Warning lights
If your car’s going to have a problem, chances are it’s going to happen out on the road. Most likely, the first indication you’ll have of a problem is a warning light on the dashboard. Sometimes, these take the form of the ubiquitous check engine light. If so, you’ll need
Compression testing
Oftentimes, when dealing with more advanced engine diagnostics, you’ll hear people talking about testing compression. It’s actually not a difficult process, and it can tell you a lot about what’s going on inside your engine. But, what is compression? Compression is the measure of the compressive force generated by the
Engine swap basics
As many automotive DIY-ers eventually do, I’m currently knee-deep in my first engine swap. In my case, I’m not going for an exotic swap to win points at a car show. I’m also not building an sleeper that’ll win at the drag strip. I’m just doing a one-for-one swap to
Modern exhaust layout and function
Let’s take a moment to talk about your car’s exhaust system. Unless you’re into a full aftermarket exhaust swap, it’s probably one of those out of sight, out of mind sort of things. It doesn’t generally require and cleaning or maintenance, and when parts wear out or break, you simply
When good tires go bad
I was on my way into work last week when I got stuck behind a landscaper’s in the right lane. The truck was moving a bit slower than the rest of traffic and was hauling an open trailer full of equipment. No matter, I figured. I wasn’t really in a
Replacing Tie Rods
As you know from my last post, my car failed inspection due to excessive play in the front end, which I later traced to the tie rods. So, I decided to spend the rest of the weekend fixing the problem. I was able to locate a set of new inner
When to start with DIY work
Like me, a lot of my friends are seasoned do-it-yourselfers, and drove beater cars through college, making repairs themselves when they broke down. Eventually, many of them moved on to brand new cars. Still, they like to handle at least some of the work themselves. The question, then, is what
Basics to Keep in the Car
Nobody likes being stuck on the side of the road. Sometimes it’s the result of a catastrophic breakdown. Other times, it’s because of something relatively simple. It would be nice to avoid that situation. With this simple and handy list, you might be able to get yourself moving again. For