Automotive: Auto How-To Central

Automotive: Auto How-To Central Archive

250 records found. Displaying 1 to 30 Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
How to Troubleshoot a Tire-Pressure Monitoring System Are your tires really inflated properly? Don’t put too much faith in your tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS)—it often won’t give a sign that they are low until it’s too late. Here’s how to set up your TPMS system so that you are never caught without enough air. (Published in the November 2009 issue)
How to Fix Car Radio Static Do you hear static on your radio when you turn on certain devices in your car? Use a simple digital multimeter to determine the source and repair it. (Published in the November 2009 issue)
Hydrogen Gadgets at SEMA: Cars Still Can't Run on Water This year's SEMA show is blissfully short on bogus gas-saving gadgets. Unfortunately, there are still some hydrogen-on-demand holdouts claiming dramatic improvements in fuel economy by burning water in your car.
Escort Redline Radar Detector Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award The new Redline is essentially the company’s Passport 9500ix detector with a big boost in horsepower. The Redline, according to Escort’s tester, provides an incredible 13-mile detection range and is the most sensitive detector the company has ever made.
Jig-a-Clean Wins SEMA Editor's Choice Award It comes as no surprise that we sometimes tend to get our hands a little dirty here at PM. So we’re always looking for new and easy ways to get them clean again. We tried Jig-a-Loo’s new Jig-a-Clean hand cleaner earlier and it really works.
Gates Belt Wear Gauge Wins SEMA Editor's Choice Award How do you know if your serpentine belt is worn out? Most of us look for signs of wear like fraying or a spider’s web of cracks on the surface. But Gates has made the procedure so easy you don’t need any special expertise.
Dimension U Print 3D Printer Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award Jay Leno has been using his $30,000 Dimension 3D printer for about a year now and has created some amazing parts for his classic cars – completely from scratch and in house. Now Dimension has a more affordable version that could help schools and small businesses learn the art of rapid prototyping.
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Tire Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award Few realize just how important tires can be for decreasing fuel usage. Pirelli’s new Scorpion Verde All-Season SUV tire not only provides lower rolling resistance but is also manufactured with fewer damaging compounds for less of an impact on the environment.
SMC Innovations Master Mind Tools Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award Good tools are hard to find. Good tools that take the chore out of tough jobs are even harder to find. Master Mind’s lineup of new tools are ergonomically designed and innovatively engineered to handle rounded-off fittings and get at hard-to-reach fasteners.
Autoglym Perfect Palm Applicator Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award Sometimes the simplest innovations are the smartest and most useful. Autoglym, new to the U.S. consumer market, has developed a “handy" (pun intended), applicator for waxes and polishes that fits the contour of the hand.
Permatex Wheel Restoration Kit Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award New alloy wheels and low-profile tires look great—until you misjudge that curb. Instead of purchasing an expensive replacement, Permatex’s Wheel Restoration Kit allows you to repair the wheel by sanding down the affected area and filling in the low spots.
PLX Rev with Kiwi Wi-Fi Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award The Kiwi Wi-Fi with Rev is an iPhone app that patches into your car’s OBDII port. The app allows you to have a full scan tool—right on your phone—along with multiple gauge functions, racing lap times and engine data.
Who-Rae Australia Maplock Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award You love your portable GPS unit. Trouble is, so do thieves. Who-Rae’s Maplock Cables your portable GPS to the steering wheel, preventing thieves from smashing your window to look for it.
Jiffy-Tite T-Max Transmission Thermostat Wins SEMA Editor's Choice Award We’ve tested many gas saving gadgets over the years. But most claim far more than they actually deliver. The T-Max Transmission Thermostat is a more promising product and the company says the product saves up to 0.5 mpg. Not bad.
Cequent Surelock Cable Kit Wins SEMA Editor’s Choice Award Pickup trucks are great for hauling, but without a cap or lockable tonneau cover, your goods are out in the open and unprotected. The retractable 15-foot SureLock cable fixes all that, and can be mounted to the truck’s bed, bumper or even inside a tool box.
