**The Importance of Understanding Your Car's Fuse Box**

If your car's electrical system is malfunctioning, it can be frustrating to diagnose the problem. One way to identify the source of the issue is to check the fuse box. This simple process involves pulling out fuses one at a time and checking if the light has gone out. By doing so, you can determine which circuit is affected and make the necessary repairs. In this article, we'll discuss how to use your car's fuse box effectively.

To begin, locate the fuse box in your vehicle. This is usually found under the dashboard or on the side panel of the car. Next, pull out each fuse one at a time, making sure the fuse is completely removed before checking if the light has gone out. If the light remains lit after removing a fuse, it means that circuit is still functioning and can be safely ignored. However, if the light goes out, it indicates that the corresponding circuit is faulty.

Once you've identified the faulty circuit, consult your car's manual or seek advice from a professional mechanic to determine the cause of the problem. In many cases, a blown fuse is simply a symptom of a larger issue, such as a short circuit or electrical overload. By identifying and addressing the root cause of the problem, you can prevent future issues and ensure your vehicle remains in good working condition.

**The Benefits of Standard Transmissions**

When it comes to purchasing a new car, many drivers are swayed by the convenience and reliability of automatic transmissions. However, standard transmissions offer several advantages that make them an attractive option for many drivers. One of the primary benefits of standard transmissions is their ability to achieve better gas mileage. Unlike automatic transmissions, which use fluid to transmit power, standard transmissions have no slippage and are more efficient as a result.

In addition to improved fuel efficiency, standard transmissions also offer faster acceleration and quicker shifting times. This is because there is no delay between the driver's input and the transmission's response, allowing for more precise control over the vehicle's speed and performance. Furthermore, modern standard transmissions are designed with hydraulic clutches that provide smooth, seamless shifting, eliminating the need for manual operation.

**The Reliability of Standard Transmissions**

One of the most significant advantages of standard transmissions is their reliability. Unlike automatic transmissions, which require complex systems and fluids to operate, standard transmissions have fewer moving parts and no lubrication requirements. This means they are less prone to mechanical failure and can withstand heavy use without requiring frequent maintenance or repairs.

In contrast, late-model automatic transmissions are notorious for their complexity and propensity for breakdowns. The cost of repairing these vehicles can be prohibitively expensive, with some estimates suggesting that a single transmission repair job can exceed $2,000. In contrast, standard transmissions require minimal maintenance and can easily last for hundreds of thousands of miles without significant repairs.

**The Importance of Seatbelt Safety**

Seatbelts are an essential safety feature in any vehicle, but many drivers underestimate their importance or neglect to wear them regularly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seatbelt usage is a critical factor in preventing injuries and fatalities on the road. In fact, wearing a seatbelt can reduce the risk of fatal injury by up to 45% and moderate to serious injury by up to 50%.

To demonstrate the importance of seatbelts, Scotty Kilmer has developed a unique program that simulates a crash into a solid object at low speeds. This simulator is designed to mimic the experience of being involved in an accident and can be used to educate drivers about the importance of wearing their seatbelt.

If you're interested in learning more about seatbelt safety or would like to schedule a demonstration, contact Scotty Kilmer's team at 713-308-3200. With this program, you'll have the opportunity to experience the reality of not wearing your seatbelt and appreciate the importance of buckling up every time you get behind the wheel.

**Tips for Maintaining Your Vehicle**

In addition to understanding your car's electrical system and transmission, it's essential to maintain your vehicle regularly to ensure its longevity. One tip is to inspect your fuse box regularly, as a blown fuse can indicate a more significant problem that requires immediate attention.

When it comes to purchasing replacement fuses, consider shopping at auto parts stores like Autozone or O'Reilly Auto Parts, which offer affordable options for drivers on a budget. Another tip is to familiarize yourself with the location of your car's airbag and take steps to ensure its proper functioning.

