Make Your Car Look Brand New With An Auto Body Repair

Human beings are born engineers and there is a lot of sundry repair works we usually do on several utilities of day to day life. It includes repairing a bath-tub to mending the fence of our garden. But, when it comes to do some minor repairing works in our vehicles, we often try to escape from the job, and leave everything on the mechanic. However, this escapist attitude exploits us economically and frequent visits of the vehicle to a mechanic surely demean the performance-levels of our favorite car. If, somehow we manage to do some of the auto repairing jobs at our own, then we can save a lot over a few dollars. This isn't as complicated as it often looks and it can be handled manually with some common available tools.

Common Auto Body Repair Tips

Repairing an automobile generally gives us the picture of a person wearing greased clothes, with some complex tools in his hands and he is working with the complicated machineries of your automobile. Undoubtedly there are some issues in the car which needs specialized care, but we can surely settle some of the minor problems ourselves. Minor issues like rust, scratches, marks, etc, if not treated in time can cause potential damages to your vehicle. Some of the most common repair jobs are addressed here:

# Rust Removal - Auto body usually gets rusted due to the combined action of moisture and dust over its surface. Rust is recognized as fading red spots with peeling material from it. This degrades the quality of the metal of automobile and also tarnishes the looks of the vehicle. Rust should be removed from the surface as soon as it is appeared. This can be done by using sandpaper, paint and waxing stuff. First of the surface must be cleared by the sandpaper followed by the application of paint into it. The wax is uniformly coated over the painted surface and the surface is then buffed with the help of a dry piece of cloth.

# Bumper Repair - Bumpers are covered by a plastic shield and when any external damage is done to the bumper body, it is usually affect that outer coating of it. So, first you need to find the type of plastic your bumper is made of. Then according to that material, choose the appropriate paint for it. If any abrasion is done to the bumper, you can try out masking tape for fixing it temporarily. Then, apply the suitable adhesives into it. After this, apply paint and primer over its surface.

# Body Painting - Sometimes our car gets unwanted spots due to collision or other extraneous factors. These marks looks ugly on your favorite car and the proper treatment must be given to these. These marks are repaired by painting the surface. Painting a car is slightly different from painting your house. Painting the former needs more conscientious efforts. Painting should be done after cleaning the surface and uniform coat must be assured.

# Miscellaneous Tips- Apart from the above measures there are several other steps you can take to jazz up the body of your vehicle. This include, panel beating, under coating, sanding, scratch removal etc.




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For a longer life for your car, maintenance is the key. Always make sure that your car is in good condition.

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Why Won't My Car Start?

Do I need a jump start? Dead battery? Bad starter? Stuck key?

If you turn your car key and get nothing, or get anything less than an engine roaring to life, you might be in for a bad day. Starting problems can be very frustrating because there are so many things under the hood that can keep a car from starting. Heck, pretty much everything under the hood can keep the car from starting.

In order to troubleshoot a no-start problem, you need to start at the beginning of the line, the battery, and work your way back. Some tests for a no-start problem are simple, others are a pain in the neck and a technical nightmare. Nonetheless, you need to figure out why the car won't start, so we'll try to help. If your key won't turn in the ignition, try this fix.

Electrical No-Start Problems

* Check Your Fuses: Few cars have a fuse associated with the starting system, but before you go monkeying around with everything, check your fuses to be sure it's not that simple.

* Battery Corrosion: Over time your battery connections can become dirty, or corroded. This corrosion breaks the connection your battery has with the rest of the car, and it won't start. Try cleaning your battery posts and try to start the car again.

* Dead Battery: The most common reason your car won't start is a dead battery. If you have a battery tester that can measure cranking amps, test your battery to see if it's weak. If you can't test it yourself, you can test the battery indirectly by jump-starting the car. If it starts right away, your problem is most likely a dead battery. Replace the battery, and clean the battery connections to ensure good contact.

* Bad Igntion Switch: If your battery checks out, but the starter is still silent, it may be a faulty ignition switch. Turn the key to the on position (not all the way to start). If the red warning lights on your dash don't light up (and your battery connections are clean), the ignition switch is bad. If they do light up, turn the key to the start position. The dash warning lights should turn off at this key position (most cars). If you're not sure, turn on the headlights. When you try to start the car, the lights should either dim (a lot) or turn off completely. If they do, your ignition switch should be ok. If not, the switch will need replacement.

* Bad Starter Connection: Corrosion can not only keep your battery from connecting, it can affect any electrical component, especially the ones exposed to the elements like the starter. If you have a helper, you can test the connection by holding a circuit tester lead on the wire that engages the starter. This is the smaller of the two wires connected to the starter. Be sure no part of your body is near the moving parts of the engine - it could still start at any time! Have a friend turn the key and check the current. If you're getting current to the starter but it ain't spinning, it needs replacement.

If your starter spins freely when you turn the key, the problem lies elsewhere. Now you begin to check the other systems that could keep it from firing up.





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Don't panic when this problem happens. Read thoroughly the instrucyions above and then you can identify what's the problem why your car won't start.

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7 Tips on Buying New Car Tires

When the time comes to purchase a set of new car tires, there are several reasons to make sure you make the proper selection for your car. Good tires help maintain safety when driving, they allow your car to handle better and to stop better and they also increase your gas mileage. As you can see, choosing the right tire for your car is very important, it also can be confusing with all the options you have available. Here are a few tips that may make buying new tires a bit easier.

Tip 1: Be Sure You Need Tires

Take a good look at your tires and look for bulges, cracked sidewalls, excessive wear and uneven tread. If you see any of these problems, you need new tires.
Tip 2: Know Your Tire Size

You want to buy the right size and style of tire that's been recommended by the manufacturer of your car. This information is usually in the manual or on the information placard that's attached to your door edge, glove compartment or on the inside of your trunk lid.

Tip 3: Assess Your Car's Condition

Do your tires show signs of uneven wear? If so, your car may be misaligned or you may have a suspension issue. New tires wear quickly on a car that is misaligned or has bad shocks so have a trusted mechanic or the tire center inspect your car before you buy your tires.
Tip 4: Buy a Full Set

It's tempting to replace only the tire or tires that look most worn but it's not practical. Your car is designed to work best with a matching set of tires and replacing all four at one time allows you to maintain your tires better, lets your car to achieve the highest degree of safety, allows for more predictable handling and can help with issues that may appear later such as suspension problems before they become major complications.

Tip 5: Check Your Spare

Now is a good time to make sure your spare tire is in good shape. If it needs to be replaced and is a full sized spare, you might be able to save one of the better tires you are replacing for your spare.

Tip 6: Break In Your Tires

There is a release agent that is used during the tire manufacturing process that leaves a residue on the tread of the tire. This means there's a chance your tire may not grip as well as it should until the residue is gone. Allow about 500 miles of break in time before you start to push your tires on cornering. You can also anticipate longer breaking distances than usual until the residue has completely worn off.

Tip 7: Maintain Your Tires

It is very important that you keep tires properly inflated as this helps tires last longer and you will see better gas mileage so check tire inflation regularly.





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If you're going to buy a new tire keep your old ones that are still ok to use you may use it in the future as reserve or spare tires.

