Hot Maintenance How-Tos


How To: Check and adjust the valves on a KLR650
In this motorcycle tutorial you will learn how to check and then adjust the valves on a Kawasaki KLR650 motorcycle. You will need to remove the bodywork of the bike first. Once you've done that, watch this video and get ready to do a valve check on the KLR and then a valve adjustment.

How To: What Side of Your Car Is the Gas Tank on? This Easy Trick Will Tell You Every Time
Ever drive a friend's car? Maybe a rental? Then you've probably found yourself in a very frustrating situation when you realize you need some gas. Heck, it probably even happens to you in your own car sometimes.

How To: Easily check your vehicle's alternator
This next tutorial is going to show you just how easy it can be to check your vehicle's alternator. There isn't really much that you need, just a tester or DVOM and some time.

How To: Test a vehicle alternator with a standard multimeter
Richpin demonstrates how to test an alternator with a standard multimeter. First make sure that the vehicle's battery is fully charged. Take the negative lead of the multimeter and put it on the negative post of the battery. Place the positive lead of the meter on the positive lead of the battery. Set the meter to DC voltage using the 20 scale and read the display to ensure the battery is fully charged. Next start up the vehicle and see what the alternator is producing. The display should now...

How To: Remove a motorcycle tire
Changing your own motorcycle tires can save you a lot of money. This instructional video will show you how to Remove a motorcycle tire. Pretty soon, you can open up your own shop and change tires for money.

How To: Inspect and adjust a solo clutch
This video shows you how to inspect, and adjust if necessary, a solo clutch.

How To: Repair auto headlights with a 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System
What's better— forking out the dough for a new headlight or simply restoring it to its original beauty? The latter is definitely the choice for penny-pinchers, and is easy to accomplish with a restoration kit from 3M. This video will show you how to use the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System to restore your headlight's shine.

How To: Replace the front crankshaft oil seal
In this video demonstration you will see the work done on a GM 3.1 Liter V6; your instructor is replacing the cam cover seal. First raise the car into the air, remove the tire wheel assembly and place a jack stand underneath the car or vehicle on the side where you have removed the tire wheel assembly. Now remove the serpentine belt from the engine by using a 3/8ths breaker bar. Place it on the tensioner and lift up while removing the belt from the alternator. Keep lifting the belt out from t...

How To: Clean out the sunroof drains on a Chevy Equinox
If you have a sunroof on your car, it's important that you regularly clean out the sunroof drains. Not doing so will result in a wet, stinky interior that can lead to a hefty repair bill.

How To: Reset the service engine light on a Saturn S-Series
It is never a good sign when the 'check engine' light comes up on your dashboard. In this tutorial, learn how to reset the light if it is not functioning properly. If you have already fixed the engine issue and wish to reset the warning light on your Saturn S-Series, this video will show you how quick and easy it is to do so.

How To: Keep your RV stove from going poof when it turns off
The stove in your RV is crucial for cooking on the road, and maintaining the LP system that supplies it is vital to your safety. If your RV stove is making a "poof" sound when you turn it off, it's not too hard to fix. This video will tell you about two potential solutions that will ensure proper stove function.

How To: Use a Clay Bar When Detailing a Car
Using a clay bar will help produce a show-car paint finish. Watch the video for a complete demonstration, and check out the steps below. Wash Car

How To: Repair coolant level sensors
Where is the coolant level sensor and how to fix or replace it on a Mercury Sable?? The coolant sensor is located in the coolant reservoir bottle. It cannot be serviced, you can only replace the reservoir. However, if just the sensor is bad, you can also try unplugging the sensor at the coolant reservoir bottle. Unscrew the two screws holding the reservoir bottle in place. With the bottle loose, tilt the bottle slightly toward you until you see wiring coming out of the reservoir bottle, that ...

How To: Fold down the windshield of a Jeep Wrangler JK
This is a step-by-step video tutorial on how to fold the windshield of a Jeep Wrangler JK. You will notice there are three tools needed; a Phillips head screwdriver, a 13mm deep well socket w/ ratchet and extender, and a t40 torx. First you should remove the plastic covers on the A-pillars of the Jeeps windshield. Make sure you put all bolts back into the holes they came out of for safe storage. That will also keep dirt out of the threads as you drive your vehicle with the windshield down. Ma...

How To: Rainproof you windshield with a potato
Using just a potato you can rainproof your car's windshield so the rain slides right off with no need to use your wipers.

How To: Service a Porsche 944
This video gives a step by step tutorial how to service a Porsche 944. The service is demonstrated on an S2, but most steps are very similar for other versions.

How To: Perform RV air conditioning maintenance
Jim Twamley teaches us how to perform RV air conditioning maintenance in this tutorial. It can be expensive to replace an air conditioner, cleaning it will help give it a longer life. First, remove the top of the unit by removing the screws from the front and back. After this, blow out the inside to make sure everything is nice and clean with air pressure. Next, clean the inside of the top of the unit with household cleaner and a clean rag. After this, replace the top to the unit and insert t...

How To: Remove rust with electricity
This video demonstrates a great way to take rust off of metal piece that are hard to clean by hand. You will need a plastic bucket, a wire hanger, and a battery charger. In the bucket mix one gallon of water and one tablespoon of washing soda. You can make washing soda in the oven by cooking baking soda at 450 degrees for one hour. Take apart all the moving objects off the metal piece you want to clean. Prep the surface by spraying some brake fluid on it and wipe it down. In the bucket hang a...

How To: Fix a stickly RV slideout
If you own an RV and are having a hard time with putting your slideout back, then this next video tutorial may help. In the video, The RV Doctor talks about possible reasons why a slideout may be so hard to put back in after it was easy to take out. There are a couple of reasons for it, and the video describes what kind of problems you may be facing and what you may need to do. So good luck, be safe, and enjoy!

