Hot Autos, Motorcycles & Planes Posts

How To: Fix Broken Plastic Tabs on Bumper

A common problem on bumper covers is that the tabs that attach the bumper to the car get broken. This is critical, as this is what secures and aligns the bumper cover. Many times, a broken tab is all that is wrong with the bumper cover. With the cost of these plastic parts $200 to $700, the replacement cost can break the bank.

How To: Hack Your Car's Cassette Deck into a Wireless Bluetooth Music Player

Still have an old tape deck installed in your car? This nifty hack lets you upgrade to the digital age without sacrificing your love for cassettes. There's nothing wrong with some low-fidelity tunes in your car every now and then, but if you want to listen to the tunes on your iPod or smartphone too, it's a lot easier (and cheaper) than buying a new in-dash player that supports line-in connections. Just add some wireless capabilities to you tape deck! All you need is a cheap cassette adapter,...

How To: Make a DIY Cold Air Intake

Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a cold air intake, make your own version for your car. Cold air intakes can free up about 4 horsepower to the wheels, increase fuel economy, increase torque and make your engine sound better. All you need is a mass airflow sensor adapter, some metal pipe, couplers, and some clamps to hold it all together.

How To: How Area 51 Fooled the Soviets with Fake Spy Planes

Area 51 is the most secretive military base in the United States, a base that U.S. government officials to this day still barely acknowledge because of its top secret development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems. But a slew of Cold War-era documents have finally been declassified, and National Geographic has discovered a rather low-tech method the military used to hide its high-tech prototypes.

How To: Start a car without needing the key

Please only use the information in this video if you have lost your own car key or you are helping out a friend who has lost theirs! If you need to start a car without the key, this tutorial shows you how to find the wires in the steering column to find the eight cables underneath. Here's what to look for and then what to do so you can get your car running and go to where you need to be.

How To: Fix transmission and oil seal leaks fast with AT-205 Re-Seal

If you've got an oil seal leak in a very inconvenient place, then this video by Scotty Kilmer will show you how a little bottle of re-sealer may be able to fix that leak. The vehicle in this video has a leak in the front main seal of the automatic transmission. The seal is pretty cheap, but you have to pull the transmission off to replace it, which can take a serious amount of time. The re-sealer is a better solution, a polymer oil that can mix with all kinds of oils. If you mix AT-205 Re-Sea...

How To: Master the obstacle swerve on a motorcycle

In this video, we learn how to master the obstacle swerve on a motorcycle. First, you must reach a speed of 15 miles per hour and then swerve around a 7 foot obstacle 13 feet ahead. Learn how to swerve to the left first and then start to swerve to the right on a closed course. Do not brake while you are swerving and learn how to use counter steering. Keep your head up and look where you want to go while you are riding. Enjoy riding your bike and make sure to be extremely cautious when you are...

How To: Use Fiberglass Filler For Auto Body Repair

Assuring A Proper Repair When Welding Vehicle Sheet Metal Any weld that is performed on a vehicle requires certain steps to assure a proper repair. For example, weld-through-primer must be applied to the welded surface being welded; corrosion protection must be applied to the back side of the welded area, etc. In this article we are going to discuss why fiberglass is required for auto body repair.

How To: Use the smart key for the 2010 Toyota Prius

In this video, we learn how to use the smart key for the 2010 Prius. You can use this just like any other keyless entry system. Press the lock button to lock the doors and the unlock button to unlock the doors. When you press unlock once it unlocks the drivers door, if you press it twice within 3 seconds, it unlocks all the door. After 60 seconds, the Prius will automatically lock itself. Press the red alarm key if you need to draw attention to yourself in an emergency situation. Make sure yo...

How To: Operate the audio system of a 2010 Toyota Prius

In this tutorial, we learn how to operate the audio system of a 2010 Prius. Every Prius comes standard with a 6-speaker AM/FM tuner with a single CD player. There is an 8-speaker with 6-disk changer available as well. The top of the line comes with a premium auto system and a navigation system. The left hand knob switches the system on and off and controls the volume. To set a radio station, use the manual knob and press it down until you hear a beep when you find the station you want to list...

How To: Replace the rear cargo door roller track on an LLV postal truck

The rear door track is a must-have for postal workers on their LLV postal trucks. If they can't open the back cargo door, how would they get us our mail? So, when dealing with a broken cargo door track, this video will help you replace the roller track, which is actually quite easy. The United States Postal Service (USPS) uses these "Long Life Vehicles" for almost all mail deliveries! If you have another problem, check out the other LLV videos.

How To: Diagnose an electrical problem with a fuel pump on an LLV postal truck

If you're working on a LLV postal truck, this video will show you how to determine if you've got a bad fuel pump or not. It's a quick diagnosis trick to determining if there's an electrical problem with the fuel pump, and first you need to take out the ECMB fuse, plug a jumper wire where it was, use a multimeter and labscope to see what's going on. The United States Postal Service (USPS) uses these trucks for all their postal deliveries, and if you're the mechanic working on it, this and the ...

