Reliable DIY auto repair guides by qualified auto technician John Cunningham.
Popular Sections
Body
Fix body-related problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
Body FAQ
- Are wiper blades universal?
- Are expensive wiper blades worth it?
- Can I put water in my windshield wiper?
Brakes
Fix brake problems, find tools and parts, and follow easy-stepped guides here.
- ABS
- ABS wheel speed sensor
- Air in brake lines
- Bedding in brakes
- Bleed brakes
- Bleed brakes without bleeder
- Bleed nipple
- Brake binding
- Brake booster
- Brake caliper
- Brake component location and function
- Brake fastener torque specs
- Brake fluid
- Brake fluid flush
- Brake lines
- Brake pads
- Brakes stopping abruptly
- Brakes smoking
- Brakes smoking on one side
- Brakes sensitive
- Brake repair terminology
- Brakes won’t bleed
- Brake warning lights
- Caliper loose
- Caliper replacement
- Caliper stuck on
- Caliper won’t go in
- Caliper won’t depress
- EPB won’t release
- Grinding noise
- Low brake fluid level
- Master cylinder
- No brakes after brake pad change
- Pad check
- Pad replacement – Front
- Pads won’t fit
- Proportional valve
- Rotors
- Rotor replacement – Front
- Rotor replacement – Rear
- Rotors won’t come off
- Rotors keep warping
- Spongy brakes after bleeding
- Wind back calipers without tool
- Wheel gets hot
- Wheel locks up
Brakes FAQ
- Are rotors hard to change?
- Are Autozone brakes good?
- Are Wilwood brakes worth it?
- Are Autozone pads good?
- Bleed all brakes when changing caliper?
- Can I drive with bad brakes?
- Can I drive with bad rotors?
- Can I change brake pads myself?
- Can I just add brake fluid?
- Disc brakes better than drum
- Do my brake pads need replacing?
- Do my brake rotors need replacing?
- Does Walmart fix brakes?
- How much are Wilwood brakes?
- How long should F150 brakes last?
- How to bleed brakes without bleeder?
- Is Wrench a reputable service?
- Will air in the brake lines go away?
- Will car brakes work without fluid?
- What causes a wheel to lock up?
- What causes a wheel to get hot?
- What low brake fluid level really means
- Why brakes drag
Climate Control
Fix HVAC problems, find tools and parts and easy-to-follow guides here.
- Air-locked coolant system
- Blocked A/C drain
- Blower motor fuse check
- Blower motor test
- Blower motor resistor test
- Blower motor relay test
- Bleed coolant system
- Cabin filter location
- Cabin filter replacement
- Car floor wet under mat
- Can I spray my cabin air filter?
- Coolant level check
- Coolant maintenance quick tips
- Heater core blocked
- Heating system overview
- Heater only works when driving
- Heater not blowing air
- Heater leak
- Heater valve faulty
- How do I turn on my car heater?
- No heat at idle
- Serpentine belt replacement
- Thermostat stuck open
- Windows fog up
- What if I don’t change cabin filter?
- Why is my dashboard clicking?
- Why some cars smell bad
- What’s the recirculation button?
- What’s climate auto setting?
- What’s air distribution?
Electrical
Fix Electrical gremlins, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
- Alternator replacement
- Alternator test
- Battery boost start
- Battery dead, can’t unlock car
- Battery terminal identification
- Battery testing
- Battery drain repair
- Battery replacement
- Brake lights on when headlights on
- Blower motor fuse check
- Blower motor test
- Blower motor resistor test
- Blower motor relay test
- Car battery keeps draining
- Car won’t start clicking noise
- Car won’t start but lights come on
- Car won’t start after vacation
- Car won’t honk?
- Cigarette lighter not working
- Dash lights flicker when car is off
- Engine won’t idle after battery change
- Electrical short repair
- Fuses keep blowing
- Headlight won’t stay on
- How to check fuel pump fuse?
- Honda Civic dead battery
- Key fob wet
- Wiring diagram reading
Electrical FAQs
- Are OBD scanners universal?
- Are long drives good for cars?
- How to find a short in a car?
- How hard to change a car battery?
- How long does an F150 battery last?
- How often to start a sitting car?
- How long to charge a battery driving?
- How to identify positive and negative battery terminals?
- Is ground same as negative?
Engine
Fix Engine problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
- Air filter replacement
- Are OBD scanners universal?
- Are cheap oil filters OK?
- Are Bosch spark plugs worth it?
- Are K&N filters worth it?
- Are car Air filters universal?
- Classic car misfire
- Can you drive with bad coolant sensor?
