Cleaning Auto Upholstery, what car reviews, If there is one way for a car owner to get new life out of their vehicle, then it is to clean the interior a bit. Properly cleaning auto upholstery can help any car owner get a new found appreciation of their vehicle, while at the same time presenting a nicer face for those others that may end up taking a ride in it. While the unfortunate truth of the matter is that cleaning auto upholstery is a task that will have to be done repeatedly, it is a task that can be done relatively quickly and easily.

1. Vacuum first. A vacuum cleaner can be a huge help in cleaning auto upholstery. The reason for this is that the vacuum will pick up and remove quite a bit of the loose dirt, dust, and grime that can collect in your car. Use the vacuum to go over as much of the car as you can reach. If you want, you can also actually remove the front seats of the car itself to help reach the upholstery that is under it. All you need to do (if you decide to do this) is loosen the bolts that anchor the seats to the car. However, this is only necessary when you are doing some deep cleaning.

2. Apply a lint roller. Even the use of a vacuum will not remove every little thing that could be stuck on your upholstery. A very helpful tool in getting the final bits of hairs, threads, or lint that may still be stuck on the seats is a lint roller. All you really need to do is roll the linter roller over the upholstery, and it will remove the remaining bit of debris that the vacuum missed.

3. Line the floor. Get some old newspapers and lay them out on the floor of the car. Once you have this done, you can begin wiping out any remaining dirt, dust, or grime. Often these can be found in the nooks and crannies of the seats, but it is best to use a damp cloth to help brush this stuff up. Not only will the cloth help to pick up a majority of the missed items, but the newspapers will catch whatever is missed by the cloth.

4. Wipe it all down. If your upholstery is leather, then you will need to also do a little bit of “scrubbing.” In this case though, the scrubbing is more of a wiping. Get some gentle leather cleaner from your local auto parts store, or from the local car wash. Follow the directions on the cleaner, and begin wiping down the leather interior of your car.

5. Tackle the stains. If you happen to have any particularly difficult stains, you will need to use some stronger methods to remove them. Grease stains can be removed from leather seats by simply applying a layer of mineral oil, and then rubbing some salt into it. For cloth seats, you should use a degreasing dish soap to help remove the stain. Repeat the applications, scrubbing, and wiping away until you have actually removed the stain. For most unknown stains you can simply use a bit of club soda to get it out. Be sure that you wipe the dampened cloth in a circular pattern though, starting in the middle of the stain and working your way outwards.

Dealing with Failing Brakes, what car reviews, If you look closely at your dashboard, you might notice that it includes a warning light for your brakes. This light is normally off, but it can come on (and stay on) for a variety of reasons. Your owner’s manual should contain the full information about your brakes and this warning light, but generally it means that the electronic “brain” of your car has detected some sort of problem with the brakes.

Sometimes the warning light will come on if the emergency brake is engaged on the car. Check to see that the brake is fully disengaged, and recheck the light. If the light stays on, or if it comes on when you push the brake pedal, there may be something wrong with your car’s main braking system. In any event, it is best to pay immediate attention to any possible brake problem.

It could be that the brake pads are worn to the point that they need to be replaced, or perhaps that the hydraulic brake fluid levels are low. The light could also mean that the brake system is losing pressure. Any of these may sound dire, and they could be if left untreated. You’ll want to go to an auto repair shop as quickly as possible to have your brakes checked.

If your brakes fail completely or you notice that the brake pedal pushes all the way to the floorboard, turn on the hazard lights, pull to the side of the road, and slow to a full stop. Keep in mind that you may need more distance than usual for braking; you may have to press the brake pedal harder and it may depress further.

Pump the brake pedal rapidly to build up pressure. If that doesn’t work, use the handbrake or change down a gear so that engine drag slows the car. When you have almost come to a complete stop, pull onto the shoulder of the road and turn off the ignition.

If none of these measures halts the car, you may have to sideswipe something—a curb, a hedge, even a parked car—to come to a stop. Sound your horn and flash your lights to alert other drivers of your emergency.

Replacing a Rear View Mirror, what car reviews, While it may not seem very important, a rear view mirror is an item that is pretty much necessary for the safe operation of your car or truck. In fact, when the rear view mirror is used in conjunction with the side mirrors, you have an almost perfect 180 degrees view of what is behind you. When your rear view mirror is missing, broke, or some how defective this field of vision isn\’t working as well as it should. Luckily replacing a rearview mirror is an incredibly easy task. Simply follow these simple instructions.

