Hot Autos, Motorcycles & Planes Posts
How To: Fix the EGR system on a car by understanding a ported vacuum
The EGR system on a car doesn't break very much, but when it does diagnosing the problem can be difficult. Watch this video to learn about your EGR system and the "ported" vacuum it operates in, and use that knowledge to diagnose problems with various cars.
How To: Bead up a stubborn tire with Murphy soap
Mounting the tire on a car isn't too complicated, but getting a tire to bead up right can be a pain. Watch this video to learn how a little Murphy soap can make the job a lot easier and smoother.
How To: Pull the engine on a snub-nosed van
Removing the engine from a snub-nosed van like the 2000 Chevy Van in this video is supposed to be difficult. If you watch this video though, you'll learn a trick that will enable you to pull the engine from your snub-nosed van in half the time usually required.
How To: Replace the door hinge pins on a car
When the doors on your car get older they often stop closing as well as they once did. If you've checked the striker plate and that seems fine, you may need to replace your door hinge pins. This video will show you how to do just that.
How To: Remove and install timing belts on an '01 Acura MDX
Acuras, like their Honda brethren, are blissfully easy cars to work on. If the timing belt on your 2001 MDX has gone bad, you've come to the right place, because this two-part video will show you how to remove the broken one and install a new one.
How To: Flush your air conditioning to prevent comebacks
Air conditioning comebacks are usually caused by an air conditioning system that needs to be flushed and cleaned. Watch this video to learn a handy little trick that will help ensure that you get all the debris out of your A/C every time you flush.
How To: Fix the air conditioning condenser on a Mazda 6
The Mazda 6 is a great little car, but if you like to work on your car yourself it can be a nightmare. It's bays were clearly not designed with ease of repair in mind. Watch this video to learn how to fix a broken air conditioning condenser in a Mazda 6, if you dare to try.
How To: Acquire legal ownership of an abandoned car
Been keeping an eye on the car that's been sitting on the side of the freeway for the last month? This video shows you how to legally acquire the title for an abandoned vehicle. You'll need the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and license plate number to locate the owner. Then work out the transfer title, and the car's yours!
News: DIY Freak Builds Mini Dragster Powered By 6 Circular Saws
Power tool drag racing is a concept that would drive many DIY nuts to salivation. Shown below: Barry Lee's mini dragster, powered by six circular saws, and aptly named Bolt Lightning.
How To: Clean rust off the chrome parts of your car
Real chrome is one of the world's shiniest metals, and it has defined the world of metal auto body accents. If your chrome has gotten rusty, as it is wont to do, watch this video to learn how to restore it's original shine quickly.
How To: Change the fuel filter on a Ford Escape and most other cars
Changing the fuel filter on your car isn't too hard and is great way to save money for the DIY automotive enthusiast. This video will teach you how to replace the fuel filter on a Ford Escape, but these principles apply to most other cars too.
How To: FIx a leaking coolant bypass tube on a 3.8 Chevy engine
Gaskets are the bane of most complex vehicles, but that doesn't mean that every time the coolant is leaking from the Chevy 3.8 motor the intake gasket is leaking. The problem can also be a leaking coolant bypass tube, and this video will show you how to diagnose and fix that problem.
How To: Diagnose a misfire in your 2001 Ford E250 motor
A misfire in your engine can be infuriating to find the cause of and finally fix. There can be many causes, but this video will teach you how to cut through some of them and diagnose the cause of a misfire quickly.
How To: Determine whether you really have an exhaust leak
Exhaust leaks are usually easy to find, but if you encounter one that defies location and you don't want to take the manifold off to check, watch this video. It will teach you how to use a sound amplifier to diagnose the problem.
How To: Fix the blend door actuator motor on a '99 Mercury Grand Marquis
If the air conditioning on your car doesn't work and the condenser does work, you may have a broken blend actuator door motor. It's hard to get to, but there's a way to do it without removing the dash board, and this video will show you how to do it.
How To: Decipher multiple error codes from a car
When you use a scanner to look for error codes on a car, many can show up at once and confuse you as to the nature of the problem. Often, all of the codes are responses to the same problem. Watch this video for tips on interpreting multiple error codes.
How To: Fix the lamp out module on a 1996 Ford Explorer if your headlights are broken
Ford Explorers have a weird problem where the lo-beam headlights won't work even after the bulbs and fuses have been replaced. This is because they draw their power from the lamp out module, and this often breaks. Learn how to fix it in this video.
How To: Disconnect the brake hoses connectors on a Ford or Mazda
If you've ever tried to remove the brake hoses on a Ford or a Mazda, you may know the pain of the brake hose connector breaking when you try to remove it. Watch this video to learn how to remove the brake hose the easy way.
How To: Replace the CV shafts on an '04 Subaru Outback
The CV (constant velocity) shafts on your car allow the axel to transfer power to the wheels without an appreciable loss in efficiency. They are widespread in front and all-wheel drive cars. Watch this video to learn how to replace broken ones yourself.
How To: Reset the tachometer on a 2001 Nissan Frontier pick-up truck
Nissan tachometers have a problem where they sometimes spin all the way over and then don't read correctly afterwards. Watch this video for step-by-step instructions for how to reset the tachometer, giving your accurate RPM readings again. Vital for manual owners.
