Hot Maintenance How-Tos

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: Flush the coolant in a Kawasaki KLR650

This motorcycle maintenance video shows you how to flush the coolant in a Kawasaki KLR650 bike. The coolant drain is a vertical bolt (8 mm) on the front right side of the engine (the water pump). There is a horizontal bolt near it which helps hold the water pump to the engine. That one won't drain it the way you want it drained... unless you want a mess. Now that you know where to look, check out the video and see how to flush the coolant in a KLR 650.

How To: Change the oil on a Kawasaki KLR650

This motorcycle maintenance video shows you how to change the oil in a Kawasaki KLR 650. You do not need to remove any body work to change the oil. The procedure is the same for all years of KLR 600 and 650 (thank you fixer). So watch and learn how easy it is to change your own oil in the KLR650.

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: Change Your Own Oil — A Beginner's Guide

If you're one who enjoys a good DIY project, or if you're just tired of paying exorbitant labor fees to have your vehicle serviced every 5,000 miles, changing your own oil can be a rewarding endeavor. Even though cars and trucks are becoming increasingly over-engineered these days, manufacturers generally see to it that the basic maintenance items can still be taken care of in your driveway with a few common tools.

How To: Service a Peugeot 206 Compact Car

This video gives a step by step tutorial how to service a Peugeot 206 with the 1.4 liter engine. Please note that the video is not in English, but you can follow along by watching the video and following the written instructions below. Work under the car.

How To: De-ice the windshield on your car

If you live in a snowy area then you probably know all too well the annoyance of having ice and snow build up on your windshield that you have to clean up in the morning before you leave home. There are easier ways to do it than what you're probably doing, and this video will give you great tips on preventing ice from forming and getting rid of it once it's there.

How To: Bleed and adjust trailer brakes

In this video, we learn how to bleed and adjust trailer brakes. First, level the trailer and use a jack stand to support it. Now, hand bleed the brakes using the master cylinder. From here, let any air out of the break line, doing this on all the different brake lines. Next, fill up the master cylinder with oil to make sure it doesn't run dry. Open the pressure valve and then close it as your run through the process. When finished, you will need to adjust the brakes by lifting the trailer. Af...

How To: Bleed air out of your car's brake system

In this video, we learn how to bleed air out of your car's brake system. To do this, you will first need to hike your car up on a jack. After this, remove the wheel from the car and then find the bleeder screw on the car. This is down at the bottom but the air will want to go up. To help this, you will use a magnet on the wheel that has a canister attached to it. Then, connect this to the brake and pump the fluid into the system. Now the air will come up into the air and out of your car! Do t...

How To: Powerbleed your brakes

In this tutorial, we learn how to powerbleed your brakes. First, test for any leaks and then release the pressure so you can fill the bleeder tank with fluid. After this, you will screw the pump on and then start to pump pressure to approximately 15 psi or check your service manual for recommended pressure. As the pressure builds, you will see fluid traveling through the tube to the brake reservoir. Use a bottle to catch the fluid that is bleeding through the system. When you bleed your brake...

How To: Bleed the front breaks of a scooter

In this tutorial, we learn how to bleed the front breaks of a scooter. First, operate the vac and bleed the nipple from the brake. Then, unscrew the bleed nipple to let out any air trapped in the circuit. Brake fluid level should never drop below the minimum level during the procedure. Close the bleed nipple and then re-fit the cap to the vac. This procedure will only take you a few minutes and it will ensure that your scooter keeps running smoothly. Just make sure you take your time and watc...

How To: Fix an RV awning that will not retract

In this tutorial we learn how to fix an RV awning that will not retract. If you find yourself in the situation where the awning on your RV just won't retract, then this is the video for you! To secure the awning you will first need to go to the roof of the RV. When you get on top, you will need to look at the awning and see if something is stuck and causing it to stick. Manually secure the awning when you go to the roof so that it will stay in place for when you need it. If this doesn't help,...

How To: Clean the A/C drain on your car with a ballpoint pen

Does your car A/C make a horrible smell when it's on? The most likely culprit is a clogged air conditioning drain. Fortunately for you, all you need to fix the problem are jackstands and a ballpoint pen. This video will show you how to combine the two to clean your drain and get your air conditioning back to cooling well and smelling good.

How To: Wire a three way switch

In this video, we learn how to wire a three way switch. The arrangement should be one turning the light on, one turning it off, and the other turning back on. All of the switches should be wired coming in from the source of the power on a cord. A neutral wire should go through and the hot wire should be connected to the first switch and feed into the second. The brass terminals have traveler wires going from the first switch to the second. These have two terminals on each side where a cable w...