1. Remove the old mirror completely. Whether the rear view mirror has completely fallen off, or it simply got broke in some way there is still usually a bit a mess left behind. This mess (which often is a simple glue patch with a cushion) will need to be removed as well. This can easily be done by using applying some heat directly to the area (such as with a fabric steamer) or by using a razor blade. Ensure that you have completely removed the glue and anything else that may have been there as well as thoroughly cleaning the area to provide a smooth surface for your new mirror to stick to.

2. Get a replacement kit. Take your old mirror to an auto parts store and use it as a base template for a replacement. Usually you can purchase a complete rear view mirror kit that includes everything you need to replace the mirror. Take the kit home, and be sure that you hold onto the receipt. If there are any problems with the kit, you will need the receipt to ensure that you can return the kit for the money that you spent on it.

3. Read the directions. Before you begin installing the new rear view mirror, make sure that you completely read and understand the directions that come with your kit. These instructions will have the manufacturer\’s recommendations on how to apply the mirror and keep from having any problems cropping up.

4. Replace the mirror. Once you are comfortable with what you will need to do to install the mirror, begin the process. Be sure that you follow the directions exactly, that way you can avoid any potential problems. If you do have any problems, you may need to repeat step one in order to start the process over again.

5. Test the mirror. After you have the mirror installed, sit in the driver seat of your vehicle and see if it is working properly. Adjust the mirror as necessary to ensure that you get the best possible view, and you are just about finished with the installation.

6. Clean up the mess. Finally, all that you have left to do is some clean up. This means properly disposing of any remnants from the mirror kit as well as any glue that may have dripped down. Be sure that you get as much as you possibly can so that you don\’t have any sticky spots which will collect dust and dirt on a hot summer day.

Fixing a Window that Won\’t Roll Up, what car reviews, While there are any number of things that can go wrong with a car window, they all pretty much boil down to one of two problems. The first is that the glass of the window can actually break, and that is a can of worms that is completely different. The second most common problem is that a window won\’t roll up (or down). Fixing a window that won\’t roll up can be a fairly involved task, though it is one that most people can undertake if they are willing to follow a few simple instructions.

1. Remove the paneling. Before you can actually begin fixing a window that won\’t roll up, you will need to disconnect and remove a couple of items. The very fist item that you will need to disconnect is the battery. This way will help to greatly reduce the possibility accidental electrocution. Once you have disconnected the battery, you need to begin removing the door panel so that you can take a look at the mechanical insides of the door. Typically this can be accomplished by unscrewing some of the screws that are right behind the door handle, and then removing the panel from the plastic rivets that hold it in place.

2. Check the positioning. Take a look through the holes in the sheet metal that help protect the glass when the window is rolled down. What you are looking for is to see if the glass has somehow become dislodged or off kilter from the track in some way. If the glass is off track, realign it and do a quick test to see if it works. You may also need to take a look at the tracks themselves to see if they have become misaligned.

3. Inspect crank operation. Manual windows are lowered and raised by turning a simple hand crank. Turn the crank a couple of times to see if the scissor shaped jack system it is attached to is operating properly. If the crank does not operate properly and move these arms, then the window will not raise. In cases like this the entire system will need to be replaced, and should be taken to a professional to get the work done.

4. Inspect electronics. Powered windows have another step that you will need to do in addition to seeing if the crank and jack system work. Simply put, all you really need to do is check to see if the fuse and wiring circuit that runs to the motor are in good condition. If you don not have a voltmeter to test out the electrical current in the wiring, you may simply want to take the window into a professional to be worked on.

5. Repair the problem. In the event that you notice that the problem is something that you can repair yourself, then go ahead and do it. For anything that you don\’t feel up to doing the work yourself then have a professional do it for you.

6. Replace the paneling. Once you have repaired the problem, you still have one step left. That simple step is to put the door back together. As long as there wasn\’t all that much work to do, then all you need to do is replace the door paneling and reattach the screws that hold it in place.

Replacing Your Odometer, what car reviews, Many people are afraid to even contemplate repairing their odometer for fear of getting into legal trouble. The fact of the matter is, that replacing your odometer doesn\’t have to end up with you facing a lawsuit from a later owner. The trick is that you do the process correctly, and make sure that you notify the new owner about the replaced odometer. Notifying the next owner is up to you, but the correct process is listed below.

