Skipped oil changes for "just a little while." That little while was 11 months. The engine didn't care about my schedule.

Here's what I'd tell every car owner who's winging it like I was:

• Check your oil level monthly. Not yearly. Not "when the light comes on." The light coming on is already bad news.

• Rotate your tires every 5,000-7,000 miles. Uneven wear is sneaky and it'll cost you way more than the rotation.

• Replace your air filter regularly. A clogged one tanks your fuel economy and your engine's basically breathing through a dirty sock.

• Flush your coolant on schedule. Overheating is the kind of surprise nobody wants, especially not on a highway in July.

• Keep a maintenance log. Seriously. "I think I changed the brakes like... two years ago? Maybe three?" is not a maintenance plan.

What I'd do differently: track everything from day one. Every oil change, every tire rotation, every weird noise. Future me would've had receipts instead of regrets.

Does anyone actually keep up with all this or are we all just hoping for the best?

I believe I need my 02 censors replaced because my 2010 f150 lariat is throwing the P0430 code-catalyst system efficiency below Threshold (Bank 2) I feel like I could just buy the censors and do it myself. I am familiar with vehicles and repairs but am curious to see if this is overpriced or not.

A few weeks ago its battery died and got it replaced immediately.
However, after replacement, all three passenger doors (front passenger, both rear doors) won't open from inside and out. (via key fob or internal unlock switch) Fortunately, the driver's door does opens with manual key unlock.

Any ideas how to get the central locking working again? We tried reinstalling the battery and pressing lock and unlock buttons for "reset" but nothing happens.

Hi,

I just failed an emission test due to the P0139. Is there a cheap way or place to get this fixed that’ll knock out the engine so I can pass?

After turning the key in the ignition, the car turns on then a slight grinding noise.

It doesn’t always do it, it’s completely random as far as I know

Here is the video.

Any suggestions on what should do or check on my 2002 Chevy Blazer to fix the parking brake not working anymore? The Parking Brake Pedal still goes down and it'll still slow the truck but won't stick in the on position.

Pulled old body kit off of a 2005 suburban and has a bit of blackened discoloration. I can patch the holes and but dont know if the blackened portion can be restored or if it needs to just be repainted

Honda Civic 2017 6 Speed Coupe- 88,000m : My Android Auto hook up broke. It isn't connecting with the cord (only way to connect). There is a short. My dealership quoted me at around $600. So far they have been good to me. The pricey but much better than other places in my area. I feel like this is an exorbitant cost. Is this reasonable? Do I have to remove the dash in order to fix them? I just don't understand why it is so expensive. Would it be easy to do myself?

Safety First!

Hello, I am making this post in every mechanic subreddit I have found. I just wanted to remind everyone how important saftey is when working on a car. Here are the important things to ensure you do before getting under a car. NEVER get under a car without a jackstand that is supported by just the jack. Then always ensure that the vehicle is in park and parking brake engaged (for manual leave in neutral and engage parking brake). Chock all the wheels that are on the ground to prevent the wheels from moving. If you are pulling on something under the car and the tires move, it could knock it off the jackstand. Then, always work on solid ground, no gravel, no dirt, no slopes. Then as backup, place your jack against a sturdy part of thr car as backup. And one more thing, if you have a tire removed, place it under the car as backup between you and the car if it does fall down. Another important thing is make sure jf something goes wrong, someone is nearby to hear or help you. I say all of this because just a week ago, I was working on a car, and the wheels in the rear slid back as I was prying on a cv axle, and the jackstand slipped, and crushed me, pinning my chest and head against the cross member and concrete. I was about 2 minutes away from just being dead. One of my lungs collapsed, and I broke 2 ribs. I made it out alive and want everyone to know just how important saftey is.