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. 2007-2012 Toyota Camry Upstream O2 Sensor Location The Upstream O2 Sensor is located inside the engine compartment. The O2 Sensor is located on top and front of the engine… Read More »
The ESP system on a car or truck is built to help a driver have better control while operating the vehicle. If the system malfunctions, the light will stay on and need the system to be looked at to find the error. The ESP light should not be on continuous but only when driving conditions… Read More »
If you have a broken door handle on a 2005-2008 Kia Spectra, a new one can be installed. This is a common problem for Kia with many broken door latches. A handy DIY type of person can replace a broken door handle. It does require removing the indoor panel and the wires that connect to… Read More »
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 »
Having a good Portable 12-Volt DC tire inflator with a built-in tire pressure 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. A 12-Volt unit that can run from the cigarette lighter… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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,… Read More »