Hot Auto Maintenance & Repairs Posts
How To: Fix a broken back door lock on a Mitsubishi Endeavor
The Mitsubishi Endeavor, like most vehicles, has it's own list of common problems. One of them is the back door locks not working. Watch this video for a guide to diagnosing your door opening problem and, hopefully, fixing it successfully.
How To: Replace your worn-out rear brake shoes on your vehicle
Are your rear brake shows worn out and making noise? Well, then today's you lucky day, because Scotty Kilmer is going to show you how to change brake shoes on a car. First, you'll need to jack up the car a few inches from the ground. Take of the wheel, then get a big hammer and whack the drum a few times to loosen it up. Take it off. For the rest of the repair instructions, watch the full video!
How To: Remove and replace motorcycle handlebars
Is your old motorcycle's handlebar looking sadder than Mischa Barton's acting career? Then perhaps it is time to get them replaced. But don't waste your time and money on getting them fixed at a car shop.
How To: Fix a power car window using a fuse and panel removal tool
These days you can get a car tailored with special gangster rims, headlights, and sound systems, but one of the features of a standard car we all take for granted is power windows. Before those, all we had were frustrating crank-up windows that always got stuck if we didn't add enough elbow grease.
How To: Use the 3M Dynamic Mixing System body filler gun for auto body repair
If you're into auto body repair, the 3M Dynamic Mixing System is an interesting one to try out. In this video, you'll learn how to use the body filler gun. You just might want to NOT use the zig-zag pattern used in the video to apply the filler. It's best to apply the body filler on top of each other, which will eliminate the possibility of pinholes.
How To: Replace drum brake shoes on a 2001 Honda Odyssey
Some of you out there actually own a Honda Odyssey, and if you do, you may be in desperate need of some new drum brake shoes. In this video, Eric shows you how easy it is to remove and replace drum brake shoes on a 2001 Odyssey. There's some good info on drum brake servicing, plus more!
How To: Solve idling problems on a Honda Integra
A lot of people seem to have idle problems in their Honda vehicles, especially the Integra models. And idling problems are really hard to pinpoint. But you're in luck, because Eric has some great tips for hunting down those engine idling problems and eradicating them for good! Some of these tips include bleeding a cooling system, checking for vacuum leaks, reading the check engine light codes and diagnosing overheating.
How To: Beware of gunk underneath the oil cap when shopping for used cars
If you're looking to buy a new used car, then Eric has a great tip for you to avoid getting scammed— look into the horse's mouth. Yes, that sounds cryptic, but it's a very similar process where you look underneath the oil cap. If it looks smooth like it should, go ahead, think about purchasing that vehicle. But if there's a lot of built-up black gunk on the bottom, do yourself a favor and RUN. That engine is destined for failure.
How To: Increase your vehicle's performance by tightening the throttle cables
In this video, learn a great performance upgrade for your vehicle that costs nothing! Eric talks about his old Honda Integra and his irritation at its throttle response. But cars like this have cables that run to the throttle and sometimes they get loose. All you need to do is tighten the cables!
How To: Decide To Replace Or Repair A Dent With Metal Straightening
First Things First Before you can begin to work on a damaged panel, you must determine what type of material that you are working on. For instance, the panel may be mild steel, high strength steel, aluminum, plastic, sheet molded compound, or a number of other types of material.
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: Troubleshoot and fix broken windshield wipers
If your windshield wipers don't come on when you turn the switch, then try out the solutions in this video! First, check to see if there's a blown fuse. If that's okay, next check the power going to the wiper motor. You have to take the wiper arms off to get to the motor. Watch Scotty Kilmer in this video for all the remaining troubleshooting tips for broken windshield wipers.
How To: Fix sticking power steering with Sea Foam Trans Tune
Is your power steering binding when you're trying to turn? Or maybe it turns real easy to the right, but extremely hard to turn to the left? Well, that's a classic sign of a power steering rack that has problems. But before you go out and buy an expensive rack and pinion, and take the whole front end of the car apart to replace it, you might want to try a little trick first— Sea Foam Trans Tune, which is also for hydraulic and power steering systems.
How To: Change and balance a car tire
In this tutorial we learn how to change and balance a car tire. First, take the tire and remove the air out of it from all the sides. After this, remove the tire from the wheel. You will need to use a pry bar to help you remove it from the tire completely. It will help out a lot if you have a machine that will do this for you. Then, apply grease around the wheel and put the new tire on. From here, inflate the new tire while on the wheel and it will be ready to install on your vehicle.
How To: Change a 20 inch tire
In this tutorial, we learn how to change a 20 inch tire. First, you will need to remove the valve core with a removal tool. Then, rotate the rim until the beat is separated. From here, secure the rim on a machine so it can be unmounted from the tire. After the tire has come off from the wheel, repeat this on all of the different tires. When finished, use the same tool to put the new tire back on. Then, you will need to inflate the new tire that you just placed on. Finish this off by putting b...
How To: Remove a fuel fliter
In this video, we learn how to remove a fuel filter. Start out by removing the secondary retainer cup. After this, you will install quick disconnect tool and rotate until the primary cup has been released. Repeat the previous steps until all the lines are disconnected from the vehicle. After this, you should be able to simply remove the fuel filter from the vehicle. Make sure you are using the right tools to remove the retainer cup so you don't damage anything underneath the vehicle. Once fin...
How To: Prepare a new OEM car body part for paint
In this automotive guide, we learn how to prepare an OEM car-body part for painting. For all of the gritty details, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started prepping your own parts for painting, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Diagnose and fix a "no heat" problem on a Nissan Altima
In this automotive repair guide, we learn how to troubleshoot and repair a "no heat" problem on a Nissan Altima car. For all of the gritty details, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started resolving your own Altima's no-heat trouble, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Replace the valve seals if your engine is smoking
Does your car engine blow white or blue smoke when your first start it up and then stop? That usually means that your engine valve seals aren't working correctly. Watch this video to learn how to find and fix the problem.
