Read Auto Repair Guides vetted by our Team of ASE-certified Master Automobile Technicians

Reading Time: 4 minutesDon’t put off fixing a damaged or aging hitch. A worn-out mount, rusted frame, or weakened receiver can cause unsafe… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesEver felt stuffy driving in the rain, but didn’t want to open your window for fear of getting your seat… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesIf you’ve upgraded to bigger tires or just want your truck or SUV to look more aggressive, fender flares are… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesRefrigerant doesn’t really look or smell like anything in its purest form, as it is both colorless and odorless. It’s… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen your vehicle’s engine starts running hot, the cooling fan assembly goes into high gear. Its main job is to… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen your vehicle’s A/C compressor quits in the middle of a heatwave, it could damage the rest of your A/C… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesQ: I have a 2012 Ford F-150 with a direct-injected, 3.5L EcoBoost engine. To combat carbon build-up on the valves,… Read More

Reading Time: < 1 minuteQ: I have a 2002 Kia Sportage. Recently, my car’s windshield washers stopped working. I can no longer hear the… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesQ: I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma. The truck has a minor steering wheel shimmy on the freeway when traveling… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesEveryone knows brake pads wear out. Pinning down what you’ll actually pay is trickier. The bill shifts with vehicle size,… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe handbrake is the park brake but is operated by hand rather than with your foot. More often than not,… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesIf your car’s starting to make grinding noises, shake, or pull sideways unexpectedly, it might be time for a new… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen rust starts creeping along the lower edge of your vehicle’s doors or paint begins to bubble near the rocker… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesA fuel filler neck may seem like a simple part, but it performs more than just a basic function. It… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesEver felt stuffy driving in the rain, but didn’t want to open your window for fear of getting your seat… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesFog light trims don’t just frame the lamp. They keep water and dirt out, steady the housing, and finish off… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesA cracked turn signal light lets in water, which fogs the lens, damages the sockets, and makes the light too… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesCorner lights might not be the flashiest part of your ride, but they matter more than most people think. They… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesAntifreeze is stored in the coolant reservoir near the radiator. It’s usually mixed with water in the container, creating what’s… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesA car radiator is a finned, rectangular component made of metal. It maximizes heat dissipation to keep the engine at… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesA busted coolant reservoir isn’t something you want to mess around with. It can cause your engine to overheat, and… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesYou probably don’t give your oil pan much thought until something goes wrong. Once it cracks, corrodes, or starts leaking,… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen your distributor starts giving you trouble, you’ll know it. Misfires, random stalling, or a key that won’t turn are… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesAntifreeze is stored in the coolant reservoir near the radiator. It’s usually mixed with water in the container, creating what’s… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesMost drivers feel a rear differential only when it goes wrong—through a shudder in a turn, a whine on the… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesA: The car axle is a long rod that connects two wheels on either side of the car. It usually… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesA damaged axle can chew through tires, stress other drivetrain parts, and make driving unsafe. If your vehicle feels clunky… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesQ: Where is the A/C Fuse Typically Located in a Car? A: On most vehicles, the A/C fuse is located… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesModern vehicles draw far more power than they did a decade ago, and the alternator sits at the center of… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesA cracked or leaking windshield washer reservoir isn’t just an inconvenience—it affects visibility and makes every drive riskier in rain,… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesA worn-out mass air flow (MAF) sensor can cause a rough idle, sudden stalling, or a dip in fuel economy…. Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesIf your vehicle vibrates more than usual or makes odd noises while idling, the motor mounts might be wearing out…. Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesYou probably don’t give your oil pan much thought until something goes wrong. Once it cracks, corrodes, or starts leaking,… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesCatalytic converters usually suffer weeks or months of rich mixtures, misfires, coolant or oil contamination before they stop working properly…. Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesA catalytic converter often looks like a cylindrical metal container with a metal pipe sticking out of each end and… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe typical car muffler has a cylindrical or rectangular body with pipes sticking out of both ends. It’s made of… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen your distributor starts giving you trouble, you’ll know it. Misfires, random stalling, or a key that won’t turn are… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesQ: What Does a Starter Typically Look Like? A: A car starter is a motor usually shaped like a cylinder,… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe ignition coil’s location depends on the type of ignition system your vehicle has. It may be mounted on the… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen your turn signal switch goes bad, you notice it right away. Maybe the stalk doesn’t click into place, the… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesA cracked dashboard can slowly chip away at your vehicle’s resale value if left unfixed. Since factory replacements are often… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesQ: What Does a Five-Point Harness Car Seat Look Like? A: A five-point harness car seat has five points of… Read More

Reading Time: < 1 minuteWhen acid rain falls on a vehicle and isn’t cleaned quickly, it can destroy the top coat and the paint… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesQ: What does pollen look like on a car? Pollen looks like yellow dust or powder to the naked eye,… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesThere are many reasons you might keep a vehicle in storage for long periods. Perhaps it’s part of a collection… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesThe P1497 fault code has plagued many Mini Cooper S vehicles, particularly the 2008 and 2009 model years. But what… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesModern vehicles are equipped with camshaft and crankshaft position sensors that send data to the powertrain control module (PCM). The… Read More

Reading Time: 3 minutesA “no-start” condition isn’t uncommon. There’s a plethora of reasons why a vehicle wouldn’t start, and it can be hard… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen your ball joints start going bad, you’ll notice it pretty quickly. Maybe your steering feels a little loose, or… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesThe sway bar links are what keep the car level when you turn or hit uneven pavement. When one loosens… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesDon’t ignore problems like your vehicle’s steering feeling looser than usual or pulling slightly to one side. The steering rack… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesChanging transmission fluid isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of those line-items that quietly preserves shift quality, lowers heat, and delays… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesQ: What does a car transmission look like? A: The typical car transmission resembles a church bell. Its rear end… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesIn a manual transmission, the clutch can be found between the crankshaft and transmission housing. In an automatic transmission, the… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesNot all of your vehicle’s instrument panel lights should illuminate after you remove your key from the ignition.  The instrument… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesImagine driving about normally, when you notice lights flashing on your dashboard. It’s not just the check engine light. Other… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesBefore driving off, you may hear beeping or a chime and see a warning light on your dashboard signaling that… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe tire pressure information is usually printed on a placard or sticker visible when you open the driver’s door, but… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesYour vehicle’s fender liner shields the wheel wells from dirt, water, salt, and debris that would otherwise get flung into… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesTemperature affects tire pressure, changing how the tire performs and altering its service life. It’s vital to know what cold… Read More