HowToDoThings.com Recent Maintenance & Repair Articles

How To Buy Used Parts for Your Car

visionarywrite — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:04:05 -0500

Your car is in the shop and the auto service manager says you need replacement parts that you can't afford. He gives you the option to have used parts installed, but is buying used parts a good idea? Used auto parts can work quite well and save you a lot of money in some situations. Here are some things to help you make an informed decision, and to make sure your used auto parts cause you as little grief as possible:

How To Prepare Your Car for a Long Trip

visionarywrite — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:32:40 -0500

How To Remove Bumper Stickers

mobile mom — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:11:06 -0500

How To Clean the Oil Pump Filter

saca03142 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:03:31 -0500

How To Check Your Oil

Mikey — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:35:01 -0500

With today’s gas prices soaring, you want to be sure your car runs as efficiently as possible. One trick to getting good mileage is to keep up with regular maintenance. The first and easiest step to taking care of your car is to get in the habit of checking your own oil. It’s simple to do if you follow these steps.

Materials:
1 paper towel
Vehicle

How To Remove Vomit Odor from a Car

ralexander — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:20:23 -0500

How To Pump Tires

ralexander — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:29:06 -0500

How To Paint Parts of a Car

vinnyct88 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:31:18 -0500

Fixing the paint job on your car isn't as hard as most people think; it's actually pretty simple. It also shouldn't cost you a lot (depending upon how much of your car you are painting).

What you will need.

How To Find a Tire Leak

mobile mom — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:47:30 -0600

Leaking tires... Who would have thought that a tire can one day be fine, and another day be flatter than your morning pancakes? If your tire has an obvious gigantic tear, then you most likely have already found the problem. Tire leaks can be tricky, and slightly annoying though. They are not always visible to the human eye, and you cannot always pinpoint them just by running your hand around the tire. For those of you trying to figure out whether it's time for new tires, and whether or not you can make it to the tire store without blowing that leaky tire on the drive there, I am hoping to help you out.

Ok, let's start out with the basics:

There are a few things you can do while your tire is still on the car.

How To Clean Car Battery Terminals

mobile mom — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:09:29 -0600

So you've decided those battery terminals need to be cleaned. If they are dirty, corroded or covered in calcium, then you are right! I am excited to present you with an easy how-to on cleaning your battery terminals. It is a simple and easy job that ANYONE can do, and you might just like it so much that you decide to do a little more maintenance. Which is what I am hoping....

How To Find Replacement Speakers for Your Car

mobile mom — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:10:07 -0600

Are your speakers losing their flavor? Can you no longer define the words from your favorite song through the crunch and fuzz that your speakers are putting out? Has it been so long since you've used your stereo that you can't even count the weeks since the speakers stopped working?

Then it's time that we discuss how to find replacement speakers for your car...

In today's fast-paced world, a stereo can be more than just a luxury to us. It can help us concentrate and relax while were on the road. Music can also change or influence how our day is going to go, and there's no better way to start your day than to turn that radio on and hear your favorite song in crisp, clean sense-consuming sound.

Here's how you can find replacement car speakers.

How To Save Money on Gas

bronwyn — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:08:10 -0500

Gas prices just seem to be getting higher and higher, no matter where you live! Unless you live in an area with great public transportation, you probably can't get away from your car entirely. However, you can reduce the amount of gas you use and even save on the gas that you do buy!

How To Process (or Turn) a Brake Rotor

David Blasingame — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:07:27 -0500

Brake rotors are a very important part of your car. These are the parts that brake pads grab onto, stopping or slowing your car. After prolonged use, they can become warped, glazed, or damaged and can be restored by processing (or turning) them. A warped rotor will give the feeling of shuddering when the brake is applied, and can be so bad that the steering wheel can sometimes shake.

Processing brake rotors involves removing the rotor from your car (covered below) and then having a machine shop, automotive repair center, or even an automotive parts store spin them on a lathe and slowly grind down the surfaces until they are clean, level, and proper. Typical rates for having the rotors turned can be as low as $10.00 per rotor. This article will save you many dollars since you won't have to have a mechanic remove the rotors for you.

