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 »
Changing the motor oil on a 2012 Toyota Corolla falls in the backyard mechanic DIY category. The steps should be the same for any 2009-2013 Corolla. Usually the Maintenance Required (MAINT REQD) Light comes on when it time to change the oil. Read here for the steps to turn off the Maintenance Required (MAINT REQD) Light.… 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 if has been changed, it is a simply a reminder light that a mechanic… Read More »
Replacing the Upstream O2 sensor on a 2007-2012 Toyota Camry very much falls into the DIY category. Of course always call a professional if in doubt. It is located on top and front of the engine making it easy to access. Tools Needed New 02 Sensor 10mm socket 22mm wrench Screwdriver Pliers Copper anti-seize (Usually… Read More »
I recently had to replace a 2006 Kia Spectra radiator that was leaking and so 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 thought was… Read More »
Recently I began to have fuel problems on a 1978 Dodge truck. I did all the obvious things such as changing out the fuel filter and pump which at first seemed to solve the problem but it came back. Finally I pulled out the fuel tank sending unit which was rusted up good clogging up the lines.… Read More »
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. After reading online and asking around I found the type used is called Pentosin Power Steering Fluid… Read More »
Having a good tire inflator with a built-in gauge to see the air pressure is ideal in many situations. From having a spare tire that has deflated to airing up a bicycle tire having a good working inflator is invaluable. Below is some of our picks for small units that work well. As always be… Read More »
Vacuum leaks that give Evap codes can be a pain to find at times and cause an engine to not run correctly. If the leak is small enough it can often be ignored but an engine light will come on which is not good in many scenarios. An Evap Smoke machine is an easy answer to… Read More »
A multimeter is a tool that makes life easier when testing electronics or wiring in a vehicle. Checking if a battery has a charge, or testing the alternator are common problems that can be quickly checked with a multimeter. A good meter for automotive work will have basic requirements that most any meter should have. … Read More »
Changing out a rear tail light bulb is an easy DIY task for most everyone. Some basic tools will be needed usually a Philips screw diver but this changes from vehicle to vehicle. Below are the basic steps for replacing a tail light bulb. It is often best to search for your specific car or truck… 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… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. In most cases when working on any vehicle the key is not only to know what you are doing, but to have the right tool for the job. In my experience I have pulled, bent, and even broke these pulleys trying to… Read More »
If an engine light comes up on your dashboard, and after using a scan tool to get the error it come up P0455 error code, there is some common fixes. This is the same for Ford, Dodge, Chevy, or most any vehicle foreign and domestic. A P0455 Code is a Evap System Large Leak Detected. … 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 finaly 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 »
Replacing the Headlight Bulb on 2005–2010 Pontiac G6 falls into the DIY category. It does require removing some bolts and inserts so call a professional if in doubt. The bulbs on the G6 have the inside one as High Beam, and the middle one is Low Beam. The outer one is the running light. Tools… Read More »
Replacing a Headlight Bulb on a Toyota Camry 2007-2011 is a easy task that most any DIYer can do. There three bulbs with the inner one the running light, the center one the headlight, and the outer one the turn signal. The inner and center headlight bulbs are replaced the same way and have the same replacement… Read More »
Replacing the headlight bulbs on a 2000-2004 VW Passat is not a difficult job and falls into the DIY category. 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 stuck in the socket due to age, weather, or other… Read More »
If you find yourself alone after changing out brake pads or a master cylinder and have no help to bleed them, there is few ways to do it alone. This happens to many DIY mechanics as most people disappear when its time to go to work. Luckily there are some easy options. Here are some of… Read More »
So the trunk latch on my 2003 VW Passat would not close. After reading the forums I dived in and below is what I have found about them. I believe this is the same procedure for 1998-2005 Passat since the parts are the same. First of all my problem was a piece of plastic that had… Read More »
Replacing a car thermostat is a easy straight forward tack that most DIY mechanics can do. A 2000-2004 Volkswagen Passat with a 1.8 Liter 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 the thermostat… Read More »
Troubleshooting electrical on any vehicle can be simple but often can become complex. Having the right tools to help you find the problem can be critical to get the job done. Keep in mind every mechanic will have their own style and method when it come to finding a problem. Some will use the simplest… Read More »
Replacing the air filter on a car is usually a simple procedure and can be done by most any home DIYer. Air filters are placed on a engine so it doesn’t pull in dust or any debris that can damage the motor. Filter replacement depends on the car but is generally done every 15,000 – 30,000… 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 usualy means the Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) or thermostat. There are other things that can cause it such as a… Read More »
Diagnosing a problem with a vehicle is the fist step to fixing it. Having the right tool to do this goes a long way in making a problem easier to troubleshoot. Below is a list of our favorite vehicle diagnostic tools. A list like this is no doubt debatable and everyone will have their own opinion on… 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 dont like using my vehicle and… Read More »
There are a couple of tail-tail-signs that your brake light switch is bad. One is that you have no brake lights, and your fuse and wiring are good. And the second is that your vehicle will not come out of park. Even pressing on the brake harder does not seem to help. You use to be able… Read More »
Of course the best way to tackle any job is with the correct tool. What if you do not own the tool, or any tool that will work for the job? 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. … Read More »
Flushing a radiator is a easy task for the DIY Backyard Mechanic. Precaution should be taken mainly that the engine must be cold. Never open a radiator cap on a hot engine as it will have built up pressure that will explode out possibly causing injury. Since radiator fluid is damaging to the environment be… Read More »
Carburetors are so complex, that most will not tackle rebuilding it. There are some simple rules you can follow when rebuilding a carburetor to insure you get it done correctly. First always take a picture of all sides of the carburetor before taking it apart. Including but not limited to the bottom and the top. During… Read More »
A engine coolant temperature sensor (CTS or ECT) like all sensors on a engine is critical for a engine to run properly. This is a guide for testing and replacing a temperature sensor if it is bad. While every vehicle will have a different location for a sensor the basic information below will be the… Read More »
A leaking plastic radiator can be fixed with DIY kits or even with a soldering iron. Often when a leak is seen on a plastic radiator many think it must be replaced when it can be repaired at home easily. Repairing a leak is a easy task that most and DIY backyard mechanics can do. … 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 type of… Read More »
The process of locating a electrical short can be difficult, and time consuming. By using this simple test light method, you can narrow your search dramatically. This process will save you time and money. Here is how to find a short on most vehicle’s, using a 12 volt test light. 12 Volt Test Light… Read More »
Installing the front license plate on a Toyota Camry 2007-2011 is a easy task that most home DIYers can do. The problem with Toyota Camry is there is no bolts or bracket on the front to hold a plate in place. This is easily solved by buying a bracket and some screws to hold… Read More »