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 Replacing the thermostat on a 2002 Toyota Celica involves a few steps. The thermostat regulates engine temperature by controlling coolant flow, and a faulty one can cause overheating or poor heater performance. Tools & Materials Needed : New thermostat (OEM recommended) Gasket or sealant (if required) Socket wrench set (10mm socket) Drain pan Coolant (Toyota-approved) Pliers Screwdriver Rag or shop towels Steps to Replace the Thermostat 1. Preparation Ensure the engine is completely cool before starting. Disconnect the negative battery terminal for safety. Raise the front of the car using a jack and secure it with jack stands (optional but helpful). 2. Drain the Coolant Place a drain pan under the radiator. Open the radiator drain plug (bottom of the radiator) and let the coolant drain. You may also need to loosen the radiator cap for faster draining. 3. Locate the Thermostat Housing Follow the lower radiator hose to where it connects to the engin...

Know What Is Car Insurance Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage: Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car. Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage. Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses. An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverage's. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements. Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your pre...

Car Care Articles Get the answers you need from ASE, the industry expert in vehicle repair. The most common question we hear from consumers is, “What do I need to do to take care of my car and avoid big repair bills?” Fortunately, the answer is simple: Establish and follow a regular vehicle maintenance plan. A maintenance plan is essential for protecting your automotive investment and maximizing the reliability and safety of your vehicle. Start with reading your vehicle owner’s manual, where you’ll find the automaker’s recommendations and maintenance schedules based on your driving patterns and habits. Next, you’ll need to find a good repair shop. Whether a shop is connected to a new car dealership, part of a national chain or an independent service provider, the most important thing to look for is whether they have ASE-certified technicians on staff. You’ll also need to know how to communicate properly and effectively to avoid misunderstandings that can incr...

Don't Let Car Troubles Ruin Your Holiday Travels Fall presents ideal time for car service and maintenance As the holidays approach, motorists should make certain their vehicle is up to the rigors of winter travel. Autumn has traditionally been a busy time for carcare activities. Whether you do your own maintenance or depend on the pros, fall service let's you undo the wear and tear of summer's tough conditions while getting ready for colder weather ahead. The following tips from the experts at the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) should give you a road map to fall car care. According to officials at ASE, "Cold weather will only make existing problems worse. A breakdown, while never pleasant, can be deadly in the winter." First things first Read your owner's manual and follow the manufacturer's recommended service schedules. Engine Performance Get engine driveability problems (hard starts, rough idling,...

ASE: What's in It for Car Owners ASE Certification Program Helps Take the Guesswork Out of Finding a Good Technician Finding a competent auto technician need not be a matter of chance. Much of the guesswork has been eliminated, thanks to the national program conducted by the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE tests and certifies automotive professionals in all major technical areas of repair and service. With more than 300,000 currently certified professionals, the ASE program is national in scope and has industry-wide acceptance and recognition. ASE-certified technicians and parts specialists can be found at every type of repair facility, from dealerships, service stations, and franchises to parts stores, independent garages, and even municipal fleets. Certification Benefits Motorists ASE certifies the technical competence of individual technicians, not repair facilities. Before taking ASE certification tests, many technicians att...

End of Summer Marks Perfect Time for Car Care Preventative maintenance now can help ensure worry-free driving this winter The vacations are over, the kids are back in school and cooler evenings have begun. Take advantage of the lull to prepare your vehicle for the winter ahead, advise the pros and the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Breakdowns, never convenient, can be dangerous in cold weather period. The following tips from ASE should give parent and student alike a road map to fall car care. First things first Read your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommended service schedules. There are usually two schedules listed: normal and severe. Engine Performance Have engine driveability problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) corrected at a good repair shop. Cold weather will make existing problems worse. Replace dirty filtersair, fuel, PCV, etc. Fuel Put a bottle of fuel de-icer in...

Gas-Saving Tips for Your Auto While it is always wise to conserve natural resources, the recent price of gasoline has made even the most wasteful people think twice. Whatever your motivation, here are some gas saving tips from the pros at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Monitor tires.  Under inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. (Let the tires cool down before checking the air pressure.) Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned by a professional. Remove excess weight.  Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle. Store only essentials in the trunk. Less weight means better mileage. Consolidate trips and errands.  Some trips may be unnecessary. Also, try to travel when traffic is light so you can avoid stop-and-go conditions. Avoid excessive idling.  Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and family. Observe speed limits.  Speedin...

Smart Cars, Smarter Technicians Today's vehicles are sophisticated and complex machines. The average car has 6-20 computers that help manage everything from the sunroof to anti-lock braking system (ABS) to the electronically controlled transmission (ECT). And the technicians who service the vehicles need to be technologically savvy like never before. The increasing demand for automotive technicians combined with good salaries make this a career choice that neither students, parents nor guidance counselors should ignore. Alan Cherko, a shop owner in the Los Angeles area, says the potential exists for individuals who work hard at educating and certifying themselves to make "upwards of $80-100,000 per year." Cherko adds that "a willingness to continue education and pursue voluntary on-the-job training" helps put young technicians on the fast track. Students who want to become automotive technicians can usually begin their careers after two years of stu...