How To: Test a car starter using an amp meter
The starter on your car's health is directly related to how many amps it pulls from the battery. This video will show you how to use a multimeter to check volts going from the battery to the starter, and use an amp meter (don't use the multimeter for this part!) to check the amps at the starter.
How To: Detect a leak in the AC on your car
A leaking air conditioner in your car costs you power and money. Finding the leak can be tricky, but if you have a specially designed audio amplifier it's really easy, and this video will show you how to use it.
How To: Diagnose and fix seemingly unrelated electrical problems on a car
When it rains, it pours. If all sorts of electrical systems on your car have seemed to break at once with no relation to each other, they might actually be related. Watch this video to learn how multiple electrical problems in a car can often be traced to one source and fixed, saving time and money.
How To: Change the turn signal switch on an '07 Chrysler minivan
If your turn signals are broken, you aren't driving safely. If the problem is the turn signal switch in your '07 Chrysler minivan, you've come to the right place. This video will show you how to change out the part at home.
How To: Reset the speedometer on a Chrysler
Knowing how fast you're going is an important part of safe, legal driving. If you own a Chrysler and your speedometer has stopped working, there is hope. Watch this video for the procedure you need to reset the speedometer on a newish Chrysler.
How To: Remove the broken exhaust studs on an old car
When a car gets old enough things start going wrong with it you never imagined when it was new. Watch this video to learn how to fix one common old car problem: removing broken exhaust studs that are stuck on the manifold.
How To: Find a leak in the evap on an '03 Dodge Caravan
Finding a leak in the evap system on your car generally requires sophisticated equipment. If it's a big leak though, you can probably find it yourself. This video will teach you some tricks you can use to try and find an evap leak yourself on a 2003 Dodge Caravan before you take it to the shop.
How To: Replace a blown out spark plug on a Ford Triton engine
Fort Triton engine offer a lot of power and value, but do have a tendency to blow out their own spark plugs. Watch this video to learn how you can use a special tool to drill out, re-trap, and install an insert that will fix your spark plugs without having to take the head off the motor.
How To: Replace a leaking transmission solonoid pac on a Dodge Caravan
The Dodge Caravan is getting a little long in the tooth as a model, but if you still have an old one you should check this out. It will teach you how to replace the transmission solonoid pac after it starts leaking, a common problem with these cars.
How To: Fix the E brake on a Chevy Tahoe if the rear back braking plate is replaced
The Chevy Tahoe isn't the most reliable vehicle, bless it's heart, and home maintenance skills are a must if you're going to enjoy owning one. If you're replaced the rear brake backing plates recently and noticed the E-brake not working after that, watch this video to learn whether you lost the pin under the adjuster pad and that's causing the problem.
How To: Test the fuel volume on your car
Reading the fuel pressure and volume in your car's fuel system is a great way to determine whether your engine is working properly. This video will teach you how to use a meter to read the fuel volume directly from the fuel system.
How To: Adjust the valves on a 1996 Honda Civic
Having clean, functional valves is essential to proper engine function. Honda cars need to have their valves adjusted when they start to make noise. In this video you will learn how to adjust the valves on a 1996 Honda Civic.
How To: Fix the A/C drain problem on an '02 Jeep Liberty
Jeeps, for all their rugged charm, are not very well-made cars. They are rife with mechanical issues, and the '02 Jeep Liberty is no different. In this video you'll learn how to fix the A/C draining issues in these cars that leads to the passenger side carpet getting wet.
How To: Understand and assess the fuel trim in your car
The fuel trim in your car is the mixture of air and fuel in the engine, which needs to remain in balance for an engine to run properly. This video will teach you about how to assess the fuel trim on your vehicle and adjust it.
How To: Locate the starter on a GM 4.2
Replacing the starter on a GM 4.2 might not sound too hard, but it is trickier than it sounds because the starter itself is hard to locate. Watch this video to learn exactly where it is and what to look for.
How To: Change the idler arm on a 1993 Nissan pickup
The idler arm is an important part of all modern cars, and fixing them is mercifully similar across brands. In this video you'll learn how to change out the idler arm on a '93 Nissan pick-up, but you can apply these techniques to lots of other makes.
How To: Listen to bearing noise and determine where it comes from
Most wheel bearings that aren't brand new make some noise when you're driving. If you want to be able to tell whether there's a serious problem, watch this video to learn how to lift the car up and use a listening device to figure out exactly where the noise is coming from.
How To: Turn off the check engine light on a 1991 Suzuki Sidekick with a hidden switch
The 1991 Suzuki Sidekick is quite vintage at this point, and they're fun little cars. If your Sidekick's check engine light is on and there's nothing wrong with the engine, use the hidden switch you'll learn about in this video to turn it off.
How To: Disconnect a car battery before working on the electrical system
If you work on your own car and don't want to get electrocuted, you should disconnect the battery before you do any major work. This video will show you how to do it quickly and safely, ensuring your continued auto maintenance safety.
How To: Inflate flat or low tires on a car
Maintaining proper tire pressure improves the ride quality of your car and your gas mileage. To ensure that your tire pressure is at the correct level, follow these instructions to check the pressure and fill it to the correct level.