How To Detail Your Vehicle: The Interior

Antonio Calabrese — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:46:02 -0500

Interior detailing isn't the most difficult, unless the inside of the vehicle is pretty much ruined. If that is the case, please look for a different article referring to revitalizing your interior (in a way that's not too expensive). If not, follow these steps to a clean and fresh vehicle interior:

How To Detail Your Vehicle: Waxing and Final Touches

Antonio Calabrese — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:34:30 -0500

I have found that following these steps in order makes the overall waxing job fairly simple and hassle free.

How To Detail Your Vehicle: Exterior Conditioning

Antonio Calabrese — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:20:48 -0500

Many people vear away from reconditioning the paint on their vehicle; it is a somewhat difficult job to do for the inexperienced individual. However, I've decided to post this "how to" for those of you who are "do-it-yourselfer's" and would like to take the risk. Buffing your car correctly will make your paint shine like it has just come off of the showroom floor. It's much more than a wax job. Before beginning this process, I would suggest reading this ENTIRE page. Please also read the caution's below and view the useful links I've provided below. After you have done that, follow these steps:

How To Detail Your Vehicle: Prepping

Antonio Calabrese — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:23:31 -0500

Prepping your vehicle is more important that most people think. Although it is possible to complete the following detailing stages without doing this stage, you will create more problems and headaches towards the middle and end of the detailing process (believe me, I've tried both ways). In order for you car to look its best, and to reduce the frustration on your behalf, complete the following steps in order, before proceeding to Stage 2:

How To Protect Your Car From Rust

cjadidas@yahoo.com — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 04:00:46 -0500

Many of us spend huge bucks on car body repair due to annoying rust. However, rust is always present when there's metal to oxidize. It means we can't totally sweep rust away from our vehicle forever. Rust can easily spread throughout your car in a couple of months, because of poor car care knowledge. But the reality is, we can protect our vehicles from rust. Our cars, like our homes, need to be treated and maintained. Here's a few tips of mine to preserve your car for a lifetime:

How To Convert to Nissan Rear Disc Brakes

cjadidas@yahoo.com — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:08:20 -0500

Have you experienced poor brakes after crossing a river with your truck? If yes, your truck rear brakes are drum-type. If a brake drum is submerged on water, it will result in poor brakes function. Because water gets trapped in the drum for a while, it makes your brake pedal hard. Converting your brake drum to disc brakes will solve this problem and give you a better braking performance. This procedure may require a conversion bracket depending on your disc brake kit or brake assembly.

You will need:

Tire wrench
Hydraulic jack
Jack stand
Vise grip
Socket wrench
Hydraulic presser
Mechanical puller or bearing puller
Stainless braided flexible brake lines
Brake fluid

Procedure:

How To Install a Rear Nissan Off-Road Differential Locker

cjadidas@yahoo.com — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:16:55 -0500

A rear differential locker is one of the more basic upgrades for your truck. A differential locker is very useful for any off-road and challenging terrain. It helps us fulfill our challenges by giving us better traction on tracks. In the market, there are wide ranges of lockers to select for your Off-road Beast. Always determine your differential specification before working on this procedure.

You will need:

High quality differential oil
High temperature sealant
Differential locker (mechanical or air)
Hydraulic jack
Jack stand
Tire wrench
Socket wrench

Procedure:

How To Body Lift Pick-up Trucks and SUVs

cjadidas@yahoo.com — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:49:10 -0500

Are you an off-road enthusiast or just a truck and/or SUV fanatic? It can be difficult to lift your truck or SUV using a suspension lift. Although many off-road accessories shops are selling suspension lift kits for every vehicle classification, they aren't easy to use and often will cost big bucks. As an off-road person, I make my own suspension parts and lift kits. A simple body lift is ideal for correcting height problems. Here's how it's done:

What you will need:

Body Lift Kit (any brand)
Hydraulic jack or a Hi-Lift jack
Brake lines extensions
Jack stand
1 set socket wrench
Adjustable wrench
1 set open wrench
Vise grip

Procedure:

How To Do a Honda Engine Swap

cjadidas@yahoo.com — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:46:52 -0500

Do you own a Honda Civic? Are you dissatisfied by your Honda Civic's D15 stock engine performance? Do you want to change your engine to B16, B18, K20 etc., but don't know how? Are you one of those speed-addict guys who want to have more power on your Civic? If your answer is yes, this may help you change your engine into much higher power and push your car to the limits.

