Three Brake Lights

Your cars third brake light is super important. It is the clear cut light that tells someone that you are stepping on the brakes. At night your cars taillights are on so a brake light is noticeable but not as clear as the extra light, so if that bulb burns out you have to change it immediately. To do this it is fairly simple, first there are two screws holding the lens on. Once you have removed those screws you will see a light socket (three if it is a pickup truck), remove the middle socket. Pull the bulb out and put a new one in and put the socket back in the lens. Replace the screws and then check to make sure the light works.

Third braklight bulb change

Fluid in Your Rear End??

Your differential fluid is very important to keeping the moving parts in your cars axels running smoothly. To change your rear end fluid it is fairly self-explanatory. First you will need a drain pan to drain the old fluid into, then remove the bolts on the back of the rear end housing and let the fluid drain into the pan. Then you will need to clean up the cover and the housing. You can do this by using a paint scraper and some brake clean. Once you have these both clean you can get a tube of liquid gasket and squeeze a fine line over the cover and the housing. Let that dry and then place a cork gasket one the cover and then put the cover back on the housing and tighten the bolts. Now there is a drain plug on the opposite side of the rear end. Remove this plug and clean it off. You then fill your rear end through this hole. All of the oil specifications can be found in your owner’s manual. Once you have the right amount of fluid into the rear replace the drain plug. Check for any leaks and you are finished.

Slideshow for changing our rear end fluid

Coil Over Plug?

Coil over plug ignition systems are fairly simple but sensitive. There is an ignition coil with a rubber boot that slips right on top of the spark plug. The coil sends a charge to the spark plug and the plug then sparks at the end and it ignites the gasoline in the engine.

To change the spark plugs on a coil of plug system is simple. First you need to remove electrical plug and the bolt holding on the coil. Then you slip off the coil and the boot and set it aside the boot. Then you need to remove the plug. This is easiest by using ratchet extensions and universal joints to be able to move around. Once you have the old spark plug out u need to put a new one in. After you tighten it all up you need to put the coil and boot back on. Finally you need to clip the electronic plug back onto the coil. Repeat this process for as many cylinders you have in your engine.

Slideshow for Changing Coil Over Plug Spark Plugs

Check 1, 2, 3, 4

Your cars air pressure inside the tires is very important in a lot of ways. It controls the comfort of the ride of your car, can effect gas mileage and help maintain the life of the tires. There is a PSI number on the side of the tire, which stands for pounds per square inch, and that is what the tire company recommends you put in the tire. So checking the air pressure inside the tires is very important.  First thing to do is find the PSI that the tire calls for.  Then find the valve stem and remove the cap. Place you tire pressure gauge firmly over the stem and it should give you a reading. I normally stay ten pounds under the maximum that the tire company gives you so the ride is a little smoother.

Slideshow for checking your tires air pressure

Streak No More

Your cars wiper blades are vital to your safety in the rain and snow. Bad wiper blades can cause your windshield to have poor visibility during a storm. Changing your wiper blades is very simple. First you need to find out what size blades your car needs. You can go to an auto parts store and look at the book or you can simply measure the width of the blade in inches.  Once you get the right blades you need to remove the old ones. Pull the wiper arm up so that it is standing up. There should be a small clip on the inside where the blade attaches. Push that clip and slip off the old blade. Replacing the new one is very simple all you need to do is line up the hook on the wiper arm with the new clip and snap it on. Repeat this same step on the other side and you have nice new wiper blades.

Slideshow For Changing Wiper Blades

PCV Valve Who?

Your car’s PCV valve is very simple to change and it can help your car run much smoother. PCV stands for positive crankcase valve and it regulates the gases inside of your engine. With all of the gases mixing inside the engine they need to be regulated and the PCV valve does just that.

To change your car's PCV valve the hardest part actually is locating where on your engine it is. This can be found out online or if you own a repair manual for your specific car. Once you locate the valve on the engine all you remove the vacuum line attached to it. Some PCV valves are twist in and some just slide in and out. So remove the valve and replace it with a new valve. Put the vacuum line back onto the valve and start the engine to make sure that there are no problems.

Photos for changing PCV Valve

Clean Gas

The gas you pump inside your tank is clean, but you never know what can be in your gas tank. Fine little particles of dirt may find there way into your tank. Every car has a fuel filter, some or external some are inside the gas tank. External ffilters are fairly simple to change.

First you need to get all of the gas out of the gas lines. You can do this by shutting off the fuel pump, there is a switch on the passenger side of most vehicles. To get at this switch you need to remove the kick panel and that can be pryed off with a screwdriver. One you get the panel off you need to locate the right plug (seek help from your local mechanic or autoparts store) and then you can simply unplug the switch. Start the engine and let it run itself out of gas. once your engine has shut off you need to locate the filter it is in different spots in all vehicles, in this case it was on the drivers side  on top of the frame rail.
There is normally a clips at each end of the filter, undo these clips. Some fuel filters are held on my bolts but now most of the newer vehicles have special connectors. There is a tool that slides into the end of the fuel line and it unclips the line from the filter. you then pul the line off of the filter and repeat the process for the otherside. Once you have the old one off get your new filter and check to mack sure the flow arrow is pointing the right way and slide the fule lines back onto the filter. Put the clips back on the filter. You are done installing the new filter.Now before you start the engine turn the key onto the on position without starting the engine. This lets the fuel pump pump gas back into the lines. Let it do that for a few seconds and then start the engine. All done.