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How a Car Muffler Works

Though your probably put almost no thought into your car muffler, you have probably heard—and even complained—about a noisy car without a muffler. Obviously, a muffler makes a big difference in the amount of noise pollution a car creates. But how exactly does it work? What follows should help you gain a basic understanding of your muffler's job and how it operates.

Sound Waves

Car mufflers work using a simple principle that works on any kind of wave, including sound waves. This principle is called destructive interference.

Any wave of any kind, including a sound wave, has a high point, or crest, and a low point, or trough. The difference between the crest and the trough controls how powerful the wave is—a wave with a large difference will be very powerful, while a wave with a small difference will be very weak. A wave with no difference isn't a wave at all.

When two waves are combined, they will either interfere constructively or destructively depending on their position. If the wave crests and troughs occur at the same point, they will combine, resulting in higher crests and lower troughs, and an overall more powerful wave. If the crests of one wave occur at the same time as the troughs of the other, the waves will still combine—but in this case, the resulting wave will be weaker than the 2 original waves, even if they were both quite strong to begin with. Destructive interference is this second kind of interaction, where two strong waves become one weak wave. By using this technique, your muffler can reduce the amount of sound coming from your engine.

Putting It into Practice

Your car's muffler is connected to its exhaust system. As exhaust gases travel towards the exit, they are sent through a set of tubes in your muffler leading to a chamber called the resonator. The resonator is intentionally designed to amplify and redirect the sound waves caused by your engine. However, the way the resonator directs those sound waves reflects them back to the source in such a way that causes the waves to destructively influence themselves.

While a resonator chamber cannot eliminate all sound, it is designed to target particular frequencies at the expense of others. By targeting the loudest frequencies produced by your engine, and the most offensive ones to human ears, the resonator chamber maximizes its efficiency at its intended task, even if it isn't perfect.
Other Methods

While destructive interference is the most common technique car mufflers use to cancel out unwanted sounds, there are other kinds of mufflers that are commonly used. Many mufflers use more than one technique to maximize their efficiency.

For example, another kind of muffler, called a cherry bomb muffler or a glass pack muffler, does not use destructive interference to cancel out sound. Instead, it sends exhaust and sound waves through a tube with holes in it that lead out into sound absorbing material. Cherry bomb mufflers have the advantage of reducing back pressure and increasing efficiency.





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Muffler adds a strong personality to your car because of it's loud sound and feels like your ready to race anyone on the road.

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Do-It-Yourself Automotive Axle Assembly Repair Tips and Tricks

Replacing an axle assembly is not as difficult as you may think. For front-wheel drive cars , and for some rear-wheel drive cars, this can be a do-it-yourself job. You will want to review the repair manual of your vehicle to decide, based on your own mechanical skill, whether you feel comfortable tackling this project yourself.

A common repair that often must be done after general wear on a vehicle is the replacement of a CV joint. In many cases, it makes good financial sense to replace the entire axle assembly instead of repairing the joint alone. Since replacing a CV joint can be a labor-intensive job, it may also be easier to replace the entire axle assembly. Doing so will save time and thus cut labor costs-you can often replace the entire assembly for the same cost as replacing only the joints. This will, however, depend on how much your mechanic charges you-unless you decide to attempt the installation on your own.

New axle assemblies generally come with fresh CV joints and boots already installed, so you do not have to buy both the assembly and the joints. Since the entire assembly works through the boots, it is important that all parts are well-maintained and work in harmony with one another.

Again, read the installation instructions for your vehicle's make and model. If you are fairly comfortable working on your own car , then this may be a project that you want to tackle yourself. Doing so would save you the money you would otherwise pay a mechanic.

An axle assembly is used mainly in front-wheel and four-wheel drive cars to transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Most rear-wheel drive cars do not use an axle assembly, though there are a few exceptions, primarily high-end German sports cars. One reason that CV boots and axle assemblies fail, is due to the access of debris and contaminants. Debris can get inside of the boot if the boot comes loose or becomes cracked. When this happens, CV joints will quickly degenerate and fail.

If you own a four-wheel drive vehicle and take it off-road on a regular basis, you are more likely to experience problems with debris getting inside of the seals. This is even more common if you like to go 'mudding' and do not wash all of the mud out from the undercarriage of your vehicle.

Choosing a manufacturer for your new axle assembly is important. For many vehicles, you can go with OEM or aftermarket parts. If you own a specialized vehicle like a Bertone, you will want to go with Bertone parts, because keeping original Bertone parts would help to maintain such a vehicle's value.

If maintaining all original-brand parts is not important to you, then you have many choices when it comes to replacement manufacturers. Many of these aftermarket replacement parts can be found at a lower price-sometimes of a higher quality, as well. When buying auto parts, it pays to shop around and find the best quality and price.

Most of the time, a new axle assembly will come with a solid warranty, so that you do not have to be concerned about part failure in the immediate future. It is important as both a buyer and a mechanic to be selective and to get the right part the first time. Doing so will prevent having to remove newly-installed equipment, because it is not the right one for your vehicle.

Research and investigation can help you determine the best replacement parts for your vehicles. And using the internet to make your purchases will allow you to save a lot of money, while improving the quality of products you are able to buy within your budget.




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DIY repairing in your car save lots of your money. Make yourself familiarize with your car parts or if you bring it to shop make sure that you study and witness what the mechanic is doing so next time id the trouble happened again you can do it all by yourself.

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How to Fix a Leaky Car Window

If you have discovered that your floorboards, seats or car dash are wet following rain or morning dew, it is likely that you have a leaky window, even if you haven't actually seen rain coming in. You may also detect a musty or mildew-like odor in your car that comes from the car's interior regularly getting wet. As long as the cause of the leak is minor, finding and repairing a car window that is leaking is a task that many people can handle on their own.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

    * Garden hose
    * Utility knife or razor blade
    * Rubbing alcohol
    * Polyurethane sealant or silicone caulk
    * Caulking gun
    * Rag
    * Silicone rubber


      Step 1

      Sit in the rear seat of the car and have someone else spray water on the vehicle with a garden hose to locate the window that is leaking. Watch all of the side windows and the windshield to find out where the water is coming in.

      Step 2

      Remove the trim from around the edge of the window that has the leak. Find the seam of the trim, which is generally at the bottom on side windows and at the top corners on the windshield. Pull the trim out from the window slowly and it will pop free of the window edge.

      Step 3

      Inspect the edge of the window for missing caulking or black, mildewed spots in the caulking. Also, look at the edges of the window for cracks or chips in the glass.

      Step 4

      Add new caulking if there is missing or damaged window caulk. Remove the old caulking by carefully trimming it away with a utility knife or razor blade and clean the area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to remove leftover debris. Don't let the alcohol drip onto the good caulking.

      Step 5

      Replace the caulk with polyurethane sealant or silicone caulk using a caulking gun. Polyurethane sealant and silicone caulk are available in home improvement and hardware stores.

      Step 6

      Use silicone rubber on cracks at the edges of the window. Silicone rubber will stop leaks from small flaws and will be covered up once the trim is put back into place.

      Step 7

      Press the trim back into place all around the edge of the window. As long as the trim was not bent during removal, it should be easy to push back into the ridge.




