Antifreeze is used as a coolant in an engine to help protect it from very cold temperatures and corrosion. Water was originally used to cool engines but quickly caused issues since the freezing point is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When a fluid such as water freezes, it expands, which can crack the engine block. Different additives… Read More »
An ignition coil is a necessary component of any engine to provide voltage to the spark plugs. No matter how old or size a gas engine, 4, 6, or 8 cylinders all will have an ignition coil. How Many Ignition Coils are in a V6 engine? A V6 engine can have 1, 3, or 6… Read More »
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 »
If you have a Chevy Equinox and it gives the message “Engine Power is Reduced” error message along with an exclamation mark, this can be caused by several things. When the vehicle on-board computer (ECM) detects a system error, it will go into reduced power mode, also called limp mode. The most common fix is… Read More »
If you have a Toyota and a “Check Charging System” error message displays on the dashboard, there can be several causes and fixes. What Is the Toyota Check Charging System Error Message? The Check Charging System message is a warning that the alternator is not keeping the battery charged. Vehicle electronics, including the engine, use… Read More »
If you are bleeding brake lines and no fluid is coming out, there can be several causes. Causes include blocked lines or ports, leaky hoses, bad parts, and more. Below we look at the most common reasons no fluid comes out when bleeding the brake lines. How Come When I Bleed My Brakes, Nothing Comes… Read More »
Testing an alternator with a multi-meter is a common method, but if no meter is available, there is another method. There is an old-school method to check the alternator by starting the engine and removing the battery cable. While I always suggest using a multi-meter to check the battery, there are some scenarios when no… Read More »
A Honda with the D (Drive) light that keeps flashing means the onboard computer is seeing an issue with the transmission. If you are driving when the D (Drive) starts flashing, it is best to find a safe spot to pull over and get the vehicle examined. Why Does the D (Drive) Light Flash in… Read More »
If you have a vehicle and the alternator keeps 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 to 120,000… Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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. There is an easy way to find out by doing a compression test.… 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 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 you have a vehicle that is giving a P0031 error code, there is a problem with an upstream sensor 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 a… 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 »
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 the neutral safety switch has gone bad, depending on the manufacturer. The most common way is to put a car in neutral, hold the brake, and try to… 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 quick and 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… 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 »
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 »
If you have a Toyota that is giving a P0401 Code, there is a problem with the EGR valve. A P0401 OBDII error code is an “EGR Insufficient Flow Detected. “ This can be caused by three main components, including the EGR Valve, EGR Vacuum Modulator, or a Vacuum Line Leak. The location of the… 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… Read More »
If your car has long start times and hesitates to start, there are several things that can cause it. While usually a sign the vehicle needs to be tuned up, there are other causes that can occur. A car needs the correct mixture of gas and air combined with a spark to start immediately. If… Read More »
Having a good book on automotive repair can go a long way to help understand how a vehicle works. Repair manuals are good but require the fundamentals of mechanical repair to be already understood. Many articles online are also a good resource but can often skip subjects and leave gaps in explanations. This is why… Read More »
Automatic Shifters are a specialty performance part that gives more control to a driver and looks cool doing it. While mainly used for drag racing, they also can be used whenever more control over a vehicle is needed. If you are looking to get an automatic shifter, there are many available with those below some… Read More »
If your car or truck is misfiring, you may wonder, “how long can I drive with a misfiring cylinder?” The quick answer is it varies greatly and depends on how bad the problem is and how many cylinders you have. For example, if you have an 8-cylinder engine and a single spark plug wire is… Read More »
If you have a Chrysler 300 and the ESP BAS light comes on, there can be several causes and fixes. The main fix is to do a reset procedure, and if this does not work, an OBDII scan tool will be needed to read error codes. An advanced OBDII scan tool will be needed to… Read More »
If you have a Chevy and get an “SVC Tire Monitor” error message on your dashboard, the onboard computer sees a low tire. It can also be an error from a bad sensor, but usually, it is a low tire that needs air. The vehicle may also give a “Tire Low Add Air” message. The… Read More »
A common problem with many Ford vehicles is a door ajar message comes on even though all the doors are closed. This can be very annoying, especially when driving at night since often the dome light will also come on and sometimes the door chime. The door ajar light is controlled by the door light… Read More »
Today we are talking about wheel studs and the tool needed to remove the studs. In this guide, you will find two pieces of information. What tool do you need, and a trick to use if you do not have the tool needed. Of course, the best way to tackle any job is with the… Read More »