Slideshow for fuel filter change

Switching Your Shoes Around

The life of your cars tires can be greatly increased by haveing them properly rotated. Most tires call for them to be rotated every 5,000 miles. First thing in tire rotation is finding out the prper patteren most tires follow the same pattern. the front tires switch sides and get put on where the rear ones were. then the rear tires go straight up to the front without getting crossed. Some tires are directional and the pattern may differ. You also need at least two jackstands and a jack to do this on your own. It is easiest to jack up the rear of the car and put it on jackstands and then use the other jack to take the front ones off one at a time. the remove the tire all you have to do is brak the lugs loose before you raise the car up. After the car is in the air all you have to do is remove the lugs and slide off the tire. Place the proper tire in the proper spot then spin the lugs on and tighten them up. Tire rotation is fairly simple it just takes a bit of equipment.

Lifeline Belt

Your cars serpentine belt is the lifeline of your engine. If that belt gets damaged and fall of your engine will stop running automatically. So everyonce and awhile you should inspect the belt for cracks or frayed edges. To change one of these belts it actuall fairly simple, first you need to get the proper belt form your local auto parts store. The only tool you need is a ratchet, first thing you do is look at which way the belt goes on the pulleys before taking the old one off. Next you need to locate the belt tensioner( it is a pulley with an arm attached to it) and insert your ratchet. Push the ratchet clockwise to releave the tension on the belt and at the same time you need to un loop the belt from a pulley. Since there is no tension on the belt anymore you just have to remove the old one. To replace the new belt you need to place it back in on the same pulleys as the new one and leave it off of the top pulley. Then open the tensioner with your rachet and squeeze the belt over the last pulley and relase the tensioner. Check to make sure the belt is flush against all of the pulleys and you are finished.

Serpentine Belt Change Slideshow

Stopping Power

Stopping your vehicle is the most important safety aspect in car maintaince. If your brakes are worn out it increases your stopping distance. Or worse case scenario your brakes fail and you cannot stop or slow down. Most all of today’s cars have disc brakes on them, and the two parts that wear out are the brake pads and the brake rotors.

To begin replacing the pads and rotors you have to park your vehicle on a level surface. You then break loose the lug nuts on the tire that you will be working on the brakes for. Then jack up the car so the tire is off the ground and remove the lug nuts then the tire. You will be able to see all of the brake components, take a mental image because that is what is should look like when you are done. Next you locate the caliber, which is the piece with the brake pads inside. There are two bolts holding this one. Remove those and then slide off the caliber. The brake pads can just be taken out since they are not fastened. Then there is a bracket that holds the pads on. Remove that and then the rotor (the disc) will just slide off.

Inside of the caliber bracket there are metal slides for the pads. Most brake pad kits have new slides included. To change them all you have to do is pop out the old ones with a screwdriver. Sand down the bracket and then squeeze some brake pad lubricant into the sliders. The new rotors will have oil on them to prevent rust. If you do not clean that off it can harm the brake pads so you need to clean them off with some brake cleaner. Slide on the new rotor and bolt on the caliber bracket. Then place the new pads back into the bracket. There are normally two pistons on the brake caliber that push up against the brake pads to crate friction. Since your new pads have more pad to them you need to push back those pistons. To do this you need a larger C-clamp and an old brake pad. Place the pad across the pistons and tighten the clamp until you cannot tighten anymore. Now you can slide the caliber over the pads then bolt it into place. Make sure everything is tight and you can put the tire on with the lug nuts snug then let down the jack and torque the lugs. All finished, when you start the engine pump the brake pedal until it is firm. Also be easy on the brakes for the first few days otherwise they may squeak.

Front Disc Brake Replacement Photos

Keeping that Oil Fresh

A cars engine oil is vital to keeping the car on the road. The engine oil keeps the internal parts of the engine clean and lubricated. So, changing this oil regularly to ensure that it does it job is important. Most cars oil is supposed to be changed around every 5,000 mile this may differ by the year of the vehicle, also there are many different types of oil and filter so checking the owners manual to ensure you get the proper materials. is key.

First step in change oil in a vehicle is having the car on a level surface. After that place a drain pan underneath the drain plug(this will be located on the big pan and it looks like a bolt) and remove the plug. Let all of the oil drain out and replace the plug. Locate the oil filter,(should be located on the side of the engine underneath of the car) slide your drain pan under the filter and remove that also and let the rest of the oil drain out. Get your new filter and fill it with new oil and put some oil on the black gasket so the gasket does not stick to the engine. Spin the filter on and hand tighten. the locate the oil fill tube and place a funnel in it and fill your engine with the proper amount of oil. check for any leaks then start the engine. let it run for a little bit then shut it off and check the oil level. Please make sure you are recycling your used oil at your local shop.

Slideshow of all the steps in the process of changeing your cars oil

Air Filter Change

Your cars engine proformance is based on and air to fuel mixture. When one of those factors is reduced it effects your cars proformance and gas milage. A cheap and easy way to keep your cars air flow at the proper flow is changing the air filter.

First thing to do to change your cars filter is go to your local auto parts store and consult someone about the proper air filter for your car or truck. If you do not get the proper filter you can harm your airflow and even your engine. Once you get the proper filter you start out by opening the hood and locating the air filter box. These boxes are located in numerous places on different cars an easy way to locate it is a large piece of plastic with clips holding half of it together. After finding the box undo the clips and remove the old filter. Make sure there are no pieces of dirt in the box and then place the new filter in the spot the old one came out of. Close the box and clip it shut and the job has been finished so you can close the hood and drive on.

Slideshow showing photos of an air filter change

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