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This is a major problem especially to those car windows without a frame. Due to heat the rubber becomes brittle and it cause leakage in windows.

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How to Clean Rust From Steel

Rust is like cancer for automobiles. If you don't catch it immediately when it starts, it will spread

across the entire body of the vehicle. Removing rust from steel components is a challenge. You will need to de-oxidize the rusting area with a special agent made for this purpose.
Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

    * 1200 grit sandpaper
    * Rust converter
    * Application brush
    * Clean rag


      Step 1

      Sand the rusted area with 1200 grit sandpaper to remove any loose rust.

      Step 2

      Apply the rust converter to the rusted steel with an applicator brush. Make sure you get good coverage over the rusted area. Don't worry about using "too much." If you use too little, you will not convert the rust.

      Step 3

      Wipe up any areas that you applied the rust converter to that don't need it with a clean rag.

      Step 4

      Wait 30 minutes to an hour. The rust will turn black. This is normal. The rust is now converted to a primer that can be sanded and painted like regular steel.





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I already tried this one and it really pains my arm because you have to sand the rusty part and make sure that it is properly sanded before you apply rust proof in it.
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Auto Repair... made easy...Get the help you need to do your own car repairs.

Auto Repair... made easy...Get the help you need to do your own car repairs.
Auto repair doesn't have to cost a lot... when you do it yourself, there are no $100 and hour labor rates or huge parts mark-ups... only the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself. I've spent more then half my life watching the largest auto repair chains get richer, while good people get poorer. Now I want to pass on to you, the knowledge you need to do it yourself and not pay those high costs.
And yes...you can do it yourself.

tune-upIt seems the auto manufacturers and repair shops want everyone to believe that todays vehicles are "TOO COMPLICATED" for the average do-it-yourselfer to do even a minor auto repair...that's just not true. The right tools, the right information, and the right attitude are all you need to get the job done, and done right.

Here's how I can help...

With over 20 years of experience as a mechanic, and technical instructor, I'll show you how easy car repair can be. I'll give you access to the information the big companies don't want you to have.

The right tools, the right information, and the right attitude are all you need to get the job done, and done right.

With my free online tutorials you can do it just as successfully as any big name shop.

I'll show you why brakes squeal and techniques to prevent brake squeal and noise from happening in the first place. Today's brake systems are not the same as they were 20 years ago... a lot has changed. Smaller brake systems... heavier vehicles...and electronics like A.B.S. and Traction Control have changed the way a brake job is done. I want to show you how to do a 21st century brake service...the way the pros do it. You can do it just as well, and save hundreds of dollars.

How about the 100k mile tune-up myth? Yes, today's modern cars and trucks need tune-ups just like older cars...the difference is the definition of a tune-up, how often it should be done, and the damage that can be caused by not doing it. They don't want you to know that by doing a regular tune-up, you can prevent hundreds of dollars in repairs from happening.

Perhaps there is a pesky check engine light on... or maybe a misfire...check out the diagnostics section. Auto repair doesn't have to be complicated... It's easy when you know how...

You'll also find sections on Auto Detailing and Auto Performance...something for everyone...all with easy to follow tutorials, and step-by-step instructions.

So look around and see what we have...if you don't find what you need, contact me, and I'll do my best to walk you through it. But you can be sure that subject is coming soon.

Remember the right tools, the right information, and the right attitude are all you need to get the job done, and done right.



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As long as you love what you are doing you can do it on your own especially in fixing your car. It saves a lot of your money if you do it by yourself. Kust make sure that you know what you are doing, you can ask some of your friends what to do.

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Suspension

Before you start working on your vehicle, make sure you have a good repair manual. We recommend an online manual from ALLDATA You can even find out things only the dealer knows about your vehicle with TSBs, which are included with your ALLDATA manual.

Common Problems:

* Shocks and struts can wear out and affect handling. If you car bounces excessively over bumps and leans hard in corners, your shocks could be warn. Look behind the wheel for the shock or strut and look for leaking oil. This is a sure sign of a worn shock or strut.
* Ball joints. Ball joints wear and can cause your car to wander while driving down the road. This is dangerous as they can separate and cause you to lose control.

Preventive maintenance:

* Check your shocks or struts for leakage frequently. Also pay attention to how your car handles. If you notice the ride deteriorating take your car in to have the struts checked.
* Ball joints should be checked when your car is inspected, if not, have your mechanic check them at least twice a year.
* At each oil change make sure you or your mechanic lubricates the ball joints and any other suspension components. Some components can not be lubricated as they are sealed from the factory.

and make sure you choose the right suspension for you for more handling performance



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It right to have a preventive maintenance to avoid large expenses in fixing your car. It's easy to replace suspension and you can do it on your own.

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How to Remove a Power Steering Pump Belt

A power steering pump belt is used to transfer the rotating energy produced by the engine to the pump, where the fluid within the pump is then directed to the rack and pinion unit. Over time, the rubber belt stretches, producing a squeaking sound when the steering wheel is turned, particularly at slow speeds. The belt can also develop cracks over time, which can cause the belt to break unexpectedly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy


Instructions Things You'll Need:

* Wrench


Step 1

Locate the power steering pump bracket bolts. Power steering pumps are secured to the side of the engine with two metal brackets. One side of each bracket bolts to the engine, while the opposite side of each bracket attaches to the power steering pump. A single retaining bolt is located at the top of the pump, and another bolt is located at the bottom of the pump. These two bolts secure the pump to the brackets.

Step 2

Loosen the two bracket bolts that hold the power steering pump in place with a wrench. It is not necessary to remove these bolts. Note that the bolt that secures the lower bracket to the bottom of the power steering pump is inserted through a slot. This slot allows the tension on the pump's belt to be adjusted by moving the pump either toward or away from the engine.

Step 3
Push the power steering pump toward the engine to eliminate the tension on the pump's belt, then pull the belt away from the pump's pulley.

Step 4

Pull the opposite end of the power steering pump belt away from the engine's bottom pulley, then up and over the fan blades to complete the removal process.




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It's easy to remove a power steering pump belt and you can do it on your own. It doesnt need an expertise in removing it.

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How to Install an Engine Thermostat

An engine thermostat is an essential component of the engine cooling system. It regulates the temperature of the coolant and ensures that your engine remains cool. Thermostats work because of a wax pellet embedded in the thermostat. When the wax pellet heats up to a certain temperature (typically 195 degrees), it expands and pushes on the thermostat plunger, thereby allowing coolant to flow through the radiator. From time to time, these thermostats fail and remain open or closed, causing the engine to run too cool or too hot, respectively. The more dangerous situation is the latter because an overheated engine can cause serious engine damage.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Thermostat
* Ratchet
* Sockets
* Flathead screwdriver
* Sandpaper
* Drain bucket


Step 1

Allow the vehicle to cool down.

Step 2

Drain the coolant from the radiator by unscrewing the drain bolt at the bottom of the radiator located at either the right or left corner.

Step 3

Follow the upper radiator hose leading to the engine, and where the hose is attached is the thermostat cover.

Step 4

Unscrew the hose at the thermostat cover, and remove by twisting and pulling.

Step 5

Loosen the thermostat cover, and remove it.

Step 6

Remove the old thermostat, and replace the new one.

