Car Repair Tips for Fast Fixes

Keep your car running smoothly and problem-free

Even if you're not a car-geek, doing some simple, basic maintenance on your vehicle will keep it out of the shop and extend its life. Here's a collection of 10-minute fixes you can easily do to your car that will save you money immediately or prevent future repair bills.

Tip 1: Change your coolant on schedule
Coolant doesn't last forever. You have to change it every 24,000 miles (green coolant) or 100,000 miles (extended-life coolant). If you keep driving on worn coolant, expect to replace the radiator, heater core and water pump.

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Furniture Repair and Finishing Tips

Time-tested tips to get the job done faster & better

Our latest search for tips from professional woodworkers led us to Dave Munkittrick’s shop in Wisconsin. “Years ago we left the big city and bought this old farmstead,” Dave said. “With a little bit of remodeling, the hog barn became my woodworking shop, and it’s been a great place to build, repair and finish furniture for the last 20 years.” Dave’s repair and finishing tips are the fruit of careful thought blended with ingenious thriftiness. Translation: Let Dave help you get the job done well—and cheap!

Tip 1: Low-cost custom mallet
Dave’s mallet for tapping furniture parts together—and apart—is pretty simple. "My rubber mallet was too big to get into small spaces, so I slipped a 1-in. rubber foot from the hardware store onto a ball peen hammer. It fits in tight spots and focuses the hammer blow more accurately during disassembly and glue-ups."

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Four Home Plumbing Repair Tips

Solutions from the pros

When kitchen or bathroom faucet repairs go bad, they can be a nightmare. Professional plumbers share their solutions for disassembly and repair problems, with tips about when to give up and buy a new faucet.

Tip 1: Cut and wedge
Slice down the side of the cap with a rotary tool and a cutting wheel. Don't worry about cutting the plastic seal (you'll be replacing that). But avoid cutting into the brass threads.

Solve your tough faucet repair problems »

Do you have a great tip to share?

We’re always looking for great tips and we’ll pay $100 for any we publish in The Family Handyman magazine. Submit your tip »