Make your tires last and rotate.

Depending on the variables like alignment, high way driving or gravel vs. pavement, eventually you will need to rotate tires if you want to get the most life out of them.

TOOLS: Floor jack, jack stands, lug nut wrench, penny.
1) Use the penny and compare tire tread height and wear in the front vs. the rear.
2) You want the best tires at the drive wheels, and if all-wheel drive then you need to decide if you want the front wheels or rear wheels to have the most traction.
3) Decide if tires are directional( have arrows saying they can only spin in one direction) or if they can be rotated to either side.
4) All-wheel drive do a X with the wheels. Front wheel drive cross the rear wheel to the front and move fronts straight back. Rear wheel drive cross front to the back, and move back straight up to front. Directional wheels can only be moved front to rear on the same side.
5) Re-tighten each wheel making sure to do a criss-cross pattern with the lug nuts, 80 foot-pounds is a good ammount.
6) Lower vehicle and re-check each nug nut.
7) Check air pressure, and put to factory specs.
8) Enjoy your knowlegable tire rotation and brag to your friends.

Flush your coolant, your vehicle likes to be hydrated!

If you do not know the last time your antifreeze was flushed, or if it looks brown and dirty then its time.

TOOLS: catch bucket, pliers, screw driver, new antifreeze.
1) Any parts store can tell you what type of anifreeze your car needs and how much.
2) Find the petcock which will look like the one above, always at the bottom of the radiator on either end.
3) These will either twist out, twist and pull, or twist and pull.
4) Position the catch bucket under the petcock and loosen the petcock, but not removing it.
5) Next remove radiator cap allowing the fluid to escape quicker.
6) Once all the fluid is drained it is always a good idea to close things up and fill coolant system with just water and let vehicle run and re-drain again.
7) Once completely drained close things up and refill to spec.
8) Top off both radiator and resovoir, then start vehicle and aloow to idle till fans run with radiator cap off for the first few minuets.
9) Once fans run turn off vehicle and allow to cool for 20 minutes then recheck antifreeze levels and adjust as needed.
10) Enjoy you you new hobby and be proud of your work!

No oil leaks = safe and long lasting engine.

The most common engine oil leaks usually are from the valve cover, oil pan, oil filter or drain plug.

TOOLS: common metric socket set, rachet, pliers, allen keys, flat head screw driver.
1) Locate the oil leak, if it starts at the top of engine adress the highest placed gasket first and work your way down till you have fixed the leak.
2) Go to auto parts store and get the gasket you need; valve cover? oil pan? oil pressure sensor? drain plug? oil filter?
3) If it is oil pan or valve cover then you are in for a little more work as you need to remove components to access these, like exhausts or intakes and pipes and coolant lines all depends on vehicle.
4) Remove component thats leaking( if oil pan drain oil first), clean that component after removing old gasket which is not always easy.
5) Clean all surfaces that the gasket comes in contact with.
6) Install new gasket on the component and not the engine, finger tighten bolts first.
7) Usually snug is more than enough when tightening these.
8) Re-fill oil if needed, check all components to see if you have everything where it is needed and start the vehicle.
9) Check for leaks.
10) Enjoy your work and be proud!

Headlights replacement, vision is the key!

Whether your headlights screw in or clip in, if its out you should replace it and save your time and money!

TOOLS: Unfortunately every vehicle is different, the average socket set and screw driver selection shall be enough.

1) Once you have purchased your new headlight, take a look at it and decide if it is one whole unit or a single bulb.

2) The one whole unit style usually requires removing a trim piece or even a grill, while the single unit can usually be replaced in the engine compartment area.

3) Both designs use a electircal connector, the sealed beam is pretty simple, while the Halogen bulb usually has a connector and twist in holder or clip that holds it is place which are not always easy to get to.

4) Make sure to wear gloves while installing the new bulbs , as the oil from your fingers can create hot spots which in return can decrease the life of the bulbs.

5) Be carefully not to touch the electrical connector while its off creating a short.

6) Re-install in opposite of removal and be proud of your work!

Cabin Filter, fresh air is the best air!

 The tools necessary are usually only your hands, but there is possibilty of coming across vehicles that would need certain types of tools.

1) The first step is checking your owners manual to see if you have a cabin air filter, if so head to your local auto parts store and pick one up.
2) Once you figured out you have one, use your owners manual to figure out its location, usually the air duct under the hood or behind the glove box.
3) Find cabin air filter and either remove glove box and pop retaining clips and replace, or unclip air duct under hood by windshield and replace.
4) Sometimes these are very well hidden but use the size of the new one as a reference and then decide if it would fit at where you think it is, usually has easy pop clips to un-install it.
5) Once your figure out how to remove the old one, install the new one and in reverse order re-install all components.
6) Enjoy your work and appreciate the money you have saved and the fresh air you will now be consuming.