Step 7

Reinstall thermostat cover with the new gasket. Scrape off the old gasket material completely or coolant could leak at the joint.

Step 8

Reattach the upper coolant hose to the thermostat cover and tighten.

Step 9

Screw the drain bolt back into the radiator, and re-fill the radiator with a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water.

Step 10

With the radiator cap off, start the vehicle and rev the motor up to 2,000 RPMs for a minute with the heat on max. You are allowing the coolant to circulate through the system and are eliminating all air pockets from the coolant. This is called "bleeding" the cooling system and ensures that it runs at the proper temperature without worry that any overheating will occur.

Step 11

Reinstall the radiator cap.



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Engine thermostat is important in regulating temperature in your engine. Now, you can install engine thermostat in your car without spending too much money.

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Pinstriping Car DIY Tips

The Three Basic Methods of Car Pinstriping

Before we talk about the different auto pinstriping methods we need to cover a couple of basic points:

1) Pinstripes are usually done in two colours: one that compliments the body colour, and another, thin line, which contrasts to make the stripe stand out. There are no rules: colour choice is a matter of personal preference .... and
imagination !!!

2) Make sure the surface to pinstripe is absolutely clean. Get rid of all residue with a good pre-surface preparation product

OK, now to the different auto pinstriping techniques :

Mechanical Pinstriping

A mechanical auto pinstriping is the best for striping long areas like trucks, vans, or station wagons. The main advantage is that it puts down stripes of consistent width, letting you concentrate more on keeping the contour of the stripe aligned along your work surface. The Buegler pinstriper and accessories are one of the preferred by body shops and pinstripers for their high quality construction and consistent operation. The easiest way to use a Buegler striper is to set up your stripe line using a magnetic auto pinstriping strip. It adheres firmly to steel surfaces, forms mild curves, and has a centre groove designed with the Buegler's guide arm in mind. The strip can also act as a guide for your hand.

Striping with Stencil Tape

There are several different stencil tapes that are suitable for almost any auto pinstriping application. Stencil tapes let you lay down stripes of different colours without waiting for the other stripes to dry.
Stencil tape striping requires brushes: the pinstriping brush is the most important element for an excellent final result.

Freehand Striping

This auto pinstriping method is the most advanced one and requires the most practice to master, but offers unlimited flexibility. The easiest method for the freehand striping novice is to lay down a strip of masking tape about ¼ inch from where you would like the line to be. Use the tape as a visual guide for your stripes. Do not use standard masking tape for edging pinstripes. the pinstriping paint will seep and bleed under the edge of standard masking tape. The pinstriping can be as plain or as fancy as your patience and level of skill allows.

Regardless of the design, pinstriping is one of the best ways to make your vehicle very unique. Like anything worth doing right, practice will make worthwhile results .... and having the best possible supplies is critical too.




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Pinstripping method is hard but I know you can make it on your own. Just be careful and follow the instructions above.

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The Exhaust System

Before you start work, make sure you have a good repair manual. We recommend and use an online manual from ALLDATA

Your car's exhaust system carries away the gases created when the fuel and air are burned in the combustion chamber. These gases are harmful to humans and our environment. Frequent checks of your exhaust system is a must to provide for you and your family's safety. Make sure there are no holes in the exhaust system or in the passenger compartment where exhaust fumes could enter. Let's begin by listing the parts of the exhaust system and their functions.

* Exhaust manifold: The exhaust manifold attaches to the cylinder head and takes each cylinders exhaust and combines it into one pipe. The manifold can be made of steel, aluminum, stainless steel, or more commonly cast iron.
* Oxygen sensor: All modern fuel injected cars utilize an oxygen sensor to measure how much oxygen is present in the exhaust. From this the computer can add or subtract fuel to obtain the correct mixture for maximum fuel economy. The oxygen sensor is mounted in the exhaust manifold or close to it in the exhaust pipe.
* Catalytic converter: This muffler like part converts harmful carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to water vapor and carbon dioxide. Some converters also reduce harmful nitrogen oxides. The converter is mounted between the exhaust manifold and the muffler.
* Muffler: The muffler serves to quiet the exhaust down to acceptable levels. Remember that the combustion process is a series of explosions that create allot of noise. Most mufflers use baffles to bounce the exhaust around dissipating the energy and quieting the noise. Some mufflers also use fiberglass packing which absorbs the sound energy as the gases flow through.
* Exhaust pipe: Between all of the above mention parts is the exhaust pipe which carries the gas through it's journey out your tail pipe. Exhaust tubing is usually made of steel but can be stainless steel (which lasts longer due to it's corrosion resistance) or aluminized steel tubing. Aluminized steel has better corrosion resistance than plain steel but not better than stainless steel. It is however cheaper than stainless steel.

Common Problems:

Well the worst enemy of your exhaust system is corrosion.... or more commonly known as rust. Rust is caused by moisture reacting with the iron in the steel and forming iron oxide. Moisture, or water vapor is present in the exhaust as a by-product of combustion and the catalytic converter. Moisture can also come from the outside in the form of rain.
Short trips in your car can shorten the life of your exhaust system. When you shut down your engine whatever water vapor is in the pipes condenses and turns back into a liquid. On a short trip the water never has a chance to get hot enough to turn back into water vapor and just stays in the system and rusts away the pipes. If you drive for short distances consider replacing your exhaust system with stainless steel when the plain steel one rusts through. If you drive more than 15 miles at a time then you should not have to worry about this.
If you live in an area which uses salt on the roads in the winter time, make sure to wash the underside of you car with water every few weeks. Salt speeds up the corrosion process and getting it off as soon as possible will help stop the corrosion. Make sure you run the engine after washing to drive off all of the water on the pipes.

Noticing a decrease in your gas mileage? Your oxygen sensor could be going south on you. As time goes on the oxygen sensor begins to wear out and becomes less accurate. This sometimes results in a rich fuel mixture where your engine burns more fuel than is needed. Most of the time your check engine light will come on and alert you to a failing oxygen sensor. I suggest changing the oxygen sensor every 60,000 miles just to be safe. Even though your check engine light might not be on, you could be using more gas than is needed. Pay a few bucks and change the sensor, your wallet will thank you when you have to buy less gas down the road.

The next part in line to go is the muffler. Most of the time mufflers rust through and need to be replaced. There are allot of options out there for replacement mufflers. Some cheap and some expensive. It holds true..... you get what you pay for. If you plan on keeping your car for any period of time, spend the extra cash and get an OEM muffler or a high quality name brand muffler.

On rare occasions the catalytic converter will become clogged and need to be replaced. Symptoms include loss of power, heat coming from the floor of your car, glowing red converter or a sulfur smell. Never let a mechanic tell you that you can do without the catalytic converter. Removing this component is illegal in most states and can lead to a hefty fine to the government if you are not careful.

That's about it for the exhaust system, just remember that rust is the biggest enemy to your exhaust system. Take the above mentioned steps and your exhaust system will last a long time.



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If you know that you can fix it do it by yourself. Just be careful and follow the instructions above.

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Garage Safety Tips

Here are some basic safety tips when working on your car or motorcycle in the garage or automotive shop.

