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Auto & Mechanics tips
78 free skill tips with unique step photos — plus long-form guides with FAQ and trusted sources. Every tip links to a full photographed course.
Auto & Mechanics tips
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/3
Jack point and spare on
Jack point and spare on — step 2 of 3 in Change a Flat Tire Yourself. Manual: metal jack point near flat — not the oil pan. Raise until tire clears. Remove lugs, pull wheel, mount spare, hand-thread lugs.
From course: Change a Flat Tire Yourself
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/3
Pass criteria: rolling to a shop
Pass criteria: rolling to a shop — step 3 of 3 in Change a Flat Tire Yourself. You pass when spare is mounted, tools stowed, you drive carefully to a tire shop for repair/replace and proper torque.
From course: Change a Flat Tire Yourself
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/7
Find the port
Find the port — step 1 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. Usually under the dash, driver's side, left of the steering column. Key on. Some live data needs the engine running.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/7
Stored, pending, freeze frame
Stored, pending, freeze frame — step 2 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. Pending may go away. Confirmed with the light on is stored. Freeze frame is a snapshot: rpm, load, coolant temp when it failed.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/7
Gas cap and EVAP
Gas cap and EVAP — step 3 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. P0442 / P0455 / P0456: tighten the cap, inspect the seal, make sure it clicks. After body work or a car wash, a hose can be loose.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 4/7
Lean codes (P0171 / P0174)
Lean codes (P0171 / P0174) — step 4 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. Too much air or too little fuel. After an air-filter job, check the intake boot. A split hose hisses. A dirty MAF can lie.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 5/7
P0300 vs P0301
P0300 vs P0301 — step 5 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. P0300 is random. P0301 is cylinder 1. Swap the coil and plug to another cylinder. If the code follows the part, you found it.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 6/7
Clear only after you fixed something
Clear only after you fixed something — step 6 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. Clear, then drive mixed roads. If it comes back immediately, you missed. If it stays off for a week, you probably hit it.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 7/7
A note saves the next visit
A note saves the next visit — step 7 of 7 in Check Engine Light Decoded. Date, mileage, code, freeze frame, what you did. If you end up at a shop, this is gold.
From course: Check Engine Light Decoded
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/7
ATGATT — all the gear, all the time
ATGATT — all the gear, all the time — step 1 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. Helmet fastened, gloves, jacket with armor or layers, sturdy pants, boots covering ankle. Shorts and sneakers = hospital bill.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/7
Controls map — know before engine on
Controls map — know before engine on — step 2 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. Right hand: throttle roll, front brake. Right foot: rear brake. Left hand: clutch.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/7
Start engine, find friction zone
Start engine, find friction zone — step 3 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. Clutch in, 1st gear, slowly release clutch until bike wants to roll — that's friction zone. Do not fully release yet.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 4/7
First 20 meters straight
First 20 meters straight — step 4 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. Release clutch fully as you roll, feet up at 5 km/h. Eyes on where you want to go — not down. Straight line across empty lot.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 5/7
Emergency stop drill
Emergency stop drill — step 5 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. 10 km/h, straight, both brakes progressive — front provides most power, don't grab. Rear helps stability. Stop upright. Practice 5 stops.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 6/7
Book MSF or national equivalent
Book MSF or national equivalent — step 6 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. Certified course gives loaner bikes, insurance coverage, and structured progression.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 7/7
Pass criteria: parking lot graduate
Pass criteria: parking lot graduate — step 7 of 7 in Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear. You pass when: full gear worn, friction zone found, 10 straight runs without panic, 5 controlled stops, training course scheduled.
From course: Your First Motorcycle Ride: Parking Lot to First Gear
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/3
Tape and sand ladder
Tape and sand ladder — step 1 of 3 in Restore Foggy Car Headlights DIY. Wash lens. Tape paint, rubber, trim tight. Wet-sand 800 grit in even strokes until yellow layer dulls uniformly. Keep surface wet.
From course: Restore Foggy Car Headlights DIY
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/3
Polish then UV coat
Polish then UV coat — step 2 of 3 in Restore Foggy Car Headlights DIY. Polish with compound until clear. Wipe residue. Apply UV clear per can — thin even coats, flash time between. No water 24 hours.
From course: Restore Foggy Car Headlights DIY
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/3
Pass criteria: clear and sealed
Pass criteria: clear and sealed — step 3 of 3 in Restore Foggy Car Headlights DIY. You pass when both lenses look clear in daylight, tape residue gone, UV coat applied, and you can see beam improvement at night.
From course: Restore Foggy Car Headlights DIY
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/3
Park, brake, locate terminals
Park, brake, locate terminals — step 1 of 3 in Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery Safely. Both cars off. Red clamp dead battery positive (+). Red clamp donor positive. Black clamp donor negative (-).
From course: Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery Safely
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/3
Start and disconnect reverse
Start and disconnect reverse — step 2 of 3 in Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery Safely. Start donor, wait 2 min. Start dead car. If fails, wait 5 min retry once. Remove: black dead, black donor, red donor, red dead.
From course: Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery Safely
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/3
Pass criteria: running and learning
Pass criteria: running and learning — step 3 of 3 in Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery Safely. You pass when you connected order correctly once, car started, drove 20 min or know to test battery.
From course: Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery Safely
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/12
The smear-in-rain diagnosis
The smear-in-rain diagnosis — step 1 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. If the wipe leaves a rainbow film or a greasy arc, first wash the outside of the windshield with glass cleaner and a clean towel, then wipe…
From course: Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter
🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/12
Read the length — 26"/17" is an example, not a law
Read the length — 26"/17" is an example, not a law — step 2 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Open the driver's door and look for a tire/maintenance sticker; some cars print wiper sizes there.
From course: Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter
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