Replacing the intake air filter on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra falls in the Do-It-Yourself category and is an easy task to do. Most car intake air filters are replaced every 15,000 – 30,000 miles. Of course, the environment will make a big difference how often it should be changed. For example, if you live and drive in a… Read More »
Doing a compression test is an easy task for a DIY mechanic and can show if you have bad piston rings or valves. Bad rings or valves can cause a leak to occur around them which instead of sending a piston downward the air goes around the piston. This will give an engine a lack of power and… Read More »
If you have an engine with a compression problem you need to know if it is the vales or piston rings. This can be an issue since you may only need to pull the head instead of puling the entire engine apart. There is an easy way to find out by doing a compression test. Tools Needed Engine… Read More »
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 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 housing as with… Read More »
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 needed that does… 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 140516. Be… 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. Camshaft Position Sensor Location The Camshaft Position Sensor is located at the back of the cylinder… Read More »
Changing the oil on a 2005-2009 Kia Spectra is an easy task the 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 Oil Filter Wrench/Pliers… Read More »
A P0301 error code is a misfire that spark plug 1 is not sparking correctly. Other P030 errors point to other cylinders not working correctly. For example, P0302 code is spark plug 2 misfire, and P0303 would be spark plug 3. P0301 Error Code Causes Bad Spark Plug Spark Plug Wires Bad Coil Fuel Injector P0301 Error Code… 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 to me… Read More »
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. What tool you need, and a trick if you do not have the tool needed. Of course, the best way to tackle any job is with the correct tool. So first let’s talk… 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 don’t like using my vehicle and jumper cables… 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 most any DIY person can readily get done. Things To Know About Charging a Battery. Every battery charger has a different style and buttons to charge… 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 oil has been changed, it is a simply a reminder light that a mechanic will reset… Read More »
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 »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. 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… Read More »
Replacing the air filter on a car is usually a simple procedure and can be done by almost any home do-it-yourself type of person. What is a Car Air Filter? All combustible engines need to air fed into the intake for combustion to happen. If the air fed into the intake is dirty it can scar the sidewall… 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. Here are the… Read More »
There are times when a battery in a vehicle has such a low charge and in an emergency needs a jump start from another vehicle. This is done with jumper cables that hook to the battery on a vehicle with a good battery to the vehicle with a dead battery. Using jumper cables to jump start another vehicle… Read More »
Changing out a rear tail light bulb is an easy DIY task that almost anyone can do. Some basic tools will be needed usually a screw driver 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 since… 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 Pontiac G6 have the inside one as High-Beam, and the middle one is Low-Beam. The outer one is the running light. Tools and Parts Needed… Read More »
Bleeding a new car or truck master cylinder is necessary to remove any air that is in the unit. It is easy enough to do for a handy DIY type person with the right tools. Of course, if in-doubt call a professional. It is best to bleed the cylinder before installing it since the rod usually does not… Read More »
Replacing the license plate bulbs on a 2000-2007 Ford Focus is an easy task that falls in the DIY category. Of course, of in doubt be sure to call a professional. There are 2 bulbs that can be replaced. If one is burnt out it is usually a good idea to go ahead and replace both. Tools and… Read More »
Replacing the camshaft sensor on a 2011-2017 Hyundai Elantra is an easy task that falls into the DIY category. There are 2 camshaft position sensors A and B both located next to each other. The Hyundai Elantra 1.8 Liter DOHC has 2 camshafts, so it has 2 sensors. The OBDII codes for a Hyundai with a bad camshaft… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through if needed. 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 »
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, or have no… Read More »
A crankshaft position sensor on a Kia regulates the engine timing along with the plugs getting spark. The sensor tells the onboard computer (ECM) the crank position which is necessary for timing. If the ECM detects an error with the crankshaft position sensor it will give a P0335 OBDII code. What is a P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor “A”… Read More »
If you have a car or truck that the engine light is on and want to know why, there is a cheap low-cost way to do it with a smartphone. All vehicles since 1996 have an onboard computer and a plug called an OBDII socket that can talk to it with the right device. Since the computer stores… 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 during any fuel… 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 on stands or… 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. Multimeter Features Used… Read More »
If you find yourself with a vehicle that the engine does not start the first things to check for is spark and gas. All mechanics will eventually find themselves with this problem and need to diagnose the electrical problem. Knowing whether an engine has spark will quickly help narrow the problem with a vehicle that does not want… 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 the options… Read More »
The maintenance light for a 2012-2017 Honda Accord comes on when basic service is needed such as an oil change or tire rotation. It is easy to shut off with a few steps. The onboard screen can be used or the speedometer method can also be done to clear the light. Using the onboard screen is the easiest… Read More »
Radiator caps can go bad and need replacing which is an easy task most anyone can do. Remember never to remove a radiator cap while the engine is hot as the cap likely is under pressure and boiling water can spray out. Only remove the cap when the engine is cold. What is the Function of a Radiator… Read More »