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4 ways to remove a stuck license plate screw If it’s a Philips head and it’s stuck but not stripped 1) Start by cleaning out the head and spraying with rust penetrant See all the gunk in the head of this Philips screw head? It’s pretty hard to sink the screwdriver tip all the way in with all that rust. So spray it with rust penetrant like PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench (WD-40) isn’t a rust penetrant. Let it soak and then insert a smaller Philips screwdriver into the head. … Read More
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Online Auto tech education sources If you’re an aspiring auto tech or a DIY who’s just interested in learning more about auto repair, there are some great online sources. Here’s a listing of some training sites. Some are free and some have a fee. Garage Gurus Online auto tech training Garage Gurus® is an industry-leading training and support platform created to address the skills gap and technician shortages facing the automotive service industry. Built from a unique combination of technical training, product expertise and onsite, online, and on-demand delivery, Garage … Read More
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How to do DIY Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Maintenance 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid DIY Maintenance Service The 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid contains a 12-volt battery is located in the trunk on the passenger side. You must remove a cover to access it. The 12-volt battery provides power to all of the standard electronics. If the 12-volt battery is disconnected or dead, the hybrid portion of the system can’t function. Start by removing the key fob Remove the proximity key from the vehicle when servicing the vehicle. Keep the key a minimum … Read More
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Can you recharge your car battery by idling Your car battery is dead and you’re planning on recharging it by letting your engine idle. How long do you have to idle your engine to recharge the battery? Let’s look into that. You can recharge your car battery by idling, but it takes a LOT longer than you think Some people idle their engines for 20 minutes and think that’s long enough to recharge a battery. Then they wonder why it won’t start the next day. Why? Because it takes almost … Read More
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What causes wheel bearing failure? According to studies conducted by bearing manufacturer SKF, 90% of all OE bearings outlast the life of the vehicle. However, 0.5% of those OE bearings fail because due to damage or wear caused by outside forces. 0.5% translates into 50,000,000 bearings per year. Wheel bearing failure breakdown • 1/3 fail due to fatigue • 1/3 fail due to lubrication problems (wrong lubricant, wrong quantity, wrong lubrication interval) • 1/6 fail due to contamination due to water ingress caused by failed seals • 1/6 fail for … Read More
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Brake job tools for the DIYer Buy brake tools and still save money doing your own brake job Having the right tools make a brake job go much smoother. With brake jobs running over $600 these days, you can buy all the tools and still save money. In addition to normal tools like a socket set, wrenches and ratchets, you’ll also need these specialty tools. I’ve divided the tools into those needed for disc brakes and drum brakes Caliper removal tools Remove caliper bolts Calipers are mounted to the caliper … Read More
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Hyundai loss of power and oil leaks — NHTSA investigation NHTSA Action Number: DP22003 The NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition on July 13, 2022, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the “oil drain pan assemblies” on the following 83 models/model year Hyundai 2006-2019 Hyundai Sonata 2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2010-2012 and 2019-2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2010-2015 and 2018-2019 Hyundai Tucson 2011-2021 Kia Sportage 2005-2020 Kia Optima 2011-2020 Kia Sorento 2010-2013 Kia Forte 2010-2013 Kia Forte Coup 2007-2010 Kia Rondo vehicles equipped with … Read More
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Hyundai oil drain plug fell out, Kia oil drain plug fell out National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launches investigation into Hyundai and Kia drain plugs falling out after oil change In October 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it had launched an investigation into Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motor Company for problems with their oil pans. Specifically, consumers and aftermarket service facilities have filed complaints with for oil drain plugs that fall out of the oil pan after service. In multiple tests the oil drain … Read More
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What causes a tire bubble or tire bulge? Impacts cause belt damage and belt damage causes the bulge Potholes and curb kisses can severely damage the steel belts in your tires. An impact can cause the belt to separate, causing a bulge or it can puncture the inner liner causing a bubble. In either case, the tire is damaged beyond repair. Driving on a tire bulge or tire bubble is dangerous When the steel belt punctures the inner liner, air bleeds between the radial plies and the sidewall, causing a … Read More
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Why you can’t repair tire shoulder punctures and tire sidewall punctures Why the tire shoulder is a no-repair zone Every tire company tells you they can’t repair punctures in the tire shoulder and tire sidewall areas. But they never explain why. Here’s the story First, the tire shoulders and sidewalls encounter the most flex and therefore, the most heat. So tire plugs and patches don’t stand up well to the constant flex and heat. They’re designed for relatively flat areas like the tire tread. Second, the tire sidewall and shoulder … Read More
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