National Standards Help Consumers Locate Qualified Automotive Technicians Car owners know they should keep their vehicles in good operating condition, but often they do not know where to turn for dependable service or what to look for in a repair shop. Some choose a repair shop based solely on its convenient location or an advertised special. Not the best move, according to officials with the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, also known as ASE. “Look for the ASE sign,” says Tony Molla, vice president of communications at ASE. “It indicates the repair shop employs one or more ASE-certified technicians.” Molla emphasizes that finding a competent auto technician need not be a matter of chance. Much of the guesswork has been eliminated, thanks to a national program conducted by ASE: “Qualified technicians are the backbone of any repair establishment,” he adds. ASE tests and certifies automotive professionals in all major technical areas of repair an...

Don't Overlook Automotive Technology as a High-Tech Career Path Parents and students should take a second look at automotive repair, a high-tech career that is always in demand and can’t be outsourced overseas. Parents, if becoming an automotive technician is not high on your list of career choices for your child, perhaps it’s time to look again. Officials with the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) — the independent group that tests and certifies the competence of auto technicians nationally — note that automotive service and repair has changed dramatically in just the span of a generation. High-tech systems unheard of 30 years ago are now standard equipment on much of the nation’s fleet of vehicles: stability and traction control systems, adaptive cruise control and variable valve timing, just to name a few. And more changes are on the way: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles are commonplace; hydrogen fuel cell and other alte...

Sputters and shakes when accellerating 2001 volvo v70. The car shakes and sputters when accelerating from 0 to 35 mph. Also the abs light and check engine light flashes really fast. There was also a slight metallic/rubber smell. You have an engine misfire....unless you have expertise in this area you need to see your local shop as you will damage your catalytic converter if you continue to drive.  Check the Coil Pack Rubber insulator boots. If you have one that is torn that will cause your problem. The Boots are only $8.50 each through IPD. Sputtering is more than likely a bad ignition coil. If the MIL (check engine light) is flashing it indicates possible damage to the cat converter. LOTS of coil problems on these cars-Replace them all unless you want to keep bringing it back for the next year. ABS is probably a module. Volvo has lots of issues with this. The ABS/Tracs control module has solder joints that go bad in the control module 99% of the time it is th...

Troubleshoot Automatic Climate Control System Today's automatic climate control systems allow hands-free temperature regulator, whether hot or cold. Once you set a temperature on your car's automatic climate control system, it should maintain that temperature regardless of what's going on outside. HOW AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL DIFFERS FROM MANUAL AIR CONDITIONING Manual air conditioning systems are just what the name implies: they require he A/C temperature settings to be adjusted manually. Manual A/C systems have an on-off switch, a temperature control knob or slide switch and a knob or switch for adjusting fan speed. With a manual A/C system, you turn on the A/C when you want cool air and select a temperature setting and blower speed. If the air gets too cold, you turn down the blower speed or change the position of the temperature setting. If the air isn't cold enough, you crank it all the way up. The temperature slide switch on most manual systems is ...

R-1234yf Refrigerant For Your Car Auto makers are slowly moving toward a new refrigerant for automotive air conditioning systems. The new refrigerant is R-1234yf (HFO-1234yf), and it will be phased in slowly over time starting with some 2014 model year vehicles. R-1234yf has cooling properties that are similar to R-134a, which has been used as an automotive refrigerant since it was introduced back in 1994 to 1995 to replace R-12. R-134a contains no CFCs, which are harmful to the Earth’s protective ozone layer, but it does retain heat well and has a relatively high Global Warming Potential (GWP) rating of 1410. IMPACT ON GLOBAL WARMING Automotive refrigerants that leak out of A/C systems contribute very little to the overall global warming problem, only about 0.14% according to scientific estimates. Even so, when you multiply the millions of vehicles that are AC-equipped times even a small amount of refrigerant leakage over time, the numbers can add up. Some would argue ...

HOW CAN TRUST MY CAR REPAIR MECHANIC CAR MECHANIC COMPLAINT BOX Q: Having trouble with a mechanic who had worked on my auto. I am seeking organizations or some place that keeps files on bad mechanics. He operates out of three businesses that are cash only operations. Also, the mechanic had made additional repairs without my knowledge and charged me extra! I to had paid the mechanic, but instead of getting a receipt I got a deposit slip. I am being taken advantage of! I do not know where to turn to? Please Help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A: Very Sad to here that.I dont know why these helpers forget there aim " Honesty is the Best Policy". We all are public helpers and for the public. I know why he only took cash! He hadn’t had time to get a checking account for his three businesses. No wait! To open a checking account for a business the company name has to be registered with the state before the bank will allow the account to be opened. Oh, he had three businesses, it...