Hey Guys!
If you've lost your cars owners manual, or purchased a car that didn't have one, there is hope!
It's easy to find ways to purchase an owners manual online or at the dealership, but I like the sound of FREE much better. If you're looking to download your cars' owners manual without having t pay or register for something check out this site:
http://justgivemethedamnmanual.com/
Don't pay for a car manual ever again. This site does not have EVERY make and model as it is operated by one guy doing this in his free time, but I'd say your chances are pretty good.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
My '94 Civic Maintenance History
Oil/Filter Change
Next Change: 11/2014
Change History:
5/27/14 - OD 228,000
Oil and Filter
Filter:Mobil 1 High Mileage
Oil: Penzoil High Mileage, 5W-30, Conventional
Air Filter
Next Change: 11/2014
Change History
Unknown
Power Steering Fluid
Next Change: 5/2015
Change History:
5/27/14 - OD 228,000
Fluid: Honda Genuine
Coolant
Next Change:1/2015
Change History
Unknown
Transmission Oil
Next Change: 10/2014
Change History
Unknown
Brake Fluid
Next Change: 1/2015
Change History:
Unknown
Tire Rotation
Next change: 11/2014
Change History:
10/2013 OD Unkown
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Loose Brake Calipers and a $100 Rolled on Paint Job
Hey there!
Well my car is still chugging along and so far I've been able to fix it's issues without having to pay a shop to take care of it. The other day I was driving home from work and I hear a smack on the passenger side of the car. A grinding noise suddenly started and I pulled to the side as soon as I could. I didn't see anything noticeable around my tires. I had just checked my brakes a few days before and they were well within their life. I decided to get it home ASAP. What I noticed as I was driving it home was that there was a continuous soft grinding noise while I was driving, and a harsher grinding noise when I applied brakes, but the brakes worked and it seemed to drive like normal. When I got it home and threw some jack stands underneath I found this:
Well my car is still chugging along and so far I've been able to fix it's issues without having to pay a shop to take care of it. The other day I was driving home from work and I hear a smack on the passenger side of the car. A grinding noise suddenly started and I pulled to the side as soon as I could. I didn't see anything noticeable around my tires. I had just checked my brakes a few days before and they were well within their life. I decided to get it home ASAP. What I noticed as I was driving it home was that there was a continuous soft grinding noise while I was driving, and a harsher grinding noise when I applied brakes, but the brakes worked and it seemed to drive like normal. When I got it home and threw some jack stands underneath I found this:
Don't see it? How about now?
Apparently a bolt decided to take a hike while I was driving and now my passenger brake caliper was hanging on by only one bolt which was allowing is to pivot downwards and grind against the side of the rotor. Long story short - I found the bolt at O'Reilleys after trying a few places and it worked perfectly
I'll take a $3 fix anyday!
On another note, the summer is coming up. I might have some extra time to work on some much needed, long put-off services for my car. Other than some of the driveability issues, I've been thinking about a new paint job. It's not one of the more important things that needs to be done, but it is one of the more time-consuming things. Especially if I go the route of the $100 rolled on paint job. It looks like it might take a week, but it'll be least expensive since I don't have all the equipment for a paint gun, and I'll be changing the color entirely ( I can't stick with black in this desert ). Have any of you tried to paint your own car before? Let me know if you have any tips to share and I'll post my experience if I get around to painting it.
See you around!
Nathan
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Status on Civic
Hey there!
This post will be all about the current car I'm driving/working on. All of it's basic service history/info since I obtained it will be posted here and updated as time goes on. So let's get started!
This car is a 1994 Honda Civic DX.
Purchased May 2013.
1. Leaking Transmission: The first item that had to be addressed once I got this car was to repair the leak in the transmission. I don't know how I missed this when I purchased it but it was an immediate problem I noticed once I got it home. There was a crack in the bottom that looked like someone had tried to use some epoxy to repair but it wasn't working. I tried to find a replacement Transmission drain pan online but I wasn't finding it. It turns out this transmission doesn't use a replaceable drain pan so the entire transmission had to be replaced. I was fortunate to have someone willing to pay for it for me in exchange for some house/ranch work. This work was done in 6/2013
2. AC Recharge: This was done at the same shop and the same time as the transmission. The AC was having intermittent problems blowing cool air and this was getting into the summer in the So-Cal desert. The shop recharged the AC about 3 times (after each time it would work for an hour or so before the cool air just stopped blowing). After the 3rd time I just gave up as I was having the same issue. This work was done in 6/2013
3. Battery: A few months after getting the car my battery died one day and would not jump. Being the noob that I was I bought a new battery and thought that would fix everything. Sure it would for a few minutes, but I quickly realized there was more to it. The battery was replaced 9/2013
4. Alternator: After realizing the battery wasn't the issue I tested the alternator and realized that my issue was there. I bought a remanufactured alternator from Autozone and replaced it myself. My alternator is not the easiest to get to, it took me a good 3 hours. When it was done the belt was squeeling so I found a way to make it even tighter and it worked just fine. I also sprayed a belt conditioner on it. This was done 9/2013
Other issues with my car that I plan on getting to when I can include:
AC fixed (resoldered)
Speedometer/Odometer resoldered
Windsheild wipers replaced
windshield wiper control tightened
Passenger door lock replaced
Install power locks
Power windows (if possible)
Rear windshield tint replaced
New tires
Change to synthetic oil
New speakers
New radio
Replace dash/CC lights
New paint job
New rear bumper
Power steering cap
trunk light/lamp
new ash tray/cig lighter/cup holder piece
increase engine power
reupholster
soundproof flooring
This post will be all about the current car I'm driving/working on. All of it's basic service history/info since I obtained it will be posted here and updated as time goes on. So let's get started!