How To Remove Cigarette Odor

Staff468 — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:08:00 -0500

Cigarette odor... unmistakable, pervasive and - to non-smokers and even many smokers - unpleasant to say the least. In cars, homes and businesses, an ongoing battle rages to keep allergies under control, create a more hospitable environment or prevent girlfriends from knowing the truth... Are you fed up with aerosol air fresheners that just layer a nauseatingly sweet odor over the static cigarette odor? Tired of commercial products that don't deliver on their promises? To all of you, whatever your reasons, we at HowToDoThings have some tips for getting rid of that troublesome cigarette odor so you can breathe easier.

How To Buy an Auto Warranty

Brad276 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:51:00 -0600

The purchase of a car, new or used, is one of the largest investments that most of us make. You may choose to protect yourself and your investment by purchasing a warranty or extended warranty for your vehicle.

Some of the benefits of a warranty include:

Financial piece of mind, as the warranty will protect you against high repair costs.
A rental car while your vehicle is being repaired (not always offered).
Increased resale value, as most warranties are transferable.
Different options on the warranty, including what is covered.

Mechanical Breakdown - The most common warranty is for mechanical breakdown, meaning that something within the vehicle simply broke down through no fault of the vehicle owner or normal wear and tear.

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How To Choose an Extended Auto Warranty

Kathleen556 — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:04:00 -0600

Buying an extended warranty for your vehicle can potentially save you a lot of money, but you want to get the best deal for your dollar. This article will tell you what to look for when purchasing an extended warranty for your car, as well as where you can purchase such warranties.

How To Change Brake Pads

Joshua281 — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:25:00 -0500

A brake job, or changing your brake pads, is a great do-it-yourself job. Before you begin, it's important to remember that the brakes are the single most important system in your car. Take plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the brakes on your car before you begin to work. Also, it's a good idea to work on one side at a time in case you have trouble. That way, you have one side to use as a reference. We'll assume that you want to know how to change the front disc brakes on your car since front brakes provide most of the stopping power.

Preparation

You'll need to buy brake pads before you begin this basic car maintenance project. Make sure they come with an anti-squeal device such as a shim, or buy some specially made fluid to add to the back of the brake pads.

How To Replace a Timing Belt

Joshua281 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:14:00 -0500

Changing a timing belt is not an easy job. It will require the average back yard do-it-yourself a full weekend to remove all of the parts necessary to reach the timing belt. If you're not confident, or if you can't spare more than one weekend if the job takes longer than expected, you might be better off taking the car to a mechanic.

Indications: When and why should I change it?

How To Change Your Transmission Fluid

Joshua281 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:24:00 -0500

Transmission fluid is required to lubricate and cool the transmission components. If you want your transmission to last for a long time, then you are going to have to change the fluid and filter at regular intervals. Old, worn-out fluid doesn't work as well, and clogged filters are much less efficient. New transmission fluid is bright red. Old transmission fluid is a much darker red--almost black.

Automatic transmission fluid and filters should be changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles (or every 2 years) as part of your basic car maintenance. It's important to change both the filter and the fluid at each interval. Don't wait until the transmission begins to slip. By then it may be too late and serious damage may have already occurred.

How To Replace a Radiator

Joshua281 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:59:00 -0500

Liquid-cooled engines, such as the one installed in your car, require a radiator to cool the water that, in turn, removes heat from the engine. It is essential that the cooling system function properly regardless of weather or temperature. Given enough time, any failure in the cooling system can and will allow the engine to overheat, and critical components in the engine will warp or melt.

The cooling system on a car is composed of a radiator, hoses, coolant, and fans. The radiator is also responsible for cooling automatic transmission fluid on vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions.

How To Repair a Flat Tire

Joshua281 — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:59:00 -0500

Nobody likes to get a flat tire, but the reality is that flats happen. When you do, there's no need to panic, though, because you have several options for fixing most tires.

How To Prevent Engine Overheating

Joshua281 — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 10:31:00 -0500

Engines burn gas and produce explosions in each cylinder. Rapid expansion from the explosions pushes the cylinder heads downward and does work to move the car. Much of the energy from each explosion does not do any work at all and is lost as heat. Over a short period of time, an engine can produce considerable amounts of heat. In fact, your engine can get hot enough to melt or weaken some of its parts.

The whole engine doesn't have to overheat in order to failure to occur. If only a single part of the engine overheats, the engine will begin to fail.

