How to Get a FOB Key Out of a VW Passat


1. Sit on the driver's seat and make sure the vehicle is in 'Park.'
2. Press and hold one foot against the brake pedal.
3. Locate the silver 'Gear Change' button on your Passat's shifter.
4. Press and release the 'Gear Change' button three times. You will hear a clicking noise which indicates the FOB key is now unlocked.
5. Remove the FOB key from the ignition. The 'Immobilizer Active' alert will turn off.
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How to Change a Car Battery Without Losing Power


1. Make sure the car ignition is turned off. Remove the keys from the ignition to be sure.
2. Set the jump starter power switch to the "Off" position.
3. Connect the positive (red) cable of the jump starter to the positive clamp that is connected to the terminal of the battery to be removed. Connect it so as to not interfere with the loosening and removal of the battery clamp from the terminal.
4. Connect the negative (black) clamp to the car’s chassis or a solid non-moving metal component or body part.
5. Turn the jump starter power switch to "On."
6. Using the wrench, loosen the bolt that holds the positive clamp on the terminal of the battery you're replacing. Slide the cable clamp off the terminal and place it away from the battery. Make sure the clamp does not come in contact with any grounded metal parts of the vehicle. Wrap it in a towel or rag to provide insulation from surrounding parts.
7. Loosen the negative clamp and remove it from the terminal in the same manner.
8. Firmly grasp the old battery and lift it from the vehicle.
9. Position the new battery in the vehicle battery area.
10. Position the positive cable clamp on the positive terminal of the new battery. Carefully tighten the clamp hardware with the wrench.
11. Position and connect the negative clamp to its terminal in the same way.
12. Turn the jump starter power switch to "Off."
13. Disconnect the jump starter clamps from the battery terminals and clamps.
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How to Disconnect a BMW X5 2002 Battery


1. Remove the key from the ignition. Open the trunk of the X5.
2. Lift up the carpet lining above the spare tire. Remove the four retaining nuts around the center of the spare tire with a 10-mm socket attached to a ratchet.
3. Lift the spare tire out of the trunk. Remove the bolts on each end of the crossbar over the battery with a 13-mm socket and ratchet. Lift the crossbar out of the trunk. Loosen the negative battery cable with a 10-mm socket and ratchet. Remove the cable from the battery. Repeat the process on the positive cable.
4. Lift the battery out of the trunk. Insert the new battery in the same alignment as the old one. Attach the positive battery cable and tighten it with the 10-mm socket and ratchet. Repeat the process with the negative cable. Replace the crossbar and secure the bolts with a 13-mm socket and ratchet.
5. Replace the spare tire. Secure the retaining nuts with a 10-mm socket and ratchet set. Replace the carpet over the spare tire area and close the trunk.
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How to Change the Brake Pads on a BMW 323


1. Loosen the lug nuts at all four wheels. Raise the vehicle and lower it onto jack stands at all four corners. Remove the wheels. You can also work on the front and then the rear if you prefer, or if you have only two jack stands.
2. Disconnect the brake pad wear sensor on the front passenger side that goes into the caliper where the brake pads are located. Pull the plastic covers off of the caliper guide bolts.These bolts are located on the top and bottom of the caliper on the side that faces the wheel well. Loosen the upper and lower caliper guide bolts as far as they can go and then push the guide bolts out with a flat head screwdriver.
3. Pry out the anti-rattle clip with a screwdriver. The clip is located on the side of the caliper that faces outward. Slide the caliper off of the rotor. Support the caliper with a piece of wire or a box while you work so that there is no weight on the brake line.
4. Remove the inner and outer brake pads. Compress the caliper piston with a C-clamp so that the new, thicker brake pads can slide over the rotor. The piston is located on the inside of the caliper and is the part that presses against the brake pad when the brakes are applied. To compress the piston, place one side of the C-clamp on the piston and the other side on the outer surface of the caliper. Tighten the C-clamp until you see the piston compress into the caliper.
5. Clean the caliper and nearby parts with brake cleaner and a clean, dry rag. Install the inner brake pad by pressing the clip on the brake pad into the caliper piston. Slide the outer pad into the slot in the brake pad carrier.
6. Slide the caliper over the rotor. Reinstall the brake caliper retaining bolts and tighten them. Reinstall the anti-rattle clip by pulling the ends into the holes with a pair of needle nose pliers. Reinstall the covers for the caliper bolts. Reinstall the brake pad wear cable. Repeat for the other three corners of the vehicle.
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How to Replace a Jetta 1.8T Thermostat