How To: Remove and replace a front wheel bearing on a 1991 Ford Explorer

A wheel bearing doesn't have to be a costly fix for the mechanic. It could be a relatively cheap repair job for all you do-it-yourselfer types. There are different types of wheel bearings, but the type explained in this video, on a 1991 Ford Explorer, is a self-contained all-in-one assembly. If you have a '91 Ford Explorer, or a different vehicle with this kind of wheel bearing, then you're in luck… watch and learn.

How To: Cut R&R (remove & replace) time for an engine in a 2000 Chevrolet Express van

For most vehicles, the way you remove and replace (often referred to as R&R) an engine is by disconnecting everything from the motor and pulling it out of the frame. With the 2000 Chevrolet Express, the book time states 22 hours for R&R of the engine this way. But there is a shortcut, and it cuts the time nearly in half! It involves the backwards approach, where you lift the body of the Chevy Express off the frame, then pull the engine out.

How To: Perform a P0404 EGR cleaning on a Saturn S-series

If you own a Saturn S-series and keep getting the code P0404 and your check engine light is on, you probably need to perform an EGR cleaning. This is actually a commong problem with soem cars and can be taken care of easily wthout having to go to the mechanic. This video will show you how to clean it properly and use the right materials for the job. You might want to wear gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning an EGR. So good luck, pay attention, and enjoy!

How To: Ride a motorcycle safely with a passenger

In this tutorial, we learn how to ride a motorcycle safely with a passenger. First give your passenger gear for themselves, then have them sit behind you on the bike. Make sure they hold onto you while you are driving, and you take turns more slowly at first. Turn the sides gently and have them lean into the turns with you. Before each of you get on the bike, tell your passenger how to behave while they are riding on it. This will better equip your passenger to know what to expect and how to ...

How To: Check the fuses in a Cadillac

In this tutorial, we learn how to check the fuses in a Cadillac. First, open the hood of the car and look for the fuse box that is left to the engine. Now, open the clips on the fuse box and take the top off. You will now see a diagram of what all the different fuses of the car are and what they do. The big gray boxes are relays, which you most likely won't need to touch. The fuses are small little boxes that you can take out with a pair of pliers. If a fuse needs replaced, you will be able t...

How To: Repair a car trunk that won't open

In order to repair a trunk that won't open, you will need the following: a screw driver. You will need to climb into your trunk, through the back seat. Remove the back seat. Pull the emergency release. Remove the trunk lock. Unscrew it. Look for anomalies. Bent screws could be the cause. You will need to repair any broken parts or replace them, if you decide not to replace the entire lock. Reinstall the lock in the trunk.

How To: Change the time on a 2010 Nissan Sentra Spec-V

In this next tutorial, its something that not many people would think is that important, until they're late. Yes, it's the time on a car. Each car has a cool way of showing the time and it can take a few buttons in order to get it to the right time. In this video, you'll be finding out how to change the time on a 2010 Nissan Sentra Spec-V. It's pretty easy to do and will just take a matter fo minutes. So good luck and enjoy!

How To: Change the clock time in a 2010 Ford Fusion

Sometimes, changing the time in your vehicle can be tricky. You have to lug out the owner's manual and try to navigate through all the technical talk, but if you own a 2010 Ford Fusion, this video will show you how to change the time, step-by-step. Setting the time on the clock doesn't have to be difficult.

How To: Adjust the Headlights on a 2010 Ford Fusion

The headlights in a 2010 Ford Fusion can easily be customized to your needs. For the most part, keeping the headlight settings in "automatic" is the best way to go, but if you need to switch them for some reason, it's pretty easy, just like any other car. See how. Also, see how to turn on the high beams and turn them off. You can also flash them.

How To: Replace a timing belt & crankshaft seal on a Tercel

Owning a motor vehicle is a big responsibility. Aside from the obvious things that need to be changed or replaced, there are other parts of the car that also need to be taken care of in order for it to work. A timing belt and crankshaft are essential for a working car to have. Without these, you pretty much have a car that can't run. So check out how to replace one on a 1992 Toyota Tercel today. Enjoy!

How To: Replace the side view mirror on a Nissan Altima

Someone has just smashed the side mirror off your perfect Nissan Altima that you parked on that busy road you know you shouldn't have parked on anyway, so now it's up to you to repair it— unless you want to pay an overpriced mechanic, who will charge you for parts, labor, and whatever else he thinks he deserves. If you're up for repairing your side view mirror by your lonesome, for cheap, then this video by Richpin will show you the exact steps required to fix your Nissan Altima's side mirror...