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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 3/12

Engine off, arms not parked on a hot windshield

Engine off, arms not parked on a hot windshield — step 3 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Key out. Do not cycle the wipers with the arms folded out — you will slam them into the glass or the cowl.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 4/12

J-hook vs pinch tab — look before you pull

J-hook vs pinch tab — look before you pull — step 4 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. J-hook: the arm ends in a curved J. The blade has a hood that covers the J. Press the small tab, slide the blade down the hook, then off.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 5/12

Click, seat, lower, spray, wipe

Click, seat, lower, spray, wipe — step 5 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Slide the new blade on until it clicks or the tab locks. Tug once along the arm — it should not walk off.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 6/12

Winter mix vs summer bug-wash

Winter mix vs summer bug-wash — step 6 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Read the cap: windshield washer, often blue. Summer fluid cuts bugs and road film.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 7/12

Dish soap, bleach, and other bad ideas

Dish soap, bleach, and other bad ideas — step 7 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Dish soap foams in the pump, strips wax into the glass, and can freeze. Bleach and ammonia wreck paint and trim if they dribble.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 8/12

Fill, then confirm both nozzles

Fill, then confirm both nozzles — step 8 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Open the reservoir. Pour until the fluid sits at the full line, or until you can see it ~2 cm from the lip if there is no line.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 9/12

Empty the glovebox, find the dampener

Empty the glovebox, find the dampener — step 9 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Engine off. Empty the glovebox so a 2 kg owner's manual is not hanging on a $4 piston.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 10/12

Cover off, note the arrow, pull the old filter

Cover off, note the arrow, pull the old filter — step 10 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Behind the dropped glovebox is a rectangular door, often one clip or two tabs. Open it. The cabin filter is a 2–3 cm thick accordion.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 11/12

Arrow the same way, door shut, tabs seated

Arrow the same way, door shut, tabs seated — step 11 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Slide the new filter in with the arrow matching the photo. It should fill the slot without a 1 cm gap on one side — if it does, you have…

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 12/12

Fresh air, then recirc, then a wet windshield wipe

Fresh air, then recirc, then a wet windshield wipe — step 12 of 12 in Wipers, Washer Fluid & Cabin Filter. Start the car. Fan on 3, fresh air (not recirc) for 30 seconds — you should get more volume than before if the old filter was packed.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/7

Cap, manual, quantity

Cap, manual, quantity — step 1 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Read viscosity and spec off the cap and confirm in the manual. Buy the listed litres plus a little extra.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/7

Warm, not scalding

Warm, not scalding — step 2 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Idle 5 minutes so oil flows. Gloves. Ramps on level ground, parking brake, chock the wheels that stay down.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/7

Drain plug

Drain plug — step 3 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Crack with a socket, finish by hand. Let it drain 10 minutes. New washer, start by hand so you don't cross-thread, torque to spec (often…

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 4/7

Filter gasket must come off with the old filter

Filter gasket must come off with the old filter — step 4 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Unscrew the old filter. Check the engine mating face — if the old rubber gasket stuck, peel it off or the new filter will leak immediately.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 5/7

Most of the oil, then wait

Most of the oil, then wait — step 5 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Add about 0.5 L less than book capacity. Start 10 seconds, shut off, wait 2 minutes, read the dipstick on a level surface.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 6/7

Oil life reset

Oil life reset — step 6 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Every car is a different button dance or menu. Search your year and 'oil reset'. If you skip it, the light lies next month.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 7/7

Used oil goes to a parts store

Used oil goes to a parts store — step 7 of 7 in Oil Change & Filter Basics. Pour it back into the empty bottles. Most auto parts stores take oil and filters. Dumping it is illegal and disgusting.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/6

Resting voltage

Resting voltage — step 1 of 6 in Battery & Terminal Service. Lights off, car off, ideally 30 minutes after driving. 12.6 V is full, ~12.2 V is half, under 12.0 V is in the ditch.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 2/6

Running voltage

Running voltage — step 2 of 6 in Battery & Terminal Service. Engine running typically ~13.7–14.7 V. Much lower and the alternator or belt may be the real story.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 3/6

Negative first

Negative first — step 3 of 6 in Battery & Terminal Service. Disconnect negative, then positive. Reverse when installing. That order reduces the chance a wrench from positive to the body sparks.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 4/6

Group size, CCA, hold-down

Group size, CCA, hold-down — step 4 of 6 in Battery & Terminal Service. The new battery must physically fit and match chemistry. AGM vs flooded is not a suggestion on start-stop cars.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 5/6

Windows, clock, idle

Windows, clock, idle — step 5 of 6 in Battery & Terminal Service. Photo the presets. A 9 V OBD memory saver can help. After install, set the clock, run the window relearn, drive 15 minutes.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 6/6

Tape the old positive terminal

Tape the old positive terminal — step 6 of 6 in Battery & Terminal Service. Return it to the seller. Cover the old positive post before it rides in a car. A battery rolling into a jack handle is a bad day.

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🔧 Auto & Mechanics · Step 1/7

Door jamb, not sidewall max

Door jamb, not sidewall max — step 1 of 7 in Tire Rotation & Pressure. The huge PSI on the tire is a maximum. Daily pressure is on the driver's door sticker. Set them cold, in the morning.

From course: Tire Rotation & Pressure