Before you begin an ambitious project, like giving your auto a full paint job, or even priming it yourself, you’ll need to check environmental regulations in your area for spraying paint at home. While auto paint shops already meet these guidelines, there may be some steps you need to follow when doing it yourself, in a residential setting. Once you are sure you are legal, the next step is to remove as many trim [...]
1) Many small fixes and slight problems in cars and trucks require a screwdriver. Keep a multi-head screwdriver in your auto to make sure you always have the one you need. 2) An adjustable wrench is necessary for loosening or tightening nuts and bolts. With that, a pair of pliers will come in handy. Tire change anyone? 3) Duct tape is handy in a pinch. If something is loose that shouldn’t be, you may [...]
Auto fluids seem to require an awful lot of flushing. It may seem that you get told you need to flush at least one of them every time you go in for maintenance. But the truth is that fluid flushes do not need to happen very often. Reading your auto manual’s recommendations for fluid flushing can save you time and expense by making sure you do not do unnecessary flushing. Some fluid flushing can [...]
It’s usually something like a cold, wintry morning when your car battery decides to quit. You try and try to get the car started, but to no avail. You open the hood with your freezing fingers and look inside and think, “Now what?” Well, if you have a friend, or have flagged someone down to help you, you can jump that car battery and drive it to a Utah auto repair center or parts [...]
Do you ever laugh at that guy that parks his shiny new car at the furthest end of the parking lot to keep his car from getting scratched? Well, even though he has a long way to walk, he may have figured something out right, because most cars will end up getting scratched, scuffed, or dinged at some point. For those of us who like to park as close as we can to our [...]
Many drivers in Utah just have their local Utah auto repair center do their oil changes. But, if you have a little experience you can do your own oil changes. Maybe you’ve done them before, but you just need some helpful tips to make sure you do the job right. One thing you should start with is warming up your engine for about 20 minutes, and then letting it cool for another 20 or [...]
Learning how to read automotive wiring diagrams can help you pinpoint electrical problems in your car. Wiring diagrams are technical drawings that use symbols to represent a car’s electronic system. Whether your vehicle is old or new, such a diagram can be irreplaceable for helping you diagnose wiring problems. You will need to start with a basic understanding of the electrical symbols you will encounter as you peruse the automotive wiring diagrams. The symbols [...]
Perhaps the most common error that do-it-yourselfers make, when repairing cars, is improper bolt torque. This is easily done, when the focus of the project is the oil change, or replacing a filter somewhere. The bolts are just accessories, right? It seems a simple enough concept; undo the bolt, do the job, replace and tighten the bolt. But, it is really not that simple. Different bolts with different functions in a car’s engine require [...]
Any Utah auto repair center should be able to install your fog lights, but if you have some skill and feel so inclined, you can do it yourself. Just follow a few simple steps and you’ll be driving through the fog in no time. You’ll need fog lights, safety goggles, wiring, electrical tape, a relay, a switch, fuses, mounting brackets, hardware for the brackets and lights, wire strippers, and wire nuts. If you’re replacing [...]
Families all over the country have had it with the economic slump and are heading back out for good old-fashioned family road trips. Taking the route 66, from Chicago to L.A. is one of the most popular road trips, offering many fun sites to check out along the way. But, before you jump in the car and join the crowd, you may want to follow a few road trip tips to ensure a good [...]
