Is Brake Caliper Sticking?Brake caliper sticking isn't that common, but it is important to have it diagnosed and fixed right away because it affects the safety of your vehicle.Brake caplier sticking symptoms: Do you find that your vehicle pulls more to one side when braking? Or perhaps the brakes don't seem to release all the way after you let go of the pedal?If yes, then you may indeed have ...

How to DIY change oils?The first step to changing oil in a car is to gather supplies. You don't want to end up with your car sitting out in the driveway with the oil drained out and not have the correct amount or weight of oil.If you don't know how much oil your engine takes or what weight it accepts ("weight" basically means thickness), you need to figure that out before you begin. The easiest wa...

Q: Is brake oil same as power steering oil?A: No they not. Brake fluid is same with clutch fluid, even some car manufacture put both in one reservoir. Please don't put the brake fluid into the power steering, the hard chemical ingredients of brake fluid will blown all the seal and rubber material of the power steering. Power steering fluid is same with automatic transmission fluid, but please rea...

Alternator problems are fairly common. You will probably have some type of problem with your alternator in your car's lifetime. The charging system on your car plays an essential role in everything electrical. If your charging system is not working correctly, it can cause major electrical problems so it pays to know a little bit about it. Let’s look at what they do and how to tell if there is some...

Learn how to change brake pads and rotors on a car with this step by step picture guide written by a real mechanic.Is it hard to change brake pads and rotors? Anyone can do this job if they are able to follow instructions well and have the tools. Have some technicial experience would help but it's optional.Having replaced brake pads and rotors for hundreds of vehicles, I will reveal all the tips a...

Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Replacement Tools Required D1051 Wheel Hub Remover (this is a fairly generic tool you can rent from some parts stores - you may or may not need this tool - you won't know for sure until you remove the hub nut as outlined below) Removal Procedure Raise and support the vehicle. Remove the tire and wheel. Disconnect the wheel speed sensor electrical connector (2), if equip...

FIVE TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR VEHICLE’S BATTERYYou never want to be stuck by the side of the road with a stranded vehicle. But every year, dead vehicle batteries leave millions of Americans doing just that, stuck in their driveways or looking for help from passing motorists.share tips and advice on identifying issues and extending the life of your vehicle’s batteryDiagnose the IssueTell...

Most cars have two control arms in the front suspension. Often they are called lower control arms. Some cars (e.g. Honda Accord) and many trucks have four control arms, two upper and two lower arms. What does a control arm do? It connects the frame or body of a car to the assembly that holds a front wheel. This assembly is called a steering knuckle. Control arms are connected to the frame or body ...

Q: When spring compressors are not available to perform vehicle repairs, what tip, trick, or tool is recommended to hold the tension of a coil spring?A1:Nothing but a real spring compressor is recommended. There is a lot of stored energy in a compressed suspension spring. If your kludge lets go, there will be pieces flying about with high velocity. Very dangerous. Buy or rent one. Failing that tak...

Begin with the vehicle on flat ground, in park with the emergency brake on, engine "OFF". (No smoking or open flame.)Step 1 - Locate the vacuum line which is attached to the fuel pressure regulator and remove it, this line should be free of fuel, if fuel is observed the regulator has failed. (Note: Not all vehicles are designed with a pressure regulator.)Step 2 - Once the inspection for the fuel p...

There is a whole lot of responsibility when it comes to owning a vehicle. Many owners would think that maintenance is a breeze. On the contrary however, it can be demanding and sometimes even pricey. With the right methods and practices, it should be challenging but doable. With mistakes, it can be unsightly.To help owners and even collectors out there, shared with us some dos and don’ts when it c...

There is a whole lot of responsibility when it comes to owning a vehicle. Many owners would think that maintenance is a breeze. On the contrary however, it can be demanding and sometimes even pricey. With the right methods and practices, it should be challenging but doable. With mistakes, it can be unsightly.To help owners and even collectors out there, shared with us some dos and don’ts when it c...

There are plenty of energy-robbing devices on your car that are supposed to go to sleep when it's parked, and sometimes, not all of them go to sleep. Here's how to give them a tranquilizer.FINDING LEAKS，STEP BY STEPStep 1Start with a fully charged battery. Be sure the radio and lights are shut off. Unplug your cellphone charger, GPS or laptop. Close the door or hold the dome light button down with...

What is a pitman arm steering system and what are its components? A Pittman arm is a method to reduce the problem of turning geometry. If you sit down with a straight edge and compass, and draw the tracks of wheels going around a corner, you will find that the inner and outer wheel's ideal angles are different. This is called "toe-in." The Pittman arm helps this, by causing a difference in how...

When your car's "Check Engine" light comes on, it's usually accompanied by a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. The light could mean a costly problem, like a bad catalytic converter, or it could be something minor, like a loose gas cap. But in many cases, it means at minimum that you'll be visiting the car dealer to locate the malfunction and get the light turned off.The Check Engine ligh...

Safety Tip:Always wear safety glasses when working on your vehicle. Wear other personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary, for example latex gloves or closed toe shoes.1.With the engine off, open the hood and locate the power steering fluid reservoir. Most reservoirs are translucent and connected ...

Safety Tip:Always wear safety glasses when working on your vehicle. Wear other personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary, for example latex gloves or closed toe shoes.1.With the engine off, open the hood and locate the power steering fluid reservoir. Most reservoirs are translucent and connected ...

