How to Change amp; Replace the Antenna Mast on a 1994 Mercedes S500


1. Loosen the nut securing the antenna mast to the driver side rear quarter panel, near the trunk lid, using an adjustable wrench.
2. Switch the vehicle's ignition on and turn on the radio. Quickly pull out the antenna mast and attached nylon cord from the rear quarter panel, while the power antenna motor attempts to extend the mast. The operation of the power antenna motor only lasts for a few seconds.
3. Shut off the radio and quickly make your way to the rear of the vehicle. With the power antenna motor running, hold the bottom metal portion of the new antenna with one hand, while feeding the attached nylon cord into the mounting base, located on the rear quarter panel.
4. Continue feeding the nylon cord into the mounting base, using a twisting motion, until the power antenna motor successfully pulls the nylon cable in automatically. Secure the new antenna mast to the base, using the supplied nut and an adjustable wrench.
5. Switch the vehicle's ignition off to finish the installation process.
Continue lendo

How to Reset the Check Light in a BMW


1. Create a grounding apparatus for the diagnostic connector. Attach the copper clip to the large end of the insulator. Connect the copper wire to the skinny part of the insulator. Connect the other end of the wire to a banana plug. Connect the wire on the BMW pin to the other side of the banana plug.
2. Turn the key in the ignition half way so that the lights come on but the engine is not running.
3. Open the hood and locate the ground plug in the electrical system near the engine. It is usually a small octagon shaped screw or nut close to the data link connector. Attach the open side of the copper clip to the ground plug.
4. Locate the data link connector and unscrew the cap exposing the pins underneath. Press the end of the male pin into the number 7 plug inside the data link connector. This is usually the middle right hole on a 15-point connector and the very bottom hole on a 20-point connector. Hold the pin in place for three seconds to reset the oil light, and nine seconds to reset the inspection light.
5. Remove the pin once the light resets. Screw the cap back on. Turn the engine off, then turn it back on. If the lights are still there, try resetting the lights again. Once the lights remain off, turn off the engine and close the hood.
Continue lendo

How to Upgrade an Audi


1. Select the wheels. Many companies manufacture wheels for Audis, so there are many choices. Companies such as BBS make very high quality wheels, or you can use OEM wheels from a different Audi model. If your Audi is not an S model (S4, S6, RS4, for example), then installing a set of larger wheels from one of these models is a way to upgrade the wheels and retain a factory appearance.
2. Purchase the proper tires. When selecting tires, take into account what you will be using your Audi for. If you do a lot of driving in the snow or rain, an all-season tire is the best choice. On the other hand, if you live in a warm climate, an ultra-high-performance summer tire will provide impressive handling. Have a professional tire shop install the tires.
3. Park the car on a flat, level surface if you are replacing the wheel and tire package yourself. Loosen the lug nuts for the wheels with a lug wrench. Use a floor jack to lift the car and lower it onto jack stands. Finish removing the lug nuts and the old wheel. Wipe down the hub mounting surface with a rag and degreaser.
4. Slide the new wheel and tire onto the hub, ensuring that it is fully seated. Thread on the lug nuts and tighten them with the lug wrench. Lower the Audi back to the ground. Finish tightening the lug nuts progressively in a crisscross pattern to 90 foot-pounds. Finish installing the remaining three wheels. Check the tightness of the lug nuts after the car has been driven 100 miles.
Continue lendo

How to Change the Fan Belt on a 1992 Mercedes SEL 500


1. Open your Mercedes' hood so you can access the belt. Be sure the engine is cool before operating.
2. Loosen every bolt in the series that binds the belt into place. Take special care to remember the pattern in which the fan belt is attached. This is the same pattern you'll follow to route the new fan belt. Do not remove the bolts, simply loosen them so that the belt looses tension at each point.
3. Pull the belt out of each connection, making sure you leave it intact so that you can compare it to the new belt.
4. Stretch the old and new belts out completely with both hands. Compare the size of each belt to make sure the new belt will fit your Mercedes' engine.
5. Route the belt along each pulley, following the pattern you took note of when loosening the tension. Press down with a free hand after connecting the belt to each pulley so that you continuously create tension in the belt.
6. Tighten the belt at each point along the pattern by turning the bolts hard to the right, which will hold the belt in place.
7. Clean your workplace and put away all tools. Discard of the old fan belt.
Continue lendo

