If you own a Diesel truck and have an engine light on or simply need to pull the codes there are many scan tools available. The first thing you’re going to need is a scan tool to find out why the check engine light is on with dealerships having the best equipment to troubleshoot a problem. Most people… Read More »
Portable car battery smart jump starters have become popular in recent years. Smart jump starters are a great item in an 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 to have while… Read More »
Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma is an easy task that falls in 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. Tools and Parts Needed New Headlight Bulb No… 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 this and… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2001-2004 Toyota Tacoma is an easy task that falls in the DIY category. As always if in doubt take your vehicle to a professional. If the driver side bulb is bad the battery may need to be… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2001-2004 Toyota Tacoma is an easy task that falls in 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… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2007-2013 Toyota Highlander is an easy task that falls in 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… Read More »
Having a good OBDII scan tool with ABS (Anti lock Brake System) is a nice thing to have while troubleshooting vehicle problems. There are many OBDII scan tools available from low-cost to high-end units. Everyone will have a different requirement from an automotive scan tool. For example a DIY mechanic will not have the need of an expensive… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata is an easy task that falls in 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… Read More »
Having a good OBDII Scan tool can help greatly when it comes time to troubleshooting a car. They display the error code that points to the problem a vehicle is having. There are many OBDII scan tools that give basic engine codes with most unable to read ABS, SRS, or transmission errors. Transmission codes are in the P0700… Read More »
Having a good book on auto body repair can go a long way to learn not only how to do automotive body repair but also tips and tricks. Online resources are great also but often times can skip steps. A good book will guide you though the entire process from start to finish. Our Picks for Best Auto… Read More »
Replacing the headlight bulb in a 2013-2017 Honda Accord is an easy task that most car owners can do. No tools are needed only a new bulb. 2013-2017 Honda Accord Headlight Bulb on Amazon BEAMTECH H11 LED Headlight Bulb, 50W 6500K 8000Lumens Extremely Brigh H8 H9 CSP Chips Conversion Kit The High Beam is inside Blue Bulb… 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. Below are some of the more popular options that would be a good fit for… Read More »
I recently had a 2006 Kia Spectra that had no spark and could only find limited information. If you find yourself with the same problem below is what I found. A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. If you have an OBDII scan tool for the Kia be sure to scan… Read More »
Having a good tire inflator with a built-in tire pressure 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. A 12 volt unit that can ruin from the cigarette lighter or hook directly to a… 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. Multimeter Features Used… 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 heaters 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 they might not even… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk-through. If you have a (2005-2009) Kia Spectra that has an P2626 Error Code the O2 sensor is likely bad. Be sure to check the wiring and connections which can also cause the same error. Usually the O2 sensor will need to be replaced. Replacing the… Read More »
There is a video at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through if needed. If you have a broken door handle on a 2005-2008 Kia Spectra a new one can be installed. This is a common problem the the Kia with many broken door latches. A broken door handle can be replaced by a handy… Read More »
Having the right auto body sanding tools can be crucial to getting a job done right along with a nice finish. Here we list the most common types of sanding tools used that wont break the bank and get you on the way to becoming an auto body expert. Basic Types of Auto Body Sanding Tool… Read More »
Using a laptop to scan OBD2 codes is an easy task and even possibly one of the better options. One of the great things about using a laptop when scanning codes is the ability to quickly look online for answers. As long as the laptop is online an error code can be looked up and the many online… 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. There are many units available including material type and heat output. Below is our picks for the best-heated… Read More »
A video review is at the bottom of the page. like almost everything new today your car has a computer and if its 1996 or newer it has an OBD2 which is onboard diagnostics second-generation, than codes can be read easily. A good OBD2 code scanner can read and clear error codes. The main thing most… Read More »
Finding a good OBDII scan tool for a 2012 Toyota Camry is nice to have when making repairs or doing maintenance. The 2012 Camry onboard computer (PCM) can give basic OBDII codes along with more advanced Airbag and SRS errors. Most any OBDII scan tool will read the basic codes but the more advanced errors need a more… Read More »
A step-by-step video is at the bottom of the page if needed. Changing the oil on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra is an easy task the falls in the DIY category. Of course, if in-doubt be sure to take it to a professional. Items Needed To Replace the Oil on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 Synthetic… Read More »
The Autel MaxiScan MS300 is a low-cost diagnostic scan tool code reader for vehicles 1996 and newer. Since it a low-cost OBDII scan tool this makes it ideal for those on a budget, just don’t expect all the extra features an expensive model would have. Pros …It will display the error codes for most any car… Read More »
Changing the motor oil on a 2012 Toyota Corolla falls in the backyard mechanic DIY category. The steps should be the same for any 2009-2013 Corolla. Usually the Maintenance Required (MAINT REQD) Light comes on when it time to change the oil. Read here for the steps to turn off the Maintenance Required (MAINT REQD) Light. Below are… Read More »
The INNOVA 6100P is an advanced scan tool that can read standard OBD2 engine codes as well as ABS and SRS errors. Most any OBDII scan tool can read and erase standard errors but only advanced units can also scan and erase ABS and SRS. Troubleshooting ABS (Anti Brake System) or SRS/Airbag (Supplemental Restraint System) is… Read More »
Using a Bluetooth scan tool with the OBD2 port in a car or truck allows you to read the vehicles information and give you the data in real-time. The adapter is paired with your smartphone and plugs in under your dash of your car into the computer OBD2 port. It reads the data from your car… 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 »
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 this small unit with a PSI Gauge. It is a small unit built to… Read More »
Having a good portable air compressor that can quickly air up car tires can some in very handy in many scenarios. From airing up a flat spare tire, to helping someone that is broken down, portable air compressors are nice to have. There are many good units available with our favorite option below. As always be… Read More »
There are a few ways you can get a free diagnostic test done on your car or truck. All vehicles from 1996 and newer have an OBDII port under the dashboard that with a scan tool can read engine codes. Many vehicles also have built-in diagnostics for basic troubleshooting. Here are the best options to get a… 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 »
There are many OBDII scan tools available all with different features, options, and price ranges. A good scan tool must be able to read and clear errors a vehicle is having and display them to the user. It also should have an easy to use interface. OBD2 scanners tools can range from expensive to low-cost… Read More »