There are countless basic DIY car projects that nearly anybody can accomplish. Yes, you can save money by maintaining your car or doing simple DIY repairs.
But handling your car’s health on your own provides a great source of pride. And it’s fun.
Keep it simple at first. Before you know it, your DIY projects will go way beyond oil changes, lighting updates, and maintaining proper tire pressure. You’ll be souping up your ride to be the baddest on the block and ultra-comfy.
Contents
Air Conditioning
Change Your Cabin Air Filter
Replace your car’s cabin filter to ensure that your heat and AC run efficiently—and to keep your car’s interior smelling nice.
How to Diagnose Air-Conditioning Problems
Has your ride stopped blowing ice cubes? The solution might be easy. The first step is to observe the symptoms.
Is Your Car Heater Toasty? If Not, Ask These Six Questions
When winter approaches, it's time to make sure your car’s heater is up to the challenge.
How To Remove a Bad Smell from Your Car’s Heat and Air Conditioning
Here are a few tips on how to keep your HVAC system smelling sweet.
Before Winter Strikes, Make Sure Your Car Heater Is Ready
Steps to ensure you’ll stay warm and toasty on the most frigid days.
What To Do About R12 Refrigerant, the Original Freon?
Getting your AC blowing cold air used to mean a recharge of Freon, also known as R12 refrigerant. But now you should use R134a.
Brakes
Guide to Replacing Your Brake Fluid
It's easy to bleed your brake fluid every two years.
Brake-Rotor Problems: Machining Versus Replacing
Can machining the rotors fix a brake judder?
How to Diagnose and Repair Your Parking Brake
Your emergency parking brake is the essential mechanical device that holds the vehicle in place.
Change Your Brake Pads
With a few basic tools and a couple of hours, you can restore your braking system to its top condition.
How to Add Brake Bling
If your brake calipers and rotors are visible, you should dress them up with some visual flair.
Enhance Your Car’s Performance with a Brake Upgrade
If you are adding power under the hood, your brakes probably need attention as well.
Three Types of Brake Pads To Consider
The key is to match the type of brake pad material to your driving needs.
Maintaining Trailer Brakes for Towing Safety
Without proper gear, a hard stop can cause a collision between the truck and trailer.
How to Check Your Car’s Brake Fluid
If neglected, it can compromise your car’s safety, and cost big bucks to repair.
Brake Rotor Comparison: Vented, Drilled or Slotted?
Are your brakes not working as well anymore? Do they squeak? The rotors could be the culprit.
Converting From Drum to Disc Brakes: A Definitive Guide
Drum brakes have well-known shortcomings. Fortunately, converting from drum to disc brakes is a straightforward task.
Engines & Components
Air Filter Change 101
Changing the air cleaner is a quick and easy job that anyone can do.
Regularly Check These Four Car Fluids
you can avoid problems down the road by staying on top of these tasks.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
Does it mean that your car is about to die? The short answer is: no.
How to Change Your Spark Plugs
It’s a straightforward and inexpensive way to keep your car running smoothly.
Tips for Changing Your Car Battery
Swapping an old battery for a new one can be easily accomplished in less than an hour.
Car Jumpstarts 2.0 (Ditch the Big Old Cables)
Technology to jumpstart a car or truck has made dramatic improvements.
Troubleshooting a Car That Doesn’t Start
There are many possible causes for getting stuck with an unresponsive car. Here’s a quick checklist.
How to Jump-Start a Car Battery
Every driver should know how to jump-start a car. While it's not a difficult task, you need to know the basics. Here's the skinny.
How Long Do Car Batteries Last?
Several factors, such as heat and vibration, can reduce a car battery’s lifespan. Here's how to maximize battery longevity.
Three Easy DIY Upgrades of Your Car’s Ignition System
An ignition upgrade can result in better starting, throttle response, and fuel economy.
Rebuild Your Carburetor in One Day
Over time, small jets inside the carburetor can become clogged.
Keep It Cool with the Right Type of Antifreeze
All antifreeze used to be green and all the brands worked the same way. That's changed.
How To Replace a Master Cylinder: The Easy Steps
Installing a new one can be tackled in a couple of hours by the average DIY mechanic.
Understanding Battery Sizes (and Battery Group Size Charts)
The first step in buying a new battery is to check a battery group size chart to determine which battery fits your vehicle.
How Much Does an Alternator Cost?
An alternator's replacement cost depends on several factors. New, rebuilt or used? Amperage? One versus three wires?
How Long Does an Oil Change Take?
How much time and money should you invest in oil changes? We add up each step to get a reliable time estimate.
Exterior
How to Bring Your Car’s Exterior Back to Life
Most damage is easily repairable if caught in time.
How to Repair a Chip in Your Windshield
Most kits contain everything you need to efficiently repair a chip in about 20 minutes.
Benefits of a Precut Car Window Tint vs Pro Installation
Darker car windows are cool. Should you consider a precut window tint kit versus a professional installation?
How To Install a New Replacement Bumper
Replacing most bumpers is an easy task that doesn’t require special tools.
Prepare Your Car for a Rainy Day With New Weather Stripping
Anyone with a little perseverance and patience—and the right products—can easily replace a car’s weather stripping.
