Doing a compression test is an easy task for a DIY mechanic and can show if you have bad piston rings or valves. Bad rings or valves can cause a leak to occur around them which instead of sending a piston downward the air goes around the piston. This will give an engine a lack of power and… Read More »
If you have an engine with a compression problem you need to know if it is the vales or piston rings. This can be an issue since you may only need to pull the head instead of puling the entire engine apart. There is an easy way to find out by doing a compression test. Tools Needed Engine… Read More »
If you have a 2001-2005 2.4 Liter Mitsubishi Galant that is giving a P0340 OBDII Code the Camshaft Position Sensor usually needs replaced. A bad Camshaft Position Sensor will cause a vehicle to not start at times and other times work intermittently. Camshaft Position Sensor Location The Camshaft Position Sensor is located at the back of the cylinder… 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 »
Having the right tools goes a long way when doing auto body repair and getting the 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 any professional will… 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. OBDII scanners tools can range from expensive to low-cost units. The expensive… 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 our favorite options that would be a good fit for the DIY… Read More »
A P0301 error code is a misfire that spark plug 1 is not sparking correctly. Other P030 errors point to other cylinders not working correctly. For example, P0302 code is spark plug 2 misfire, and P0303 would be spark plug 3. P0301 Error Code Causes Bad Spark Plug Spark Plug Wires Bad Coil Fuel Injector P0301 Error Code… Read More »
Knowing what grit of sand paper and what to do with it is what makes a great paint job. Most automobile painters will agree that sanding is one of the most time consuming parts of the entire paint job. The more time you take in your sanding techniques the better the end result of your paint job will… Read More »
An OBDII scan tool can read and erase engine error codes from a vehicles computer that the engine has given. A vehicle engine problem is often displayed to a driver with the dashboard engine light. Cars and trucks today all have an onboard computer (ECM, PCM) that controls the vehicles engine and will get an error when there… Read More »
The TOPDON OBDCAN Plus 2.0 is a low-cost OBDII scan tool that has a lot of features. Like most all OBDII 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 test. *This… 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 ELM327 is one such unit… Read More »
Low-cost OBDII scan tools have become very popular since they can point to the problem a car or truck is having and help fix it. The 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 mechanic troubleshooting cars,… 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 »
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 AC. A vehicles… 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 to me… Read More »
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 it also has a lot of extras such as Real Time Data and 02 Senser Testing built-in. *This… 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 almost any car 1996 or… Read More »
Today we are talking about wheel studs, and the tool needed to remove that stud. In this guide you will find two pieces of information. What tool you need, and a trick if you do not have the tool needed. Of course, the best way to tackle any job is with the correct tool. So first let’s talk… Read More »
If your car or truck has the dreaded check engine light come on there is Do-It-Yourself scanner tools that can show the problem. All cars and trucks built after 1995 come with a built-in port called an OBDII. The OBDII port talks directly to the vehicles computer and when used with a OBD2 scanner tool displays the problem… 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 with… 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 example, a large… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2011-2013 Toyota Camry is an easy task that falls in the DIY category. There are two bulbs located inside the headlight assembly called Low and High beam. The Low beam bulb is on the outside while the… Read More »
Having a portable battery jump starter is a handy tool to have when a car needs a jump. It is one of those things we wish we had bought when we break down and need assistance. Personally, I like them also for times when others need a jump since I don’t like using my vehicle and jumper cables… Read More »
There are times when a vehicle battery has lost its charge and needs a battery charger to get it back to a charged state. This is an easy task to do that most any DIY person can readily get done. Things To Know About Charging a Battery. Every battery charger has a different style and buttons to charge… Read More »
Using an OBDII scan tool is an easy task and is something almost anyone can do makign it perfect for the home do-it-yourself type of person. The OBDII port on a car or truck is an easy way in modern times to help troubleshoot a problem any vehicle may have. Using an OBDII scan tool allows a user… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing a bad headlight bulb in a 2009-2014 Toyota Corolla is a very simple DIY task. Of course, if in doubt call a knowledgeable friend or a professional. There are two headlight bulbs located in the headlight assembly called the Low-Beam and High-Beam.… 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 done you… 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 be… 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 will reset… 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 »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing a Headlight Bulb on a Toyota Camry 2007-2011 is an easy task that most any DIYer can do. There are 3 bulbs with the inner one the high beam and the center one the low beam. The outer one is the turn… Read More »
Replacing the headlight bulbs on a 2000-2004 VW Passat is not a difficult job and falls into the DIY category. As always if in doubt take your car to a certified mechanic. The process is simple enough by pulling out the bad bulb and inserting a new one. The difficulty will be how hard the old bulb is… 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 a… Read More »
Replacing the air filter on a car is usually a simple procedure and can be done by almost any home do-it-yourself type of person. What is a Car Air Filter? All combustible engines need to air fed into the intake for combustion to happen. If the air fed into the intake is dirty it can scar the sidewall… Read More »