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: 5 minutesWhen your cabin air stops feeling truly cold, topping up refrigerant is only sometimes the answer. A modern automotive AC… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen your blower motor resistor goes bad, it messes up your entire heating and cooling system. Air might only blow… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesModern mobile A/C systems are unforgiving: swap the compressor without the right prep, and you can ruin a brand-new unit… 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: 6 minutesBrake fluid is cheap; the damage from neglecting it is not. Replacing a $10–$30 bottle of fluid at the right… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesMost drivers don’t think about their brake master cylinder until something feels off. Maybe you press the pedal and it… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesYour ABS speed sensor may be small, but its job is significant. It monitors how fast each wheel spins and… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesYour hood should swing open without any fuss, sit perfectly level with your fenders, and snap shut cleanly. There should… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesA wiper motor that slows down or stops mid-swipe can quickly turn a rainy drive into a hazard. When your… 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: 3 minutesA broken headlight bracket can cause problems for your vehicle. Once the bracket weakens or cracks, the headlight assembly can… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesParking lights may look simple, but once one fails, visibility drops quickly. Other drivers rely on these small lamps to… 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: 6 minutesEngines don’t fail because coolant “disappears”; they fail when coolant ages, turns acidic, and slowly eats metals from the inside… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesA thermostat is a small valve with a big job. It meters coolant so the engine warms quickly, runs in… 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 minutesYour hood should swing open without any fuss, sit perfectly level with your fenders, and snap shut cleanly. There should… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesA car strut is a long, tube-shaped part that looks like a thick metal stick. Most vehicle struts have a… Read More

Reading Time: 2 minutesFor some cars with built-in GPS trackers, the tracking device can be found under the dashboard near the OBD port…. Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesIf you’ve ever wondered what is an axle shaft, it’s the rotating rod that transfers power from your differential to… 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: 2 minutesFor some cars with built-in GPS trackers, the tracking device can be found under the dashboard near the OBD port…. 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 minutesAn accessory belt tensioner is a spring-loaded device that keeps the serpentine belt tight as it turns the alternator, air-conditioning… Read More

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen a variable timing solenoid begins sticking, clogging, or failing electrically, the engine often reacts quickly. Symptoms such as rough… Read More

Reading Time: 6 minutesOil capacity isn’t just a trivia number in your owner’s manual. It dictates how well your engine manages heat, maintains… Read More

Reading Time: 7 minutesAn EGR valve replacement is rarely anyone’s first choice; it usually comes up after weeks of rough running, a persistent… 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: 8 minutesA bad ignition coil often introduces itself quietly: a light stumble under load, a shaky idle, or a glowing check… Read More

Reading Time: 7 minutesA key stuck in the ignition is rarely random. Modern columns, shifters, steering locks, and anti-theft systems are designed to… Read More

Reading Time: 5 minutesA misfire, rough idle, or sluggish acceleration often points to tired plugs—and the bill can range widely. Spark plug replacement… 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: 2 minutesA car strut is a long, tube-shaped part that looks like a thick metal stick. Most vehicle struts have a… 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: 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: 5 minutesTire rotation isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about protecting a four-figure investment and the way your vehicle steers, brakes, and… 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