Intro
Women tend to shy away from maintenance and repairs on their car. Many women grow up under the impression that either the auto shop or the man of the house are the only ones who should be touching your car.
Another reason for this reluctance is the idea that cars are too complicated for you to work on. Well, of course it's too complicated if no one's ever told you how!
Another reason for this reluctance is the idea that cars are too complicated for you to work on. Well, of course it's too complicated if no one's ever told you how!
Since I am not a mechanic, I will approach these instruction from a novice's perspective. I have an interest in cars that started with my dad, a MOPAR gear-head. My Interest has also come from the BBC car show, Top Gear, which is a great show even if you know nothing about cars. It's awesome, watch it.
Some ground rules
- Read the Owner's Manuel, it will be dry but worth it. If you don't have yours you can get it online from the manufacturer.
- Fixing things yourself will save you money, as most of the cost of repairs are for labor.
- Your hands can get dirty, it's okay, that's why gloves were invented.
- The parts you purchase will not come with instructions. I'll do my best to show you how, but you should buy the service manual for your car.
Project 1
Opening the Hood
It's Important to start at the very beginning, and opening the hood will be essential to many repairs you want to do.
* First-timer tip: If you want to open the hood after you cars has been running, be extra careful, the engine and other parts WILL BE HOT.
Most car manufacturers install 2 release mechanisms
[1 interior, 1 exterior] as a theft deterrent and to prevent the hood from opening while you're driving.
[1 interior, 1 exterior] as a theft deterrent and to prevent the hood from opening while you're driving.
The interior release is located below the wheel, usually by the pedals on the driver's side. Typically you will see something like this...
This will open the hood enough for you to find the exterior release. If you bend over to around eye level with the hood opening you'll see something like this...
The lever should be right in the middle of the hood, and depending on the orientation you'll push the lever left or right and pull up on the hood (it will be pretty heavy, or at least it was for me).
Now you have to hood open, (congratulations!) but it would be pretty difficult to work on your car while holding up the hood the whole time. Your car manufacturer thought of this and installed a prop for the hood. It will be a long thin rod in front of the engine laying perpendicular to you, pull this up and there will be a hole on the bottom of your hood for the prop to go into. Like this...
Once you are done marveling at your accomplishment, lower the prop back down flat, then lower the hood to about 10 inches above the engine then let it go, this will re-engage the latch. This is the easiest way to close the hood.
I personally tried lowering it all the way down and just pushing it closed, but I weight a little over 100 pounds and was unable to engage the latch using my body weight. I also performed this on a truck, which has a higher hood than a sedan (four door car) or coupe (two door car) so that made it a little more difficult.
I personally tried lowering it all the way down and just pushing it closed, but I weight a little over 100 pounds and was unable to engage the latch using my body weight. I also performed this on a truck, which has a higher hood than a sedan (four door car) or coupe (two door car) so that made it a little more difficult.
Congratulations, You did it!