A compression test reveals the condition of your engine's valves, its valve seats, and piston rings and whether these parts are wearing evenly. Healthy engines should have compression over 100 psi per cylinder, with no more than 10 percent variation between the highest and lowest readings. With a compressi...

Do you hear a ticking noise from your dash when the ignition key is on? Does your car heater blow cold or the air conditioner blow hot? These are signs that a blend door actuator has gone bad. With a little help from our team of ASE certified mechanics and about a half hour of your time you can replace this part to get your climate control back working again. Or you can see what you are paying for...

How to Prepare Your Car for a Road TripLast-minute road trips require a vehicle that is up to the task. Follow these tips before hitting the road.You're a conscientious car owner. You get the oil changed when you're supposed to and you take the vehicle in for its occasional required maintenance. But maybe you've been wondering what other quick things you could be doing to keep your trusty ride run...

How to Change a Tire Safely & QuicklyA flat tire never happens when it's convenient. Even if you already know how, here's a refresher with some helpful tips to make it less of an ordeal.A flat tire never happens when it's convenient. You'll be all dressed up and on the way to an important event when you run over that errant nail. Changing a tire by the side of the road was a regular event for moto...

Safety Tip:Always wear safety glasses when working on your vehicle. Wear other personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary, for example latex gloves or closed toe shoes.1.Start the engine and allow it to warmup. Turn on the heater.2.Move the heater temperature switch from cooler to hotter and check for a change in air temperature.3.Turn off the engine. Open the hood and locate the heater co...

5 Tips For Tackling Your First Big Car RepairSo you want to graduate from oil changes to serious car repair. Welcome. But before you tear anything apart and find yourself in over your head, take these tips to heart.You're a capable weekend car mechanic. You'vegot basic tools and skills. You've mastered oil changes and tire rotations. Butwhen a big repair comes along, it's decision time. Take it on...

Wheel bearings are critical to the safe operation of any vehicle. These small components primarily "bear" the load of a mounted wheel/tire assembly, working to reduce friction during wheel rotation.Wheel bearing problemsAlthough bearings can last 100,000 miles or more, these mechanical elements can wear out over time. When this occurs, a driver will usually notice scraping noises as the vehicle is...

There are plenty of aftermarket head units—the boxes that radio hardware lives in—that have advanced features and can connect to smartphones, and many of these units are just a few hundred dollars. In many modern vehicles, the audio system is deeply integrated into a larger infotainment operating system. Even so, cars take three to four years to develop, so their technology often lags behind the b...

How to Repair Stripped Spark Plug Threads: Auto ClinicSpark plugs that haven't been changed for a long time can become one with the cylinder head. Fortunately, it's possible to repair damaged threads instead of scrapping the head.Q: Yesterday I was driving home and a spark plug blew right out of the cylinder head. The car was towed to the shop where I'd had a tuneup the day before -- which include...

16 Tools to Get You Started Working on Your Own CarWrenching on your own car can be satisfying and cost-saving, but you'll need these basic tools to get started.Whether you're restoring an old Jeep or you've got brand new Prius, you can eschew the dealer or auto shop for some tasks and start doing your own car maintenance. You'll find working on your own car saves time and money—and if something b...

When your car doesn't start, you most likely have a dead battery and the fastest way to get back on the road is a quick jumpstart. This simple trick takes less than five minutes and only requires a set of jumper cables and another vehicle. If you've never got around to learning the particulars or the ins-and-outs of doing it safely, we've got you covered.JUMPER CABLESAny pair of jumper cables is b...

Gasoline is expensive and you're looking for every way possible to save money at the pump. You already shy away from premium fuel, knowing that your car doesn't require it. You'd like to save a few pennies per gallon more by going to an off-brand gas station. But you can't get rid of the nagging fear: Is the cheap gas going to damage your car's engine?Edmunds.com put this question to experts in se...

For some vehicles, you're advised to change the coolant every 30,000 miles. For others, changing the coolant isn't even on the maintenance schedule.For example, Hyundai says the coolant (what many refer to as "antifreeze") in most of its models should be replaced after the first 60,000 miles, then every 30,000 miles after that. The interval is every 30,000 miles on some Mercedes-Benz models, but ...

A compression test reveals the condition of your engine's valves, its valve seats, and piston rings and whether these parts are wearing evenly. Healthy engines should have compression over 100 psi per cylinder, with no more than 10 percent variation between the highest and lowest readings. With a compression tester, a few hand tools, and 20 minutes, you can try this yourself.STEP 1 Remove the fuel...

Over the river and through the woods was more dangerous back when cars had crummy bias-ply tires, rear-wheel drive and ordinary brakes. So, tonight you feel confident driving home through several inches of freshly fallen snow after a sumptuous holiday dinner. Your front-drive car has excellent all-season tires and ABS (antilock braking system)—although the ABS light has been on since you banzai'd ...

The sunroof in my Pontiac Sunfire has beengetting fussy lately. Sometimes it initially won't close but finally does aftera few tries, and it's making some bizarre popping and scraping sounds. Withwinter coming up, I want to get it fixed. Can I do this myself? You'd think sunroofs would be just asreliable as power windows, but turning a sliding panel on its side makes themechanics far more difficul...