Replacing a car thermostat is an easy straight forward tack that most DIY mechanics can do. A 2000-2004 Volkswagen Passat with a 1.8 Liter turbo (1.8T) engine is no different with most able to replace it with moderate skills. Below is my experience at replacing the thermostat. The most difficult part is the placement the… Read More: How To Replace a Thermostat on a 2000-2004 VW Passat »
Being a mechanic and buying tools is a never ending process. Many think that like other trades a few tools are bought and that is it. In reality, as many beginner mechanics will find out, is that after the basic tools are bought there is always one more tool needed. Often, a tool will bee… Read More: Top Ten Must Have Tools For Mechanics »
Checking the power steering fluid on a 1998 – 2005 VW Passat is not difficult and falls in the do-it-yourself category. A special type of steering fluid is needed so be sure not to use any other fluid type. Note: Do not use ATF or generic power steering fluid. After reading online and asking around… Read More: How To Check and Add Power Steering Fluid VW Passat… »
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 signal. The inner and center headlight bulbs are replaced the same way… Read More: How To Replace a Headlight Bulb Toyota Camry 2007-2011 »
On most GM and Chevy power steering pumps the pulley is press-fit on the shaft. You cannot just unbolt it and slide it off. Prying with screwdrivers or a 3-jaw gear puller often bends the pulley or damages the pump. The right specialty puller saves time and parts. I have pulled, bent, and even broken… Read More: How To Remove a GM or Chevy Power Steering Pump… »
On a 2005-2006 Kia Spectra, the fuel pump, in-tank filter, and pressure regulator sit in one assembly inside the gas tank. You reach that assembly from under the rear seat. You do not have to drop the tank on these cars. These steps fit the second-gen Spectra / Spectra5 with the 2.0L. Early 2004 1.8L… Read More: How To Replace a Fuel Pump and Filter 2005-2006 Kia… »
Replacing a starter on a 2004-2007 Kia Spectra is a backyard DIY job. The hard part is the location, not the part itself. These photos are the US second-generation Spectra with the 2.0L four cylinder. Kia sold that body through 2009, and the Spectra5 hatchback uses the same starter layout. The older 2000-2004 first-gen Spectra… Read More: How To Replace a Starter on a 2004-2007 Kia Spectra »
A 2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T came in with the check engine light on. I hooked up an OBD2 scanner and pulled a P0117. P0117 is Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit Low Input. The PCM is seeing a voltage that is too low, which it reads like the coolant is extremely hot. Common causes are… Read More: How to Replace a Coolant Temperature Sensor Volkswagen Passat (1999-2005) »
A wheel speed sensor code can often be traced to a bad sensor. But sometimes the sensor is fine and the problem is in the wiring back to the ABS module. Testing with a multimeter is usually the best option. But you can test a wheel speed sensor with just a jumper wire if you… Read More: How To Test a Wheel Speed Sensor Without a Multimeter… »
OBDII protocols make modern vehicles easier to find a malfunction by reading errors codes with an OBDII scan tool to see what problems the car or truck may have. The OBDII protocols have evolved over the years adding new definitions and code types to the standard. One such added code type is the Permanent OBDII… Read More: Pending vs. Stored vs. Permanent OBDII Codes »
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If your car has a noise that gets louder when you speed up, it can be caused by several things including a bad tire, out of balance tire, bad brakes, wheel bearing and more. Sounds can be hard to locate in a vehicle when driving, but if possible, try to find the side of the… Read More: Causes When Humming Noise in Car Getting Louder with Speed »
The purge valve is a common failure in an EVAP system which often needs to be tested to see if it has gone bad. There are several ways to test the purge valve, including using a multimeter, vacuum pump, or a quick method that requires no tools. While using a multimeter or vacuum pump are… Read More: How To Test an EVAP Purge Valve (No Tools Needed) »
If you have Chevrolet or GM car or truck and see a battery saver active message on the dashboard, the error points to an issue with the charging system. While there can be other causes, the message has come on since the onboard computer no longer sees the vehicle battery being charged. There are other… Read More: Battery Saver Active Causes and Fixes (Chevrolet and GM) »
If you have a GMC Acadia with a P0496 error code, the onboard computer (ECM/PCM) 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 failed purge valve. Causes… Read More: Causes and Fixes P0496 Code GMC Acadia »
There are several methods to test if a fuel pump has failed; it is usually tested with a fuel pressure gauge to see if it is outputting the correct PSI, but there are other methods. While using a fuel pressure gauge is the recommended method to troubleshoot a bad fuel pump, there is an old-school… Read More: How to Tell If the Fuel Pump Has Failed Without… »
If you have a car that when the gas pedal is pressed and you are accelerating, there is a jerking motion, this can be caused by several things. Possible causes include air intake, gas delivery, spark, timing, and transmission issues. Each category, such as fuel delivery, needs to work correctly, or it can cause issues.… Read More: Causes and Fixes Car Jerks When Accelerating »
If you have a vehicle that is giving a P0031 error code, there is a problem with an upstream sensor located on the exhaust. Fixing a P0031 error code falls into the DIY mechanic job, with many at-home backyard mechanics solving the issue. Of course, if in doubt, be sure to take your vehicle to… Read More: 3 Causes and Fixes P0031 Error Code »
