Read Auto Repair Guides vetted by our Team of ASE-certified Master Automobile Technicians
Accessories
Reading Time: 5 minutes Roof racks are accessories that you can install on your vehicle’s roof. You can use them to carry extra cargo,… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutes Parking space is never a guarantee when you’re away from home. Whether you’re parking for a few minutes for a… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Power inverters are electronic devices that convert a car battery’s 12V DC (direct current) power source into a 110V or… Read More
Air Conditioning and Heating
Reading Time: 4 minutes Car swamp coolers, also known as evaporative coolers, are a cost-effective alternative to standard air conditioning for vehicles. Before modern… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes If there’s one thing you and your engine have in common, it’s that you both need clean air to function…. Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Car air conditioning (A/C) systems run on the power generated by the engine’s crankshaft. While this power allows the A/C… Read More
Ask CarParts.com
Reading Time: 2 minutes Q: 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 minute Q: 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 minutes Q: 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: 3 minutes For some people, driving has become a mundane and routine chore. However, identifying components can be challenging for a beginner…. Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Any issue related to your vehicle’s braking system is no joke. Your brakes are one of the most important safety… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes The braking system is one of the most important systems in your vehicle. When its parts are worn or inoperative,… Read More
Car Body
Reading Time: 3 minutes Rain guards, window rain guards, or wind deflectors are accessories that you can easily install on any vehicle. Rain guards… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Windshields, new and old, can develop dirty and oily films when the temperature gets too high. The heat burns the… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Rust is troublesome, especially on body panels or near suspension components. It can even compromise your vehicle’s structural integrity when… Read More
Car Lights
Reading Time: 5 minutes If one or all of your brake lights isn’t working, it can be a cause for alarm. After all, brake… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes An HID ballast is the component responsible for mediating the voltage and current of an HID bulb. It allows the… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Headlight seals, also known as headlight sealants or headlight sealers, are designed to keep moisture, dirt, and debris out of… Read More
Cooling System
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’re noticing dirty air filter symptoms on your daily drives, it’s probably time to switch out your engine air… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Also known as antifreeze, coolant is a type of fluid specifically designed to protect your engine from overheating while lubricating… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes The blower motor is one component that you might need to replace if the HVAC system isn’t working properly. Let’s… Read More
DIY
Reading Time: 4 minutes Consumers choose cars by carefully considering factors like cost, resale value, performance, and utility. But among these factors, fuel consumption… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Driving can become risky or uncomfortable when there’s something wrong with your car’s suspension system. If you’ve tried repairing any… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes The P01497 fault code has plagued many Mini Cooper S vehicles, particularly the 2008 and 2009 model years. But what… Read More
Drivetrain
Reading Time: 7 minutes It’s not the biggest part, but the axle can cause various problems for your ride if it’s damaged or broken…. Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Six-wheel drive refers to a vehicle configuration that uses six wheels instead of the standard four. This means these vehicles… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes The transfer case control module is one of the many computers in modern four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles, especially the models… Read More
Electrical System
Reading Time: 5 minutes A multifunction switch is actually a cluster of switches built into a single assembly. It typically includes the wiper/washer switch,… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutes Driving your BMW is a joy, but not if you can’t trust its fuel gauge readings. The inaccurate data can… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutes The light control module (LCM) controls the different lighting systems in a car, including the headlight, tail light, turn signals,… Read More
Engine
Reading Time: 2 minutes Most modern engines have variable valve timing (VVT), a feature designed to change an engine valve timing. Like other systems,… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes Rod knocks refer to an engine’s rhythmic thumping sounds as you drive. It commonly manifests when you rev up the… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Lifters are vital parts of your vehicle’s engine that do exactly as their name indicates. Formally called valve lifters and,… Read More
Exhaust System
