The first serpentine belt was used in a Mercedes Benz in 1985. The serpentine belt is also known as the multi-v, poly-v, or multi-rib belt. It is a belt that drives several peripheral devices in vehicle’s engine. Some of these peripheral devices include the water pump, the alternator, the power steering pump, the A/C compressor, and the air pump. The serpentine belt may be guided by an idler pulley and/or a belt tensioner. These [...]

The timing belt is an important part of the engine function, because it is responsible for helping the crankshaft drive the camshaft. The camshaft is then able to open and close the valves in a carefully timed fashion; Thus the name “timing belt.” When examining the timing belt, you should be looking for cracks, shredding, fraying, or looseness. If there is any oil leaking nearby, that could drastically reduce its longevity in the motor. [...]

The fuel injector is a part common to all vehicles sold in the last several decades. The fuel injector is a valve responsible for delivering the gas, or other type of fuel, to be mixed with air and burned in the engine. This needs to be done with precision and timing. So, the fuel injector needs to be functioning properly. For each cylinder in your vehicle’s engine, there is also a fuel injector. Generally, [...]

If you are like many people in the state, you’ll need a Utah auto repair center to install a transmission cooler for you. If, on the other hand, you have the tools, equipment, and a little expertise, you can install the transmission cooler yourself. With the front end of the car raised securely, you will need to start by taking off the lower air dam at the base of the radiator. If you plumb [...]

The clutch is an important part of a vehicle’s construction. It has distinctive sounds and signs when it is going out. If you know how to recognize these sounds and signs, you can save yourself a lot more hassle and expense later on by catching it early. A slipping clutch can be diagnosed rather easily. Drive the vehicle in a lower gear than the speed necessitates. You’ll know the clutch is slipping if the [...]

If you suspect your starter needs some repair, you may be able to check it out yourself. Keep in mind, however, that if the car wouldn’t start after a drop in outside temperatures, it may actually be something with your ignition or fuel system. If the car won’t start, you also don’t want to go straight to jumping it. If the engine is tight or seized, or if the crankcase oil is too thick, [...]

Is your fuel efficiency dropping? Is your engine performance decreasing? Are your emissions getting dirty? You may have buildup on your fuel injectors. After purchasing a fuel injector cleaning kit, you’ll need to start with the engine off. Using your auto manual, locate the fuel injectors. You’ll need to prevent fuel from going into the engine when you start it. So you can either place tubing from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet [...]

Unless you like the idea of getting a ticket for driving with a broken headlamp, you want to make sure you change your headlight bulbs as soon as they burn out. Even if you aren’t worried about getting a ticket, you will have people flashing their brights at you and could even get in an accident, if its dark enough. If you’re putting it off because you think it may be too difficult or [...]

Many manufacturers state that their cars do not require a fuel filter change. This is not the best advice. Every 50,000 miles, all fuel filters should ideally be changed. Once the car is about 7 years old or older, the rust and other contaminants build up faster. So, you should change the fuel filter every year. While each vehicle is different, and your auto manual may indicate somewhat different instructions, you can generally follow [...]

If you notice that your old parking brake just doesn’t seem to be doing its job anymore, you may need to adjust it manually. Most modern parking brakes have a self-adjusting mechanism, but over time, even these can use a little help. If your vehicle is a pedal type, you can follow a few simple steps to do the job yourself.