SolusyenHow-to guides to diagnose and fix
Automotive
- VANOS timing trouble: DTC P0011/P0012 on the BMW N52
- How long does a car battery last? When to test it and when to replace it (not a fixed 2-year rule)
- Engine oil for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jeep: how to read Longlife, MB 229 and MS codes before an oil change
- Check engine light and lost power: DTC P0420 on the Mini Cooper R56
- Lost turbo power: DTC P0299 on BMW diesels (N47 and N57)
- Lean mixture and rough idle: DTC P0171/P0174 on the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK/WK2
- Slow warm-up or a thermostat stuck open: DTC P0128 on the Chrysler 300C and Dodge
- Car overheating on the road: what to do in the first 10 minutes
- Common Cadillac Escalade and Hummer H3 problems: recalls, owner complaints, and what to inspect
- Common Dodge Journey problems: electrical faults, brakes and ABS, the engine, and the recalls to check
- Jeep warning lights: what Service 4WD, ETC and check engine mean, and when to stop
- ABS and ESP lights on together in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204: what the messages mean and what to do safely
- Transmission stuck in limp mode: DTC P0700 and 62TE codes on the Dodge Journey
- The classic dead fuel pump problem: DTC P0087 on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class W204
- Rough-running engine and a flashing check engine light: DTC P0300-P0308 on the BMW 3 Series (E90/F30)
- Automatic car suddenly slips into neutral while driving: what causes it in the transmission
- Check engine light on: what can wait, what cannot, and how to read the code
- Hot car battery and a rotten egg smell: signs of overcharging and how to test for it
- Car broke down on the road? Safe steps, in order, before you call a mechanic
- BMW warning lights explained: Drivetrain malfunction, DSC, engine light and the codes behind them
Home appliances
- Electric water heater not heating: from the ELCB to the element (which you do not open yourself)
You can check some causes of a cold water heater from the outside: the ELCB, the knob, the water flow and the socket. The thermal switch, element and thermostat sit behind the cover and are not yours to take apart.
- Rice cooker will not switch to cook or the rice stays raw: thermostat and sensor
When a rice cooker refuses to cook or the rice stays hard, the cause is often a pot that does not sit flat on the heater, dirt on the sensor, or the amount of water. Here are the checks, in order.
- Water pump not starting or running non-stop: pressure switch, foot valve and leaks
A pump that will not start, one that never stops, and one that keeps cycling each point to different causes. Here is how to read the signs safely, based on pump manuals.
- Washing machine will not spin or drain: from the pump filter to the lid switch
When a washing machine stops with a drum full of water, the cause is usually something simple. Work through these checks in order before you call a technician.
- Washing machine leaking from underneath: 6 points to check before the technician comes
Water on the floor can come from a hose, the filter, too many suds or the house drain, not only from inside the machine. Here are six points you can safely check yourself.
- MCB keeps tripping: finding the appliance that causes it without opening the panel
A tripping MCB is a safety device doing its job. Your part is to find the pattern; anything inside the panel or the walls is work for an electrician.
- Refrigerator not cooling but the light is on: what to check, from the door seal to the compressor
A working light only tells you the refrigerator has power. Here is a safe order of checks you can do at home, from the temperature setting to the signs that the cooling system needs a technician.
- Noisy refrigerator or a compressor that never stops: causes and when to call a technician
Not every refrigerator sound means a fault. Learn which sounds are normal, why a compressor keeps running, what you can safely do at home, and the signs that call for a technician.
- Gas stove with a red flame or no flame: safe checks at home
A red flame usually means the gas is not burning completely. Here are the checks you can safely do at home, from ventilation and the burner to a soapy-water leak test.
- Water dispenser not heating or not cooling: thermal fuse, compressor and airflow
The cause is often a switch on the back that is off, hot water that has not had time to recover, or blocked ventilation. Parts inside the cabinet, including the thermal protection and the cooling system, are for a technician.
- Air conditioner running but not cooling: filter, outdoor unit, refrigerant and when to call service
An AC that only blows room-temperature air can often be fixed with the right mode, a clean filter and an outdoor unit that has room to breathe. If not, here are the signs that it is time to call for service.
- Air conditioner leaking water indoors: drain line, mounting angle and filter
Water dripping from the indoor unit is almost always condensation that is going the wrong way. Here is how to find the cause, from the filter to the drain hose and the angle of the unit.