Recall Safety: How to Fix a Stuck Electronic Throttle Last month, Toyota issued a recall for 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus models because the floor mats were said to restrict the throttle pedal's movement and cause the car to unintentionally accelerate. Now the company faces a media firestorm over the problem.
Car Industry Plans Shift to Low-Impact Refrigerant in A/C Systems The auto industry is shifting to new, low-impact refrigerant for car air conditioning systems. Here's what that means for car companies—and for you. (Published in the November 2009 issue)
The Case Against Magnetic Screwdrivers A reader writes in wondering where he can find magnetic screwdrivers like the one his mechanic has. But PM senior automotive editor Mike Allen thinks that tool is unnecessary. Here is his case against magnetic screwdrivers. (Published in the November 2009 issue)
Why Saturn Owners Will Lose Out on Warranty Repairs: Analysis Saturn is no more, but that doesn't mean that the 350 or so dealers and all their vehicles just disappear. Here are your options on keeping your old or brand-new Saturn up and running.
The Trouble With In-Car GPS Systems PM senior automotive editor Mike Allen loves GPS systems both in and out of automobiles. But he finds that portable GPS devices beat factory-installed car navigation systems almost every time in terms of price, flexibility and ease-of-use.
Should the US Tax Mileage or Fuel?: Guest Analysis The government's push to raise mpgs may have a disturbing, unintended consequence—deteriorating highways. Nick Chambers of Gas 2.0 takes a close look at some of the high-tech and low-tech ideas that are being talked about now.
How to Make Biodiesel With a Commercial Kit You can make biodiesel in a bucket with little more than some drain cleaner, gas-line de-icer and a wooden spoon. But it can be dangerous. With a wide variety of new biodiesel kits on the market, it's easier than ever to turn used fry-oil waste into diesel fuel. (Published in the October 2009 issue)
Fix It or Ditch It: Off-Beat Auto Fixes Eke Out a Few More Miles When your car breaks down and you’re out of cell phone range, miles away from the nearest town, you need to make a call: Temporarily fix your car, or take a hike. Here are 4 examples of quick, off-beat fixes to take care of a stalled, leaking or overheated vehicle. (Published in the October 2009 issue)
7 Car Mysteries Solved: Expert Car Clinic PM senior automotive editor Mike Allen tackles readers questions on cars and pickups with corroded heater cores, good and bad clutch techniques, a transmission that won’t go into gear, synthetic leakage and more.
10 Car Mysteries Solved: Expert Car Clinic Q&A PM senior automotive editor Mike Allen tackles readers questions on cars and pickups that won't start, when to change brake fluid and steel vs plastic calipers.
How to Cast a Lead Hammer: DIY Auto A reader waxes nostalgic for his old lead hammer so senior auto editor Mike Allen finds where to buy similar models, and how to make them yourself. (Published in the September 2009 issue)
14 Essential Auto Supplies From the MythBusters’ Garage PM got together with the MythBusters one afternoon and found that they filled their personal garages with ordinary products that they use unusual ways. Here are 14 wires, glues and other fix-it tools that the MythBusters can’t live without. (Published in the September 2009 issue)
How to Clean, Wax and Detail Your Car: Expert Tips Cleaning and waxing are the most basic maintenance tasks for a car owner. But doing it right takes expertise. Make the finish on the exterior and interior last as long as the mechanicals with these pro cleaning tips. (Published in the August 2009 issue)
Are Consumer-Friendly, Fuel-Economy-Focused Tire Labels Finally Here?: Analysis When consumers are forced to choose tires, they must turn to a government-mandated labeling system. Here's a look at the system's present problems and proposed solutions for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's tire labeling.
You Might Want Cash for Your Clunker If ... The Cash for Clunkers program passed Congress, providing rebates for people who trade in old cars and purchase new fuel-efficient vehicles. But a true clunker is one that is beyond any repair. Here is how to tell if your beater is truly a clunker.
250 records found. Displaying 1 to 30 Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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