How to Change Transmission Fluid amp; Filter

1. Allow the vehicle to cool completely before beginning work. Apply the parking brake. Raise the vehicle on one side with the floor jack. Place a jack stand under the vehicle at a solid support point such as a frame rail. Slowly lower the floor jack so the vehicle rests on the jack stand. Repeat for the other side of the vehicle.
2. Place the drain pan under the transmission and remove the drain plug from the transmission pan using the appropriately sized socket wrench, and allow the fluid to drain completely. After it has stopped draining, replace the drain plug in the transmission pan and tighten it securely.
3. Remove the bolts from the transmission pan using the socket wrench.
4. Carefully pry the pan away from the transmission using the flat head screwdriver. The pan will still have some fluid inside, so use caution not to spill it and set it to the side.
5. Clean the gasket surface of the transmission where the pan was removed. Remove all traces of gasket material and wipe it clean with a clean cloth.
6. Pour any remaining fluid in the transmission pan into the drain pan and clean the pan thoroughly. Wipe all pan surfaces dry with a clean cloth.
7. Remove the filter from the transmission valve body using the socket set or screwdriver depending upon the model, being careful not to damage any parts of the valve body, and throw it away.
8. Install the new filter and its seal onto the valve body, insert its bolts, and tighten it down firmly with the socket wrench. Some filters have the seal already installed on the filter, simplifying the process.
9. Install the new pan gasket onto the transmission pan. Put the pan in place against the transmission, and install the pan bolts. Tighten each bolt a little at a time in succession, working your way around the pan. Finish by tightening them all down to the manufacturer's listed torque specifications.
10. Lower the vehicle from the jack stands and add transmission fluid. Four quarts is typically a good quantity to start with, but check with your model's owners' manual to make sure you won't overfill the transmission at that level.
11. Start the vehicle and let it idle. Holding the brake pedal down, move the gear selector through the gears then back into the park position and allow the vehicle to idle for two more minutes in park.
12. Turn off the vehicle and check the transmission fluid level. It will be low, so add fluid until it reaches the correct levels on the dipstick. Do not overfill. Check under the vehicle for leaks after a short trip, and check the fluid again after the vehicle has reached full operating temperature, adding fluid if necessary.

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How to Remove a BMW 330Ci Factory Radio

1. Locate the left edge of the plastic trim piece that is located over the glove box on the passenger side. Slide the blade of the screwdriver carefully under the trim of the left end and pry up to release the trim from its clips. Continue, working right, to remove the trim piece.
2. Slide the screwdriver blade under the right edge of the trim piece that is located over the radio. Removing the first piece of trim will give you access to this. Pry the trim piece off, moving right to left, until you reach the steering column.
3. Locate the two Phillips screws at the top of the radio. These were exposed by the removal of the second piece of trim. Unscrew them and pull the radio out.
4. Disconnect any plugs or harnesses connected to the back of the radio, and take it all the way out.

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How to Change an A4 Headlamp

1. Open the hood by pulling on the release lever, located in the interior. Locate the tops of the headlights, which are concealed when the hood is shut.
2. Remove the two screws that hold the top of the headlight in place. These are located between the front of the headlight and the engine bay and are removed with a Torx bit. Set the screws where they won't become misplaced.
3. Loosen the screw located to the left (if working on the right side headlight, as you are looking at the car) of the headlight a couple of inches back from the front of the car. If you are working on the left headlight, the screw will be located to the right. Loosen the screw a turn or two until you feel the housing loosen a little. It is not necessary to remove the screw entirely.
4. Loosen the screw that holds the other side of the headlight housing in place. This screw is located farther back in the engine bay than the other screw and is a little more difficult to access. Loosen the screw until you feel the housing loosen, but do not remove the screw entirely.
5. Pull the headlight housing straight forward to remove it from the car. When it is far enough out to gain access to the wires, disconnect the wiring harness. Be careful not to drop the headlight housing or scratch the bumper as you remove the headlight.
6. Plug the wiring harness into the back of the new headlight, ensuring that the harness is securely installed. Install the headlight by carefully sliding it into the headlight recess. Thread in the top two Torx screws but do not tighten them. Tighten the lower screws with the Torx bit and then tighten the top two screws. Turn the headlights on to ensure that the headlights are functioning properly.