1. Remove the radiator hose from the thermostat housing by using a screwdriver to loosen the band clamp that secures the hose to the housing. With the clamp loosened, pull the hose off the thermostat housing. Lift the hose vertically to drain any fluid back into the radiator.
2. Turn the two bolts that hold the thermostat housing onto the Jetta's intake manifold, then pull the thermostat housing off the intake to expose the thermostat.
3. Pull the old thermostat out of the intake manifold and discard it. Set the new thermostat into the hole in the intake manifold.
4. Pull the old thermostat gasket off the intake, then place a bead of RTV silicone gasket maker around the bottom edge of the thermostat housing to create a seal. Allow 15 minutes for the RTV silicone to cure.
5. Place the thermostat housing back onto the intake manifold and bolt it into place.
6. Slide the radiator hose back onto the thermostat housing and secure the hose by tightening the band clamp.
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How to DIY Troubleshoot a Mercedes


1. Inspect the paintwork for damage. Scratches, dents and corrosion can all be indicative of greater damage elsewhere. Any scratch on the paint can be expensive, because Mercedes often used limited run paints (restricted to certain cars and years of manufacture). Paint needs to be repaired soon, as it can lead to early rust. Any dents in the body panel could mean that the Mercedes was in an accident and could have frame damage underneath. If there is corrosion in the panel then it is guaranteed that there is rust elsewhere, especially on the undercarriage.
2. Open the hood and inspect the engine. There should be no debris in the engine bay or radiator. If your Mercedes is a carbureted model, then inspect the barrel intakes for damage to the valves. Damaged carburetor valves can lead to irregular air-fuel mixes that can damage your piston or sleeves. If your engine is fuel injected, then inspect the fuel lines for leaks (pay special attention to the rubber hoses, as they have a tendency to become brittle with age). Inspect the power lines on the hybrid model for any damage (do not touch damaged ones). Call a Mercedes dealership to repair a hybrid model.
3. Turn the car on and listen to it idle. The hybrid Mercedes should not run the engine while the car is sitting still, only when under power. Non-hybrids should idle around 2000 rpm (if it idles higher than this, there may be a problem with the fuel-air mix). Watch the engine temperature. Even on a hot day, the engine should remain cool in idle.
4. Drive the Mercedes forward and listen for the engine. AMG models should roar when the throttle is pushed in, even at sedate speeds. Non-AMG models should be whisper quiet, even at highway speeds (if you hear the engine, then some of the noise isolation material has fallen off). Mercedes prides itself on providing quiet interiors on their regular cars. The car should easily absorb any bumps in the road. If the car rocks a lot then the shocks may be shot.
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How to Remove the Mirror From a Mercedes Benz 450


1. Park the car in a sunny spot. Try to park the car in an area where the internal temperature of the car reaches above 75 degrees. If you are working in the winter, you can use a small heat gun or hair dryer to warm the adhesive that holds the mirror in place. Allow the Mercedes to sit in the sun for at least two hours.
2. Locate the area where the mirror attaches to the button glued to the windshield. A small screw holds the mirror on this button. Unscrew the screw and set it aside.
3. Remove any electronic wires attached to the mirror by pulling the wires gently with pliers. These wires control the thermometer inside the mirror, the auto dim feature and sometimes a heating mechanism. Your mirror may have some or all of these features, depending on the features included on your Mercedes 450.
4. Turn the mirror gently clockwise to loosen it from the button on the windshield. Set the mirror down in a safe place where it will not get broken, scratched or sat on.
5. Grasp the sides of the button with a crescent wrench. Gently twist the button in a clockwise direction until the button pops off of the glass surface. If this does not work, insert a razor blade between the glass and the button and apply gentle pressure to pop the button off of the glass.
6. Place a small amount of adhesive remover onto any glue remaining on the surface of the glass. Allow the remover to sit for 10 minutes. Then wipe the residue away with a soft cloth. You can also use the razor blade to scrape away the adhesive.
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BMW 530i Troubleshooting


