If you are a professional auto body repairman using an electric sander will be unthinkable. But what if your a do-it-yourself at home person, that wants to do bodywork? Can an electric orbital sander be used to do auto bodywork? The short answer is yes they can be used. I have seen many at home… Read More »
If you are an iPhone user and have a vehicle with a check engine light on a small low-cost device can be bought to tell you what the problem is. It is called an OBDII adapter and can talk to a car or trucks onboard computer and display the problem on an iPhone. The onboard… Read More »
Reading engine codes is an easy task that any DIY type person can do with the right scan tool. The scan tool needed is called an 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 and newer. The… Read More »
A step-by-step video replacing the fuel pump is at the bottom of the page for visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the fuel pump on a 2005-2006 Kia Spectra is a task that fall in the DIY category. Of course, if in doubt be sure to take your car to a professional. There is gas involved… 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 »
If the starter has gone bad on your 2004-2007 Kia Spectra replacing it falls in the DIY backyard mechanic category. Of course, if in doubt take your car to a professional. The difficulty of replacing it is the location which is in a tight spot under the engine. The car will need to be up… Read More »
Changing the oil in a Volkswagen Passat (1999-2005) is an easy task for the DIY home mechanic. A VW Passat uses special European synthetic oil that should be changed every 5,000 miles. The majority of Passat’s built (1999-2005) use the 4 CYL 1.8L motor be sure this is what your Passat uses as this post… Read More »
Having a backup camera that also has night vision can go a long way to improve safety while driving. This is especially true for vans, RVs, trucks with campers, but any vehicle can benefit from seeing a clear view behind them. There are many units available with some of our favorite picks below. As always… 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 an 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 it… Read More »
Replacing the air conditioning air filter on an 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.… Read More »
The engine light came on in my 2004 Passat with a 1.8L engine, so I hooked up a OBD2 scanner and it gave me a P0117 code. P0117 is a Coolant Engine Temperature Circuit code which usually means the Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) or thermostat. There are other things that can cause it such as… Read More »
Replacing the fuel pump on a Volkswagen Passat (1999-2005) is a job that most DIY mechanics can do. First of all before replacing the fuel pump be sure it is bad by following our step by step guide to see if it is bad here. Once you know it is bad and needs replacing keep… Read More »
I had a 1998 Ford Taurus that the fans would not spin which was making it overheat. (Video at bottom of page.) I finally found the problem and these are the steps I went through to find the solution. These same steps can be applied to any third generation Ford Taurus 1996-1998. Fuses and Relays… Read More »
Having to get up in the early AM to go to work I find my car always waiting for me everyday frozen. Having a car that starts remotely will have to wait for another day but there are things I found to help warm up a frozen car or truck. 12 Volt heated seat cushions.… 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 »
A friend of mine who has a 2010 Toyota Camry had a problem were the car ran but when the gas pedal was pressed nothing happened. I took My OBD2 code diagnostic tool over and it gave a P2118 which is the ETCS. First of all we still have the problem which may be a… Read More »
I thought I would update my progress on the 68 Charger project. After a lot of sanding we got it down to the bare metal to make sure all the rust was gone as much as possible. It took a lot of time to get the old paint off and the spots of rust that… Read More »
It has been awhile since I have updated the progress on the 68 Charger project so I thought I would update the status. I finally got the 360 bolted up with the Headers which was a pain. I used the electronic ignition from the donor truck along with the wiring harness to fire it up.… Read More »
The 2007 through 2012 Dodge Caliber has a transmission that confuses a lot of people. On most all vehicles, there is a dipstick for the oil and transmission fluid levels. The process is simple. Pull the dipstick and read the oil, or fluid levels. If it is low, then you would add more of the… Read More »
So I finally got the brackets on the 360 and everything fit. Next I started on the Headers by trying to fit the ones that came out of the truck. I knew they likely wouldn’t work (they didn’t) but I had to try. I stated looking on eBay for some headers which were pricey at… Read More »
Among the different car manufacturers, vehicle models, and years, made before 1995 there are many different computerized engine control systems. Although there are significant differences between the various systems, when compared they are actually more alike than different. COMMON FEATURES Computers The comprehensive automotive computer is a small, highly reliable, solid-state digital computer protected inside… Read More »
This is an introduction to the basics of automotive air conditioning service and repair. The place to start, of course, is with the basics – and in air conditioning, it is extremely important that you understand the principles behind what makes an air conditioning system work. This basic knowledge will be applied throughout all phases… Read More »
Refrigeration and air conditioning are not discoverers of the twenty first or even the twentieth century. Simple forms of refrigeration and air conditioning were in use twelve thousand years ago. Although these early systems were crude by today’s standards, they served the same purpose as modern units. Many aspects of modern life were made possible… Read More »
So after looking at a few 440 motor home engines I decided to keep the donor 360 for now, and rebuild the original 383 down the road. I did some research on the 440 motors in RVs and they are completely different from the ones used in cars. They have different heads, Cams, and Cranks.… Read More »
I have a 1968 Dodge Charger that has been sitting for some time. I really want to get it going but have been tied up with other things. The Charger while complete has been sitting in storage since 1983 so most everything needs to be rebuilt. Tearing the Charger down to its frame and doing… Read More »
Ford Taurus/Sable Fuel Trouble Shooting 1996 to 1999 OverView Ford made what is called the third generation Ford Taurus from 1996 to 1999 It made both the DOHC engine and the SOHC engine. With the SOHC 3.0L EFI 6cyl the most common. When dealing with fuel problems with any vehicle care must be… Read More »