How To Change Automatic Transmission Fluid

Joshua281 — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 11:49:00 -0500

Changing your automatic transmission fluid on your own can save you a few dollars. Transmission fluid helps to cool the transmission, and a well cooled transmission should last 100,000 miles or more. If you decide to change your automatic transmission fluid, be sure to dispose of the old fluid properly and take precautions to prevent any fluids from contacting your skin or getting into your eyes.

Check the fluid level: Open the hood, start the car and let it idle. Leave the transmission in Park. Always check transmission fluid levels when the car is running. If you try to check the fluid levels when the engine is off, you'll get inaccurate measurements.

Brush away any dirt, grease or grime that could fall into the dipstick tube. Now remove the transmission fluid dipstick and read the level indicated. New transmission fluid looks red. Old transmission fluid is much darker, almost black.

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How To Replace Windshield Wipers

Joshua281 — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 21:59:00 -0500

It's probably a good idea to check your wipers every six months. You probably won't want to wait until you can't see out of your windshield before changing your windshield wipers. In fact, most people end up waiting too long to do this basic car maintenance and have to change their wipers in the rain. If your wipers are beginning to show signs of wear, it's probably time to replace them. You can change them in just a few minutes.

Inspect your wipers: wipers should not be cracked, ragged, torn, or have any jagged edges. When they crack or tear, they become flimsy and cannot effectively remove water from your windshield.

How To Replace a Starter

Joshua281 — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:39:00 -0500

Changing a starter can be a difficult, time consuming job. Check several other parts before you decide it's time to change the starter.

How To Replace a Fan Belt

Joshua281 — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 08:28:00 -0500

The name "fan belt" is a bit of a misnomer nowadays because the belt drives much more than just a fan. It is frequently called an accessory belt. The fan belt goes around a pulley attached to the flywheel and powers accessory pumps and motors such as the water pump, air conditioner compressor, alternator, power brakes, and the power steering pump. Some cars have one large serpentine belt that drives all of the accessory motors. Other cars divide the work more evenly by employing the use of two belts.

Regardless of whether your car uses one or two belts, you can change your fan belt with some time and a few simple tools that you already have around the house. Here's how:

How To Charge Your Car Battery

Joshua281 — Thu, 18 May 2006 08:53:00 -0500

Generally, there are four ways to charge a car battery.

How To Perform Basic Maintenance on Your Car

Victoria116 — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:21:00 -0500

If you are a car owner, it is important that you know how to perform basic maintenance on your car. By performing the maintenance yourself, you will save a bundle of money and also enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that your vehicle is in peak operating condition. Here's a listing of what you need to do and when to do it.

Every time you fill up your gas tank:
- Check the engine oil level and add more if needed. Consult the owner's manual for the proper viscosity. If your car appears to be losing an abnormal amount of oil (or if you spot leaks on your garage or driveway floor), you may have an engine leak.
- Check the coolant level in the coolant surge tank and add the proper coolant if necessary. The coolant surge tank is typically located on the driver's side of the engine compartment. Replace the coolant if it is dirty or has a rusty appearance.
  
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How To Change Your Oil

Victoria116 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:25:00 -0500

Changing the oil in your car yourself is a fundamental component of basic car maintenance and a great way to save both time and money. Here is how to change your own oil:

Supplies you will need. Initially, you will need to buy a few tools and accessories that you will use every time you change your oil. These include an oil filter wrench, a socket set and ratchet, a drain pan, and a set of car ramps. The total cost for all of these items is under $100. They will become your trusted friends and pay for themselves over the life of the car. Each time you do an oil change, you'll also need a new oil filter, drain plug gasket and four quarts of oil. It's also a great idea to have some absorbent rags handy as the job can get messy.

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How To Change Oil

Simone194 — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 19:18:00 -0500

Changing your own oil can save you some money, and this basic car maintenance can also be fun! Here are the basic steps:

How To Jump Start a Car

Terry35 — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:57:00 -0600

Get a set of jumper cables at your nearest auto parts store.
Drive a working car either next to or facing the car needing the jump.
Open both cars' hoods. Make sure both engines are turned off. Make sure that the jumper cables reach both cars' batteries.
Attach one end of the (usually red) jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the UNWORKING car's battery.
Attach other end of that same (usually red) jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the WORKING car's battery.
Attach one end of the (usually black) jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal of the WORKING car's battery.
Attach other end of that same (usually black) jumper cable to a metal surface (ground) on the UNWORKING car.
Start the engine of the WORKING car.

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