35
votes
Accepted
Is it ok to use a scissor jack instead of a floor jack?
You can use either jack you want
For safety sake, don't get under the car unless you have some jackstands. It isn't the jack failing that kills you. It's the fact that you only used a jack and didn'...
- 33k
34
votes
How to add a 7th gear to a car to enhance fuel economy?
This is something that used to be quite common - in the '60s and '70s, people would add an electronic (or manual) overdrive to the back of the 4-speed gearbox to give an extra gear (usually two, as it ...
- 28.7k
31
votes
Are tyre repair kits a viable alternative for a spare wheel?
Yes, but personally, I wouldn't risk it.
The only time I've ever needed my spare was [cue spooky music] on a dark, stormy night, on a two lane highway through a dense forest. I was doing ~50 mph when ...
- 6,037
28
votes
How to find a part lost in the snow
Is it magnetic? if so, a big magnet (from a speaker for example) might help...
- 34.7k
22
votes
Accepted
Tightening Stud Without Bolt Head
You take 2 nuts and put them on the same set of threads. Then lock them against each other by loosening the lower nut and tightening the upper nut. Then use the upper nut with your torque wrench to ...
- 1,308
21
votes
Accepted
Are tyre repair kits a viable alternative for a spare wheel?
Do you carry a toolset, lights, spare belts and hoses, and OBD-II decoder and electrical patch cables? If not, then you're not taking on much more risk by leaving the spare at home, provided
you ...
- 326
18
votes
Can't get into trunk of 2000 mercury marquis
If the trunk was overfilled and had to be pushed closed, you might have success with pushing down on the trunk (with as much force as you safely can) while trying to operate the mechanism. If a force ...
- 13.3k
17
votes
Accepted
When should I disconnect the battery to stay safe during repairs?
These are some general guidelines when working with electricity on vehicles:
Always remove any jewelry, to include rings, necklaces, watches, etc. If one of these items should come in contact between ...
- 153k
17
votes
Should I accept this help in fixing a 1" hole in my radiator?
Do it right the first time.
In the best case the "quick and dirty"-fix fails at the first pressurization, in worst case when you need it at most.
What should concern you more:
How does a ...
- 8,448
16
votes
How to find a part lost in the snow
If the area you lost it in isn't too large, you could shovel the snow into a big bucket, bring it inside, and let it melt. This could be tricky if the area you might have lost it is large, or if the ...
- 450
16
votes
Should I accept this help in fixing a 1" hole in my radiator?
Aluminum foil is at best a very temporary fix to get you to the mechanic, it's not a long-term solution. Your mechanic is right, the hole shows that there's damage to your radiator, probably due to ...
- 16.2k
15
votes
Can't get into trunk of 2000 mercury marquis
Even if the seat does not fold down, you can unbolt it. Remove the bottom part first, then the back. This happened in my mother's Camry several times(bad latch mechanism) and I had to remove the ...
- 8,443
15
votes
Accepted
How to find a part lost in the snow
If the site of the tragedy is such that you can easily acquire water, use a hose (or a bucket) and simply run/pour water over the area to melt the snow.
Since snow is an insulator, running a propane ...
- 275
13
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to fix a bent motorbike wheel?
Fixing a bent motorcycle wheel is situational.
If you are on a 125 to 200cc motorcycle using it for commuting purpose and will be driving under the speed limit, I would not be worried and its ...
- 8,956
12
votes
Are tyre repair kits a viable alternative for a spare wheel?
No, they're not. My first flat ever shredded the tire before I could bring the vehicle to a stop. Those things could save you hundreds of dollars but leave you stranded where there is no help when you ...
- 221
12
votes
Accepted
I've just been rear ended. How can I check for damage?
Not sure how things work were you are. Here if you are rear ended, it is considered to be the fault of the person who hit you, so their insurance will pay for the damage. If this is the case, you ...
- 8,443
12
votes
Accepted
Why do dealers seem to prefer to replace parts instead of repairing?
It is typically faster, easier, and more reliable to replace a bad part with a new part. The dealership wants to the vehicle to leave the shop in the best possible condition that they can guarantee ...
- 8,443
12
votes
How should I find a mechanic?
I don't know how the things work here and how can I find a good(also affordable) mechanic near me?
The best way to find a "good" mechanic is word of mouth. Ask your friends/relatives/work ...
- 153k
11
votes
How to find a part lost in the snow
Install a metal detector app on your phone. Seriously. They work pretty well.
- 891
11
votes
Air chuck replacement
Definitely a compression fitting - designed to be unserviceable.
Your first option is boring - get an assortment of O rings and see if any of them fit the need.
You could get a barbed air chuck in ...
- 2,838
10
votes
How to add a 7th gear to a car to enhance fuel economy?
As @SteveMatthews points out in the comments, it depends on the make/model of the car. To answer your question outright, though, you cannot just "add" another gear. A transmission in most cases are ...
- 153k
8
votes
Rear end Differential - rebuild or replace with used?
My suggestion would be to buy a differential bearing and seal kit for the rear end yourself and have a knowledgeable mechanic install it for you. This, as the name implies, consists of bearings and ...
- 153k
8
votes
Accepted
How to tell if you have a bad clutch?
When you are traveling 20-30 mph, shift into high gear (6th IIRC) and push the gas 1/2 to 3/4 of the way down. If you see the RPM rise with no immediate increase in speed, the clutch is worn to the ...
- 6,037
8
votes
Accepted
BMW 1 Series (2016) Bumper Repair
It will most certainly be more expensive if you get a professional to repair this bumper for you. However, it will be a safe investment on your trade-in if it is restored professionally. We cannot ...
- 4,730
8
votes
Accepted
Best permanent fix for a punctured tire?
I'd look at it in this lineup in order of precedence:
Take it to a shop and have them put a patch on the hole from the inside of the tire.
Pro: Best permanent fix
Con: More expensive (sans ...
- 153k
8
votes
Accepted
Sideways Impact with Median
We can't say how likely it is you've sustained damage as there isn't enough information, and opinion based questions are off-topic, however I can give you information to make your own assessment.
A ...
- 16.2k
7
votes
Is it ok to use a scissor jack instead of a floor jack?
You have a great answer but more to add than just a comment
Have jack stands and a plan
Position the car on a flat surface solid surface and give yourself
work room
Lay out the tools and parts
...
- 222
7
votes
Accepted
Wheel rim chrome repair
That's not steel and chrome, that's aluminum.
There is a coating over the rim. It's some sort of epoxy. It seals the oxygen from touching the aluminium so aluminium oxides aren't created. What you ...
- 33k
7
votes
Is it safe to fix a bent motorbike wheel?
IMO, it is not
I'm considering 3 types of rim.
Carbon Fiber
Billet Forged Aluminum Alloy
Cast Aluminum Alloy
All three material types do not lend themselves to flexibility. The brittle nature of ...
- 33k
7
votes
A/C still malfunctions after repair. How concerned should I be?
My experience with AC is limited to what I have been studying both in book and video form. From everything I'm reading you really do need to replace the receiver drier when you replace the compressor. ...
- 9,326
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible