Repairing Auto

If you’ve ever bought a can of penetrant, lubricant or parts cleaner you know about the little red straws that come attached to the side of the can with a little bit of tape. You also know how the story ends — that little red straw never fits into that bit of tape as well as it did the day you bought it, and the straw is lost. This isn’t the end of the world. After all, you can still spray the stuff, just not really where you want it. The more fastidious will retape the straw to the can with a new bit of tape, but the rest of us let the straw go. Until today. We’ve found the ultimate, reusable cure for the lost straw and we’re sharing the secret with you!

Better than a Straw Hat, a Straw Hand! originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Saturday, March 20th, 2010 at 23:50:18.

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Why the ford triton spark plug breaks during routine maintenance services. What you can do to increase the chances of getting the plug out in one piece.

Testing fuel injectors before spending money on cleaning them is a good Idea. Learn how injectors work and test the operation and balance of fuel flow.

After the kind of winter we had, I’m not one to complain about the onset of warm weather. That said, the sudden leap in daily temps here has made this new product review a little out of season. But hey, we did the review, liked the product, and wrote it up. They’re probably on sale now, so buy early for next winter. May I present to you the <a href=”http://autorepair.about.com/od/tools/fr/reviews-heatedicescraper.htm”>heated ice scraper</a> for your windshield.

Maybe Next Year? originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 22:38:52.

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A cylinder leakage test can tell you exactly what is wrong with your cars engine. Auto mechanic shows you how its done and what the results may indicate.

This note came to me today in the form of a blog comment, but I had to bring it to the front to share it with you because I think it holds an important lesson. It actually holds two important lessons. Carl writes:

My car just landed on its roof, I need a fender and a new roof plus a front windshield. I am really concerned about tackling the roof myself. Although experienced in body work and paint I lack confidence when it comes to cutting the roof off of this car — it is a 2005 Mazda 3.

The first and most immediate lesson here has to do with car roofs. I’ve worked with some very experienced metal workers over the years, and only one felt confident enough to tackle welding on a roof. Without a jig specifically suited to the vehicle you’re working on, there’s a huge chance that you’ll end up welding the new roof slightly off. No big deal, right? Wrong. A little off means your windshield doesn’t fit in properly, and then you’re screwed. The second, and broader, lesson here is to know your limitations. I’m a strong proponent of diving in and tackling jobs that are intimidating, but it’s also very important to be realistic. After all, we’re working on our own cars to save a little cash. Running to the shop to get us out of trouble wouldn’t be saving much, would it?

Know Your Limitations! And No Roofs! originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 21:21:41.

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I often wonder if my son’s generation will even know what a library is. A library holds books, and who needs books anymore? If I need to look something up, Google will guide me. If I want to read a novel, Kindle is there to accomodate. So where does that leave our neighborhood library. Even the most illiterate in computerese have some sort of Internet connection nowadays. But don’t dismiss the library just yet. There are gobs of resources hidden in those walls. History buffs still pile into the reference room to pore over the years of archived newspapers that may still contain uncovered references to their favorite studies. But what’s in there for auto repair? Lots! Many libraries have a more than decent collection of automotive reference books that range from the general “how it works” type of book to specific repair manuals you can use to fix your car! If you’re into saving money, take advantage of your local library.

Planning a Car Repair? Don’t Forget the Library! originally appeared on About.com Auto Repair on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 23:18:39.

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Service manuals provide a direct route to a properly repaired car. Discover why driveway auto mechanics are finally embracing this cost effective tool.