Charley Helvy

How to

Test Glow Plugs

Glow plugs preheat the air in the combustion chamber in diesel engines so that they start faster when they are cold. If your engine is having trouble starting or you see smoke coming from your exhaust, then one or more o...

How to

Replace a Power Window Motor

If one of the power windows in your vehicle fails to function, it may be the result of a broken power window motor. If you have identified the motor as the culprit, replacing it is fairly straight forward, though it can...

White Smoke Coming From Your Exhaust? What You Need to Know

''Diagnose white smoke and get back on the road''Seeing a thin cloud of white smoke appear in the rearview mirror on a cold winter day is normal—in most cases, the smoke is just water vapor. However, if a thick, persi...

A Guide to High Oil Pressure: Symptoms & Service

Learn what’s making your “check oil light” turn on and how to protect your car when it happens So you’re cruising down the interstate and you see that pesky “check oil” light on your dash. You pull over wit...

How to Fix & Reset the Check Fuel Cap Light on a Honda Accord

Solve why your car's warning light is on with our troubleshooting guideIf your Honda Accord has a Check Fuel Cap light on the dashboard, it may mean there’s an issue with the EVAP emissions system. While the most com...

How to

Start a Diesel Truck

Gas powered engines and diesel powered engines ignite differently. Gas powered engines start when the fuel is ignited by a spark from a spark plug. In contrast, diesel engines are ignited by the heat caused by compressio...

How to

Change Glow Plugs

Diesel engines are designed different than gasoline-based engines. One of the most significant differences is diesel engines have glow plugs instead of spark plugs. Spark plugs create a spark that ignites the fuel to pow...

How to

Repair Electric Car Windows

A stuck car window could be as simple as a blown fuse or a loose connection. It is also possible that you have a faulty switch, especially if the window works on a hit and miss basis. Window motors go down sometimes as w...

How to Tell If the Coil Pack on Your Car is Failing

''Identify and fix a faulty ignition coil with this DIY guide''A vehicle’s coil pack, also known as the ignition coil, supplies the high-tension current needed to bring your car to life. Even though coil packs last as...

How to

Clean an Intercooler

An intercooler is an air cooling device often used on turbocharged or supercharged engines. It is usually located at the front of the vehicle behind the grill so air can flow into it. Over time, your intercooler may get ...

Understanding and Treating Engine Sludge: A Complete Guide

Learn why engine sludge forms & how to protect your engine from itEngine sludge is created by oil. When oil is exposed to the open air, it oxidizes and begins to turn into sludge. Engine oil sludge isn’t just an aesth...

How to

Clean Exhaust Manifolds

Both gas and diesel combustion engines have manifolds. There are intake and exhaust manifolds in cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boat engines. Air and fuel mixtures enter the engine through the intake manifold, and fuel e...

How to

Choose an Air Compressor

Choosing an air compressor can leave you feeling lost if you don't know what to look for. That's because air compressors power a wide range of tools over a wide range of applications. In order to get your air supply righ...

How to

Upgrade Your Suspension

So it's time to get new shocks, and you've decided to try to make some improvements while you are at it; or perhaps you have a car or truck which is being put to work, carrying heavier loads or doing some towing. In this...