13 Automotive Handy Hints

Car maintenance is important, but it’s often overlooked unless you write down when certain tasks need to get done. This hint will help!

If you have a vehicle with a large, exposed air filter cover that’s flat, like the one on my truck, you can use a chalk marker to write important information about when you last changed the oil, air filter, spark plug, etc.

The marker I used is the kind that requires ammonia-based cleaner (such as Windex) to clean it off, so any water that splashes into the engine compartment won’t erase it. If you’re like me and always forget to write this information in the car manual, this tip will remind you every time you pop the hood. — Hank Huff

Clean up used oil spills on the driveway or in the garage easily with a material that’s readily available in most home workshops: sawdust.

Reach into those dust-collection bags on your orbital sander, miter saw and other power tools for a big scoop of sawdust.

Sprinkle it over the oil and let it do its thing for about 20 minutes.

Using a stiff broom, sweep the sawdust over the spill several times to soak up every last bit of liquid.

Then pick up the sawdust in a dustpan and pour it into a plastic grocery bag; tie the handles of the bag in a knot and toss it in the trash.

You may need to use a degreaser to remove any oily residue left behind, but the sawdust should do the trick for picking up the bulk of the liquid.

Note: In most states, it’s acceptable to throw oil-soaked sawdust in the garbage (as long as the oil is no longer in liquid form), however, you should check your local rules and regulations before doing so.

These louvers are a real magnet for dust, and a vacuum with a brush attachment just won’t get it all.

Take an inexpensive artist’s paintbrush and give it a light shot of furniture polish.

Work the brush into the crevices to collect the dust. Wipe the brush off with a rag and move on to the next one.

You may have heard this tip with regard to preventing a bathroom mirror from fogging up after a hot shower, but the same concept applies to a car windshield in winter.

Smear a dollop of shaving cream along the inside of the windshield.

Spread it out in an even layer; then use a clean cloth to buff it away. (You may need to use a few clean cloths and some elbow grease to remove all of it.)

The shaving cream creates a protective coating that won’t fog up, keeping your driving vision clear during really cold weather, and when the heat is blasting inside the car.

As mentioned above, this tip also works for mirrors, so you can follow the same steps on your vehicle’s side-view and rear-view mirrors.

Loading and unloading your truck can be time-consuming and tiresome, especially when you have to climb in and out of the bed multiple times.

Here’s a solution: Use an extension pole with a paint roller attachment to pull or push items with your feet on the ground.

This tool takes up little space, so you can keep it in your truck at all times. It’ll save you time – and save your back! – Terry Crawford

Any roller head with work for this tool, as long as it’s large enough to hook around items that you haul in the back of your truck.

Adding a roller cover makes the tool a bit more gentle for pushing and pulling items that you don’t want scratched.

I kept dropping things such as my keys or cell phone in the gap between the driver’s seat and the console in my car.

It is tough to retrieve the items dropped in that space because the gap is so small and my hand doesn’t fit.

I usually ended up reaching for a stick or wire hanger to pull the items out, which is not very convenient.

Recently, I found this solution: I cut pieces of foam pipe insulation to the length of the gaps, and then I wedged them in the gaps on either side of the console.

Nothing falls into the gaps anymore! – James Goldstein

When you unbox a large item at your house (a new TV or kitchen appliance, for example) save one or two large slabs of cardboard before recycling the rest.

Store the cardboard pieces behind your workbench or tuck them along a wall in your garage or workshop and you’ll have a disposable drop cloth at the ready for your next messy project.

Large pieces of cardboard are great for covering your workbench or floor when finishing furniture or working with messy glue or paint.

They also come in very handy for DIY automotive tasks.

A slab of cardboard is a bit more comfortable to lay on than the driveway when you have to scoot under a car, and it’ll catch any drips that may fall while you work.

Freezing water can seep into the window tracks and create drag when you try to open the window.

That drag can damage the window regulator cables, costing you almost $300.

You can avoid the problem entirely by lubricating the window tracks with spray silicone or dry teflon spray lubricant.

Lower the window and shoot the spray right into the front and back window track.

Apply enough lube so it drips all the way down the track.

Then operate the window through several open and close cycles to spread the lube along the entire track.

Use glass cleaner and a paper towel to remove any spray that lands on the glass.

I store my heavy air compressor on a mechanic’s creeper to make it easier to move around my shop and to take out to the garage or driveway.

I bought my creeper at a yard sale for $15 and I love it. — Neal Halsey

If you don’t do your own car maintenance but have a mechanic’s creeper stowed away in your garage, this is another use for the handy rolling platform.

Air compressors can be very heavy and cumbersome to haul around your workshop or garage, so putting it on wheels can save you a lot of sore muscles later on!

And, depending on the size of your compressor, there may be enough room to store your compressor hose on the creeper, too.

If you walk around with tools in your pockets, don’t be surprised if you tear a hole in your car seat, sofa or easy chair. If a perfect repair is important, call a pro to fix it.

But if you just want to prevent further tearing, you can fix it yourself with a leather/vinyl repair kit. The kit is inexpensive, and the repair takes only an hour. But don’t expect perfection.

You’ll still see the tear, and you probably won’t get a perfect color match. However, this fix will contain the tear and look better than a gaping hole.

Buy a kit at any hardware store, home centre or auto parts store. Follow the cleaning instructions in the kit and trim the damaged area to remove any frayed edges.

Then cut the backing fabric so it extends under the tear by at least 1.2cm. Glue it in place (Step 1) and let it dry for the recommended time. Then mix the heat-set coloured filler.

This is the hardest and most frustrating part of the repair. But take your time and get as close to the color as you can. Apply just enough colorant to fill in the tear.

Then cover it with the textured mat and apply heat (Step 2).

Let it cool and remove the mat (Step 3).

Step 1: Glue in the reinforcement fabric Tuck the backing under the damaged area to form a patch.

Then apply adhesive around the edges and the middle.

Let it dry before adding colourant.

Step 2: Cure the patch with heat. Touch the heating tool (included with the kit) to the face of a hot clothes iron.

Then press the hot tool onto the textured mat and hold it in place.

Step 3: Check out the results The patch won’t be perfect. But it sure beats the look of a tear or burn.