1. Locate and check the Service Advisor for maintenance issues. The Service Advisor is located between the speedometer and tachometer. This gauge keeps track of your mileage and any maintenance issues that need to be addressed in your car. Here you can access the status of your car's brake pads, fluid levels and other general maintenance issues. A service that needs to be updated or is dangerously close to the deadline will be highlighted with a triangle symbol.
2. Review your car's Check Control center for indicator lights or malfunctions. Located above the Service Advisor display, the Check Control center monitors certain functions of the vehicle and triggers an indicator light when there is a malfunction. To address these issues, press the 'check' button on the turn signal lever, and text instructions will accompany and explain any malfunctions that occur.
3. Check your car's Condition Based Service maintenance system for any further issues that need to be addressed. This maintenance system keeps track of the dates needed for oil changes, brake maintenance, spark plugs and locally mandated inspections.
4. Locate your car's Service and Warranty Information booklet for further troubleshooting. If your issues are not addressed in this booklet, consider taking your vehicle to a professional. BMW recommends that your car be serviced and repaired at your local BMW center.
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How to Change the Rear Shocks on an E36


1. Pull back the trunk liner to access the upper shock mounting nuts. Use a socket and ratchet to remove the two nuts that hold the top of the shock to the body of the car.
2. Using the floor jack, raise the rear of the car to gain access to the lower shock mounting bolt. Leave the tire in slight contact with the ground. From under the car, remove the large bolt that holds the lower part of the shock to the trailing arm.
3. Remove the shock from the car and place it a work bench or on a flat stable surface. Remove the nut that holds the upper strut mount onto the shock. Use a pair of Vise-Grips on the end of the shock to keep it from turning while the nut is removed. Remove the upper strut mount.
4. Install the old strut mount onto the new shock in the reverse of removal, ensuring that the washers and bushings are oriented correctly. It is recommended to install new mounts when changing the shocks.
5. Install the new shock by first loosely bolting it to the trailing arm with the bolt. Do not tighten the bolt. Maneuver the upper part of the shock into place so that the two studs slide through the holes in the bodywork.
6. Install and tighten the two nuts that hold the upper end of the shock in place. Tighten the lower bolt to 57 ft.-lbs. with a torque wrench. Repeat for the other side.
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How to Convert to Bluetooth on Mercedes


1. Switch on a Bluetooth-compatible mobile phone and activate the Bluetooth connection on the phone. This procedure varies depending on phone. You may also have to make your phone visible to other devices. Both the Bluetooth settings and the Visibility settings are usually found in the 'Connections' area on the phone's menu.
2. From the SYS menu, activate Bluetooth. The SYS button is in the second column of buttons on the audio control unit in the dash. It's the third button down. Press 'SYS' and select 'Activate Bluetooth'. A checkmark will appear.
3. Register your phone with the car. Press the 'TEL' button on the audio control unit and select 'Bluetooth Phones' and 'Update'. The car will search for your phone. The system can hold data on up to 10 phones. The car will add your phone to its phone list.
4. Select 'Options' and then 'Authorize'. An input menu for the passcode appears. Enter the same passcode you used when making your phone visible. You can use the telephone keypad in the audio control unit to enter the numbers. Press the telephone icon on the audio control unit to confirm on completion of the number entry.
5. The Bluetooth connection will be established. You may have to enter the passcode again in the phone, if it prompts you to do so.
6. Press 'TEL' then enter the number, and then press the telephone icon button to make a call using the keypad on the car's audio control unit. The audio system's hands-free device will call using the authorized phone's radio.
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