1. Support the vehicle properly - Don't go cheap and use some homemade jack to raise your car up off the ground and don't use the bottle jack that comes with your car to lift it up and then crawl under it. First use a good floor jack that can support at least 1 ½ tons. Once your car is in the air, use some good jack stands to keep it there. Never crawl under a raised automobile weighing several tons without the proper support.

2. Wear proper safety gear - This one seems obvious, but most mechanics just grab some air tools and go to work. Safety glasses are cheap and will save your eyes from falling debris. It only takes a little metal shaving to stick in your eye and cause a lot of damage. Mechanic's gloves are also becoming very popular. They are thin enough to allow a mechanic to feel bolts and tools and they still provide protection. How many bloody knuckles have you gotten from smashing your hand on the engine block?

3. Use the right tools - It is very tempting to just improvise with what you have on hand in your garage. Beg, borrow or purchase the right tools for your auto project. A good example, is not using a good torque wrench. You can easily damage an expensive cylinder head on your engine if they are not torqued properly. Also, use a good transmission jack. Transmissions are made of soft aluminum and can be easily damaged.

4. Buy a good manual - This one will save you a lot of headaches, frustration and money. The old adage "when all else fails, read the instructions" definitely applies to the automotive shop and garage mechanic. Chiltons produces great manuals and will more than pay for itself

5. Common sense is not that common - Use your brain too. It is all too common to see people working a gas tank on their car with a cigarette hanging in their mouth or working on a running engine with their neck tie hanging down over the fan blade.



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Safety measure should always comes first. Make sure that everything is on the right place to avoid accidents.

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Oil Leak

Finding an oil leak is not as hard as you are led to believe. Finding an oil leak yourself will save you a decent amount of money for the time you will have spent. There are a few simple steps that you need to take to find an oil leak.

* Start by degreasing the engine block. It’s hard to find a leak if there’s oil everywhere already.
* If you have any clean cardboard place it under the car. You may not notice the leak right away but it will drip on to the cardboard for you to see.
* Next you want to start the car and let the engine run. The running engine will help get the oil leak to show up on the clean engine. Don’t fear if you don’t see it right away, if it is a very small leak it could take up to a day to show up again.
* Finally look around the engine and oil pan for the leak.

Why Finding a Small Leak is Important

Some people may debate that there is no point in finding a small leak early on because it will be easier to find it later. It may be true it will be easier to find later, however by that time the oil leak could get so bad it could cause engine problems or cause your car to break down while you’re driving so it’s best to find an oil leak early on.



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Most of car's has a problem in oil leaks, now you can find where it come from and you can fix it easily.

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Car Door Repair: Hinge Adjustment

Car door repair when you have a hinge that is a little loose, or isn't letting the door latch all the way is a very straightforward process for any do-it-yourselfer.

Check Car Door

Before tackling any bolts or hinge adjustments, check the door to see if there isn't any weather-stripping that is loose and getting caught in the hinge, or latch. If so, then either glue it back in place or cut that piece away and replace.

Raise Door to Right Height

When you open your car door and it sags towards the ground you should pick it up to see how far it is traveling. Before any car door repairs are made you should see if the hinge pin is loose or has worn away the metal. If that is the case, you will need to look into replacing the hinge assembly.

Tighten Hinge Bolt

Most cases when the car door sags when opened, the bolts are loose. Simply grab the right sized ratchet wrench and tighten the bolts. Keep the hinge straight and the door lifted with a stand and blocks of wood or a car jack under the door.

Check Fit

Once bolts are tightened then check the door for a secure latch. If it still travels, then retighten bolts paying attention to not let the hinge travel.




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It's not that difficult to adjust door hinge. Just follow the instructions above and it will come out right.

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How to Change Your Engine Oil

Believe it or not, changing your own oil is not as hard as it may seem. A lot of people choose to take it to an oil change store, because it is easy to do. However, if you learn how to change your engine oil yourself, you will save a ton of money. One of the easiest cars to change your oil in is the Toyota Supra. However, keep in mind that the steps that we are going to go over today not only work for the Toyota Supra, but just about any other type of Toyota car you can think of.

Before you get started, you are going to want to make sure you have the necessary items to do the job. This includes things like tools, a replacement oil filter, something to drain the oil into, as well as some more oil to put back into the car. After you get the tools you need, read on to learn how easy it is to change out your own oil!

Steps to Changing Your Engine Oil

The first thing that you are going to want to do is, of course, run the car for a few minutes before you start. Yes, this is going to make the car hot, but it is going to warm up the oil, and warm oil drains a lot faster than cold oil. Next, you are going to want to park your car on a very level surface. When it is in park, be sure to put your emergency brake on so it does not go rolling away. At this point, you are going to want to jack the front end of your car up so that you are able to get under it as needed. Next, you will need to pop open the hood of the car and place the new oil on top of the engine. This is just to ensure you will not forget to add in the new oil after draining the old stuff. That could mess up your car.

Now it is time to drain the oil! To do this, first crawl up under your car. Here you will want to locate the oil drain plug that is located on the underside of your engine. Usually in the Toyota car, it is located near the front center of the car. Before taking the plug out, place the oil drain pan under the plug. When you pull it off, you will have to be ready for the rush of hot oil. Now let all of the oil drain out of the car. When it is done, it will be time to replace the drain plug, make sure it is tightly on, but not too tight. After that, you will need to locate the existing oil filter. Once again, in most Toyotas, like a Supra the oil filter is usually on the side of the engine. Be sure to place your drip pan under the filer to check the oil that may come dripping out. Then use new oil to coat the rubber seal of the new filer and place the new one on the car.

Putting In New Oil

Last, but not least, you are going to want to put in new oil. Locate your oil filler cap on the very top of your engine, and remove it. Use a funnel to stick into the opening so that you do not spill, and start to add in new oil. Usually, a Toyota will take about 4 to 5 quarts. However, be sure to check your manual before adding to make sure you add enough and not too much. After adding, replace your cap and start up the engine. After letting the engine run for a minute, check the dipstick to make sure you have enough oil. If it's too low, simply add in more oil. Check under the car for any oil leaks that may be coming from the filter or the plug. After that, you will need to take your old oil to a recycling center. Never pour it into the sewer.



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You should change your engine oil every after 3 months if your using it everyday for work and if you're going out of town you should change it first. It's easy to change oil, just follow the instructions above.

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How to Change a Headlight Bulb

Changing a headlight bulb is one of the most basic things that you can do for a car. However, if you have never changed one, you may be a little bit lost at what to do. Changing the headlight bulbs on most popular Toyota model cars is pretty easy. However, before you can change one out, you have to have the bulb. It is best to go out during the day when you do not need your headlights to pick one up. You are going to need to know the make and model of your car. For example, if you are driving a 1999 Toyota Tacoma, then you will need to look for that. At most auto stores, they will have books by the bulbs so you can look up the bulb that is needed for your type of car. After locating the correct bulb, then you should buy it. Now we will move on to installing your new headlight bulb!

