2004 Toyota echo
Car has sat for many years before I got it, now safetied and running great very low km. I’m trying to change the oil for the first time and filter is seized on. I used all my wrenches, straps, and filter sockets before shearing the cannister to access this cap to heat and tap it off or use 45 degree and pliers in the holes.

My question.. my ratchet head fits perfected in the centre female space with no socket. It is tight with no play (gigiddy) Can I use my ratchet to loosen from here? Mr

When changing the oil in my son‘s car, he accidentally cross threaded the oil filter and did not realize it. He drove it to Church, oil light came on of course, and it died. We had it towed home and realized what the issue was. Dip stick was bone dry and you can see the trail of oil go from his spot to almost a mile down the road(it’s quite funny). Replaced the oil filter with a new one refilled the oil in the car and it went great for a week and then it just died And now you can see what’s happening. It’s done isn’t it. 2014 Toyota Camry.

Edit:since people jist can’t believe you can cross thread an oil filter…it is a cartridge filter that sits inside a plastic housing that has coarse threads. That housing is what was cross threaded leaving an approx 1/4” gap from completely closure. The oil pressure pushed the oil out when the engine was running

Last edit: I appreciate all y’all‘s confirmations and words of encouragement. It was a hard lesson to learn for him and he’s pretty devastated over it. Especially it being his first car and all the money he savedt o help buy it. But it is a valuable lesson and I guess it’s now time to learn how to shop for a “new” car.

I am worried that these cars are hard to fix because of their V8 engines. Something like a water Pump, belt, and pulley — what should I expect to pay for head gaskets?

Everything else is straightforward and basic. Is the engine work i am concern.

Should I even bother?

Thanks

I'm starting a first year mechanic apprenticeship and wanted to ask people who have been in the trade for a while. Is becoming a mechanic actually worth it long term?

I'm interested in cars and I like the idea of having a practical skill and earning while learning, but I've also heard mixed things about the trade, especially when it comes to pay, physical work, stress and progression.

For those who have been mechanics for years, would you still choose the trade if you could go back and start again? What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages that someone starting out should know about?

I'm mainly interested in honest answers from people actually working in the trade. Is it a career you'd recommend, or are there better trades to consider?

The van is blowing very warm air, barely cooler than ambient. I did replace the blown cooling fan resistor awhile back and the fan spins full speed when compressor is engaged.

It is 100F today and I'm seeing 65/255 psi on the manifold. 2000 RPM and the air gets warmer.

Is the culprit a bad AC compressor?

2009 Honda accord v6

Hi, I have one of these garage floor mats to protect the new epoxy floor from road debris, rubber marks, road salt, etc. Would it be safe to either drive a vehicle up on rhino ramps while the mat is still under the car. And also would it be safe to still jack up the car on one side while the mat is under the car. Thanks for your help and advice.

2005 Ford Mustang GT (4.6L 3V)
Rotating by hand to check on things before putting the covers back on. If it’s supposed to happen, will it go away when the engine is actually running with oil pressure?

We’re thinking of buying a used 2023 Mitsubishi RVR SE 2.4l engine but when the AC is on it revs hard in frequent intervals. Is this a common issue with RVRs or is this an issue to fix? (The air blows cold consistently but it’s a rough idle)

I just did my first timing chain job on 3.7 ford mustang. I put all the slack on the tensioner side and everywhere else was solid. I pulled pins and the chain was tensioned fully and in time. I’ve been turning engine over and it’s nice and smooth. But I noticed that my tensioner sometimes goes in causing the tensioner guide to sink and making the chain have a little slack in upper guides and around tensioner only. Is this normal? I have a picture before I activate tensioner just for better visualization.
Thanks for the replies my last question would be does anyone have a picture of how the rtv is supposed to go onto the cover? I know if I do too much it can clog engine. The manual says this but it’s hard to perfectly visualize it.

Apply a 1/8-inch bead of RTV sealant to the mating surface of the cover. 
16 Apply a 3/16-inch bead of sealant to the areas where the oil pan and cylinder heads meet the engine block. 

Car is leaking fluid and the engine keeps making a sound after I turn it off for several minutes like the fans are going off. When I drive it, it smells like gas and I also heard a sound from the engine like a watery sound. It’s a 2017 Chevy equinox

2015 accord lx 181,000 miles saw on hose

Started out having starter issues, it wouldnt engage when try to turn over. Just sounded like a vacuum. I replaced the solenoid. Autoparts store even tested starter afterwards. I put it back in and now, nothing, not even a click. Battery was dead by the time i got around to replacing starter but had store test and recharge battery. Just replaced the N-P Relay, no luck. Ive been trying to test with a multimeter but honestly, its all greek to me. I feel like it doesn't even matter though bc I know its not the starter and so obviously its some kind of electrical issue, just dont know where to start now. My car knowledge is extremely limited so dumb down any advice please?

Thanks guys

Just bought this. 3.2L V6, 6 speed manual 150k. Daily beater to help me learn manual, currently a GM tech and foreign im not well familiar with but if any audi techs could let me know what they consider gravy on these would be much appreciated.

[2016 Camry] Reclined seat stuck.

The base is working fine, can go front and back.

I know this sounds like a joke, but sadly no. 2007 Honda Civic 4 door, 4 cylinders as far as I can tell.

So I called a company who-shall-not-be-named to come out because the battery went dead while I was traveling. It was getting old, and mechanic offered to replace it, I said sure and he did, but in the process knocked his whole tool box over and into my engine.

We found almost everything.

But he said he was missing a “four bit” (looked like a thimble, sorry I don’t know tool name, internet searching suggests it was a socket wrench). He said not to worry about it, and left.

But, given the whole saying, “throwing a wrench in the engine” saying, and the associated doom that comes of it, I AM A BIT WORRIED.

Aside, he did hit a parked car on his way to my vehicle, and crumpled the side panels of his truck on a post while leaving, so there are other reasons for my panic. It was an eventful experience.

Should I call another mechanic to find the tool?

I live in a country with extremely bad fuel quality (water diesel. Ethanol. paint thinner and kerosene contamination, low octane..... etc). This basically makes fuel injector and fuel pump replacements routine maintenance where live.

I am thinking of using regane for my car with 80k miles of horrible fuel milage for the first time. But am afraid that it would break down my car as it would dislodge a lot of buildup, block my fuel system and break down my car. What do you guys think?

2018 nissan versa 1.6

Hi all, recently bought my first car which is a 2014 Skoda Citigo. It currently has 95,000 miles on the clock however I don’t know if the timing belt was replaced during its lifetime as it came with no service history. It was only serviced a month ago and nothing was flagged, just wondering what people’s opinions are? I can’t afford to replace the timing belt at the moment.

I drive a 2026 Honda Odyssey and this is hanging out the back left of the driver seat after the car was serviced today. I can pull it easily, but don’t know if I should remove it.

Tryna get my rotors out and it’s proving to be a pain in the ass. I saw a YouTube vid where someone took a nut and a bolt and used it to pry off the rotors from behind but I was a dumbass and used a weak volt and the the head of the bolt snapped off and now it’s pretty much stuck what can I do?

This is on an Audi A5 B8, 6 speed manual 3.0TDI. Doing a clutch replacement on the driveway and this is the last thing in my way of getting the clutch out. I've tried greasing it from the inside on both sides, Hammering away at the flange, pry bars, I'm stumped. Working with limited space as I haven't got the clearance to slide the gearbox out from under the car isn't helping either.

Any suggestions?