A shock is a suspension component that controls the up-and-down motion of a vehicle's wheels. Though the devices provide some shock absorption, the job of absorbing shocks is actually handled mostly by the springs. More accurately referred to as dampers, shocks reduce excessive motion,...
Intervals of oil changes vary by manufacturer and engines, so consult your owner's manual or maintenance schedule to see how often to change the oil in your vehicle and what type of oil to use. You may be surprised. We were surprised to learn that a Camry's 2.5-liter engine requires 0W-20...
The fuel pump sends fuel from your car's gas tank to its engine. Fuel pumps are usually electrically powered and located directly in or on the fuel tank. The ease and cost of replacement depends on the car's design, and the decision to replace it should be undertaken only after...
The drive belt is a reinforced rubber belt that allows the engine's rotating crankshaft to drive components such as water pumps, alternators, air-conditioning compressors, power-steering pumps or superchargers. Your car may use separate belts for one or more components or hit multiple...
A drive axle is essentially a half axle, so named because it does half of the job, extending from a transaxle or differential to one of the wheels. Its twin on the other side completes the set. Because they're simply shafts, half shafts age well, but the joints that connect them on either...
The air-conditioning condenser is a radiator positioned between the car's grille and the engine-cooling radiator in which the gaseous refrigerant sheds heat and returns to a liquid state. The liquid refrigerant flows to the evaporator inside the dashboard, where it cools the cabin. Is your car not...
The check engine light warns drivers that something is wrong and occurs when the computer issues an error message. What does it mean when my check engine light comes on? A glowing check engine light means that the onboard diagnostic system has detected a problem affecting the emission...
The catalytic converter is part of your car's emissions systems, and it plays a crucial role. It's located upstream of the muffler, close to the engine, and it changes environmentally damaging pollutants in the exhaust stream into more benign gases. Under extreme heat, precious...
Subject to tremendous friction and heat, brake pads wear down and must be replaced as part of a car's regular maintenance. In disc-brake systems, the brake pads are the friction material the caliper squeezes against the rotating disc, or rotor, to slow the wheel's rotation and stop the car. In drum...
Ball joints act like hinges and connect the suspension control arms to the steering knuckles with a rotating, spherical stud and a socket, giving the wheels a wide range of movement -- from side to side for steering, and up and down for going over bumps. Some cars have upper and lower front...
An automatic transmission is one that doesn't require the driver to shift gears manually. There are more types of automatic transmissions than ever before, including conventional torque-converter step-gear automatics, dual-clutch automatics (sometimes called automated manuals), continuously...
The timing belt is a notched rubber belt, sometimes called a Gilmer belt. This belt allows the crankshaft to drive the camshaft, which in turn opens and closes the valves. Without this belt, the engine can't run. How do I know it's time to replace my timing belt? A loose or worn belt...
Spark plugs screw into the top of an engine's cylinders to create the electric spark required to ignite the compressed air-fuel mixture in gas-powered engines. The right type of plug and the size of the gap between the electrodes at the tip are specified by the automaker, and using the...
The head gasket not only contains the pressure of controlled explosions within the cylinders, but it also isolates the cylinders, oil and cooling channels from each other. It provides a seal between the engine block and the head that caps the cylinders.
How do I know it's time to replace my head...
Air filters reside in the air-intake system, and they're there to catch dirt and other particles before they can damage internal engine parts. Engine air filters are usually made of paper, although some are made of cotton or other materials, and they should be replaced according to your...