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How to Replace the Thermostat in an Audi A4

1. Raise the front end of your Audi A4 by driving up on a set of car ramps and placing your vehicle in park.
2. Place a 4-by-4 inch wood block behind one of the rear tires to keep the vehicle from rolling backward.
3. Use a socket wrench to remove the pan that covers the bottom of the engine.
4. Locate the red plastic cap that was behind the pan that you just removed. This red cap is your radiator drain plug. Remove the radiator cap from the top of the radiator and then place a drain pan under the red drain plug and turn it with a pair of pliers to allow the coolant to drain completely from the radiator. Once the coolant has completely drained, turn the drain plug to close it off. Be careful when using the pliers on the drain plug that you do not snap the plug off.
5. Slide under the vehicle and locate the thermostat housing that is sitting just above the oil pan drain plug. Pour the drained coolant from the drain pan into an empty plastic container and label the container so that you do not reuse the expelled coolant. Place the empty drain pan under the thermostat housing before you attempt to remove the housing to allow the coolant from the engine to drain into it.
6. Remove the 10 mm bolts that hold the thermostat housing on the engine block with a metric socket wrench. Do not lay directly underneath the thermostat housing as the coolant from the engine will begin to drain as soon as you loosen the bolts on the housing. Keep a towel or cloth with you to clean off any spilled coolant .
7. Remove the thermostat housing from the engine and lift the old thermostat out of the housing. Use a piece of emery cloth to clean the face of the thermostat housing and the engine block where the housing is mounted from any remaining gasket material or debris.
8. Spread a layer of gasket seal around the face of the thermostat housing and place the new thermostat on the housing, with the thermostat spring facing out from the housing. Position the housing back on the engine block and secure it to the block with the bolts.
9. Replace the pan the sits across the bottom of the engine of your Audi A4 and then refill the radiator with coolant and put the radiator cap back on the radiator. Remove the wood block from the back tire of your vehicle. Turn the engine on and drive the Audi A4 off of the car ramps. Allow the engine to run at idle for a few minutes to verify that the thermostat is working properly and then shut the engine off.

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How to Remove the Ashtray from an Audi

1. Locate the ashtray in the center console of the Audi below the radio and slide the ashtray insert out of the console and set it aside. Remove the radio from the center console, using the four keys to unlock the radio from the dashboard.
2. Slide the radio out and detach the electrical wiring plugs on the back of the radio by hand. Set the radio out of the way.
3. Remove the climate controls from the console, pushing the back of the housing in to detach the controls. Slide the climate controls forward, unplugging the electrical wires by hand. Set the controls aside.
4. Lift up on the back and front of the trim piece around the shifter knob gently until you feel it release from the clips. Set the trim out of the way. Remove the shifter boot by hand carefully and set it aside.
5. Locate the two 8 mm screws at the base of the ashtray carrier. Unfasten the screws with a screwdriver and set the screws in a safe place.
6. Lift the ashtray carrier out of the center console and remove it from the Audi.

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DIY CLK Headlights

1. Turn your headlight level dial to "0." This dial is located to the left of your steering wheel. Turn the ignition off and open the hood.
2. Access the rear part of the headlight lens. You'll find two black covers. The outside large cover is for the low-beam bulb; the inside small cover is for the high-beam bulb.
3. Remove the black cover associated with the headlight you are replacing by turning it counterclockwise to twist it off. Inside, you'll see the rear part of the bulb.
4. Grasp the rear part of the bulb and turn it about 1 inch counterclockwise to release it. Pull the bulb and socket out of the socket seat.
5. Wrap the glass in a paper towel or lint-free cloth and pull the glass bulb straight away from the socket.
6. Wrap the replacement bulb in a paper towel or lint-free cloth and insert it straight onto the bulb assembly. Do not touch the bulb with your bare fingers. Oil from your fingers will damage the bulb and reduce its life precipitously.
7. Insert the bulb and socket assembly back into the hole. Gently turn it clockwise about an inch to lock it. Place the black cover back onto the access hole; twist it clockwise.

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How to Do a Rad Flush on a BMW E36