How To: Change the front wheel bearings on a Porsche 944 Turbo S
If you want to save a little dough so that you can use it to buy something more useful, performing your own maintenance on a car is a smart idea. Not only do you save money, but you get a bit closer to understanding your vehicle and how it works.

How To: Clean out the carburetor on a push lawn mower
If you're having a hard time with starting your lawn mower, there could be several problems. One of the main issues can be because of the vehicle's carburetor. If unattended, it can give you a hard time.

How To: Locate the slideout mechanism on a motorhome
Are you at a loss when it comes to fixing up your motorhome? It's a great vehicle for traveling - plenty of freedom, but it also requires some maintenance. In this video, the RV Doctor explains how you can locate the slideout mechanism in your motorhome so that you can lubricate it.

How To: Fix bubbles on an RV ceiling
If you have some bubbles that have appeared out of no where on your RV vehicle, it may be something to worry about. Obviously you don't want the bubbles to stay, so the best option is to fix it yourself.

How To: Install a remote starter switch on your car
When working on a car, there are so many different tools out on the market designed to help make fixing a car easy. One of those tools is a remote starter. This comes in handy when you might want to perform a compression test on the car.

How To: Check your car's antifreeze coolant using a multimeter
Doing proper maintenance on your car is important for making sure that your car will last for years. There's a bunch of different areas of where you can work, but in this tutorial, you'll find out how to check the antifreeze coolant using a multimeter. So check it out, good luck, and remember to always be safe. Enjoy!

How To: Polish your car with a random orbital machine polisher
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to polish a car with a round orbit polisher. This polishing technique will remove the swirls on the car. Before polishing, users should wash the car and wipe it clean. Then tape the areas that you do not want polished. Now attach an orange medium cutting pad to the polisher. Apply the polish on the pad and dab it onto the areas that you want to polish. Start the polisher at a low speed and gradually turn the speed faster. Then attach a honeycomb waffl...

How To: Flush a car radiator
To flush a radiator you will need a drip pan, a screwdriver, a dolly, a jack and stands. First, jack up the car in the front. For safety, put jack stands underneath the front of the car. Then, remove the radiator cap by loosening it with a rag. Slide under the car on the dolly and open the drain cap to drain the radiator fluid. Place a pan underneath the cap to collect the liquid. Check the firmness of the radiator hoses and inspect them for punctures or cracks along the edges. If necessary, ...

How To: Clean and detail an engine
Learn how to clean your auto engine with these great tips. • Apply spray wax to fenders to prevent spotting on the paint, from engine degreaser. • An alternator is a crucial electrical device which must be protected from water and other chemicals. as a precaution, cover it with a plastic bag and the distributor cap if it is visible. • Spray WD40 on any exposed wires to prevent water or chemicals from penetrating. • Wet underneath the hood; wet the engine; use low pressure water on the engine ...

How To: Fix trouble code P0141, the rear oxygen sensor, on a Dodge Neon
If you are the proud owner of a Dodge Neon with a check engine light on and it's showing error code P0141 on your scanner, you probably need to replace the rear oxygen sensor. This video will show you how to do that as easily as possible.

How To: Replace the power steering pressure line on a 1997 Chevy Lumina
This video shows you how to replace the power steering pressure line on a Chevrolet Lumina Impala. He goes into great deal, with amazing camera angles, to show you how to remove the right parts to get to the line, and then goes through the rest of the repair with stunning clarity.

How To: Install an RV fan when wires aren't close by
If you're new to the RV world, then this next tutorial might help explain a problem you may experience. Installing an RV fan is a great idea, especially if it's able to take out the old air in your car and bring in new air.

How To: Adjust the headlights to a Saturn S-series
If it starts to get dark and you notice your headlights are facing different directions, you may need to adjust them. It's important that you have your lights facing the same direction to avoid any damage or injury to anyone else that may be driving.

How To: Easily remove pressed-on bearings
If you're having a hard time removing pressed-on bearings on a certain part of your car, have you tried using a saw? It may sound a bit unorthodox, but in this next tutorial, you'll find out how you can easily remove pressed-on bearings using nothing more than a saw. It's easy to follow, but can be dangerous for those who are unexperienced. So check out the video to find out more and good luck!

How To: Replace the front struts on a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am
Replacing the struts on your car can be an important task when owning a pretty old car. Struts help dampen movement as a vehicle driven on rough or uneven roads. It's an important part of your car and will ensure that it lasts for a long time.

How To: Adjust the throttle cable on a Honda motorcycle
It is really easy to adjust the throttle cable on a bike, but in case you need to adjust your throttle cable and don't know how, this motorcycle tutorial will show you how on a Honda bike.

How To: Balance tires on a motorcycle
Every once in a while, we need our motorcycle tires to be properly balanced. This video will show you how to Balance a motorcycle tire using a Balancer developed by Scudman.

How To: Replace spark plugs
New spark plugs will increase your fuel economy. All you need are a few basic tools and a free afternoon.

How To: Adjust a clutch
This video series shows you how to adjust a heavy duty clutch. Part 1 of 3 - How to Adjust a clutch.

How To: This Hair Care Product Will Keep Water Spots Off Your Car for Good
Taking care of your car requires effort, whether you take it to the pros for washes, waxes, and detailing, or you spend time to make it shine yourself—and it often seems that, right after your car is sparkling again, rain or midnight moisture appears to cover its surface in water spots. With a small tweak to your typical car care routine, you may be able to keep your car's surface and windows shining longer and better: you just need to add a little hair conditioning liquid.

How To: Remove Spray Paint After Your Car Gets Tagged
There are some really talented graffiti artists out there. Some of them are good enough that businesses hire them to paint advertisements, rather than hiring someone to scrub their work off the side of the building.