1. Disconnect the battery. Whenever you do any type of work on the dashboard, you want to make sure that you first disconnect the battery from the vehicle. This will help prevent any accidents with the electrical system, and can help save you from a nasty shock later on.

2. Remove the speedometer. The first step in replacing your odometer is to actually remove the speedometer from the dashboard. In order to do this grab a flat headed screwdriver, and begin to gently pry at the gasket that surrounds the speedometer. Once you have loosened the gasket begin to pull the entire assembly away from the dashboard. Be careful that you do not pull too hard, or you can find yourself disconnecting the wires before you are ready. If you have a high quality camera on your cell phone, use it to take a picture of how the wires are connected to the assembly. You may want to take a few photos from various angles to ensure that you can see all the wires. Disconnect the wiring once you are certain you will be able to reconnect everything. Lay your assembly on to a flat surface and then begin removing the screws from the back of the casing to allow you access into the innards of the assembly.

3. Remove trip odometer post. After you have removed the assembly case, locate the trip odometer post, and grab hold of it. Begin to gently pull away on the post and you should see that it moves. Make note that if you feel any resistance at all, do not force the post to move. Instead, place one of your fingers underneath the gauge (about where the post passes through and connects with the motor casing) and press upward. This will help get it completely removed.

4. Remove the needle. Pinch the round base of the needle, and turn it in a clockwise manner until it stops. Gently pull up slowly while also rocking the needle back and forth. It can be extremely easy to bend or break the needle, so be as careful as you possibly can while you do this, and do not force the needle off.

5. Remove the odometer\’s motor casing. Use a small Philips head screwdriver (the kind that you use on computers) and locate two screws that should be on the on face of the speedometer. These screws help hold the motor casing in place, so go ahead and remove them. Be careful that you do not lose the screw as you will need them put everything back together. After you have the screws removed go ahead and pull the motor casing for the odometer from the assembly. You should now have no problem removing this casing.

6. Disconnect the gear pod. With the motor casing in hand, look for the gear pod near the top of the casing. The gear pod is usually attached to the \”lid\” portion of the casing, and should easily come off. Look inside the gear pod.

7. Remove the odometer planetary gear, and replace it. Locate the odometer planetary gear inside the gear pod, and then remove it. All you should need to remove this gear is a small flat head screwdriver (like the kind that you use to work on computers) to pry it out. Be careful when you are doing this that you do not use too much force, or damage any of the other parts and pieces. Put your replacement planetary gear into the location of the old one, and gently but firmly press it into place.

8. Reconnect everything. Once you have replaced the faulty odometer planetary gear, you can begin reassembling everything. Do this by simply working in the reverse order of what you have done so far. Keep in mind though that you do not want to remove the planetary gear that you just replaced, or your odometer will not work.

Tinting Your Car Windows, what car reviews, Tinting the windows of a car is a common way people improve their cars or trucks. Unfortunately, the cost of tinting your vehicle\’s windows can be somewhat prohibitive as it is going to cost you between $150 to $250 with the cost of increasing depending on the types of windows and the amount of prep work that is required. Why pay someone else that money when you can do the job yourself?

To begin you are going to need to gather together the following items and materials.

* Spray bottles
* Blow dryer
* Bone tool
* Hard plastic card
* Small, 4-inch squeegee
* Tinting film
* Heat gun
* Small sponge
* Razor blades (safety razors work)
* Liquid soap detergent

1. In your spray bottle put a mixture of water and soap. Measure the windows that you are going to tint and cut the film into the shape of the windows. Set aside the film in an area dedicated for the storage of the film.

2. Use your spray bottle and clean the windows to remove all the dirt and make sure that you have a truly clean surface. Let the windows dry and go over the windows with a razor and squeegee to remove any residue that remains.

3. Begin placing the tinting film on a side window. As you place the film onto the window, make sure that you leave between \”1/3 and 1/6\” from the top of the window, since that will be covered when the door and window are closed. Use your bone tool to push the tint beneath the rubberized weather stripping that runs along the bottom of the window, and your hard card to make sure that the film goes into all the corners of the car\’s window.

4. Utilize either the heat gun or blow dryer and the squeegee to go from one side at the top to the other. Be sure that you work in horizontal motions to help remove all remaining moisture and air bubbles from underneath the film.

