Read Auto Repair Guides vetted by our Team of ASE-certified Master Automobile Technicians
Accessories
Reading Time: 4 minutesA cracked or sun-damaged dashboard is one of those interior problems that’s hard to ignore once you notice it, and… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesA damaged or missing window visor becomes a problem as soon as you drive in rain, wash your vehicle, or… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesThere’s something satisfying about upgrading your vehicle yourself, and installing chrome fender trim is one of those projects that delivers… Read More
Air Conditioning and Heating
Reading Time: 7 minutesIf your car’s A/C needs attention, start with a few simple checks. Look at the airflow first, then make sure… 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
Ask CarParts.com
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
Braking System
Reading Time: 7 minutesA brake booster replacement looks straightforward until the part arrives, and something doesn’t match. The pushrod is too short. The… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutesThere are two common types of car brakes: disc brakes and drum brakes, which can both look different. However, they… 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
Car Body
Reading Time: 6 minutesOrdering a bumper step pad sounds simple until the package arrives and the bolt holes land in the wrong places,… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesRust around the wheel arches never stays small for long. A paint bubble above the tire eventually eats through the… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesTo change door glass in a door, remove the door panel, separate the glass from the window regulator, lift the… Read More
Car Lights
Reading Time: 6 minutesMost headlight switch orders go wrong before the old one is even unbolted. Someone sees a knob that looks right,… Read More
Reading Time: 7 minutesA bumper reflector seems like the simplest part of the car. It doesn’t move and just sits in the bumper… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesHigh-quality fog lights are worth the investment because fog-light performance comes down to beam control, sealing, heat management, and fitment,… Read More
Cooling System
Reading Time: 5 minutesA failing fan clutch doesn’t give much warning. The temperature gauge creeps higher in stop-and-go traffic. The AC blows warm… Read More
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn some vehicles, the heater coreis located inside the cabin on the passenger’s side. It’s typically behind the dashboard, but… 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
DIY
Reading Time: 6 minutesPositive crankcase ventilation is the controlled path that evacuates blow-by gases and oil vapor from the crankcase and routes them… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutesManual and automatic transmissions are both solid choices, but neither is universally better. Automatics usually fit modern commuting and traffic… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesTo change door glass in a door, remove the door panel, separate the glass from the window regulator, lift the… Read More
Drivetrain
Reading Time: 8 minutesA locking hub isn’t the kind of part you can match by eyeballing a thumbnail and hoping for the best…. Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesA transfer case motor looks like a simple bolt-on. The thumbnails on any parts site reinforce that: small black electric… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesIf you’re trying to figure out where the 4WD actuator is located, the short answer depends on your drivetrain design…. Read More
Electrical System
Reading Time: 7 minutesA deep cycle car battery delivers steady power over extended periods and bounces back from repeated discharge cycles, making it… 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
Engine
Reading Time: 9 minutesA valve cover gasket looks like one of the simplest parts on the engine, and that’s exactly why it trips… Read More
Reading Time: 7 minutesA car air pump, formally called asecondary air injection pump and often nicknamed a smog pump, is a component bolted… Read More
Reading Time: 8 minutesAn intake manifold isn’t a part most people order on impulse. But it’s one that frequently lands in the wrong… Read More
Exhaust System
Reading Time: 9 minutesAn EGR valve is one of the easiest parts to order wrong. Not because the part itself is complicated, but… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesA cracked exhaust manifold does more than raise the noise level. It can skew oxygen sensor readings, trigger a check… 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
Ignition System
Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen an automatic won’t start, the key is splitting the problem into two categories before you touch anything: no-crank or… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen a starter begins to fail, you’re usually already annoyed: the car cranks slowly, clicks, or refuses to turn at… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesThere’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling when your key won’t turn in the ignition. Maybe you’re already late for… Read More
Interior
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
Maintenance
Reading Time: 9 minutesIf your vehicle uses hydraulic or electro-hydraulic steering assist, a fluid flush replaces most of the old hydraulic fluid so… 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
OBD-II Trouble Codes
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
Suspension
Reading Time: 8 minutesAn air suspension compressor isn’t a part you want to order twice. It’s one of the higher-dollar components in the… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen a control arm starts clunking or your tires wear in weird patterns, the noise isn’t the only thing that… 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
Transmission
Reading Time: 7 minutesA clutch replacement is one of those jobs where the cheapest-looking cart is rarely the correct one. Shoppers open a… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutesManual and automatic transmissions are both solid choices, but neither is universally better. Automatics usually fit modern commuting and traffic… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen a transmission fails, the real question is not whether it must be fixed, but whether the car is worth… Read More
Warning Lights
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
Wheels and Tires
Reading Time: 5 minutesInstalling a spare tire carrier is one of the more useful upgrades a truck or SUV owner can make. It… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesIf your tire pressure light has been on for weeks even after you’ve checked your tires, you’re probably not worried… 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
Auto Repair
Reading Time: 8 minutesA locking hub isn’t the kind of part you can match by eyeballing a thumbnail and hoping for the best…. Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesMost headlight switch orders go wrong before the old one is even unbolted. Someone sees a knob that looks right,… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesOrdering a bumper step pad sounds simple until the package arrives and the bolt holes land in the wrong places,… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutesA transfer case motor looks like a simple bolt-on. The thumbnails on any parts site reinforce that: small black electric… Read More
Reading Time: 7 minutesA clutch replacement is one of those jobs where the cheapest-looking cart is rarely the correct one. Shoppers open a… Read More
Reading Time: 9 minutesA valve cover gasket looks like one of the simplest parts on the engine, and that’s exactly why it trips… Read More























































