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 »
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 »
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 »
A few years ago I had a 2000 Dodge Ram truck that the voltage regulator went out on. Having worked on many older 70’s and 80’s cars and trucks at first I thought no big deal just need to swap out the external voltage regulator. To my surprise the voltage regulator now comes built into the… Read More »
This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The Launch CReader 5001 is a stand alone OBDII scan tool with a lot of built-in functions. OBDII is a set of protocols that work with most any vehicle from 1996 and newer. Besides reading the basic OBDII engine codes… Read More »
This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The Car Code Reader Launch CReader 4001 is a OBD2 automotive scan tool. It comes with all the features needed to troubleshoot a car or truck engine light or diagnose vehicle problems. It is also a low cost unit making… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. In most cases when working on any vehicle the key is not only to know what you are doing, but to have the right tool for the job. In my experience I have pulled, bent, and even broke these pulleys trying to… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. Congress passed the clean air act in 1970 and started the epa, however it wasn’t until January 1st 1996 that all vehicles were required to have OBD (on-board… Read More »
If an engine light comes up on your dashboard, and after using a scan tool to get the error it come up P0455 error code, there is some common fixes. This is the same for Ford, Dodge, Chevy, or most any vehicle foreign and domestic. A P0455 Code is a Evap System Large Leak Detected. … Read More »
I had a second generation 2003 Dodge Neon that had very long start times. It would crank for 5-10 seconds before it started. After reading through the forums I found that Neon’s have a Pressure Regulator which is also a fuel filter that keeps the gas pressure in lines when the car is turned off. When… Read More »
A video review is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The CReader 4001 OBD2 scan tool doesn’t have much for appearance, but were it lacks in Looks, it sure makes up in features. I am use to… Read More »
Replacing the Air Conditioning air filter on a Kia Sorento is a easy task that fall into the DIY category. Of course call a professional if in doubt. A cabin air filter needs to be replaced every so often or it will block air flow which can stop the A/C from blowing cold air properly. The… Read More »