5. Repeat the same steps for the other windows. You don\’t want to use the razor blade to remove any leftover soap scum on the rear window since this could damage the defrosting wires that are there. Instead, count the number of wires and cut the film into the resulting number of panels. Tint the rear window working from the bottom towards the top. After you have placed all the film, go back over and trim the film away from the defroster. Be careful since this is going to take a steady hand. If necessary use a straight edge or something to help you out.

Replacing Disc Brake Pads, what car reviews, Since over 80 percent of modern vehicles have disc brakes, it only makes sense that you should learn how to replace disc brake pads. When eight out of every ten cars have the same style of brakes, then the chances are really good you are driving one of those vehicles. Unless you want to go on spending an arm and a leg in repair bills every time you need any basic brake work done, you are going to need to learn how to replace them your self. Begin by gathering the following list of tools and materials.

Materials and tools:

* Brake pads
* Lug wrench or tire iron
* C clamp
* Bungee cord
* Jack
* Jack stands
* Allen wrenches
* Hammer
* Adjustable wrench

Project Steps:

1. Prepare. You need to make sure that you have completely gathered the tools and materials that you are going to need. Believe me, it does absolutely no good to begin a project like this when you don\’t have everything that you are going to need. All of the materials that you are going to need can be obtained at any local hardware and automotive parts store. Simply tell your clerk what you are going to be doing, and they can help you out. As always, when you begin any automotive repair job you need to prepare the area you are going to be working in. Make sure you are working in an area that is level, and not on grass or dirt as the ground is more likely to shift.

2. Tires. The first real step you are going to take is to remove the tires from where your disc brakes are at. In order to properly do this, you are going to need to break, or loosen, the lug nuts on the tires prior to raising the car. Once you have loosened the lug nuts go ahead and begin raising the car. Once you raise one side of the car, place a jack stand in the appropriate location and lower the car again. Repeat the process on the other side. After you have raised the car onto the jack stands, go ahead and remove the tires.

3. Calipers. Once you have the wheels removed, the next step is to remove the calipers. On most cars, the calipers bolts are located at the top of the brake assembly. Depending on what type of car you have, you are going to be faced with either a hex or Allen bolt. This is where you are going to want to use the appropriate tool to loosen. In the event that the bolt does not loosen immediately, try tapping it a few times. Tap though, do not hit too hard, as you could damage something. Once you have loosened the calipers enough, you should be able to remove them from the disc in front of you. If possible, hang the calipers from something other than the brake line, as this could cause damage to them. In the event that nothing presents itself, use your bungee cord to hang them from.

4. Brake pads. Before going any further, take some time to look at how everything looks right now. This is pretty much the same way that you want things to be when you are finished. Now, with the calipers removed, you should be able to remove the brake pads easily enough. Sometimes a few light taps are required for the more stubborn ones, but it should be fairly easy to remove. Once you have removed the old brake pads, go ahead and replace them with the new ones. Be sure that you put all the metal clips back into place that may have been removed.

5. Brake piston. After you have changed out the brake pads, and put them back onto the disc, it is time to compress the brake piston. This ensures that you are able to reassemble everything, as well as remove all the air bubbles that have seeped into the brake lines. To do this, simply take your c-clamp and open it all the way, after which you are going to screw it closed again, but with the ends around back end of the piston and assembly. Screw the c-clamp closed until you are able to replace the caliper assembly to where it belongs.

6. Reassembly. Finally, once you have placed the caliper assembly where it belongs, you need to go a head and reassemble everything. Basically, this means that you do everything backwards that you did before. Remove the c-clamp, replace the caliper bolts, the tire and lower the car. You are now finished, congratulations!

Picking a Good Off-Road Vehicle, what car reviews, The process for choosing a great off-road vehicle is similar, if not exactly the same as when choosing any car, truck or van. While this is good news on some fronts, it does mean that there is going to be a little bit of work on your part, primarily of the skull sweat type. What this means is that you are going to have to do some relatively simple homework, and just a little bit of field work.

Finances: As when making any vehicle purchase, it is imperative to know how much you have available for spending. Considering that these vehicles start under $20,000, and just go higher (often dramatically higher) depending on the model and options that you decide to get, you are going to want to make sure that you know exactly how much you can, and cannot, spend prior to actually making the purchase.