Finally, always buckle up every time you get behind the wheel, as seatbelts are an essential safety feature that can save lives in the event of an accident. By following these tips and staying informed about the importance of seatbelt safety, you can help keep yourself and your passengers safe on the road.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enrev up your engine it's time for scottykilmer.com you don't need to be superhuman to save money buying a used car you just need to know how to use your head the first thing you want to discover when you're buying a used car is if it's been in a wreck so here's a tip here's a simple test as you can do to find if the car's been in a wreck and you only need to use your hand go to the left front tire and put your hand between the tire and the body of the car in this case it's a little bit more than four fingers then you walk to the other side of the car and do the same thing and as you can see it's the same a little over four fingers so it's not bent if you would have had two fingers on one side and four fingers on the other side then the frame or the front end would be bent don't buy the vehicle and of course do the same thing with the back tires now if you're looking to buy a used vehicle that's less than 15 years old the best way to check out an engine isn't to look under the hood you want to look at this it's a scan tool that analyzes your computer in the car and gives you all kinds of information if there's something wrong a mechanic can use it and analyze all kinds of stuff but if you don't want to go to a mechanic there's another option there's companies like autozone that will scan your computer free and give you any trouble codes if they exist and if they do have trouble codes look for another vehicle now with all the flooding we've been having lately you might be worried about buying a flooded car so all you need is a flashlight and your nose look up under the dash if you see lots of shiny metal that's good if the metal is rusty that's bad the car's been flooded and don't buy it then you can look around pick up the rugs a little and smell if it smells all mouldy and you see rust it might have been a flood car don't buy it and be real leery about a car that's heavily perfumed people often spray the perfume to hide the mold smell now some older cars will have fluid leaks but that's easy to check just make sure the area where the car is parked doesn't have any oil in it then take your car for a 10 or 15 minute road test to see how it runs and bring it back to the same spot then check for drips if there's no drips then nothing's leaking and it's okay you may not know it but most modern day air conditioning systems and cars are computer driven and like hell they can turn against you and you won't have any cold air so this morning i'm going to show you how to bypass your air conditioning computer system with a simple little thirty dollar thermostat switch your air conditioning clutch is turned on by an electric switch and if the computer isn't working right it won't turn it on so here's how you can bypass all the computers unplug the switch then get some wire and run wire from the switch inside the vehicle there's a million holes in your car to go through where this cable goes through there's a rubber outlet just push it through with a screwdriver then run the wire inside then after you pull the wire through connect one end to a toggle switch which you can mount anywhere that you want just drill a little hole and bolt it in then you get your thermostat and connect the wire to the in right here now comes the hard part this measures the temperature of your evaporator and the ford the evaporator is right here in this plastic case you drill a tiny little hole now be careful when you're drilling a hole because you don't want to make a hole in the evaporator you don't need to drill it about that deep just find a nice part of plastic tubing and then you get the end of the tube and push it in the hole until it rubs against the evaporator and it's touching it so it measures the temperature then run a wire to the out to your battery now when you connect it to the positive terminal your battery make sure you use a fuse assembly to make the whole thing safe this is a 10 amp fuse which is good for the ac clutch now if your ac computer goes bad and you want to fix it the way it was designed sometimes you have to spend seven or eight hundred dollars this little thermostat hey it only cost thirty dollars now this particular thermostat was designed for a mazda but they all work the same way they measure the temperature in the evaporator and you can set them colder or warmer by turning these little screws now they may not have them in stock but they can order for you at any good auto parts store they're not that expensive as you can see they're very simple to put in that's the way cars used to be when things were simpler and cost less to fix so if your car's air conditioning computer hasn't been working right lately forget space age technology buy yourself one of these 30 thermostats if your vehicle has a failure of communication it's often the computer not communicating correctly with the engine many vehicles from 1996 onwards have computers that are reprogrammable so today i'm going to show you a new tool the flash 2 reprogrammer by cardone industries it reprograms the computer on your vehicle without taking anything off it just plugs into the dash so it can save you money and make the vehicle run correctly again now the first thing you need to do is to go to the internet to get the latest software updates for your vehicle since this is a ford ranger we go to motorcraftservices.com then we go down to reprogramming and initialization and click on it now one end of the reprogrammer plugs into the data port under the steering wheel then the other end of the reprogrammer plugs into the usb port of your computer since it's a ford we'll click on the forward reprogramming what happens next is your computer is downloading all the new ford software when it's done it passes that information through the reprogrammer and goes into the vehicle's computer and reprograms it the whole process from downloading it to reprogramming the vehicle's computer takes about half an hour so with this device any good mechanic can reprogram the computer on your vehicle and do it correctly so if you think your vehicle's computer isn't communicating correctly don't trash your computer reprogram it this is scotty kilmer helping you crank it up i found a problem with cars that makes stooges of even good mechanics and here's what it is now cars are just like people they have to breathe in so make sure the filters are clean but they also have to breathe out your car breathes out through the tailpipe if the exhaust system is clogged up it won't run right and in modern day cars it's usually the catalytic converter that clogs up so i'm going to show you how to check