1. Jack up the BMW with a floor jack and lower it onto a jack stand. Repeat for the remaining corners of the car so all four corners are supported. Let the car cool down fully if it was recently driven.
2. Turn the heater controls to the hottest setting. Turn the ignition key to the 'On' position. Turn on the fan and leave it on the slowest setting. These steps will open the heater valves.
3. Locate the engine block coolant drain plug, which is located on the block, just under the manifold on the passenger's side of the engine.
4. Place a coolant catch container directly below the drain bolt. Remove the drain plug with a socket and ratchet and allow the coolant to drain into the container. If you remove the plug from below the car, wear eye protection.
5. Allow all of the coolant to drain out. Reinstall the bolt with a new aluminum washer. Tighten the bolt to 18 foot-pounds.
6. Move the coolant container under the radiator. Slowly remove the plastic drain plug located in the bottom of the radiator. Replace the drain plug once all of the coolant has drained out. Tighten the plug to 18 to 27 inch-pounds. Do not over tighten the plug.
7. Remove the small bleed located just to the right of the radiator cap. On M3s, the screw is on the thermostat housing.
8. Place a funnel in the expansion tank opening. Fill the tank with a 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water. Fill the coolant system slowly to allow the coolant to reach all of the areas of the system. A 4-cylinder engines use seven quarts of fluid, and 6-cylinders use 10.6 qts. of fluid. The M3's engine uses 11.1 qts. of fluid
9. Bleed the cooling system only if the coolant expansion tank is attached to the side of the radiator. If the expansion tank is separate, the system will bleed itself.
10. Ensure that the bleed screw has been removed. Fill the expansion tank until fluid starts to pour out of the bleeder valve. Fill the tank until there are no bubbles in the coolant coming out of the valve. Tighten the bleed screw to 71 inch-pounds.
11. Start the engine and let it warm up to operating temperature. Turn off the motor and let it cool. Top up the expansion tank with coolant if necessary. Lower the car off of the jack stands.

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How do I Sync a Phone to a Mercedes C300?

1. Turn the rotating Comand dial near the center armrest on your C300 to navigate to the 'Phone' screen. Alternatively, you can press the 'TEL' key located near the radio controls.
2. Pull the dial downward to choose the 'Phone' application in the lower left corner of the Comand display.
3. Push downward on the dial to select the application and, when prompted, select the 'Phone List' menu.
4. Turn the dial to the right to choose 'Options,' in the top right corner of the display, and push down on the Comand dial to select 'Options.'
5. Ensure that 'External Authorization' is selected, and push down on the dial to select it.
6. Check the screen to ensure that it reads 'Ready for External Authorization,' at which point you can prepare your phone for pairing.
7. Open the menu on your phone by pressing the menu key or soft key, and enter the options or settings menu.
8. Select 'Set Up Bluetooth' and choose 'Add Device' or 'Search for Devices from Here' depending on the type of phone you have.
9. Select 'MB Bluetooth' when a list of all pairing-enabled devices within range is shown. The selection can be made by pushing down on the Comand controller dial.
10. Confirm the pairing procedure on your C300's Comand screen. Highlight 'Yes' and push down on the controller when asked 'Do you want My Phone to be authorized?'
11. Create a Bluetooth pass code for the connection using the Comand controller on your car. Although pass codes of up to 16 digits are allowed, four-digit pass codes are most likely to work with your Bluetooth-enabled phone.
12. Select 'OK' on the Comand screen after entering the pass code.
13. Enter the pass code created in Step 11 on your Bluetooth-enabled phone when prompted, and press 'OK' on the phone after entering it. After you've entered the pass code, your phone may ask if you want to accept the connection from 'MB Bluetooth,' at which point you should select 'Yes.'
14. Verify that 'My Phone' is displayed in the lower left corner of the 'Phone' menu after completing the pairing process. This provides visual confirmation that your C300 and phone are synced via Bluetooth. You can make calls directly from the Comand screen or by dialing numbers on your cell phone.

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How Can I Read the Fault Codes on a BMW 525?

1. Slide the BMW's key into the ignition. Don't start the car or switch on the electrical system. Just leave the key there for later use.
2. Connect the diagnostic scan tool to the port beneath the dashboard and steering column. You may have to feel around for it, but it's a large outlet and you will not need tools to find it.
3. Turn the scanner on.
4. Turn the key in the ignition. This will boot up the BMW's diagnostic system.
5. Wait for the code to appear on the scanner. Jot the alpha-numeric code onto a scrap of paper before turning the BMW and the scanner off.
6. Copy the alpha-numeric trouble code into a search engine. You will likely get a page of results that offer definitions for that particular fault code. Write this definition down. If you seek out a professional mechanic, offering this information will save him time, as he will not have to troubleshoot the issue.

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How to Read the Required Tire Pressure

1. Locate the the maximum tire pressure reading on the sidewall of the tire. Do not go by the recommendation in your car owner's manual.
2. Note the maximum PSI (pounds per square inch).The label will say something like 'MAX. PRESSURE 240 kPa (35psi).' Ignore the 240 kPa and use the 35 psi as the proper pressure for the tire.
3. Push the tire pressure gauge firmly on to the tire valve and record the reading. Compare the reading against the recommended pressure on the side wall of the tire to see if you need to inflate or deflate your tires.

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