Installing Your New Bulb

The first thing that you need to do is pop open your hood. Use a flashlight to locate the back of the headlight. This is easy to find, because they are just on the reverse side of where they are located on the front of the car. Now at this point, you need to notice, or you will notice that some Toyota models have a back cover to their headlight unit. This is something that is going to require a screwdriver to get it off. To take it off, just locate all of the screws in the back of the backplate, and then take them off. After doing that, you should be able to remove the back plate with ease. Also, on some models of cars you will notice that after removing the backplate, you can see wires that are held in by plastic clips. At this point, you will want to take off that plastic clip and push all of the wiring out of your way. You do not want to mess with any of that. As soon as you move the wiring, the old light bulb will be easily seen.

Removing the light bulb is just like taking a bulb out of a lamp. You can remove it by screwing it to the left. Now take your new bulb out of the package. Put this bulb in and turn it to the right to lock it into place. It is a good idea to test the headlight at this point to make sure that it is working right before you put everything back together. Turn on your car and flip on your lights. Get out to check and make sure that the light came on. After doing that, put your clip back on your wiring and put the back plate back on. Make sure you insert all of the screws that were holding it into place. Make sure you grab all of your tools before closing the hood, and you are done!

A Few Tips and Tricks

Even if you have a flashlight, it is best to change your light bulb during the day. It makes it a lot easier to get it done quickly and the right way. Also, make sure that you pick up the bulb before you start work on your car. A lot of people tell you to remove the bulb fist and bring that to the auto shop. However, you will soon notice that this does you no good. Not only that, but you are just going to have to take the back plate off your light an extra time. Simply know the make and model of your car, and go to the auto shop. They have books there, as well as computers, that will tell you which bulb goes in which car.

You will notice that this is not a hard job, and you should be able to get it done with ease. This is not something that you have to take your car to the auto repair shop for. Anyone can change their own lights in their Toyota with this helpful step-by-step guide.



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Headlight is an important part in your car. You don't need professionals to change your car's headlight's bulb, you can do it on your own. It's very easy, you can finish it in no time.

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How to Replace a Fuel Filter

If you are looking at how to replace a fuel filter for a Toyota Camry, or any other popular brand of Toyota, you have come to the right place. Before we get started on the steps to changing this fuel filter, you need to first take into account these warnings. First of all, you need to wear eye protection. You will be working over your head, and you do not want dirt to fall into your eyes. Second of all, you are changing the fuel filter, so gas is going to be involved. You do not want to get gas in your eye. If you do, you need to rinse your eye with clean water for about 15 minutes. Last, but not least, try not to breath in the fuel. Studies show that this can cause cancer.

Steps to Changing the Fuel Filter

First of all, you have to purchase the replacement filter. This can be done at pretty much any auto parts store. You will need the make and the model of your car. For example, if you are replacing the fuel filter on a Toyota Camry, you will have to let them know. Next, you need to locate the position of the old filter. Depending on your make of Toyota, it could be located in a few different locations. Sometimes it is by the engine compartment, and sometimes it is under the car by the fuel tank. To make this job easier, it is best to look up your car model online and find out where it is located.

Next, if the manufacturer recommends it, you should remove fuel pressure. After that, you will want to unscrew each hose clamp that is holding on the hose. Most of the time, they are held in place by a bolt unit. Be sure to keep this bolt and the nut together. After removing the clamp, it will be time to remove the old filter and replace it with the new one. After putting the new one on, you will want to then clamp it down with the clamps that you loosened earlier.

The next step is the one that you have to follow very carefully when replacing a fuel filter. After attaching everything, you need to run the engine. During this time, you need to look and see if you can find any leaks. If you see a leak that means that the clamp is not on tight enough. At this point, you will want to stop the car and go back and tighten the clamp. Also at that time, check to make sure that you have the fuel filter all the way on.

After doing that, you are done. Once again, check the car by running it first before you go off driving. You would hate to be out somewhere and the hose come popping off. You could run out of gas in seconds if that was to happen, and there would not be much you could do about it.

A Few Tips to Remember

Changing a fuel filter on a Camry, or any kind of popular Toyota, is pretty easy. However, there are a few tips that you should check out and remember before you get started. First, check to make sure your rubber hoses are not cracked. Since you are going to be down there anyway, it could be a good time to replace the hose if it is way too stiff. Not only that, but you are going to want to pull off the old fuel filter and put the new one on in one quick motion. The quicker you do it, the better. This will be able to help you avoid losing a lot of fuel on the ground. If you are afraid that you cannot do it quick enough, then you may want to clamp the ends of the house. If you have any questions about what to do that, or if it's your first time, your best bet would be to talk to the people at the auto shop before you get started. See if they can give you any good tips as well. A lot of the people in these shops have been taking care of cars for a long time, and they know some good tricks of the trade that could help you.



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Your car's fuel filter is also important. Now you can change it by yourself and you can same more money than bringing it to car shop.

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How to Polish Your Headlights Like a Pro: Saturday Mechanic (Continuation..)

Step-by-Step Guide


[STEP 1] Mask off the area around the headlamp so you won’t scratch or damage the paint or any trim, chrome or chromed plastic.



[STEP 2] Clean the lens surface to remove any abrasive dirt. Dry the surface and clean again. One grain of sand will leave big, ugly scratches.



[STEP 3] Sand the surface of the lens with 1000-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Keep the surface completely wet while you do this. Use the palm of your hand to conform to the curved surface of the lens. Sand in one direction.


[STEP 4] Sand again with finer paper at right angles. Repeat with successively finer paper. Take your time and be thorough.


[STEP 5] Polish the lens surface with compound to remove the last bit of haze.



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It's very easy! Now, go and clean your headlights.

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How to Polish Your Headlights Like a Pro: Saturday Mechanic

After a few years, polycarbonate headlight lenses don’t have to be scratched to look scuffed and foggy. Neglected headlights get hazy and can develop fine cracks. Here’s how to make them look new again.

It’s a cold and rainy winter night. Your headlamp beams drill a tunnel of light into the gloom of a deserted country lane. Unfortunately, it’s not a very deep or bright tunnel. You have to slow the car to a crawl, otherwise you’ll overdrive the headlights. But it’s not a pea-soup-thick fog that’s causing the problem. So why can’t you see farther than a couple of car lengths ahead of your vehicle? Once safely home and parked, you leave the headlights on and walk to the front of your car, fully expecting that one of your low beams has burned out. Wrong. They’re both lit—but a closer inspection reveals that the lenses of your headlamp assemblies are frosted over. And it’s not just dirt. The plastic lens itself is as cloudy as a bathroom mirror right after a shower. No wonder you can’t see.

Clearing away haze

Most cars and a lot of trucks today are manufactured with headlamp assemblies that use quartz-halogen bulbs plugged into the back of a large plastic reflector. The outer surface of these headlamp modules is molded polycarbonate plastic. That plastic is much lighter than glass and far more resistant to stone chips and cracks. However, after a few years of exposure to sunlight and atmospheric chemicals, polycarbonate has a tendency to get hazy. Severely neglected lenses can actually pit and develop a network of fine cracks, called craze, which makes the job of fixing them tougher. It’s worth a shot, though—and you’ll need only a few bucks’ worth of materials to get the job done. Sure, these assemblies are easy to replace, but they can be very expensive. A pair of lenses for a luxury car can cost as much as a thousand dollars. Woof.