Make: One of the reasons that make (meaning brand) is important was mentioned above. There are other reasons as well that you are going to need to consider the make of the vehicles that you are looking at. Many people have a personal preference to what auto maker they like. Another factor that you need to consider is the dependability of each vehicle make. Contact a local mechanic, or the different auto dealers in the area, what the maintenance statistics are for each vehicle that you are interested in.

Needs/Purpose: Keep in mind what the purpose of the vehicle is, and what you are going to be using it for. As you are considering that, keep in mind what you are going to need to fulfill that purpose. As you are examining those needs and the purpose, keep in mind that this is important because your price may end up higher than you expected as you tack on the extras that are \”needed\” to fulfill what you want.

Handling: Finally, after you have narrowed the field down to a couple of different models, you need to test drive them. This is important because each vehicle is going to handle differently, and you want to have an idea of how you are going to be able to react in it. Many auto dealers that specialize in off-road vehicles also have an off-road test track. If you are lucky enough to have one of those dealers nearby, then be sure that you also take your test drive on this track.

Fixing Rust Spots, what car reviews, When we get older we start to show our age and our cars and trucks do the same thing. Vehicles show their age through rust spots and fixing these spots on a car requires a little cosmetic work. In order to complete this project, you need some sandpaper (rough and fine), automotive car paint, primer, and clear coat. A paint sprayer would be ideal for this job, but the purchase price of such an item can be prohibitive, so try renting one instead. If this is beyond your financial means, then you can use spray paint, but use extreme care and apply an even coat each time you use it.

1. Prep. Sand the area until it is clear of the rust. For the really tough or large spots use the rough grit first and then work your way down to the finer grits. You\’ll know you are finished when you run your hand over the area and you don\’t feel any noticeable difference in level between the painted and non-painted area.

2. Prime. Apply a thin coat of primer to the area and allow it to dry for a minimum of 10 minutes. Rub the area lightly to make everything nice and smooth. Repeat this process at least two more times.

3. Paint. Apply a thin coat of paint and allow it to dry for 10 to 15 minutes, lightly sanding between each coat to ensure smoothness. It might take several coats to get an exact match to the existing paint, but the work is going to be worth it. After you have applied the final coat of paint, let it sit for about 90 minutes.

4. Clear Coat. Clear coat is a protectant layer that helps keep your paint job nice and sparkly. Apply this the same way you applied the paint and primer. Allow about 15 minutes between each coat for it to dry. You should only need about three coats.

5. Wash/Wax/Clean. Clean the car thoroughly and wax it. Take a step back and admire your work.

Removing Tree Sap from Your Car, what car reviews, If you live in area that has a lot of trees, then chances are you are familiar with the frustration of finding your freshly cleaned car covered in sap spots. If you are anything like me, the first few times that you came across these you let them sit there thinking that they would not be noticeable to others. If so, then you know how after a few days those spots seem to turn black and make your car look dirty, no matter how well you washed it.

For some reason, tree sap does not seem to want to come off with regular soap and water, but there is a way that anyone can clean it off without having to spend a fortune to do so. All you need to do is follow the steps outlined below, and soon you are going to have a perfectly sap free car once again.

Start by grabbing the following items:

* Mineral spirits or WD-40
* Hot soap and water
* Clean soft towels or rags

There are two main cleaning materials that I would suggest using (mineral spirits or WD-40), but both are going to work equally well. While each material is going to work, some people may find that one works better for them than the other. In the end it is going to come down to your personal preference as to what you decide to use.

To begin, you need to thoroughly clean the area where the sap is located. Take a rag and your hot soapy water and clean the area. After you have cleaned the area, allow it to dry.

If you are using WD-40, all that you need to do is spray the WD-40 on to the tree sap, and allow it to sit for five minutes. After the five minutes have passed you can simply wipe away the area till it is clear. You may need to reapply wax to your car, as the WD-40 may remove your vehicle\’s wax. (But it won\’t hurt the finish.)

If you are using mineral spirits, then all that you need to do is dip one of your clean rags into the spirits and wipe the area that has the tree sap. Be gentle as you do not want to damage the paint job and you only want to remove the sap. After you have applied the mineral spirits, take another clean rag, and in a gentle circular motion wipe it away. Keep repeating this process until you have completely removed the tree\’s sap from you vehicle. After you have removed the tree sap using this method, you are going to need to clean off the mineral spirits. To do this all that you need to do is wash your car as you normally would.