How To: Use a lab scope for coil ramping and diagnosing good and bad coils
The lab scope is one of the most powerful diagnostic and repair tools for the modern mechanic. In this video you'll learn how adjust coil ramping with a lab scope and use the scope to determine if your have good or bad engine coils.
How To: Fix error code P1345 by changing your timing with a lab scope
If you've done major work on your engine recently, you may find yourself with error code P1345, which means your timing is off. In this video you'll learn how to use a lab scope to both diagnose and fix a distributor timing problem.
How To: Find evidence of low oil pressure in your car
If the oil pressure gauge on your car is acting erratic, you might think that the fuel pump or filter on your car is bad. Assuming is not the way to fix your car, and in this video you'll learn how to figure out what is causing your low oil pressure, possibly saving you having to replace your filter and pump.
How To: Change the timing belt on a '00 Lexus or Toyota 3.0 engine
Lexus and Toyota are really the same company, which means happily that you can apply many of the same techniques to fixing both. In this video you'll learn how to change the timing belt on a 2000 Lexus or Toyota 3.0 liter engine (of Camry fame) yourself.
How To: Fix error code P0500 on a Nissan Quest
If the speedometer on your car isn't working and the check engine light is on, get your scanner out and look for code P0500. If you get that code, watch this video to learn a quick easy fix for the problem.
How To: Use a lab scope to test the fuel pump circuit in a car
The lab scope is one of the most versatile diagnostic tools that you can have in your car shop. If you've been thinking about buying one or are looking for new ways to use it, watch this video to learn how to use a lab scope to test a fuel pump circuit.
How To: Use a vacuum gauge to diagnose a broken timing belt
There are several areas of your car that should contain a vacuum, and a vacuum gauge is a cheap easy way to identify all sorts of car problems. In this video you'll learn how to diagnose a bad timing belt with a vacuum gauge more cheaply and easily than any other method.
How To: Fix uneven or loose spark plug tubes that mess up your valve covers
Your spark plugs are finicky by themselves, but did you know that the spark plug tubes in your engine can become loose or uneven, leading to your valve covers not sitting evenly? Watch this video to learn how you can fix your spark plug tubes and prevent engine problems.
How To: Test a possible bad coil on your car for cheap
The coils in your car's engine can cause a lot of misfires if they aren't working properly. If you want to test them and don't have any expensive professional equipment like a labscope, watch this video to learn an easy way to test coils.
How To: Fix vacuum problems, error codes P0171 and P0174, in a Ford Escape
Determining exactly what of the thousands of parts on a modern car is broken is as difficult as doing the repairs many times. IN this video you'll learn how to diagnose and fix error codes P0171 and P0174 on a 2001 Ford Escape, which indicate vacuum problems.
How To: Inspect your car alternator and fix it if it's bad
The alternator in your car is a vital part of your electrical system. If your battery is draining quickly or your battery light comes on for no reason, you probably have a bad alternator. Watch this video to learn how to assess problems with the alternator and fix them yourself.
How To: Replace leaking intake manifold gaskets
If the intake manifold on your car is leaking, you probably have a gasket problem. In this video Emmy-winning auto mechanic Scotty Kilmer will teach you how to replace the intake manifold gasket on your car, including prepping the new one with brake cleaner, of all things.
How To: Replace a bad expansion valve in your car AC
One of the many thing that can go wrong with the air conditioner on your car is a bad expansion valve. In this video you'll learn how to replace the expansion valve yourself, assuming that you've already drained the refrigerant from the system professionally.
How To: Clean or replace a worn air flow sensor in your car
If your car doesn't run very well and sometimes belches black smoke from the tailpipe, you may well have a problem with your air flow sensor. In this video you'll learn how to determine what's wrong with the sensor and then clean or replace it accordingly.
How To: Replace warped brake rotors on your car
If the steering wheel on your car shakes when you apply pressure to the brakes, you probably have warped brake rotors. In this video, you'll learn how to access your brake rotors, remove them, and install new working ones on your front brakes.
How To: Find out why your car is overheating and fix it
The internal combustion engine is hot by it's very nature, and keeping it cool is vital to keeping your car running. In this video you'll learn how to figure out why your car is overheating and fix some common causes of the problem.
How To: Use a scanner to figure out why your check engine light is on
The modern car is a complicated beast, but fortunately the engine code system makes figuring out what's wrong with a complex vehicle simpler. In this video you'll learn how to use a simple scanner to scan your car and figure out what has made the check engine light come on.
How To: Figure out why your car A/C isn't blowing cold air
If your A/C in your car turns on but isn't blowing any cold air, you might have one of a few problems. In this video you will learn how to check the compressor, the pressure in the system, and how to add refrigerant if it's low.
How To: Find and fix leaking spark plug tubes in your engine
If you pull the spark plugs out of your engine and they are covered in oil, that might seem terrible, but the problem really isn't that bad in all likelihood. Your probably have a spark plug tube leak, and this video will show you how to find and fix just such a problem.
How To: Fix a truck that overheats in traffic by replacing the radiator fan clutch
If your car overheats in traffic but not on the highway, you may have a broken radiator fan clutch. In this video you'll learn how to find and fix this problem on a truck, with special consideration for the massive size of such vehicles.
How To: Replace a leaking power steering hose on your car
Power steering is one of the nicest and least-appreciated amenities of the modern car, and if yours stops working you'll know it fast. In this video you'll learn how to check if your power steering hose is leaking and how to replace it if it is.