It’s no secret that cars have gotten more complex over the years. With computers being used to run everything from anti-lock brakes to cruise control, it can leave you feeling like you need an advanced degree just to open the hood.
An important part of your vehicle’s lighting system, your taillights ensures that other drivers can see you from behind. Whether you are driving at night or making a left-hand turn in the middle of the day, properly working taillights are essential for your safety on the road.
Step One: start by determining how to access the taillight bulb on your vehicle. On some vehicles, you reach the taillight housing from the outside while on other cars and SUVs you need to go through the trunk to get to the taillight bulb.
If you are having trouble figuring out how to reach the taillight bulb, consult your owner’s manual.
Step Two: now that you know how to reach the taillight bulb, you’ll be able to determine what tools you need. You’ll likely need either a flathead or Phillips screwdriver. Grab whatever tools you need and remove the screws holding the taillight housing in place. If your vehicle provides easy access to the taillight housing, you might not need tools. Just snap off the fabric covering to expose the bulb in its socket.
Step Three: once you have the housing removed, determine which bulb(s) you need to replace. Locate the bulb holder that holds the light bulb you need to replace. To unseat it, unscrew it by turning it a quarter turn or so to pull it out.
Step Four: remove the bulb by carefully pulling it out of the socket. Most pull straight out, but some may require a quarter turn to remove it. Depending on your vehicle’s setup, there may be some additional screws to remove. Be gentle when doing this so you don’t risk breaking the bulb.
Step Five: before installing the new bulb, clean out the socket to ensure that there is no dirt and debris. Insert the bulb into the open socket in the same manner that you removed it. You may want to wear gloves to protect the bulb from damage.
Reverse the process you used to remove the old bulb. Put the taillight housing back in place, screwing in any screws that you removed. Replace any additional parts that you had to remove to gain access to the taillight bulb.
Step Six: start up your vehicle to ensure that the taillight is working properly.
Keeping your vehicle running at peak performance requires some basic maintenance. Changing your oil filter is one of those routine jobs that pays big dividends.
Now that you have found the oil filter, you need to decide how you are going to get to it. You may be able to reach it from the top but on some vehicles, the only way to get to it is from underneath. If you don’t have enough clearance, you’ll need ramps to boost the car up.
Place the new oil filter in the same place where you removed the old filter. Gently tighten by hand until it seats properly and then turn it another ¼ to ½ turn. That’s all there is to it! You have successfully changed your oil filter.
Whether you have a sporty sedan, work truck or family-friendly SUV, they all rely on a battery to power them down the road. When the time comes to change your battery, tackle this straightforward repair job in your own garage.
Check your owner’s manual to see if your radio or navigation system could be affected by changing the battery. You might have to enter a code or multiple codes to ensure that your radio and navigation system continue to work properly after you change the battery. If the manual doesn’t list the codes, check with the dealership.
Has the inside of your vehicle started to smell musty? You aren’t sure where the smell is coming from but something has to be done – no one wants to ride with you!
You may not be ready to tackle car maintenance jobs like changing the oil or replacing spark plugs, but changing your vehicle’s engine air filter is an easy job that you can do. Doing this job yourself can result in big savings. Many quick lube shops charge up to $25 or more to change an air filter.
Your vehicle’s engine air filter ensures that clean air reaches your engine. Clean air is paramount to your vehicle running efficiently. Without an air filter, the air induction system system would become full of bugs, leaves, dirt and other debris and damage your engine.
When your engine air filter gets dirty, it prevents the proper amount of clean air from reaching the engine which can lead to a host of problems for your vehicle. If your car has a dirty air filter, you may notice poor engine performance or lack of power, reduced gas mileage or your Check Engine light may come on.
When you experience any of these symptoms, top on your list of troubleshooting should be checking your engine air filter. It is a good idea to check the air filter at each oil change.
You should change your engine air filter annually or every 12,000 miles. If you live in a dusty area, you should change the engine air filter more frequently. Keeping your air filter clean keeps the engine free of dirt. Bottom line - a clean air filter is your engine’s first line of defense to staying dirt free and running properly.
Replacing your air filter with a high quality Champion air filter ensures maximum engine performance. Featuring coverage for 95% of the U.S. car market, you are sure to find a Champion air filter for your vehicle.