I recently had to replace a 2006 Kia Spectra radiator that was leaking and so wrote this post to help anyone who has the same problem. I made a video of removing and installing it which is at the bottom of this post. The radiator was leaking at the top which at first I thought was… Read More »
Anyone who has an engine light come on will no doubt like to know what the problem is. The standard way is to use an OBD2 scan tool which will give the error code which can then be looked up. But what if you dont have a scan tool? Most vehicles have a built-in diagnostic… Read More »
Recently I began to have fuel problems on a 1978 Dodge truck. I did all the obvious things such as changing out the fuel filter and pump which at first seemed to solve the problem but it came back. Finally I pulled out the fuel tank sending unit which was rusted up good clogging up the lines.… Read More »
Checking the power steering fluid on a 1998 – 2005 VW Passat is not difficult and falls in the do-it-yourself category. A special type of steering fluid is needed so be sure not to use any other fluid type. After reading online and asking around I found the type used is called Pentosin Power Steering Fluid… Read More »
A car or truck engine light can come on for many reasons, from a loose gas cap to a more serious engine problem. Clearing an engine light can be done in a few ways depending on the vehicle. Keep in mind unless the problem if fixed more than likely the engine light will come back on.… Read More »
Having an OBD2 scan tool is useful in many situations when an engine light comes on. But what if you dont have a scan tool and need to know the code? Many vehicles has a built-in diagnostic that will give the code as I recently found out with Dodge cars and trucks. I haven’t tried… Read More »
Testing a car or truck battery health can be done a few ways with most using a multi-meter to check the voltage. If more information is needed on the state of a 12-volt automotive battery, testers can be used which give much more information. One such unit is the TT TOPDON ArtiBattery 101 which can do… Read More »
A video review is at the bottom of the post. The KW680 OBDII automotive scan tool is a popular low-cost unit. It can read and clear a vehicles engine codes and is easy to use which makes it a good unit for home users or backyard mechanics. This unit was sent to me to review with… Read More »
12 Volt air compressors are good to have in an emergency or any time something needs air. Besides car tires they can be used to air up most anything from an air mattresses to a football. Audew makes a few 12 volt units including the 2791 model. It is a small unit built to be carried… Read More »
Air compressors come in all shapes and sizes from big industrial units to small portable models. Having a compressor for home use is always a good idea and will come in handy in many situations. Below is some of our picks for good home units. In full disclosure some of these units have been sent… Read More »
Having a good OBD2 scan tool goes a long way to help troubleshoot a vehicle problem and point to the repair needed. There are many good OBD2 scanners to use that come with different menus, features, and price ranges. Often what works for one person may not work for another so below we list our favorite… Read More »
Having a good tire inflator with a built-in gauge to see the air pressure is ideal in many situations. From having a spare tire that has deflated to airing up a bicycle tire having a good working inflator is invaluable. Below is some of our picks for small units that work well. As always be… Read More »
Portable car battery smart jump starters have become popular in recent years. Smart jump starters are a great item in a emergency when a battery has lost its charge. Modern day devices from smartphones to laptops can drain a battery leaving a user in need of a jump which makes emergency jump kits a good item… Read More »
The Audew is an Emergency Power Bank with a vehicle Battery Jump Starter that is easy to store away until needed. This makes it a good unit in many scenarios from camping to simply storing away in the trunk for an emergency battery boost. It can charge almost any device from a smartphone to a laptop along… Read More »
OBDII WiFi adapters for cars and trucks that send information to a smartphone have become very popular. They are low-cost units that can do anything a standalone OBDII unit can do at a much lower cost. They are also simple to use with many Apps available for both Android and Apple smartphones. The Globmall Trekpow is… Read More »
OBD2 Bluetooth WiFi dongles have become very popular since they are low cost and work well. There are many to choose from with most using the Torque App or similar. One of the more frustrating things is using one and getting No Bluetooth or WiFi Device Selected error code. Below are the steps to connect to… Read More »
Vacuum leaks that give Evap codes can be a pain to find at times and cause an engine to not run correctly. If the leak is small enough it can often be ignored but an engine light will come on which is not good in many scenarios. An Evap Smoke machine is an easy answer to… Read More »
Spray On Bed Liner is very popular since it has a good look, is very durable, and falls into the DIY category. This makes it perfect for many trucks that need the bed liner protected and also look good at the same time. While a truck can be take to an auto body shop to be… Read More »
