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 »
I recently had a 2006 Kia Spectra that had no spark and could only find limited information. If you find yourself with the same problem below is what I found. A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. If you have an OBDII scan tool for the Kia be sure to scan… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk-through. If you have a (2005-2009) Kia Spectra that has an P2626 Error Code the O2 sensor is likely bad. Be sure to check the wiring and connections which can also cause the same error. Usually the O2 sensor will need to be replaced. Replacing the… Read More »
There is a video at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through if needed. If you have a broken door handle on a 2005-2008 Kia Spectra a new one can be installed. This is a common problem the the Kia with many broken door latches. A broken door handle can be replaced by a handy… 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. Below are… 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. I… Read More »
An engine coolant temperature sensor (CTS or ECT) like all sensors on an engine is critical for a motor 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 same for most… 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 getting 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 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 »
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 a bad connection… 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 the cap… 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 an easy task that most any DIY backyard mechanic can do.   There are… 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’s 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 fliud type. If you… Read More »
Resetting the Service light on a 2011-2015 Mini Cooper is easy to do. The Maintenance light can come on for a variety reasons and will need reset, mainly after an oil change. A series of buttons are pressed in the right combination of steps to reset the light. These same steps are used for other service lights that… 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 »
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 »
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 what… 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 One relay and… Read More »
So the trunk latch on my 2003 VW Passat would not close. After reading the forums I dived into it and below is what I have found out about the trunk latch and how I fixed the problem. I believe this is the same procedure for 1998-2005 Passat since the parts are the same. First of all my… Read More »
Installing the front license plate on a Toyota Camry 2007-2011 is an 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 it in and attach… 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 »
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 »
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 »
When it come to replacement parts for a car or truck getting the best bargain is always tricky. The variation in prices often make little sense. After many years of buying automotive parts both online and at a auto part stores I have mixed feeling about both. Parts can be bought online cheaper, not always, but in general… Read More »
Privacy Policy We have created this privacy statement for https://www.backyardmechanic.org in order to demonstrate our firm and continuing commitment to the privacy of personal information provided by those visiting and interacting with https://www.backyardmechanic.org. We hold the privacy of your personal information in the highest regard. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this website. We… Read More »