Resetting the Service light on a 2011-2015 Mini Cooper is easy to do. The Maintenance light can come on for a variety reasons and will need reset, mainly after an oil change. A series of buttons are pressed in the right combination of steps to reset the light. These same steps are used for other service lights that… Read More »
Having road side emergency lights is something that is nice to have when broken down or back tail lights stopped working. Using them when being broken down is no doubt the time they are used the most but I have also used them in many another scenarios. For example a trailer I was towing one time had the… Read More »
The maintenance light for a 2012-2017 Honda Accord comes on when basic service is needed such as an oil change or tire rotation. It is easy to shut off with a few steps. The onboard screen can be used or the speedometer method can also be done to clear the light. Using the onboard screen is the easiest… 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 »
Everyone loves a shortcut. Sometimes some may look at shortcuts as if they are the easy way to do things but not the correct way. There are some that may always take the easy way. Never-the-less if the short cut gets results, then one could argue that it is the correct way. I have put together… Read More »
When a dent is so badly damaged it cannot be pulled out it must be cut out and removed. There are some cases where rust is also so bad that it cannot be repaired and it too needs cut out. If you find yourself in need of a major repair on your vehicles body! Then here is… 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 »
Sometimes vehicle dents can be annoying, frustrating, and expensive to repair. Here is two little tricks you can use when you have one of those dents. Of course not all dents are the same, and not all dents can be tackled the same way. There are those hard to get to dents. There are those dents… Read More »
If you find yourself alone after changing out brake pads or a master cylinder and have no help to bleed them, there is few ways to do it alone. This happens to many DIY mechanics as most people disappear when its time to go to work. Luckily there are some easy options. Here are some of… 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 »
Since their introduction OBD2 Bluetooth scanner tools have become a favorite among part-time mechanics and professionals to find engine problems. They are low-cost engine diagnostic tools that can help troubleshoot a problem. 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… 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 book on automotive repair can go a long way to help understand how a vehicle works. Repair manuals are good but requires the fundamentals of mechanical repair to be already understood. There are many articles online that are also a good resource but can often skip subjects and leave gaps in explanations. … Read More »
OBD2 automotive scanner tools come in a wide range of packages from small wireless scanners to large professional units. With the huge variety available there is no-doubt that the Best OBD2 scan tool is debatable. What it really comes down to though is how often will the tool be used and in what conditions. For… 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 »
How To Start a Car with a Bad Neutral Safety Switch Turn the Key to the On Position Press and Hold the Brake Put the Vehicle into Neutral Start the Vehicle There are many causes for a vehicle not to start with a bad neutral safety switch one of them. There are a few ways to see if… 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 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 »
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.… 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 if has been changed, it is a simply a reminder light that a mechanic… Read More »
Low-cost OBD II scan tools have become very popular since they can point to the problem a car or truck is having and help fix it. The Suaoki OM123 is once such low-cost vehicle scan tool that can read and clear engine codes. This makes it a good unit in many scenarios such as a part time… Read More »
If you have a car or truck that the engine light is on and want to know why, there is a cheap low-cost way to do it with a smartphone. All vehicles since 1996 have an onboard computer and a plug called a OBDII socket that can talk to it with the right device. Since the… 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 »
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 »
Low cost OBD2 scan tools have become very popular since they can point to a problem a vehicles may be having. This makes them ideal to know what is wrong with a car or truck. The Launch AI OBD II scan tool is once such unit that can help diagnose engine problems. It is universally compatible… Read More »
A headlight switch problem in a Dodge Neon (2000-2005) is an easy repair job. The same replacement procedure also works in PT Cruisers. The headlight switch also controls the wiper, fog lamps, and turn signals. The first thing to do is to buy a compatible switch assembly to replace the old one. It can be… Read More »
The Audew cordless air pump is built to be very portable and very handy when airing up a tire, basketball, mattress or most anything needing air. It has a rechargeable battery that can be removed the same way a cordless drill or saw works. This makes it useful in many scenarios from an emergency tire inflator to… 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 »
Replacing the Upstream O2 sensor on a 2007-2012 Toyota Camry very much falls into the DIY category. Of course always call a professional if in doubt. It is located on top and front of the engine making it easy to access. Tools Needed New 02 Sensor 10mm socket 22mm wrench Screwdriver Pliers Copper anti-seize (Usually… Read More »
Recently a friend brought a 2012 Toyota Corolla to me to look at that had the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) Light On and would not shut off. The ESC light also called ESP or DSC has a dashboard light with a car and wavy lines under it. After reading online below is what I found so far… Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »