Jason Shackelford

How to

Test Your Batteries

There are many different types of batteries, and you can test all of them to see if they're charged or not. Alkaline batteries bounce when they're going bad, so drop one on a hard surface to see whether or not it bounces...

How to Turn off an Airbag Light with or without a Scanner

A comprehensive guide on how to reset airbag on or airbag off lightsIf you’ve got an airbag on or airbag off light that won’t go away, you may be wondering how to reset it. Rest assured, it’s actually pretty rare ...

How to Reset a Gas Gauge Needle

You’re driving along and you notice your gas gauge needle moving erratically. It needs a reset, but how do you do it? Resetting the needle is a quick and straightforward process that doesn’t require a mechanic. The e...

How to Block Vehicle GPS Tracking

A vehicle’s GPS tracker can be incredibly helpful for navigation, but how can you block it if you suspect someone is using it to track you? GPS tracker blockers are often expensive and illegal to use, but there are oth...

How to

Hotwire a Car

While most newer model cars have done much to hide the wiring and otherwise outfit the steering column with safety measures to prevent hot-wiring, older models up to the mid-90s are typically good candidates for hot-wiri...

Car Not Starting, but Still Has Power? These Are the Most Common Causes

Try these fixes if your car has power but still won’t crankIs your car not starting despite having power? We’ve got you covered. There are lots of reasons why this might happen, like battery trouble, electrical prob...

11 Potential Reasons Your Car is Making Noise When Accelerating

What different car acceleration noises mean and how you can fix themIf your car is suddenly loud and making new noises when you accelerate, it’s important to find the underlying issue right away. Noises while you’r...

How to

Wire a Car Stereo

Installing a new car stereo is a great way to breathe new life into your old daily driver. Adding a CD player or MP3 ready stereo to your car can give you the opportunity to listen to new music as well as improving the ...

Ignition Switch Replacement: An Easy-To-Follow Guide

Swap out a damaged ignition cylinder with a functional replacementA faulty ignition switch can cause your car to stall, keep your engine from starting, or lead to unexpected electrical issues with your lights and power ...

How to

Check a Car Battery

You go to start your car only to discover that the engine won't start and the headlights won't turn on. That's a sign that it's time to check the battery. Not sure how? Don't worry—this article will walk you through ho...

How to Check Your Ignition Switch

Troubleshoot your no-start condition with this simple guideIf you’re trying to turn your vehicle on but nothing happens or you run into problems with your key and ignition, your ignition switch may be to blame. But ho...

How to

Load Test a Battery

A dead battery is one of the most common problems you may run into with your vehicle, but they can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Sometimes, a battery may have enough power to start your engine, but the electrical s...

How to

Test a Starter Solenoid

The starter solenoid is a fairly simple mechanism that transmits electrical current from the battery to the starter. When you turn the key, the solenoid engages, using the electrical motor in the starter to get your eng...

How to Refill a Car Battery

The water in lead-acid car batteries evaporates over time, which can lead to reduced battery power and a shorter lifespan for your car’s battery. Checking your car battery’s water levels and topping them off when the...

Testing and Adjusting Your Vehicle's Rear Drum Brakes

Learn how to test self-adjusting drum brakes and manually tighten them as needed with simple toolsDo your vehicle’s brakes sound or feel funny? Do you have to press the pedal to the floor to stop? If so, your rear-whee...

How to

Change Battery Cables

If your car is having difficulty starting, or you find that it starts fine sometimes but intermittently won’t turn over, you may have an issue with your battery cables. Battery cables carry electrical current from your...

How to

Patch an Exhaust Pipe

An exhaust leak can create a great deal of noise, increase your emissions and cause the check engine light in your vehicle to come on. Extensive leaks can fill the cabin of your vehicle with carbon monoxide, which can m...

How to

Replace a Starter Solenoid

The starter solenoid transfers electricity to the starter motor from the battery when you turn the key in the ignition. If you test your starter solenoid and find that it's bad, you'll need to replace it in order to star...

9 Signs That Your Catalytic Converter is Going Bad

Are you noticing problems with your vehicle's performance or exhaust system? Catalytic converters filter the exhaust fumes from your engine and make them harmless, but they can cause a few issues when they start to break...

How to

Put on an Alternator Belt

The alternator in your vehicle produces the electrical current necessary to power the engine and charge your battery, but its ability to produce electricity can be compromised by a worn out belt. Most modern vehicles ha...