This car is a 1994 Honda Civic DX.
Purchased May 2013.
1. Leaking Transmission: The first item that had to be addressed once I got this car was to repair the leak in the transmission. I don't know how I missed this when I purchased it but it was an immediate problem I noticed once I got it home. There was a crack in the bottom that looked like someone had tried to use some epoxy to repair but it wasn't working. I tried to find a replacement Transmission drain pan online but I wasn't finding it. It turns out this transmission doesn't use a replaceable drain pan so the entire transmission had to be replaced. I was fortunate to have someone willing to pay for it for me in exchange for some house/ranch work. This work was done in 6/2013
2. AC Recharge: This was done at the same shop and the same time as the transmission. The AC was having intermittent problems blowing cool air and this was getting into the summer in the So-Cal desert. The shop recharged the AC about 3 times (after each time it would work for an hour or so before the cool air just stopped blowing). After the 3rd time I just gave up as I was having the same issue. This work was done in 6/2013
3. Battery: A few months after getting the car my battery died one day and would not jump. Being the noob that I was I bought a new battery and thought that would fix everything. Sure it would for a few minutes, but I quickly realized there was more to it. The battery was replaced 9/2013
4. Alternator: After realizing the battery wasn't the issue I tested the alternator and realized that my issue was there. I bought a remanufactured alternator from Autozone and replaced it myself. My alternator is not the easiest to get to, it took me a good 3 hours. When it was done the belt was squeeling so I found a way to make it even tighter and it worked just fine. I also sprayed a belt conditioner on it. This was done 9/2013
Other issues with my car that I plan on getting to when I can include:
AC fixed (resoldered)
Speedometer/Odometer resoldered
Windsheild wipers replaced
windshield wiper control tightened
Passenger door lock replaced
Install power locks
Power windows (if possible)
Rear windshield tint replaced
New tires
Change to synthetic oil
New speakers
New radio
Replace dash/CC lights
New paint job
New rear bumper
Power steering cap
trunk light/lamp
new ash tray/cig lighter/cup holder piece
increase engine power
reupholster
soundproof flooring
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Ever Heard of Skotty Kilmer?
Hey there!
I'd like to start off with one of my Go-To resources as a new DIY Mechanic. Skotty Kilmer has been fixing cars for almost 50 years (according to his bio) and he shares his knowledge freely online in a fun, simple, and sort of quirky way. More than simple "how to fix this problem" videos, he also has videos that give you general tips on maintaining cars or advice on buying new cars. I've learned lots from him already and, for me, he never gets tiring. He also has a google plus community page that anyone can post a question to, and he seems to be really good at responding frequently. I haven't needed to try that yet though.
As much as I appreciate Mr. Kilmer, his videos are far from perfect solutions to everyone's problems. His approach makes it seem as though each problem has only one solution (in some cases he gives a couple solutions). If I've learned anything so far, it's that many problems can create the same symptom when it comes to cars. His website seems a little scattered to me as well, I haven't spent much time there, but it didn't seem to be easy to find the answer to my question, so I stick with his youtube channel for now.
In any case, because of how simple he makes it seem (and because its fun to watch), My first stop when I have a car question is Skotty Kilmer. If he doesn't answer my question I will dig further, and If I still can't find a solution I will post in the forum dedicated to my specific make/model.
I'd like to know how any of you feel about Skotty Kilmer. And tell me if you have any other websites that are your Go-To resources for car questions.
Visit Skotty Kilmer at www.skottykilmer.com and his channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/scottykilmer/videos
=Nathan=
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Introductions
Hello Fellow DIY mechanics!
My name is Nathan and I'm ready to get started on this adventure. I will be posting here whenever I find helpful tips and tricks to help save money and trouble when diagnosing and servicing car problems without sending it off to the dealer or some unknown mechanic. Now certainly there are many things that will need to be done professionally, but we all know that there are also many ways to get around sending your car away. Feel free to leave helpful suggestions in the comments or ask questions. Just know that I'm pretty new to most of this so I'll be doing much learning as well. This blog is my way of keeping my learning organized and effective and hopefully it will help someone else too.
Along the way I will also be explaining what I am doing to fix up my own car, a 1994 Honda Civic DX. I just acquired it earlier this year for pretty cheap. It needs a lot of work, some has already been done. But I will be documenting everything I do here. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for me. I hope we can keep this a fun and friendly environment as well!
Automobiles are extremely complex. Even if you know something that worked for you, there can be many other options that will be the solution for someone else. So many little things that are easy to forget. It's very scientific and mathematic, but not impossible for those of us willing to learn. I'm ready, are you?
Lets have fun and get our cars into the best shape of their lives!
See you around!
=Nathan=
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