If you suspect your vehicle has a bad alternator, there can be several symptoms. Symptoms can vary but include the car not starting, dim lights, dashboard lights coming on, and more. How Do You Know if Your Alternator is Failing? The alternator will not charge correctly when it has failed. A test can be done… Read More »
Alternators provide electrical power for a vehicle to operate, including the engine, lights, radio, or any electronic device. It also keeps the battery charged, which is necessary to start the engine. If the alternator fails, the battery will no longer receive a charge and will drain until it is dead. Type of Multi Meter Needed… Read More »
Replacing the alternator on a 2009-2013 Toyota Corolla is a task many backyard mechanics can do. It is a straightforward job that can save money by an owner replacing it themselves. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to take your vehicle to a professional. How To Test a Toyota 2009-2013 Corolla Alternator Use a… Read More »
Replacing the turn signal bulb on a 2007-2013 Toyota Tundra 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 if needed for a visual walk through. Tools and Parts Needed… Read More »
If you have a bad headlight bulb, it is an easy replacement and task many DIY-type individuals do. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to take your vehicle to a professional. Types of Headlight Bulbs There are many types of headlight bulbs that will need to be matched to the year, make, and model… Read More »
If you want your car or truck exhaust to rumble, some of the best ways is to go with muffler delete or a straight pipe. Both are good for getting an aggressive race sound from the exhaust, with both having a distinct rumble. What is Muffler Delete? Muffler delete is when the muffler is removed,… Read More »
Checking the brake fluid on a 2012 Toyota Corolla is easy to do and falls in the DIY category. The 2012 Toyota Corolla uses standard DOT 3 Brake fluid that can be bought at any automotive parts store or online. The top of the refill cap has DOT 3 on it to verify the fluid… Read More »
I recently had to replace a 2006 Kia Spectra radiator that was leaking, and so I 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… Read More »
Finding the right OBD II scan tool to work on a Volkswagen Passat is easy enough, with some with more features than others. One of the things that the VW Passat 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… Read More »
Changing the oil on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra is an easy task that falls in the DIY category. Of course, if in-doubt, be sure to take it to a professional. Items Needed To Replace the Oil on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 Synthetic Oil Filter 17 mm Wrench or Socket Drain Pan… 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 almost any DIY person can readily get done. Things To Know About Charging a Battery Every battery charger has a different style and… Read More »
If you have a Chevy Traverse and it gives a P0496 OBDII error code, there is a problem with the Evap system. An OBDII scan tool will give a P0496 Evaporative Emission System High Purge Flow. There are several causes of an Evap system error which are listed below. What is a Chevy Traverse P0496… Read More »
If you have a GMC Acadia with a P0496 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) is seeing a problem with the EVAP system. A GMC P0449 OBDII error code is listed as “Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Flow During Non-Purge.” Common causes include a bad gas cap that is not sealing or purge valve. Causes and… Read More »
If the battery light has come on in your second-generation Dodge Neon (1999-2005), a few things need to be checked to find the problem. This is not meant to give a detailed guide but a basic overview of what needs to be checked. Possible Causes of a Dodge Neon Battery Light Alternator The first thing… 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 almost anything from 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… Read More »
If you have a Nissan and the “Forward Emergency Braking” light is always on, it can be caused by several things. Common causes for it staying on include low brake fluid, a blown a fuse, a bad sensor, and wiring. The Forward Emergency Braking warning light is a symbol of the front of a vehicle… Read More »
Getting the best bike rack carrier for your SUV is not difficult, especially with the many available. There are three types of bike racks Roof Racks, Hitch Mount Racks, and Trunk Mounted. Types of SUV Bike Racks Roof Racks Roof racks are a good option but do have a few negatives. First, they add height… Read More »
A friend of mine had a fuel filter go bad in a 1999 Chevy Suburban 1500. Replacing the fuel filter should be part of regular maintenance, but in this case, it was blocking fuel from going to the engine. In this tutorial, I will go through the steps we went through to change it. I… Read More »
Replacing the camshaft position sensor on a 2002-2009 Toyota Camry falls in the DIY category. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to take it to a professional. The camshaft position sensor is necessary for the Camry timing. When the sensor is bad, the timing is off, causing the car to run badly, not start,… Read More »
Having a good portable air compressor that can quickly air up car tires can come 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,… Read More »
Air compressors come in all shapes and sizes, from big industrial units to small portable models. Having a compressor for home use when working on a car or truck is always a good idea and will come in handy in many situations. From using an air gun to simply airing up a flat tire, an… Read More »
Replacing a headlight bulb on a 1994-2000 Dodge truck is easy to do and falls in the DIY category. In the old days, pre-1990s, the entire headlight assembly was removed from the front of a vehicle. The 1994-2001 Dodge bulbs are pulled in and out of a socket that is snapped into place by turning… Read More »
Replacing a bad headlight bulb on a 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla is a straightforward DIY task. Of course, if in doubt, take your car to a professional. There are two bulbs located at the back of the headlight assembly. The outside bulb is for Low Beams, and the inside bulb is for High Beams. 2003-2008 Toyota… Read More »
Most everyone has been in a situation where they have a scratch on a car that they wish was gone. Thankfully there are many low-cost scratch-removal kits for cars and trucks that make removing them a straightforward process. These kits contain everything needed to remove an unsightly scratch from your vehicle. How To Tell if… Read More »
If you find yourself with a vehicle where the engine does not start, the first things to check are the spark and gas. All mechanics will eventually find themselves with this problem and need to diagnose the electrical problem. Knowing whether an engine has a spark will quickly help narrow the problem with a vehicle… 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 quickly or even getting heat when a vehicle’s built-in heater stops working. There are many units available, including material type and heat output. There are many good… 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… Read More »
If you have a Dodge car or truck with a P0420 code, the onboard computer (ECM) is seeing an issue with the catalytic converter. The P0420 code can be caused by several things, including failed converter or failed 02 sensors. What is a Dodge P0420 Code? A Dodge P0420 OBDII error code is a “Catalyst… Read More »
A Honda CRV with a P2646 error code is having an issue with the oil pressure. A P2646 code in a Honda can have various symptoms, such as stalling or going into Limp Mode. What is a Honda CRV P2646 OBDII Error Code? A P2646 OBDII error code is an “P2646: Rocker arm actuator A-… Read More »
If your car or truck has the dreaded check engine light come on, there are 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 vehicle’s computer and, when used with an OBDIi scan tool,… Read More »
If you have a leaking plastic radiator, it can often be fixed using two main methods. The main methods include using an Epoxy DIY repair kit or melting the plastic back together using a soldering iron. Often when a leak is seen on a plastic radiator, many think it must be replaced when it can… 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. What is a P0340 Code on a 2001-2005 Mitsubishi Galant? A P0340 Code… Read More »
A Honda Accord with a P1259 code means there could be a problem with the VTEC control system. The VTEC control system generates more horsepower by varying the oil pressure going to the cams when the engine speeds up, which allows for a larger valve lift. What is a Honda Accord P1259 Code? A Honda… 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… 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… Read More »