them the catalytic converter is on the bottom of the car we're jacking it up so we can see it better well here's the catalytic converter but it's a sealed unit so how do you check it well i'm gonna drill a hole and measure the exhaust pressure with this little gauge and it'll tell us if it's clogged up first you drill a little quarter inch hole in the pipe hey scotty what are you doing to my car now i've got these little metal plugs to fill the holes up when i'm done then you stick the gauge in the hole to measure the pressure behind the catalytic converter we'll start the engine and see what the pressure well the is behind it is less than one pound it's in the green so it's fine behind now i'm going to drill a hole in front of the cap and measure the pressure there now when i hook the hose up in front of the catalytic converter it has almost 15 pounds pressure that means that the pressure is building up in front of the catalytic converter because it's clogged up it needs a new catalytic converter and here's a couple mechanics tips if your car has less than 70 000 miles on it or is less than seven years old there's a federal warranty covering the catalytic converters you get one for free if it's older than that or you have more mileage go to a discount muffler store and they can weld a universal cat on and save you a whole bunch of money so don't let your mechanic make a simple job complicated are you having a hard time getting a wiring system in your car fixed well today's your lucky day because i'm going to show you how to find wiring shorts in your car all you really need is a little eight dollar test light and i'm so cheap when mine broke i splice the wire back together if you think you've got a short in your car's electrical system first make sure the headlights are turned off and no electrical accessories are turned on then go to your battery loosen the negative terminal and take it off then get the test light take the alligator clip and put it on the negative terminal of the battery then take the pick end and shove it into the negative terminal of the battery and if you noticed the light is now on since the light came on that means electricity is flowing and there's a short somewhere in the system but we don't want to end up like curly wondering where it is so under the hood we go to the fuse box and take the cover off then pull the fuses out one at a time with the fuse pulled out see if the light has gone out it hasn't so we got to pull another fuse keep pulling out fuses until the light goes out now the light's gone out so that's the circuit that has the short in it then you look on the top of the fuse box it's for the cigarette lighter so let's go inside the car if you use your cigarette lighter all the time to recharge your cell phone that can lead to problems in your cigarette lighter where you plug it in these outlets weren't made to be plugged in and out thousands of times and eventually they break which is what's happened here okay so it's called a power outlet today but it's the same thing as a cigarette lighter it just unscrews and you can buy a new base for it it's come to my attention that many people drive automatic cars because they don't know how to drive a standard but if you can't drive an automatic transmission you're missing out on a lot of fun so today i'm going to talk all about standard transmissions to begin with standard transmissions get really good gas mileage i'm a fast driver but on this tank i'm averaging 30 miles a gallon and even though this ford only has a four-cylinder engine it's extremely quick with a standard transmission because standard transmissions have no slippage their direct drive on the other hand an automatic transmission uses automatic transmission fluid to drive it there's always some fluid slippage so they don't work as efficiently so with the standard transmission car not only can you drive faster but you can get better gas mileage now some people don't want to drive a standard because they think the clutch is too hard to push in but that's not true anymore modern cars use hydraulic clutches they're smooth just like brake systems very easy to operate and perhaps best of all standard transmissions are very reliable they need little maintenance at all and if you've ever paid a mechanic like myself thousands of dollars to fix a late model automatic transmission you'll appreciate that fact i learned to drive a standard transmission car when i was 16 years old and it only took about half an hour so if you're thinking about buying a new car why not think standard transmission and have a lot of fun there's one thing you should always remember when you get in your car and that's to always buckle your seatbelt in before you start the car so you don't forget now a lot of people think hey i've got airbags why should i buckle up my seat belts well here's why now this airbag is only going to fire once in the first collision if you get a hit again you might get knocked out of the car and besides do you really trust that this thing is going to work and besides it's the law that you have to wear seat belts do you want these guys coming after you well actually you might want these guys to come over they've got a machine that'll convince you to wear your seat belts and this machine is so serious you have to sign a release waiver in order to ride it scotty i have a wreath farm for you right here must be 18 years of age or older must be mentally competent must be in good physical condition must have no prior current back or neck problems including surgery must have no prior or current heart disease okay scotty what this does is simulates a crash into a solid fixed object at a speed of less than 10 miles per hour in other words this sled hits the bottom of the ramp right here you're going to be going less than 10 miles per hour impacting solid fixed objects because even at a low speed like this hitting something solid like that is a just a major impact three two one here we go whoa whoa that convinced me now how can you convince other people how can they get a hold of you so they can try this out well scotty to get the seatbelt convinced to come out to your location if you have a church a large organization you can contact the houston police department at the public affairs division and that number is 713-308-3200 and we'll write up a program request and come out and show you hey how important it is to wear your seatbelt now here's a tip if you're cheap like me and you drive an old car hey these seat belts wear out after a while on this one the latch broke well rather than spend 200 on a factory one hey i went to autozone and for 15 i got a seat belt that i was able to put in and it works fine so if you're worried about bad things happening while you're driving remember to wear your seat belt this is scotty kilmer helping you crank it up so if you never want to miss another one of my new car repair videos remember to ring that bell\n"