Replacing the fuel pump on a 2012 (2010-2013) Toyota Corolla is a straight forward job that falls in the DIY category. Of course, if in doubt be sure to call a professional. Be sure to take all the necessary precautions when working with gas since it is highly combustible. (2010-2013) Toyota Corolla Fuel Pump Location… Read More »
A video review is at the bottom of the post. The KW680 OBDII automotive scan tool is a popular low-cost unit. It can read and clear a vehicles engine codes and is easy to use which makes it a good unit for home users or backyard mechanics. *This unit was sent to me to review… Read More »
OBD2 Bluetooth WiFi dongles have become very popular since they are low-cost devices and work well. There are many to choose from with most using the Torque App or similar with a smartphone. One of the more frustrating things is using one and getting no Bluetooth or WiFi Device Selected error code. Below are the… Read More »
Using a Bluetooth scan tool with the OBD2 port in a car or truck allows you to read the vehicles information and give you the data in real-time. The adapter is paired with your smartphone and plugs in under your dash of your car into the computer OBD2 port. It reads the data from your… Read More »
There are several components of an air conditioning system in a 2001-2005 VW Passat with the cabin air filter being one of them. If your A/C system is not blowing cold air properly the filter may be dirty and unable to let air pass through the system. The cabin air filter keeps out debris from… Read More »
I had a second generation 2003 Dodge Neon that had very long start times. It would crank for 5-10 seconds before it started. After reading through the forums I found that Neon’s have a Pressure Regulator which is also a fuel filter that keeps the gas pressure in lines when the car is turned off.… 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 »
An OBDII scan tool can read and erase engine error codes from a vehicles computer that the engine has given. A vehicle engine problem is often displayed to a driver with the dashboard engine light. Cars and trucks today all have an onboard computer (ECM, PCM) that controls the vehicles engine and will get an… Read More »
OBDII WiFi adapters for cars and trucks that send information to a smartphone have become very popular. They are low-cost units that can do anything a standalone OBDII unit can do at a much lower cost. They are also simple to use with many Apps available for both Android and Apple smartphones. The ELM327 is… Read More »
The Launch CReader 5001 is a stand alone OBDII scan tool with a lot of built-in functions. OBDII is a set of protocols that work with most any vehicle from 1996 and newer. Besides reading the basic OBDII engine codes it also has a lot of extras such as Real Time Data and 02 Senser… Read More »
The Autel MaxiScan MS300 is a low-cost diagnostic scan tool code reader for vehicles 1996 and newer. Since it a low-cost OBDII scan tool this makes it ideal for those on a budget, just don’t expect all the extra features an expensive model would have. Pros It will display the error codes for almost any… Read More »
The Audew is an Emergency Power Bank with a vehicle Battery Jump Starter that is easy to store away until needed. This makes it a good unit in many scenarios from camping to simply storing away in the trunk for an emergency battery boost. It can charge almost any device from a smartphone to a… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the post for a visual walk-through if needed. Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2011-2013 Toyota Camry is an easy task that falls in the DIY category. There are two bulbs located inside the headlight assembly called Low and High beam. The Low beam bulb is on the… Read More »
Replacing a bad headlight bulb in a 2009-2014 Toyota Corolla is a very simple DIY task. Of course, if in doubt call a knowledgeable friend or a professional. There are two headlight bulbs located in the headlight assembly called the Low-Beam and High-Beam. The outside bulb is Low-Beam and the inside bulb is for High-Beams.… Read More »
Spray On Bed Liner is very popular since it has a good look, is very durable, and falls into the DIY category. This makes it perfect for many trucks that need the bed liner protected and also look good at the same time. While a truck can be take to an auto body shop to… Read More »
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 is the turn signal. The inner and center headlight bulbs are replaced the same way… Read More »
The Launch 6001 is a handheld OBDII scan tool that hooks up to most any vehicle and displays the problem it is having. All vehicles built after 1996 have an OBDII port that can connect to a scan tool and give information, such as why an engine light is on. An OBD2 connector is usually… Read More »
Testing a car or truck battery health can be done a few ways with most using a multi-meter to check the voltage. If more information is needed on the state of a 12-volt automotive battery, testers can be used which give much more information. One such unit is the TT TOPDON ArtiBattery 101 which can… Read More »
Replacing the headlight bulb on a 2014 GMC Sierra is an easy task that falls in the DIY category. The driver side is much easier to replace compared to the passenger side which needs the air box removed. As always if in doubt take your vehicle to a professional. Below are the steps with screenshots… Read More »
Replacing the air filter on a 2000-2005 Dodge Neon is suggested to be done every 30,000 miles according to the manual. Of course, if you live in a dirty dust filled environment changing more often is likely best. Replacing the air filter is an easy job that most anyone can do and falls in the… Read More »
To change out the fuel filter on a 1998 – 2005 Volkswagen Passat the following tools are needed. Tools Needed Jack Screwdriver Ratchet with Sockets New Fuel Filter Steps to replacing the fuel filter. The fuel filter will be located on the passenger side. It is under the car on the frame in… Read More »
If you are a professional auto body repairman using an electric sander will be unthinkable. But what if your a do-it-yourself at home person, that wants to do bodywork? Can an electric orbital sander be used to do auto bodywork? The short answer is yes they can be used. I have seen many at home… Read More »
If you are an iPhone user and have a vehicle with a check engine light on a small low-cost device can be bought to tell you what the problem is. It is called an OBDII adapter and can talk to a car or trucks onboard computer and display the problem on an iPhone. The onboard… Read More »
Reading engine codes is an easy task that any DIY type person can do with the right scan tool. The scan tool needed is called an OBD2 scan tool which reads information from a vehicles computer and displays the problem. OBD2 is a universal port installed in any car made from 1996 and newer. The… 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 »
A headlight switch problem in a Dodge Neon (2000-2005) is an easy repair job. The same replacement procedure also works in PT Cruisers. The headlight switch also controls the wiper, fog lamps, and turn signals. The first thing to do is to buy a compatible switch assembly to replace the old one. It can be… 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 »
Changing the oil in a Volkswagen Passat (1999-2005) is an easy task for the DIY home mechanic. A VW Passat uses special European synthetic oil that should be changed every 5,000 miles. The majority of Passat’s built (1999-2005) use the 4 CYL 1.8L motor be sure this is what your Passat uses as this post… Read More »
Having a backup camera that also has night vision can go a long way to improve safety while driving. This is especially true for vans, RVs, trucks with campers, but any vehicle can benefit from seeing a clear view behind them. There are many units available with some of our favorite picks below. As always… Read More »
This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The Car Code Reader Launch CReader 4001 is an OBD2 automotive scan tool. It comes with all the features needed to troubleshoot a car or truck engine light or diagnose vehicle problems. It is also a low-cost unit making it… Read More »
Replacing the air conditioning air filter on an Kia Sorento is a easy task that fall into the DIY category. Of course, call a professional if in doubt. A cabin air filter needs to be replaced every so often or it will block air flow which can stop the A/C from blowing cold air properly.… 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 »
Replacing the fuel pump on a Volkswagen Passat (1999-2005) is a job that most DIY mechanics can do. First of all before replacing the fuel pump be sure it is bad by following our step by step guide to see if it is bad here. Once you know it is bad and needs replacing keep… Read More »