Fortunately, there’s a simple and inexpensive solution. Unlike glass, the polycarbonate plastic can be polished back to a surface as smooth as new, in a procedure that won’t take more than a half-hour.

Mask off

Wash your car to remove any surface dirt. Waxing it, at least within a foot or two of the headlamps, is a good idea, because drips and droplets of the abrasive polishing compound are less likely to adhere to a freshly waxed surface.

Head out to the store and buy some blue, low-tack painter’s masking tape, the handy stuff that peels off easily. Mask the area around the headlamp that needs to be polished. For some reason, the red, yellow and clear lenses for the marker and backup lights, which are molded of ABS plastic, don’t seem to craze as much as polycarbonate headlamps, so you can probably just mask them as well. You may want to remove nearby trim, especially chromed metal or chrome-finish plastic, because we’ll be polishing and sanding with materials that can destroy the chrome.

Elbow Grease

We used a prepackaged kit intended specifically for the task at hand. 3M and Permatex both sell a kit containing everything you need for around 10 bucks. You can also buy the sandpaper and polishing compound individually. If you only need to do one pair of headlights, it’s cheaper to buy the kit instead of the sandpaper one sheet at a time.

Let’s assume your lens is only moderately obscured. Start the repair with polishing compound and a flannel or microfiber cloth. Smear some compound on the lens and polish in a circular motion. As the polish gets ground into the cloth and dries out, it lifts the haziness right off the lens. Most of the compound eventually winds up on the cloth, but it probably takes about 10 minutes of rubbing per lens, so don’t be in a rush. If you have an orbital polisher, you can use that with a lambswool or terry-cloth pad. Don’t polish the paint off nearby surfaces. Simply proceed with compound until the lens is shiny.

It’s The Pits

Okay, you’ve been polishing one corner of the lens for a few minutes, and it’s better—but not perfect. The lens surface is far too degraded for the polishing compound to rescue it. There are still pits that you can feel and see.

Soak a piece of 1000-grit wet/dry sandpaper in cold water for 10 minutes. Lightly sand the lens in straight strokes. Methodically cover the entire lens surface, always sanding back and forth in one direction. Keep the surface wet while you work. Again, be careful not to damage nearby paint or trim.

Sand until the pits, discoloration and scratches you’re trying to eliminate are gone. Don’t rush this part. And don’t be afraid to dry the surface with a towel and check the uniform­ity of your sanding. When you’re done, clean and dry the area.

Now perform the same operation with 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper, this time sanding at right angles to your previous work. Again, be methodical. Keep the paper wet, cover the entire surface and then clean up to remove any abrasive powder. Repeat the procedure, every time at right angles to the last sanding, with 2000-, 2500- and 3000-grit wet/dry. Clean up one last time. You might want to touch up or redo the masking tape along the way if it starts looking a little tattered.

Now go back to your compound and flannel to hand-polish out the final patina of scratches. Your lens should look like new—shiny and clear.

Clean up every last vestige of the abrasive polishing compound. Now wax the lens thoroughly with a paste car wax. This last step will keep acid rain, dirt and road salt from attacking the plastic, at least for a while.


Step-by-Step Procedure on my next post..


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Headlights are important especially at night. You can make those headlights clear by doing some necessary sanding in it.

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Repair vinyl upholstery in your car

Does you car need it's vinyl seats repaired? Learn how to repair the upholstery in you car by yourself!


You cannot simply glue torn vinyl upholstery back in place; the adhesive will destroy the foam padding underneath. Make a vinyl patch from excess seat material or similar material from an auto upholstery shop or car dealer. Use an automotive vinyl or trim adhesive.

Cut a piece of vinyl larger than the tear from the excess material tucked up under the edges of the seat. For big tears, try to buy a matching material. Fold the patch and push it under the tear in the upholstery. Open it up and spread it out evenly under the tear with the finished side facing up, the backing facing down.

Carefully, lift the torn piece of upholstery and apply vinyl adhesive all around the underside of the tear. Apply adhesive to the surface of the patch material as well. Press the flap gently into place, keeping the edges as close together as possible. Do not press too hard or edges will part. If a gap remains, use a repair kit to fill it.

Fixing split piping on your seat requires a thin matchstick or piece of doweling and contact Tcement. Remove the match head. Apply cement to one end of wood and insert it part way into the split piping. Apply cement to protruding end of stick and work other piece of piping onto it. Let cement set thoroughly before using the seat.

Cuts, tears, or cigarette burns in vinyl roofs or upholstery can be mended so that they are invisible. If you use a vinyl repair kit sold by speciality mail-order houses. The kit contains patching compound in several colors, graining sheets, and a material for making your own graining sheets to match older patterns.

Fixing Carpet Burns-

Cut away the charred pile with curved cuticle scissors. Cut a few undamaged loops of carpeting from under the seats, behind a piece of molding for instance, or up under the dash where the carpet is hidden. Fill the charred depression with a clear-drying glue. Insert the undamaged loops into the glue with tweezers. Make sure the loops remain fairly upright and let the glue set and dry for 24 hours before stepping on it.

For vinyl roof rips and tears, melt the vinyl with the tip of a household iron to repair cuts that do not extend into the cloth backing. Set temperature at the lowest setting on permanent press. When the iron cools, clean it with a nylon scouring pad to remove any excess vinyl.

If the cut extends through the cloth backing, glue backing into place with the trim adhesive first, then melt the surface of the vinyl as above. Do not get glue onto the surface of the vinyl, solvents that remove the adhesive will also melt and mar the top.

Cover a bubble with masking tape, then pierce it a few times with a needle. Heat it with a 250 watt infrared lamp held 3 to 5 inches from the top. Press vinyl to roof with a wood block until glue rehardens. Remove tape and excess glue.

If bubble will not stay down, leave masking tape in place and inject more adhesive with a hypodermic needle, or cut an X through the vinyl with a razor and repair.

Keep the car out of the hot sun for at least 24 hours.



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It's not that easy but you can do it on your own car. Just follow the instructions and i bet you repair your car seats.

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DIY Auto Interior

One of the best ways to make a car look, feel and smell like new is installing a new interior. But an interior shop might charge thousands, as many areas must be restored and the job is time-intensive. With the right tools and a little know-how, though, a lot can be done in your garage.


Carpeting

1. Carpeting gets a lot of wear because it is stepped on constantly. There are two replacement options. You can buy a ready-made carpet kit, available in a variety of colors for almost all cars. Or remove the old carpet kit and use it as a pattern for a new kit. Take the pieces and have the vinyl edges sewn on at an upholstery shop. This is a good option if kits are not available or are costly for your make of car.

Once the kit is ready, remove the seats and other components in the way (usually the center console) and carefully remove your old carpeting. Clean the surfaces underneath. This is also a good time to install new sound deadening if it is old and worn out. Use spray-on carpet adhesive (available at any auto parts store) to install the new carpet kit, carefully pulling and stretching it into place in the same order it was installed by the factory. Install new floor mats over the carpeting.

Interior panels

2. Door and side panels also suffer from wear and tear. You can buy new door panels or re-cover the the existing ones. The panels usually fasten with screws or some type of clips that hold the panels to the door.