If you have an engine with a compression problem you need to know if it is the valves or piston rings. This can be an issue since you may only need to pull the head instead of puling the entire engine apart. Knowing if the rings or valves are bad will point to the fix… Read More: Do I Have Bad Valves or Bad Piston Rings? »
If you have a suspected bad fuel pump relay and need to temporarily jump it for testing, it is quick and easy to do. A better method in many cases is to look in the fuse box for a relay with the same part numbers and temporarily use it. Using another similar relay is commonly… Read More: How To the Jump Fuel Pump Relay on a Chevy… »
Locating an electrical short in a car or truck can be difficult and time-consuming. Wiring issues can be hard to find and locate, but by using a simple test light method, you can narrow your search dramatically. This process will save you time and money and is a quick way to find an electrical short… Read More: How To Find an Electrical Short in any Car or… »
A P1101 error code is a common problem with Chevy Cruze that points to an issue with the airflow going into the engine. A sensor called a MAF (Mass Air Flow) located at the air intake of the engine measures all the air flowing in and reports the information back the the computer. When the… Read More: 5 Causes and Fixes for a P1101 Error Code on… »
If you have a vehicle and the alternator keeps gin bad, failing, or burning out, it can be caused by several things. While alternators can fail, they should not fail constantly, and more than two failures usually indicate there is an issue. How Often Should an Alternator Fail? Most alternators are built to last 90,000… Read More: 7 Causes When a Car or Truck Keeps Burning Out… »
If you have a Honda Acura and the VSA light comes on with a yellow exclamation (!) and triangle, this has to do with the driving stability. There is a switch to turn on or off the VSA system; if it does not work, there is an internal error with the VSA system. It is… Read More: Causes and Fixes Honda VSA Light That Will Not Go… »
If you need to connect an exhaust pipe and do not have a welder, there are a several 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… Read More: 3 Ways to Connect Exhaust Pipes Without Welding »
The maintenance light for a 2012-2017 Honda Accord comes on when basic service is needed, and is a reminder that an oil change or tire rotation needs to be done. It is quick and easy to shut off with a few steps. The onboard screen can be used, or the speedometer method can also be… Read More: How To Reset 2012-2017 Honda Accord Service Maint Light »
If you have a Jeep and the ESP BAS light comes on, several things can cause the problem. When troubleshooting an ESP light issue, an OBDII scan tool will be needed to read the codes on the computer (ECM) If you don’t have an OBDII scan tool, most auto parts stores will scan the vehicle… Read More: Causes and Fixes of a Jeep ESP BAS Light »
If you have a Honda with a P0118 error code, there is a problem with a coolant heat sensor. The official definition is an “Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit High.” There can be 2-4 engine coolant temperature sensors (ECT) in a Honda, depending on the year and model. What is a P0118 Code Honda… Read More: Causes and Fixes P0118 Code Honda »
Symptoms of a Bad Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor How a Temperature Sensor Works Coolant Temperature Sensor Location How Much Does it Cost for a Coolant Temperature Sensor? Common Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor OBDII Codes How To Test a Coolant Temperature Sensor Replacing a Coolant Temperature Sensor Like all sensors on an engine, an engine coolant… Read More: How to Test and Replace an Engine Temperature Sensor »
If you have a Toyota Tacoma and the speedometer is not working, there are several causes and fixes. Common causes include a bad wheel speed sensor, instrument cluster, or ABS control module. Often, when the speedometer is not working, neither is the tachometer and odometer. How a Tacoma Speedometer Works A Toyota Tacoma speedometer receives… Read More: Causes and Fixes Toyota Tacoma Speedometer Not Working »
If you have a Ford vehicle with a dashboard error message saying “Check Fuel Fill Inlet”, the computer is seeing a problem with the “No Gas Cap System”. This is a common problem for Ford vehicles, including the F150, Mustangs, or any Ford Capless Fuel System. The No Cap system was created to eliminate the… Read More: What Does Ford Check Fuel Fill Inlet Error Message Mean? »
If you have a Chevy Malibu and can not find the gas tank button, you are not alone, as this is a common question with the car. There is no gas tank button as the fuel door is pressed on and will pop open when done correctly. The main car doors must also be unlocked,… Read More: How to Open Gas Tank Door on Chevy Malibu (2015-2023) »
A bad IAC valve will affect the idle of the engine with a high or low idle speed. It will only affect the idle of the engine but engine will run well when the gas pedal is pressed. An IAC valve is controlled by the computer and allows air to bypass the throttle body butterfly… Read More: Symptoms of a Bad Idle Air Control Valve (IAC) »
If you have a car or truck and think it may have low fuel pressure, several symptoms are caused by fuel delivery issues. Symptoms include long start times, rough idle, check engine light on, misfire codes (P0300-P0308), engine running lean (P0171 Code), and reduced engine power. Low fuel pressure is often described as the vehicle… Read More: Symptoms of Low Fuel Pressure and What Causes It »
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… Read More: How To Change the Oil 2019 Toyota Corolla 1.8 L »