How to Turn Up Boost on a 1.8T


1. Remove the stock turbo-to-intercooler pressure tube by loosening the clamps that secure it to the silicone rubber connector on top of the engine. Slide the tube out of the connector and lay it off to one side so that you have easier access to the stock N75.
2. Identify the N75. The valve has a three-way fitting on the bottom, which has a 90-degree rubber elbow and corrugated vacuum line connected to one side and an angled, molded-rubber line secured with a hose clamp on the other. The corrugated line is clamped to the plastic intake tube just before the flex portion. Turn the N75 to expose the round top and the wiring harness attached there. Unplug the harness.
3. Grasp and remove the hose clamp on the bottom of the N75 where the short section of tube connects to the intake. Pull on the valve to release it. Cut the non-reusable hose clamps off the other two rubber lines using either a pair of wire cutters or a hobby-style rotary tool. Be careful not to nick the hoses.
4. Install the new N75J J valve in the exact orientation as the old N75, with the longer of the two side-facing fittings facing toward the intake tube. Use new hose clamps to replace the non-reusable units on the two previous hoses. Re-attach those two hoses, grasp the first hose clamp with pliers to release the pressure and slip the last fitting into it.
5. Slide the intercooler tube back into the rubber connector and tighten the hose clamp. Reconnect the wiring harness plug to your new N75J valve.
Continue lendo

How to Clean the Throttle Body in the Audi A4


1. Remove the air duct tube from the throttle body. You will need to unscrew the hose clamps to remove the tube.
2. Spray throttle body cleaner onto the throttle body, both inside and out. Allow it to liberally cover the throttle body and butterfly valve but avoid the throttle body sensors.
3. Wipe off the throttle body cleaner using a clean rag. Use a toothbrush to get the smaller areas that the rag cannot easily reach.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the Audi's throttle body is completely clean.
5. Reattach the air duct hose and tighten the hose clamp.
Continue lendo

How to Calculate Release Payments on a BMW


1. Read your lease agreement. Look for a buyout provision as well as early termination clause. Early termination clauses are generally reserved for people quitting a lease, but some may have a buyout stipulation.
2. Determine the capitalized cost. This is the difference between the total amount of paid lease installments and the purchase price of the car. For instance, if the purchase price is $40,000 and you have paid 50 installments of $667 on a five-year lease term, the balance or 'capitalized cost' would be $6,650.
3. Include applicable registration and licensing fees. Phone the nearest DMV office and get the costs of any title transfer fees and registration fees. Also calculate sales tax based on your state's sale tax rate.
4. Add the capitalized cost, registration and licensing fees with the sales tax. This will yield your lease release payment or buyout cost.
Continue lendo

How to Adjust the Compass on an OnStar Mirror


Quick Calibration
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Locate the on/off button on the rearview mirror.
3. Press and hold the on/off button until 'Cal' is displayed in the compass window.
4. Wait a few seconds for the compass window to display a north, south, east or west direction. If 'Cal' remains instead of the compass displaying a direction you will need to calibrate the compass manually.
Manual Calibration
5. Start the vehicle.
6. Locate the on/off button on the rearview mirror.
7. Activate compass calibration mode by pressing and holding the on/off button until 'Cal' is displayed in the compass window.
8. Drive the vehicle in 360 degree circles less than 5 miles per hour until the compass reads a direction.
Compass Variance
9. Use a magnetic variation zone map to determine your geographical location and the zone number which references your location.
10. Start the vehicle.
11. Locate the on/off button on the rearview mirror.
12. Make sure the compass displays a direction. If not you will need to calibrate the compass following the steps in Section 2.
13. Press and hold the on/off button on the rearview mirror until a zone number appears.
14. Press and release the on/off button causing the zone number to change. Continue to press and release the on/off button until the correct zone number is displayed.
Continue lendo

How to Replace a BMW Windshield Wiper Motor


1. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Loosen the retaining nut on the cable clamp and pull the clamp off.
2. Pull the wiper arm assembly away from the windshield.
3. Remove the retaining nut holding the wiper blade to the wiper motor assembly.
4. Remove the trim covering the wiper motor. This trim is located under the wiper arm assembly where the arm connects to the motor. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the trim in place, then pull the trim off.
5. Remove the bolts holding the wiper motor in place and pull the wiper motor out.
6. Unplug the electrical connector on the motor, and install the new motor. Installation is the reverse of removal for this component.
Continue lendo

How to Change the Backup Light Bulb in the BMW M3


1. Turn the engine of the M3 off and open the trunk. Put on a pair of clean gloves.
2. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to loosen the clip at the center of the trunk lid.
3. Fold the trim panel downward and pull the bulb socket down to disengage it form the electrical connector.
4. Rotate the bulb to the left and remove it from the bulb socket. Install a replacement bulb into the socket and rotate it to the right to secure it. Reattach the socket to the trunk lid. Once you hear a click, the bulb is secured.
5. Reattach the trim and the clip. Close the trunk lid.
Continue lendo