- Car making wind noise when accelerating
- Car overheats and shuts off
- Can I just add oil to my car?
- Check engine light on after oil change
- Car stops in water
- Car splutters after gas fill
- Car shaking when running
- Car won’t build boost
- Car flooded with gas
- Car won’t start, yellow engine light on
- Car feels sluggish
- Car won’t start after vacation
- Car won’t start but lights on
- Car won’t start clicking noise
- Car hard to start after sitting a few days
- Check engine light after oil change
- Can you start a car without a starter?
- Can I drive without serpentine belt?
- Can I drive with faulty coil pack?
- Clean & reuse car air filter?
- Does cars odometer reset with new engine?
- Engine leaking oil after oil change
- Engine sat for years won’t start
- Engine won’t idle after battery change
- How long for mechanic to change engine?
- How long can you drive with bad engine?
- Is it hard to replace car engine?
- Is top radiator supposed to be hot?
- Is it hard to change spark plugs?
- Is it hard to change your own oil?
- Low power symptoms
- Mass air flow sensor testing
- Maintenance tips to reduce costs
- MAF sensor – What is it?
- MAF sensor testing?
- Non runner
- Not starting and battery Okay
- Not Starting – clicking noise
- OBD scanner won’t turn on
- OBD won’t connect
- OBD won’t clear codes
- Older car with engine misfire
- Ok to add new oil without draining?
- Replace head gasket or engine?
- Should spark plugs be torqued?
- Starter motor diagnosis
- Starter motor replacement
- Turbocharger leak
- What scanner for Duramax?
- Why does car stop in water?
- Why is my car shaking?
- Will a blown engine crank?
- What causes car engine to fail?
- Why car overheats and shuts off?
- Why do cars overheat?
- Why is there transmission fluid in my coolant
- Worth fixing a blown head gasket?
Engine Cooling
Fix Cooling problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
- Adding coolant
- Are coolant and antifreeze the same?
- Air locked coolant system
- Bleeding coolant system
- Can I drive without a serpentine belt?
- Can I add water to Mercedes coolant?
- Can bad coolant sensor cause engine to stall?
- Can I drive without a thermostat?
- Car windows fog up when the heat is on
- Car heater only works when driving
- Can you drive with a bad coolant sensor?
- Coolant types
- Coolant maintenance quick tips
- Coolant level check
- ECT, how does it work?
- ECT replacement
- ECT testing
- Floor wet under mat
- Is it hard to change a radiator?
- Is the top rad hose supposed to be hot?
- No heat at idle
- Replace the head gasket or the engine?
- Serpentine belt replacement
- Symptoms of bad thermostat
- Thermostat, what does it do?
- Thermostat testing
- Transmission fluid In my coolant?
- Unplug coolant sensor, what happens?
- What is a thermostat?
- What to do when a car overheats?
- Why do cars overheat?
- Why do thermostats go bad?
- Worth fixing a car with blown head gasket?
Fuel System
Fix Fuel System problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
Ignition
Fix Ignition problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
Interior & Exterior Care
Show your ride the love, find tools and, materials, and easy-to-follow guides here.
Lights
Fix Light problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
Trouble Codes
Explanations, diagnosis, cause, and the fix for common OBD trouble codes here.
- Are OBD scanners universal?
- Check engine light after oil change
- How to read and clear fault codes (video)
- OBD won’t connect
- OBD won’t clear codes
- OBD trouble codes index page
- OBD scanner won’t turn on
- Recommended OBD2 code reader
- What scanner for Duramax?
Wheels & Tires
Fix Wheel & Tire problems, find tools and parts, and easy-to-follow guides here.
- Calibrate the TPS system
- Tire pressure – check/add
- Tire valve replacement
- Tire rotation guide
- Torque wrench adjustment and use
- Changing a wheel
- Wheel tighten
- Wheel won’t come off
Wheels & Tires FAQ
- Goodyear Vs. Bridgestone tire
- Is changing a flat tire hard?
- 1/2 inch or 3/8 in for lug nuts?
- Should I buy tires from Tire Rack?
- Should I buy tires on Amazon?
- Should I buy tires from Discount Tire?
- Should I buy tires at Walmart?
- Should I buy used tires?
- Should I buy tires online?
- Will Walmart fit tires?
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John Cunningham is an Automotive Technician and writer on Rustyautos.com. He’s been a mechanic for over twenty-five years and has worked for GM, Volvo, Volkswagen, Land Rover, and Jaguar dealerships.
John uses his know-how and experience to write fluff-free articles that help fellow gearheads with all aspects of vehicle ownership, including maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting.