Electrical fuses protect vulnerable electrical circuits from shorts and burnt wiring. There is basically only one way a fuse can fail and that is, for at least a second there was a short circuit to ground that caused the fuse to blow. Most vehicles fuse panels are located under the hood or under the dash and is labeled with specific amperage ratings and the circuit the fuse protects. Always replace failed fuses with the proper amp fuse, not doing so can result in electrical system damage.

Front brake pads provide up to 70% of vehicle stopping power. In general, front brake pads wear out twice as fast as rear brake pads, 2 to 1. Disc brakes have a definite braking power advantage over drum style brakes and performance is not compromised as much when wet. Some disc brakes utilize cooling fins in-between the braking surfaces to maximize cooling efficiency. Replacing brake discs can vary depending on the make and model of car or truck, two wheel or four wheel drive. Always replace brake rotors with top quality or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) brake rotors, some less expensive brake rotors can squeak and not dissipate heat as well because of there inferior metal quality. (Always wear protective safety goggles and gloves before work begins) (READ COMPLETELY BEFORE STARTING!)

Most vehicles have ignition systems and a throttle bore. The vehicle's ignition system is the component that ignites the fuel air mixture inside the combustion chamber. When an ignition system fails it can cause various symptoms such as stalling, rough engine under power, service engine light (check engine) and complete engine shut down. Be sure to keep your vehicle's engine and fuel system clean to assure the proper operation of your vehicle. This step by step instruction is characteristic of today's ignition and air intake systems. Most vehicles today need a tune up every 35,000 to 65,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

Changing the fluid in the transmission in your vehicle promotes proper operation and helps the transmission last longer without failure. All car manufacturers have different service intervals for your particular transmission in your car. In a typical transmission service; the fluid is completely flushed, a filter is changed, the transmission pan is cleaned and new pan gasket installed. When refilling use manufacturer specified fluids.

Rear disc brake pads offer better performance and aren't as effected as conventional brake shoe style brakes. Rear disc brakes are similar to front disc brakes, the main difference is that rear disc brake systems must incorporate the emergency brake system. There are two methods widely used for the emergency brake with rear disc systems, the first system is a brake shoe inside the brake disc that is actuated by the emergency brake lever. The second is a screw style actuator inside the brake caliper. When activated the brake pads are forced into the brake disc and held tightly by the emergency brake lever.

Replacing Rear Brake Pads and Rotors - Continued

About half of the car manufacturers still use drum style rear brakes, drum brakes are not as efficient as disc brake systems but drum brakes are easily produced and can be used on the rear of a vehicle since only about 30% of the braking is performed by the rear brakes. Rear brake shoes are more difficult to service when worn and may require special tools to service. Rear brake shoes performance is more effected by water and rain, the braking ability is greatly compromised when wet. Full braking ability will not return until fully dry.

Electric Power Windows Servicing an electrical system should be performed by a certified automotive professional only! Always wear protective safety goggles and gloves before work begins. For those of us that have had manual windows, power windows are a blessing when you are draped over the passenger side trying to roll down the window to talk to your friend as you leave from the curb. But when electric windows stop working were do you look?. The window is controlled by three main parts, the window motor, the window regulator, the part that holds the window and the control switch. When you move the switch one way or the other an electrical current is sent the window motor that will force the window to go up or down depending on the direction of the switch. Most window control systems are powered by a thermo fuse, a thermo fuse will cut power to the window circuit if to much electrical draw is being used. This serves as a safety device and helps keep the wiring from over loading do to over usage. (READ COMPLETELY BEFORE STARTING!)

Wear protective eye wear and clothing and remove all jewelry when checking your battery and charging system. Jewelry is a good conductor of electricity and is not recommended. Most batteries wear out every 3 to 5 years and need to be replaced. Always replace your battery with an equal replacement battery to assure proper operation. Automotive batteries have a +positive terminal (red), - negative terminal (black). The battery in this illustration has a protective cover over the positive terminal to prevent short circuit in case of an accident. Electricity is stored in the battery and then supplied to the vehicle when the engine is not running. While the engine is running the vehicles alternator charges the battery for future use.

How to Change an Automotive Air Filter A vehicle's air filter is a replaceable cleansing unit. In most cases an air filter can be replaced in under 5 minutes. The air cleaner in your car or truck should be changed every 3,000 miles or sooner depending on driving conditions. Changing your air filter is easy! Remember, always use protective eye wear and gloves when doing any car repair. First locate the air filter housing; this is where the air filter element resides. To locate the air filter housing look for the engine air intake tube. Next, remove the air filter housing retainer clips or screws and remove the air filter housing top. Replace the old air filter with a new air filter and reassemble. (Note: be sure you clean out any leaves or debris inside the air filter housing upon reassembly)