A Powerful Tool in Auto Detailing: The Clay Bar
Clay bars were first used at paint shops to help remove overspray. Then, detailers discovered how useful they can be.
Paint Chip Repairs Are Easier Than You Think
Step-by-step guidance for getting the best touchup results.
Windshield Wiper Tune-Up
A simple DIY cleaning can greatly extend the life of your wiper blades, and make driving a lot safer.
What Is a Rotisserie Restoration?
With a rotisserie, a car builder or restorer can rotate the car's disassembled body or frame to nearly any desired angle.
Go Keyless with a Remote-Entry System
Metal car keys are a thing of the past.
My Sunroof Is Leaking, Now What?
What should you do when you're sunroof is leaking? Start with these quick, low-cost fixes.
Interior
How to Bring Your Car’s Interior Back to Life
Here are a few tips for refreshing your car’s upholstery, carpeting, dashboard, and headliner.
Car-Cleaning Hacks: Baby Wipes, Cupcake Liners, Hair Dryers, etc.
These ninja hacks can solve some of the trickiest car-care issues.
Guide to Seat Covers
Seat covers provide more styles and functions than what's commonly available in factory seats.
Modernize Your Car’s Audio System with a New Head Unit
Does your car stereo have the latest desirable features—like a reliable Bluetooth connection and hands-free controls?
Heads-Up Display: The Antidote to Distracted Driving
With a heads-up display, the driver can take in a range of information without taking his or her eyes off the road.
Car Gauges 101: What You Need to Know
A vehicle’s gauges should look cool, while making essential vehicle information as easy as possible to understand.
Upgrade Your Cabin with a New (or Classic) Center Console
If your cabin console is in bad shape, it's time to peruse eBay's extensive inventory of new, used, and classic center consoles.
Cabin Air Filters and Sensors: What You Should Know
A cabin air filter is like the filter used in your home’s HVAC system. It traps dirt, pollen, and other particulates.
Lighting & Lamps
A Headlight Restoration Kit Brings Back Brilliant, Clear Lights
A DIY headlight restoration kit an inexpensive and easy solution for restoring milky or foggy headlight lenses.
Upgrade Your Turn Signals
Make a lasting impression when you leave others in your dust.
Upgrade Your Car’s Interior Lighting
The right interior lighting adds personality, splashes of color, and greater utility to your ride.
LED Headlights on Cars: Installing, Aiming, and Troubleshooting
LED headlights on cars produce brighter light with less heat and energy. But how do you stop them from flickering?
Types of Headlights: HID, Xenon, and LED
Learn the new language of 21st-century car headlights: HID, LED, Xenon, etc.
Add an Off-Road LED Light Bar
Light bars can add style to your truck, SUV, or ATV—but they also serve a useful purpose.
Replacement Headlights: A Choice and a Warning
New LED, Xenon, and HID and lights are bright, energy-efficient, and inexpensive. But consider the safety concerns before upgrading.
Suspension & Steering
Five Common Car-Suspension Problems—and What to Do
What does it mean when your car nose-dives, pulls to one side, or has one low corner?
A Fix-it Guide for Understeer and Oversteer
To correct these problems, modify the suspension tuning and/or hone your driving skills.
Convert Your Classic to Electric Power Assist Steering
Today’s electric power steering conversion kits provide a great driving feel. They also save money on fuel and repairs.
Upgrade Your Steering Column
Add tilting and telescoping, an extra short or long column, or even keyless push-button starting.
How to Improve Steering Response from a Classic Muscle Car
A simple wheel, tire, and suspension upgrade makes a big difference.
A Quick Guide to Coilovers
Coilovers offer the ability to adjust spring height, shock firmness, or both.
Suspension Upgrades and Mods
Enhancing the performance of a car’s suspension is an easy way to improve your ride’s handling.
Wheels & Tires
Tire Pressure Tips
Keeping an air pressure gauge in your glove box is an inexpensive way to make sure your car’s tires are operating at peak efficiency.
How to Equip Your Tires for Snow and Ice
There are a variety of snow chains, each optimized for specific types of snow and ice.
Aftermarket Wheels: The Coolest Looks and Brands
There’s no faster way to dramatically change the appearance of a vehicle.
Types of Wheels You Can Buy on eBay Motors
There are millions of different wheels available on eBay. Start the shopping process by considering the type of wheel.
Tuning with Tires
An abundance of horsepower won’t do a driver much good if he can’t get that power to the ground.
Street Tires Versus R Compounds? Strong Advice for Beginners
Aggressive rubber compounds help track tires stick, but offer no warning when the grip goes away.
Off-Road Tires: Mud Tires vs. All-Terrain Tires
It's important to understand the pros and cons of the two most common types of off-road tires: all-terrain versus mud-terrain tires.
Choosing the Best Performance Tires
Regardless of the vehicle, performance tires will improve cornering and braking.
Summer Tires vs. All-Season: You Can Feel The Difference
A summer tire allows for better traction and handling during hot weather and in the rain. You'll notice the difference right away.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: Using a TPMS Relearn Tool
Resetting your tire pressure monitoring system probably requires using a TPMS relearn tool.