If new door panels are not available or you want a custom installation, simply remove the old door panels and use the old upholstery as a template for the new cover. You can find a wide selection of vinyl in different colors by the yard at a fabric store. Cut the vinyl and install it with spray adhesive in the same manner as the carpet kit.

Dash

3. Dashboards are exposed to the sun and can dry and crack if not properly maintained. Installing a new dash can be costly and time-consuming. The easiest and cheapest replacement is an aftermarket dash cover. These are made of vinyl and conform to the shape of the dash. Once glued into place, they look almost exactly like a new dash. Go slow on the installation for the best appearance. You might have to trim the cover to get it to fit perfectly, but the results are worth it.

Seats

4. The side bolsters on seats usually get worn and must be re-covered. New covers are available for many cars. Installation can be tricky, but it's possible with the proper tools and some patience. If covers are not readily available, you might need to go to a shop, since reupholstering seats is complicated.

Headliner

5. Like reupholstering seats, replacing a headliner is complicated. While headliners themselves usually range from $100 to $200, installation can be well over $500. Sometimes, even the windshield must be removed. If you are confident you can do this yourself, make sure you have the proper directions for your car and the right tools.



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Car looks very nice with a good interior. Now you can fix it by yourself.

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DIY car care

Looking after your car and having it serviced regularly will reduce your chances of breaking down.

We recommend that you leave the complex repairs to a qualified professional but there are a number of maintenance checks you can do yourself to help prevent a breakdown.

Check your distributor cap

The distributor cap is a cylindrical casing that holds the wires that run to the spark plugs from the distributor. It generally has five 'posts' at the top depending on the number of cylinders your car has.

Keep it clean and dry and check for small cracks. If the distributor cap is damaged or cracked, get it replaced by a qualified mechanic.

Test your clutch

The clutch should 'engage' when the clutch pedal is depressed about half way, if it engages when the clutch pedal is depressed further than this it could be a sign that the clutch is worn. Stiff gears can also be a sign of a worn clutch.

Check your spark plugs

Spark plugs are small and easy to change. If your car cuts out when driving, it could be that your spark plugs are dirty and need changing.

Standard copper spark plugs should be changed every 10,000 - 20, 000 miles.



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These are the basic car parts you can check to avoid car breakdown. Maintenance is a big role to have your car a long existence.

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DIY Car Care Tips For You

A regular car maintenance routine is very important for every car owner. There are several reasons why you should keep your car in proper condition. The prevention of wear and tear gives your car an extended life. Also, when going on a long drive a well maintained car will let you enjoy the pleasure of the traveling by car. Expensive breakdowns can also be minimized to a great extent. However, you should keep in mind about the various levels of maintenance that your car needs.

First and foremost, in order to maintain a car and keep it in smooth running condition, you need to change the oil of your car, which is not that difficult, if you've the right equipment and the right amount of patience. But do you feel confident you can maintain your car yourself, with no professional help? If you don't, in that case you could pay occasional visits to the mechanic who can take good care of your car.

Tuning the Car

Regular tuning up the car is really necessary, since the engine of a tuned up car lasts longer. Plus, with regular tuning, you will see that you car's giving a better mileage for a longer time. As fuel prices are shooting up everyday, it is important to see to it that your car's fuel consumption is not too much.

Tuning Your Car Yourself

Engine tune ups can be pretty expensive if you want a professional mechanic to do the job for you. You have to go to auto repair shop and hire a mechanic to help you out with this if your car's in a bad state and needs care from an expert auto mechanic. However, if you have the necessary skills to tune your car the right way, then go ahead and do up your car.

What goes into the Maintenance of your Car?

Here are a few suggestions:

• You have to check your car for the battery levels at least four times every year. Every season you could go and get your car's battery check up done. Add distilled water to the battery, if the battery levels are going down. You also need to check the cable clamps and terminals and maybe, you need to clean them with a bit of baking soda and a wire brush.

• There are also the spark plugs that you need to run a check on. After every 35,000 miles you need to get a new spark plug for sure. But if you are lucky enough to have platinum spark plugs you can change it or think of changing it after 65,000 miles.

• A major tune up also means that you get your distributor cap altered. But once again, if you are lucky enough to have permanent pones attached to the spark plug cables, then you really don't need to change them. The rotor also needs timely inspection. But, the newer models of cars nowadays often come without one. So if your car doesn't have one, then you don't need to bother about it.

• If your car is supported by manual transmission then you need to take some additional care. The clutch needs regular adjustment, unlike newer model cars that come fitted with an adjustable clutch.

• The brake, the oil and the transmission fluids need to be checked continuously, in fact on a weekly basis, if possible. For every 3000 miles you need to get an oil filter replacement which gives your car clean engine oil that helps in extending your car's engine's life.

So, I hope now you realize the importance of car care. Even if you are not a certified car mechanic, you can still take care of the little things in your car which will surely help in keeping your car in good condition for a long time. With proper maintenance your car can give you super performance. True, car problems might still persist but if put in some effort behind taking care of your car, you will have less things to worry about smooth functioning of your vehicle.


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You can do your own car maintenance. Learn some basics and you can fix your car on your own. It's more convenient and wise to repair your own car, it saves more money.

Source

Rust Prevention and Repair

When rust starts to attack the metal in our vehicles, it threatens to destroy the entire body. Virtually anywhere you live, your vehicle is at risk of a rust attack. Humidity, heat, saltwater, salt applied to the roads, and rainwater are all contributors.

Rust begins very easily and is a very devious enemy, hiding under paints and coatings, having begun its damage and taking its toll long before it rears its ugly head and makes its presence known. It just takes the smallest of chips or nicks in your paint to begin this unsightly process that will weaken the structural integrity of the metal.
Rust Prevention Techniques

There are several prevention techniques that will protect your vehicle:

Wash the underside of the vehicle
This is important during the winter when salt is applied to the roads

Wax the body of the vehicle
This should be done at least twice a year

Wash the vehicle with appropriate products
Always use soaps, brushes, and methods that will not strip the protective wax off. You may think you're saving money by using dishwashing detergent but you are actually ruining your paint.

Maintain proper coolant-to-water ratio
Your owner's manual will tell you the ratio of coolant-to-water that your car requires (it's usually 1:1). Maintaining this ratio reduces the chance of corrosion in the cooling system.

If you use a car cover…
Use one that breathes preventing ground moisture from being trapped under the vehicle.

Apply Rust Bullet
Rust Bullet, when applied to the undercarriage, floor pan, trunk compartment, and other areas vulnerable to rust, protects your vehicle from corrosion.

How To Repair Rust Spots

Large rust spots often require the replacement of an entire body panel, but with a few basic tools and materials you can easily do most corrosion control yourself.

* Scrape off any loose or flaky corrosion or old paint
* Scuff the surface of any remaining old paint
* Apply approximately 6 mil dft Rust Bullet Automotive (usually two coats – 2-4 hours between coats)
* If necessary use a body filler to smooth out any pockets or dents and add additional coat of Rust Bullet
* Wet sand if necessary to achieve desired surface smoothness
* Topcoat with automotive paint of your choice
* Wax the entire vehicle


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Rusts in your car should be prevented, to keep it's shape and to avoid rust to destroy the entire body of your car.

Source of Free Car Repair Guide Manila