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… 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… 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 »
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 »
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 »
Troubleshooting electrical on any vehicle can be simple but often can become complex. Having the right tools to help you find the problem can be critical to getting the job done. Keep in mind every mechanic will have their own style and method when it come to finding a problem. Some will use the simplest… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk-through id needed. A Honda with a Error CodeP3400 is a Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 1. Possible Causes Engine Error Code P3400 Defective cylinder deactivation solenoid An open or short in the cylinder deactivation solenoid harness A bad electrical connection in the cylinder deactivation solenoid circuit… Read More »
Having a portable window heater defroster on colds days can be very handy to have. There are many 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 »
Setting up a car with a power inverter is easy to do and is a nice feature to add to any vehicle. Adding a 110/120 AC power outlet is useful for for many situations from traveling to simply recharging a laptop. Inverters have different Amps and Watts they can supply depending on the unit bought. Since… Read More »
Having AC power in car or truck is necessary sometimes when a device has no DC inputs or adapter. AC power outlets can be added with a power inverter and can give power to small devices such as laptops. The BESTEK 300W Power Inverter is one such unit that converters 12 Volts DC to 110 Volts… Read More »
OBD2 Bluetooth WiFi dongles have become very popular since they are low-cost devices and work well. There are many to choose from with most using the Torque App or similar with a smartphone. One of the more frustrating things is using one and getting no Bluetooth or WiFi Device Selected error code. Below are the steps… Read More »
If the check engine light comes on in your car or truck there are a few ways to find out why on a budget. The check engine light comes on when a vehicles computer receives and error from the engine and will store the code. Reading the code will point to the problem the car or trcuk… Read More »
Replacing the intake air filter on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra falls in the Do-It-Yourself category and is an easy task to do. Most car intake air filters are replaced every 15,000 – 30,000 miles. Of course, the environment will make a big difference how often it should be changed. For example, if you live and drive in a… Read More »
There are many good OBD2 scan tools for most any vehicle including Honda’s. Some scanners can only read basic functions while a few have more advanced features that are Honda specific. With the many available below we list some of our favorite options. In full disclosure these units have been sent to us from companies to review which… 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 »
If you find yourself with a car air conditioner leaking refrigerant it can be fixed by a home DIY backyard mechanic. There are a few ways to approach a leaking air conditioning system. If the leak is slow it likely is small and a can of Stop Leak can be added to a system to help it seal… Read More »
Having a good OBDII scan tool when troubleshooting a Chevy or GM vehicle is a nice thing to have. An OBDII scan tool can point to the problem a car or truck is having. Being able to communicate with the onboard computer will give invaluable data as to what the problem is. What Is a Chevy OBDII Error… Read More »
Automatic Shifters are a specialty performance part that gives more control to a driver and looks cools doing it. While mainly used for drag racing they also can be used whenever more control over a vehicle is needed. If you are looking to get an automatic shifter there are many available with those below some of our favorite… Read More »
If you own a Kia and need a good OBDII scan tool there are many available. Owning an OBDII scan tool is ideal for troubleshooting a car or just knowing why the engine light is on. What Is a Kia OBDII Scan Tool? All modern vehicles including Kia have an OBDII port which communicates with the onboard computer.… 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 »
If the Maintenance Required (MAINT REQD) Light comes on in your Toyota Corolla dashboard it is simple enough to reset. The Maintenance Light usually turns on to remind you its time to change the oil. The car does not know if the oil has been changed, it is a simply a reminder light that a mechanic… 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… 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 »
A Video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk-through if needed. If you have a 2009-2013 Toyota Corolla and the air conditioning stops blowing cold air it may need to be recharged. This is a common problem with cars as they age with it being a simple fix to add more refrigerant to the… Read More »
If you own a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra and the air conditioning stops blowing cold air it may need to be recharged. This is a common problem with older cars with it being a simple fix to add more refrigerant to the system. I have a 2006 Kia Spectra that needed charge last year so I wrote this post… 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… Read More »
When it comes to auto body work deep dents are not easy to get out and either need to be hit from the back or pulled out. Since many dents cant be reached from the back dent puller options are often looked at as the best method. One of these methods is called a Stud Welder… Read More »
Finding the right OBD II scan tool to work on a Volkswagen Passat is easy enough, some with more features than others. One of the things that VW Passat’s have unique is VAG-COM VCDS which goes beyond industry standard OBDII codes. All vehicles 1996 and newer have an OBDII port which started with OBD version 1,… Read More »
Having the right tools goes a long way in doing auto body repair and getting he job done quickly and right. One of the more common tools is the Random DA (Dual Action) sander. A DA spins and is moved about sanding off paint or rouging in bondo on a car or truck body. Most… 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 »
System Too Lean (Bank 1) Below is the basic causes and common fixes for a P0171 OBDII error code. What Is a P0171 Error Code? A P0171 code indicates there is a fuel/air mixture problem on bank 1 of the engine. The term Lean means the cylinder is receiving too much or too little air creating a… Read More »