Car tips 'n triks.

[Pharm Girl]

I've had car trouble after car trouble.....one small thing after another.

I thought we could share tips with each other....

Lemmy start with a regular issue I have:

LOCKED OUT of CAR.

Coat hangers only scratch the paint.....I use the neck of a javex bottle and dental floss.

Directions

Cut a 2 inch horizontal strip from the javex bottle right at the largest spot.
Now with the strip put a small hole near the edge and run the dental floss through it. Tie a knot. Slide the edge that has the floss on it through the side of the window (small pry job might be necessary)

The idea is to latch on to either the handle or door lock with the floss.

You have one end of the floss in your hand and the other is firmly attached to the plastic ring.

[Captain Cannabis]

keep a spare door key in your wallet
always keep tires at proper psi (if you are canadian remember than changes in air temperate affect tire pressure. i don't remember exactly but it can change a couple psi every 10 degrees or so). let your tires cool for at least 3 hours before you go to fill them and don't drive more than a few kms if you have to go to a gas station or else they will be hot and the pressure will be incorrect when you stop and they cool down.

[HansyPants]

Make sure to label your spark plug wires BEFORE you take them off lol.

[Mafoo]

if your exhaust manifold is glowing you probably shouldnt touch it..

[mr.dunzt]

with the tires...if they are hot...add 4 psi to the recommended pressure...change your oil...please for the love of god...change the oil when it is due...like the commercial says... sludge can attack at any time and basic maintenance will save you boat loads of money down the road...

[jag8]

whenever the check engine light comes on be sure to google how to run the codes for your specific car.

this will tell you exactly what part(s) are malfunctioning. ive saved tons of money. between google and youtube anyone can be a DIY mechanic within reason.

[Mafoo]

autozone has free OBD-II scans or w/e that code scanner is called.

[Pharm Girl]

Originally Posted by jag8

whenever the check engine light comes on be sure to google how to run the codes for your specific car.

this will tell you exactly what part(s) are malfunctioning. ive saved tons of money. between google and youtube anyone can be a DIY mechanic within reason.

I've noticed that when check engine lights stays on that it's more than likely the......... O2 sensor.

[jag8]

Originally Posted by Pharm Girl

I've noticed that when check engine lights stays on that it's more than likely the......... O2 sensor.

thats why you run the codes and find out. when you run them it will make the check engine light blink. depending on how many blinks you get will tell you what part it messing up. (atleast thats how it is on my jeep)

last time the light came on it was my TPS sensor. for the garage to just check to see if that was the problem it would have been 120 plus the part. i paid 50 for the part and there were directions on the net on how to do it myself.

i talked to a buddy thats a mechanic and he said that a majority of problems people have can be fixed with alittle time on google and you tube.

[Mafoo]

^ not always true but good advice for alot of cars (about the blinking CEL)

and yah, alot of maintenance can be done by the owner for a fraction of what the mechanic will charge.

-NEVER STALL ON GETTING YOUR TIMING BELT REPLACED!!
it can fatally damage your engine if the belt fails.

[Pharm Girl]

AND............. never put Quick Start in the heater core..........

[Flamingnun]

Check your flux capacitor is set for the right year.

[HansyPants]

Originally Posted by Flamingnun

Check your flux capacitor is set for the right year.

lolz.

[Bad dog]

lol^

[awwsuga23]

Originally Posted by Pharm Girl

LOCKED OUT of CAR.

Coat hangers only scratch the paint.....I use the neck of a javex bottle and dental floss.

[.

i have a 13 year old mazda and i got in that shit with a wire hanger. tooka a while but i got it

[Geeno]

a yarmulke is a useful tool to remove a hot radiator cap

[Mafoo]

the hell is a yarmulke?
forgive my ignorance

[Geeno]

"jewhat"

[Pharm Girl]

forgive my ignorance as well...........

[Pharm Girl]

Originally Posted by jag8

thats why you run the codes and find out. when you run them it will make the check engine light blink. depending on how many blinks you get will tell you what part it messing up. (atleast thats how it is on my jeep)

last time the light came on it was my TPS sensor. for the garage to just check to see if that was the problem it would have been 120 plus the part. i paid 50 for the part and there were directions on the net on how to do it myself.

i talked to a buddy thats a mechanic and he said that a majority of problems people have can be fixed with alittle time on google and you tube.

I just changed my O2 sensor and don't have a code reader...so I unhooked the battery for 2 minutes to reset the module.

Then........I get a call from little one saying a side walk was hit!

And it's not the first one that has been hit!

The front rim has a dingy and no slow leak. But there's no brakes....

I filled up the master with fluid, started the car and pumped the brakes.
The fluid is leaking from the back line. It's kinda cold to be bleeding the brakes.

I'm almost positive I'll have to get an alignment too. There must of been quite of an impact!!!

I'm gonna drive it to my favorite scrap yard.....brakes or not! Emergency brake never worked so this ride should be real fun.........I'll hafta use compression to brake. Who needs brakes anyways??