Author: Jason Kent

One of the first things that I do when I buy a used car is make a check-list of all the items that I need to address. Sometimes this list includes big things like engine issues but most of the time it is a handful of non-critical things. I like to get things close to if not better than they were when the car was new. When we purchased our 2005 Jaguar Vanden Plas one of the items I needed to take care of was a couple of side marker lights that weren’t working. VW Side Marker Socket – 1H0949111 Motorking Light Harness…

While investigating rough idle and stalling issues with our 2001 Volvo S60 I came across this helpful video from a guy named Robert. The more Volvo issues that I’ve researched the more I’ve come across his videos. He does a great job of explaining things in layman’s terms and showing the steps to take to diagnose and fix many common issues. Heavy Duty Rubber Gloves Shop Towels Robert DIY – YouTube Channel This particular video helped me to decide if I needed to service our PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventiliation) system or if something else was causing the idle issues. After taking just a few…

If you are having issues with a rough idle on your Volvo and you don’t have a record of the throttle body ever being cleaned then this is something you’ll want to consider doing. If there is an inexpensive project like this that I can do that removes grime from where it shouldn’t be and will possibly improve performance then I’m all for it. I did this project on our Volvo S60 last year and there is no doubt that it improved an idle issue that we were having. The car had intermittent problems prior to the cleaning with completely stalling out when we…

This is a great how-to video from Jason at FCP Euro about doing the timing belt service on a 2003 Volvo S60. It is important to change your timing belt at the recommended intervals to avoid a major engine failure which would almost certainly result in a lot of expensive repairs. I haven’t had to mess with the timing belt on our current S60 (yet) but this video did come in handy when I was troubleshooting a P0014 error code on our previous S60. FCP Euro – YouTube 12mm, 14mm, 15mm & 18mm wrench 3/8 Drive Ratchet/Socket Wrench 10mm, 14mm socket T30 torx/star…

If you own a Jaguar XJ8 and do your own maintenance or upgrades there will undoubtedly come a time when you’ll need to remove the liner from the trunk (boot for our UK friends). It’s a pretty simple process but I wanted to cover it with pictures to possibly help someone in the future. DeWalt Cordless Screwdriver Torx T30 bit Trim Removal Tool Note: Adding some photos for now. Back with description and write up soon. Last Updated:

I try to avoid buying cars that have spent more than a year of their existence up North trudging through harsh winters. The mix of snow and salt are not a friend to automobile undercarriages. The problem is, when I shop for cars I’m usually shopping for unique cars that are 10 years old or older and I have a specific exterior and interior color combination that I’m looking for, etc. This doesn’t always give me the ability to be picky about where a car has spent its life. When we purchased the Jaguar it was from someone here in Oklahoma but the…

Earlier this year my son had an encounter with a light pole in the high school parking lot with his Volvo S60. Fortunately no one was hurt but the Volvo sustained enough damage that repairing it was probably not a reasonable option. Aside from the obvious issues; both front air bags deployed, the transmission took a good hit and the starter got snapped off. Since I am relatively new to these cars I did go ahead and gather a few opinions before making a final decision on whether or not to have it repaired.  The consensus, as expected, was that it would cost much more…

While doing my routine preventative maintenance checks under the hood of our Volvo S60 I noticed right away that something wasn’t right. The piping that connects from the front of the car to the air box was just sitting there not connected to anything. Apparently when these cars get close to 15 years old the fittings where the air intake tube is held in place are no longer good enough to hold. This has to do with the reshaping of the plastic over time so the tabs and notches don’t quite grab on like they should. This isn’t something that would keep the car from running but…

I always seem to own cars that have issues with excessive brake dust accumulation on the wheels. Because of this I’ve spent my fair share of time squatted down scrubbing wheels, this is part of the reason I like wheels with 5 or 6 spokes as opposed to 20! I had resigned myself to the fact that this squatting is just part of keeping my cars clean until I saw some guys talking about wheel cleaners in a Facebook group that I belong to. They were actually talking about a BMW wheel cleaner but based on reviews and the fact that I could get .9 oz (27 ml)…

When I come across helpful videos or posts in my research I plan to share them on here as well with hopefully a little added value by providing links to the tools and products required for the project at hand. Changing disc brake pads and rotors is similar on most cars but there are usually some subtle differences so I always find it best to find a video or documentation to check for the specific car I’m working on. Some of these tool sizes may vary depending on you lug nut size, etc. 7mm Allen Hex Tool 17mm and 18mm Sockets…