If you own a Honda Accord and get a Check fuel Cap message, there are several fixes that can be done. This problem is usually a gas cap that is not tightened all the way on but can be other issues. Keep in mind once the problem is fixed, the car will need to be driven for a… Read More »
The Chevy Cruze is a great car but can sometimes have issues, especially as it ages. One such problem is a P0171 OBDII Code given when the air/fuel ratio is off. Extra air or too much gas causes the system to run lean and give the error code. This includes all Chevrolet Cruze engines such ad the 1.4,… Read More »
If you have a Nissan and it gets a P0500 code, it is an OBDII error for the “Vehicle Speed Sensor Circuit“. This is usually a bad speed sensor or wiring but can sometimes be other components. What Is a P0500 OBDII Code? A P500 OBDII code on a Nissan happens when the ECM can not read the… Read More »
If you have an engine light on and get a P0102 OBDII code, it indicates a Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) error. The official error code is labeled as a “Mass or VAF A Ckt Low Input.” The MAF sensor regulates the flow of air into an engine to keep the air/fuel ratio at an optimal level. It measures… Read More »
If you get an OBDII code P1345, it is a “Crankshaft Position-Camshaft Position Correlation” error. This is one of the more interesting errors since the vehicle still usually runs and often is not a bad camshaft position sensor. While the Camshaft Position sensor may be bad, replacing it often does not fix a P1345 error code. Replacing the… Read More »
If you own a Honda and get an OBDII code P1399, it is a notorious error for “Random Cylinder Misfire Detected.” It is an OBDII code specific to Honda vehicles including the Accord, CRV, Odyssey, Civic, and more. The most common fix is a bad injector or spark plug wire, but it can also be caused by other… Read More »
If your engine light comes on and using an OBDII scan tool, you get a P0443 code; it can be diagnosed and fixed in several steps. A P0443 OBDII engine code means the computer sees a malfunction with the EVAP (Evaporative Emission) Control System Purge Valve Circuit. The EVAP system sends fumes from the gas tank to go… Read More »
If you need to connect an exhaust pipe and do not have a welder, there are a few methods to get the job done. While welding joints together is often done by shops using U-bolts and other connection techniques is also wildly used. In fact, whole exhaust kits can be bolted together without welding and work just as… 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 on how cold the place you live is, they might not even seem… 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 system that can… Read More »
If you have a 5.7 Vortec engine and it is not getting any spark, there are several things that can cause the issue. This includes the fuses, crank sensor, cam sensor, distributor, ignition module, plug wires, and rotor. With the many things that can cause a no spark issue, each component will need to be tested or replaced… 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 moves about sanding off paint or rouging in Bondo on a car or truck body. Most professionals will use only… Read More »
The TOPDON ArtiDiag800BT is a professional wireless OBDII scan tool built with many features and options. It uses a Bluetooth VCI OBDII Dongle to communicate with the scan tool, making it highly portable. This makes it a good option for watching real-time data from anywhere within the range of 33 feet. The ArtiDiag800BT also has many other very… Read More »
Changing the oil on the 2019 Toyota Corolla 1.8 Liter is easy to do and part of basic maintenance. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to take your car to a professional. A Maintenance Required message will display when the oil needs to be changed, which will need to be reset when done. Resetting the message is… Read More »
The maintenance required message that displays on the dashboard of a 2019 Toyota Corolla is given as a reminder to change the oil. It comes on every 5000 miles and should have the oil changed. After the oil is changed, resetting the message is quick and easy to do. The message does not go off automatically when the… Read More »
A P1101 error code is a common problem with Chevy Cruze with several fixes. When the Chevy Cruze first starts up, the mass airflow sensor does a self-diagnostic test. If the results are out of range, a P1101 error code is given. Some scan tools will give the error as an Intake Air Flow system Performance. What is… 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 expensive high-end models. Below are some of our favorite options that would be a good fit for the DIY… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk-through if needed. What is an Engine OBDII Error Code P3400 A Honda with an Error Code P3400 is a Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 1. This error can be caused by several things but is commonly caused by a bad oil pressure sensor, Possible Causes Engine… Read More »
If your car or truck is misfiring, you may wonder how long can I drive with a misfiring cylinder. The quick answer is it varies greatly and depends on how bad the problem is and how many cylinders you have. For example, if you have an 8-cylinder engine and a spark plug wire is causing the misfire, it… 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 »
The ThinkScan Plus S4 is a new OBD2 scan tool for 2021 with many advanced features and options. The unit runs Android 7.0, has a 5-inch touchscreen along with a handle to easily carry it about. It can connect to almost any vehicle, both foreign and domestic, with features such as reading SRS (Airbag), ABS (Anti-lock Brakes), Evap… 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 »
If you have a car or truck and are not sure it will pass a smog test, an easy way to tell is to use an OBDII scan tool with an emission check. While each state has its emission requirements, a compatible OBDII scan tool has built-in functions that cab show if it will pass or fail. What… 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. As always be sure to read the reviews on Amazon, here, forums, or elsewhere to… Read More »
If your car has an air conditioner refrigerant leak, it can be fixed by a home DIY (do-it-yourself) 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 up.… 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 »
A hot car in the summer is all but unbearable especially in very hot climates. Many things can go wrong with a car or truck A/C system with the most common being the unit has a low refrigerant charge. Once all other possible problems are eliminated recharging a system is an easy task that most any home DIY… 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 »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2007-2016 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 road side emergency lights is something that is nice to have in many scenarios from breaking down, back tail lights stopped working, or any time road hazard lights are needed. 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… 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 »
The Topdon Plus Professional Car Diagnostic Tool is a universal OBD II scan tool. It is built to give a user any problem codes a vehicle may be having along with the what the problem is. OBD2 scanners like the Topdon Plus can work with any car or truck 1996 and newer. It has a nice display along… Read More »
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 »
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 cars use… Read More »
Portable car battery smart jump starters have become very popular in recent years. Portable 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… Read More »