Replacing the Headlight Bulb on a 2004-2008 Chevy Malibu is an easy task that falls into the DIY category. Of course always call a professional if in doubt. Below are the steps with screenshots to replace it along with a video at the bottom of the page if needed for a visual walk through. Steps… Read More »
replacing the Headlight Bulb on a 2002-09 GMC Envoy, Envoy XL XUV is not difficult and falls into the DIY category. As always if in doubt take your vehicle to a professional. Below are the steps with screenshots to replace them along with a video if needed for a visual walk through. Steps to Install… Read More »
Since their introduction OBD2 Bluetooth scanner tools have become a favorite among part-time mechanics and some professionals to find engine problems. For example if an engine light comes on which gives no indication to the problem a small low-cost OBD2 adapter code scan tool can be used to quickly find the problem. Bluetooth OBD2 dongles are… Read More »
A multimeter is a tool that makes life easier when testing electronics or wiring in a vehicle. Checking if a battery has a charge, or testing the alternator are common problems that can be quickly checked with a multimeter. A good meter for automotive work will have basic requirements that most any meter should have. … Read More »
Changing out a rear tail light bulb is an easy DIY task for most everyone. Some basic tools will be needed usually a Philips screw diver but this changes from vehicle to vehicle. Below are the basic steps for replacing a tail light bulb. It is often best to search for your specific car or truck… Read More »
Changing the headlight bulbs on a 2011-2013 Kia Optima is not difficult and very much falls into the DIY category. Below are the steps with screenshots to replace them along with a video if needed for a visual walk through. There are two bulbs Inner and Outer both of which are changed out the same way.… Read More »
Having a good VAG-COM scan tool can go a long way to help not only find a mechanical problem but to do some light modding. There are many VAG-COM VCDS scan tools available for Volkswagen, from low cost units to high-end expensive models. Here we show some of the low cost options that would be a… Read More »
The TOPDON OBDCAN Plus 2.0 is a low cost OBDII scan tool that has a lot of features. Like most all OBD2 scan tools it works on 1996 and newer US-Based cars and trucks, as well as 2000 and newer EU-Based and Asian vehicles. It can read and clear engine codes as well as do O2 Sensor… Read More »
The Autel Auto Link AL319 is a low cost vehicle code scanner with a lot of features. It can read codes on most any car built after 1996 when OBD2 ports became standard. Besides reading and clearing engine codes it also has many other features such as Live Data and Emissions. This unit was sent… Read More »
The AUDEW 12 Volt Air Compressor is a small unit built for portability. It uses a cigarette lighter for power and can put out up to 150 PSI of pressure. This makes it a good unit in many scenarios from emergencies to simply making sure a vehicle tires have the correct pressure. This unit was sent… Read More »
The AUTOWN OBDII automotive scan tool is a low cost unit built to read engine codes, clear codes, and more. It works on 1996 and newer US-Based vehicles, as well as 2001 and newer EU-Based Asian cars. The main menu on the unit has OBDII / EOBD, DTC Lookup, Review, Print Data, About and Setup. … Read More »
12 volt electric car heaters are an option when it comes to helping to heat your vehicle. Notice I say help to heat. 12 Volt heater do not have enough power output to heat a car or truck the way a standard heater does. In fact depending how cold the place you live in is… Read More »
Having a good heated car seat goes a long way in helping to stay warm and comfortable during cold days. They have many uses from simply getting warm quick or even getting heat when a vehicles built-in heater stops working. Here is our picks for the best heated car seats. Be sure to read the reviews… Read More »
The OBD2 Port location for a 2011 Fiat Punto is to the left of the steering wheel behind the dashboard. It is easy to get to once the location is known. First pull out this sliding chore. Then reach and pull out on the inside. The plate will pop out and shouldn’t require too… Read More »
Recently a friend had a fuel pump problem on a 2004 Passat. At first I was ready to simply swap in a new one until I seen the price, plus a special tool is needed to push it in and out. So I wanted to be sure the fuel pump was bad before swapping in a new one.… Read More »
Reading engine codes is a easy task that any DIY type person can do with the right tool. The tool needed is called a OBD2 scan tool which reads information from a vehicles computer and displays the problem. OBD2 is a universal port installed in any car made from 1996 an newer. The port is usually… Read More »
Having a portable window heater defroster on colds days can be very handy to have. There are may units available most of which are 12 volt units that sit on the dashboard. One thing to keep in mind is that 12 volt systems don’t put out a lot of energy and so can be slow when… Read More »