I fixed my car today!

[emanon1501]

Autozone can give you a baseline code. To get a more detailed explaination of what's wrong you need a better code reader. You can buy one for around $125 or you can have a mechanic do it.

True, but you can lookup the codes via internet.

[bjl584]

True, but you can lookup the codes via internet.

But it will only give you a general error. Something like "fuel system malfunction." But that could indicate one of up to 6 seperate failed components linked to the fuel system. You need a more advanced OBDII reader to diagnose a specific issue.

[maat55]

I hope you did not have much trouble getting your hands clean.

[snafu]

Yahoo big cheer for DS. I think it's great that you were willing to open the hood and see if you could do the repair! We picked up the Reader's Digest Fix It book at one of the charity book sales and it's saved us a bundle of time, aggravation and money. So many appliances are easily fixed but getting the repair guy and waiting for the call and finding it needs a 2nd call etc make it easier to just replace UNLESS you're willing to try DIY. The book walks you through the process giving you confidence to fix it.

[disneysteve]

We picked up the Reader's Digest Fix It book at one of the charity book sales and it's saved us a bundle of time, aggravation and money.

YouTube is a priceless source of DIY information. You can find step by step videos on how to fix virtually anything. Before I did some drywall repair a couple of weeks ago, I watched a video on that. I also pulled one up on fixing our leaky faucet. There are tons of cooking videos, too, if you aren't sure how to do something or want to learn a new technique. And if you have a smartphone or tablet, you can watch the video right on sight where you are working.

[mom-from-missouri]

Congrads! I am teaching a class this semester of powderpuff mechanics (all girls). We have learned or will learn--how to pump gas, cleaning a car, changing fuses in a car (a dad helped one day and he had no idea there was a second set of fuses under the hood), how to test tire pressure, changing and adding oil, adding transmission and brake fluid, radiator care--adding coolant, testing and how to drain, replacing a belt, changing and rotating tires and changing out a seatbelt, changing wiper blades (did you know in a pinch you can take a razor to them and make them last till payday?). If we have no more bad weather days, the optional end class is to go to a dealership and look at used cars vs new cars, and what to look for in purchasing a vehicle, and how loans on autos work.