Reading Time: 4 minutes The intake manifold sucks air from its surroundings and funnels it to the engine’s valvetrain. This airflow through the pipes… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Did you know there is a way to customize your vehicle’s auditory experience? If you’re a fan of muffler modifications,… Read More
Reading Time: 6 minutes If there’s oil leaking from your exhaust, think twice about driving your vehicle until you’ve fixed the issue. The cause… Read More
Ignition System
Reading Time: 5 minutes Finding yourself stranded with a dead vehicle battery caren be a nightmare. Perhaps you left your headlights on while at… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes A key fob is a small remote control that can unlock your vehicle’s doors, open the trunk, and start the… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes No one wants to find their vehicle missing because a thief stole it while you’re away. Older models are at… Read More
Interior
Reading Time: 4 minutes Most cars have a security alarm system that alerts everyone nearby when someone tries to break into the vehicle. However,… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes When milk goes bad, it develops an unpleasant, sour smell that can be hard to tolerate, especially in a confined… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Having clean car seats is about more than just keeping appearances. Clean car seats help prevent unpleasant odors, remove bacteria… Read More
Maintenance
Reading Time: 4 minutes Engine oil lubricates vital moving parts like the crankshaft and pistons, keeping them cool and friction-free. Unfortunately, oil eventually deteriorates,… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes Imagine you’re driving down the highway one day, completely at ease. There’s no traffic and a nice, empty road stretches… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Cars and their parts don’t last forever. Sooner or later, some components can wear out, get damaged, or malfunction. Some… Read More
OBD-II Trouble Codes
Reading Time: 3 minutes The P01497 fault code has plagued many Mini Cooper S vehicles, particularly the 2008 and 2009 model years. But what… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes Modern vehicles are equipped with camshaft and crankshaft position sensors that send data to the powertrain control module (PCM). The… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes A “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: 4 minutes Driving can become risky or uncomfortable when there’s something wrong with your car’s suspension system. If you’ve tried repairing any… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutes How does a torsion bar suspension work? What about leaf springs and coil spring suspensions? Your vehicle relies on these… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ball joints facilitate movement between your vehicle’s steering knuckles and upper and lower control arms. They’re an integral part of… Read More
Transmission
Reading Time: 4 minutes Consumers choose cars by carefully considering factors like cost, resale value, performance, and utility. But among these factors, fuel consumption… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutes Most modern manual transmission vehicles use a hydraulic clutch system. These systems rely on hydraulic pressure to function, meaning they… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’ve ever seen a clutch assembly drawing, you’ll notice that your vehicle’s clutch assembly has many different parts. Each… Read More
Warning Lights
Reading Time: 4 minutes You can get a lot of information from your vehicle’s dashboard because it holds crucial indicators, like your trip odometer,… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes Dashboard warning lights tend to vary in design depending on several factors, such as the car’s year, make, and model…. Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Driving with an overheated engine is a surefire way of damaging the mechanism. Fortunately, the engine temperature warning light will… Read More
Wheels and Tires
Reading Time: 4 minutes Don’t expect your new car’s tires to last long, no matter how premium they might feel. While some stock tires… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes As the contact point between your vehicle and the ground, your tires should always be in good condition. Over time,… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Tires are one of the many parts of your vehicle that require frequent replacements, mainly because they’re always coming into… Read More
Auto Repair
Reading Time: 4 minutes An engine is a complex machine with dozens of moving parts. The shafts, valves, pistons, and belts that move around… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes Most cars have a security alarm system that alerts everyone nearby when someone tries to break into the vehicle. However,… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes No one wants to find their vehicle missing because a thief stole it while you’re away. Older models are at… Read More
Reading Time: 3 minutes The transmission is part of the engine’s drivetrain, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels. Transmission gears allow… Read More
Reading Time: 4 minutes A tow hitch or tow hitch receiver is the component that allows a trailer to connect to your vehicle. There… Read More
Reading Time: 5 minutes If one or all of your brake lights isn’t working, it can be a cause for alarm. After all, brake… Read More