Hot Auto Maintenance & Repairs How-Tos
How To: Replace a slipping clutch in your car or truck
If you're driving down the road in your vehicle (manual transmission), and you step on the gas, but aren't accelerating as fast as you should, even though the RPMs are solidly rising, you may have a slipping clutch. If you think that you clutch may be the problem in your standard car or truck, then Scotty Kilmer will show you how to replace it— the proper way— just like an auto mechanic.
How To: Repair a stripped-out aluminum oil pan on your vehicle
It happens more times than it should— negligent oil changes. This happens most often with aluminum oil pans on cars and trucks, because aluminum is fragile and should be treated with care and a gentle hand, not a torque power wrench. Using an air-impact gun will only cause damage when installing the bolts, causing the oil to leak from the pan.
How To: Perform a power balance test on your vehicle's engine
The engine has a number of cylinders, whether it's 3, 4, 5, 6… 8…. whatever, and each one of those cylinders is designed to produce the same amount of power. If one is not able to produce the same power as the rest, then that cylinder is down and the engine might miss a bit or have a check engine light. If you think this may be the case with your automobile, this video from Eric the Car Guy will show you how to perform a power balance test on your car's engine. It's very helpful in nailing do...
How To: Check and replace a dead starter in your automobile
If your vehicle does nothing (doesn't crank over) when you turn the key in the ignition, then you might need a new starter. In this video, Scotty shows you how to check your starter and how to replace it if it's bad. Your first reaction for a non-starting car may be to jump start it, due to a dead battery, but if your battery is brand new, or if jump starting doesn't work, you'll need to get a starter tester to check out the starter. If it's bad— replace it with a new one! See how!
How To: Sand, polish and buff a paint job on an automobile for a shiny luster
It's not a new technique in the auto body industry, but cutting and polishing is a great way to smooth out your paint job. This two-part video will show you the process of sanding and polishing your auto paint. The first video shows you the steps for sanding the painted surface before buffing, which removes the imperfections after painting. The second video shows you some 3M polishes for buffing the car finish. This will polish the surface into a luster shiny paint job.
How To: Repair a minor dent on a car with body filler & block sanding
In this thorough 30 minute video tutorial, Donnie Smith shows you a method of repairing a minor dent on a car with body filler and also shows you how to block sand the filler. For the novice who wants to learn more about car maintenance, this is the perfect tutorial.
How To: Apply and spray primer surfacer on your car
In this video Donnie Smith shows you how to apply primer surfacer. In addition to the visual instructions on the video, you can follow along with the instructions below from Donnie himself. After watching this video, you'll be an expert on primer surfacing!
How To: Spray epoxy primer to a repaired area of a car
In this video, you are shown how to apply epoxy to your car area after it's been repaired. Epoxy is a great primer because of its advantages in adhesion and corrosion protection. You can apply one or two coats if you so desire. Watch this video and you'll learn all about the advantages of epoxy primer.
How To: Jump start a car using another car's battery
In this tutorial, we learn how to jump start a car using another car's battery. First, you will need to position the two cars in front of each other. Turn off both of the cars completely, then attach the jumper cables. You need to connect the positive post of the dead battery to the positive post of the live battery. After you do this, Then, wait for a couple of minutes while the cars are connected and the battery is receiving power. Now, start the car that has the bad battery and it should s...
How To: Fix an idle surge on an 04 Mazda
The patient in this auto maintenance video is an 04 Mazda van that surges at idle but works perfectly otherwise. This video will give you a quick tip on diagnosing this idle surge problem before you start replacing parts.
How To: Confirm error code P 0340 on a Nissan by checking the cam sensor
Just because your car shows an error code doesn't mean you should pull any parts. This video will show you how to confirm error code P 0340 on a Nissan (Bad Cam Sensor) by using a lab scope to check the cam sensor.
How To: Diagnose a problem with the cooling fan relay on a Chrysler
The cooling fans on Chrysler cars are not particularly well-made, but that doesn't mean you can assume that they are broken the second the cooling system stops working. Watch this video to figure out how to diagnose problems with the cooling fan relay on a Chrysler.
How To: Change the rear brakes on a Ford Taurus
Changing the rear brakes on your car is an essential piece of maintenance that you can probably do yourself at home with a little help. Watch this video o learn how t o change the rear brakes on a Ford Taurus.
How To: Test whether error code P0401 on a 2004 Ford Focus is accurate
Error code P0401 on a 2004 Ford Focus indicates EGR Insufficient Flow, which usually means your DPFE sensor needs to be replaced. If you're not sure though, and you shouldn't be, watch this video to learn how to perform a test that will make sure your DPFE sensor is actually broken before you replace it.
How To: Replace the freeze plugs in an engine by pulling it
If the coolant has gone bad on your car, there's a decent chance that you have a leaking freeze plug in your motor. Watch this video to learn how to replace the freeze plugs, which unfortunately requires pulling the engine.
How To: Replace the axel seals and shoes and the wheel cylinders on a '65 Ford Mustang
A 1965 Mustang is a beautiful piece of machinery, but like most classic cars they require constant maintenance. Watch this two-part video to learn how to replace the axel seals and shoes and the wheel cylinders on your own classic beauty.
How To: Diagnose a bad cylinder head fast and sure
Cylinder heads are tough pieces of metal, and determining whether one is bad if it isn't snapped in half isn't as easy as it sounds. Watch this video to learn a fast and accurate way of assessing whether a cylinder head is bad.
How To: Change the cabin air filter on Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, or Mazda Tribute
Did you know that the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, and Mazda Tribute are all almost exactly the same car? Take that however you will, but it does mean most repairs that work a certain way on one work the same way on all three. Watch this video to learn how to change the cabin air filter in any of the three cars.
How To: Replace the clock spring on a Chrysler van
If you own a Chrysler van and find yourself with a broken horn and an air bag light on, those are probably caused by the same problem: a broken clock spring. Watch this video to learn how to replace your own clock spring and get your horn back.
How To: Replace the struts on a Honda Accord
Replacing the struts on your car might seem like a scary proposition, but it really isn't too hard if you've got some mechanic skills. Watch this video to learn how you can replace the struts on your Honda Accord and many other cars.
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: 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: 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: Fix error code P0171 on a 2000 Ford Escort
Automotive computers and error codes are a blessing and a curse for mechanics. If your 2000 Ford Taurus shows error code P0171, that means the air fuel mixture is lean. This can be caused by a number of things, and this video will show you one easy thing to check for that might save you a trip to the shop.
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: 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.