FAQ
Prices, the file, and the questions the guides already answer.
What does a guide cost?
Home guides are $7.99. Car guides are $11.99.
Code LAUNCH25 takes 25% off through October 21, 2026.
Are sales final?
All sales are final because these are instant digital downloads. If your file won't open or download, email us and we'll send a fresh copy.
This policy does not limit any rights you have under the consumer law where you live.
What do I get when I buy?
A printable PDF. Illustrated steps in the file are AI-generated drawings, not photographs of the work.
Screen PDF for phone and tablet. Print-friendly PDF for home printers.
Secure checkout by Stripe and instant PDF download.
Can I see anything before I pay?
Every guide page includes the 60-second diagnosis and the parts list, for free.
Previews show the cover, the Can I do this? page, one illustrated step, and the shopping list. Torque and the job card stay in the PDF.
Wrong symptom? Email us from the guide page and ask to swap to the guide that matches.
Who writes the guides?
OZ, a tradesman with 30 years across the building trades, plumbing, and motorcycle and auto mechanics. Every method in a guide is one used on real jobs.
Written by OZ, not a website.
Are the pictures photos of the author?
The drawings in the guides are AI-generated illustrations, made from reference photos and maker documentation.
They are not photographs, and they are not pictures of OZ.
Do the PDFs contain affiliate links?
No affiliate links in the PDF guides.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (only via the 'Check price on Amazon' buttons on parts pages).
Will you diagnose my home or car by email?
We can't diagnose your specific home or vehicle by email or tell you a job is safe to do; for anything involving gas, mains electrics, brakes, steering, airbags or fuel, use a licensed professional.
Which homes and vehicles are the guides for?
Our guides are written for North American (US and Canada) homes and vehicles: 120/240 V electrics, US/Canadian codes and parts. They are not written for other markets.
Is there a difficulty score or a clock time for the job?
Every guide includes a 60-second diagnosis. Car Won't Start? Find Out Why in 15 Minutes is a 15-minute test path with a multimeter.
Guides mark the safety stops, and several open with a Can I do this? page. When a job needs a licensed pro, the guide says so.
Who operates Repair Guider?
Repair Guider is operated by Züst Works, Dorf 37, 9035 Grub AR, Switzerland.
Fix a Leaking Outdoor Faucet
Why does my outdoor faucet drip when it is turned off?
Usually a worn or damaged seat rubber, or a loose retainer screw (Woodford). If a new seat rubber does not stop it, Woodford says the seat is damaged and the faucet must be replaced; on any brand that is a plumber call.
Why does my outdoor faucet leak around the handle?
That is a packing leak. First I snug the hex packing nut behind the handle. If it keeps leaking, new EPDM packing (Woodford part 30560).
Water is coming out of the top cap. What is it?
The vacuum breaker. Woodford's RK-17VB-R replaces the cap, body and float, and the faucet stays on the wall.
I see water inside the wall when the faucet is on. Can I fix it?
No. On a frost-free faucet that is most likely burst tubing from freezing, and Woodford says the faucet must be replaced; another leak behind the wall looks the same, and both are plumber jobs. The burst is in the faucet's own tube, downstream of the indoor shutoff, so it can hide until the faucet is next used. Close the inside shutoff and call a plumber.
Mercedes 280E K-Jetronic Troubleshooting
How do I read system vs control pressure on a K-Jetronic?
With the gauge between the fuel distributor and the control-pressure line, the valve open reads control pressure and the valve closed reads system pressure (5.0–5.6 bar on the US 280 E).
Why does my 280E start badly when hot?
Usually residual pressure bleeding off after shutdown: the accumulator, a pump check valve, the pressure regulator or a dribbling cold-start valve. It should hold at least 2.5 bar after 30 minutes.
Check Engine Light: Read the Code, Fix the Cause
Is it safe to drive with the check engine light on?
I treat a steady light as get it checked soon. A flashing light means a misfire that can damage the catalytic converter: ease off, pull over safely and get it checked promptly.
Can a loose gas cap turn on the check engine light?
Yes. A loose, damaged or missing cap can cause an EVAP leak code. Tighten it until it clicks; the light can take several days of driving to go out.
Does P0420 always mean a bad catalytic converter?
No. O2 sensors, exhaust leaks and misfires can also cause it. Rule those out and have the converter tested before buying one.
Should I disconnect the battery to reset the light?
No. It can clear codes and reset readiness monitors but fixes nothing, and it can erase learned settings. Fix the cause, then clear with a scanner.
Car Won't Start? Find Out Why in 15 Minutes
Should I check the battery first?
Yes. I start most no-start checks with battery voltage, cable condition, and a proper load or jump test.
What does a flashing security light mean?
On many vehicles it points to an immobilizer or key recognition problem. I try the spare key or fob before I buy parts.
Crank-no-start or no-crank. What is the difference?
No-crank means the engine does not turn over. Crank-no-start means it turns but will not fire. I separate the two early because my test path changes.
Can I jump-start a hybrid or EV?
Not the high-voltage system. I stop there. Some vehicles allow only a 12-volt jump at the points the owner’s manual shows.
Replace Brake Pads and Rotors
Do I have to replace rotors with pads?
Not always. I replace them if they are under the minimum thickness stamped on them, deeply grooved, or cause a shake. Smooth rotors above minimum can stay.
Why do my brakes squeal?
Most often the wear tab is touching the rotor, which means pads now. Other causes: dry pad contact points, missing shims, or glazed pads.
Do I need to bleed after pads?
Not if I never opened the system. I bleed when the pedal is soft, after opening a bleeder, or when the fluid is old.
What torque for lug nuts?
The number in your owner's manual. It differs between vehicles, so I never guess it.
Change Transmission Fluid: Drain and Fill
Flush or drain and fill?
Drain and fill. GM and Honda bulletins say not to use flush machines; Honda's own 'flush' is three drain-and-fill cycles.
Can I use a universal ATF?
Only if the vehicle maker approves it. Hyundai, Honda and Nissan bulletins (each for specific models) name their own fluid and warn that others can harm shift quality or the transmission.
My car has no dipstick. Can I still do it?
The drain-and-fill, yes, with the measured amount back in. The level is set at a fluid temperature with the engine running and the car level on a lift, so in this guide a shop does that last part.
Will new fluid fix slipping?
No. A slipping transmission goes to a shop first.