If you have an older battery charger and it works apart from having worn out terminals or frayed wiring, don't throw it away. Overhaul it with new wires, a plug and clip leads. This costs about $15 at the most instead of the $50 for a new unit. So watch this automotive repair ...more
In this video, learn how to strip a magnet wire for soldering when making mini-RC cars. This process is incredibly easy to do and you will be surprised how fast it works. So, check this out and assemble your cars faster and easier.
In this how to video, you will learn how to make a tight rope walking magnet. You will need a power supply with currents between 15 to 25 amps. A thick wire from a half to one centimeter is also needed for the tight rope. A small neodymium magnet will also be required. String ...more
In this video, Richpin demonstrates how to install a trunk override light switch in a Saturn car. When you open the trunk in a Saturn, the light turns on and there's no way to turn it off. Thus you must have a switch in the circuit so you can turn the trunk light off. Select a ...more
Richpin demonstrates how to clean the throttle body on a Saturn S-series car. First, remove the accelerator cables using a tool like a pen. Next, remove the top hose. Remove the wires from the throttle position sensor. In the back are wires for the idle control valve. Remove t ...more
Please only use the information in this video if you have lost your own car key or you are helping out a friend who has lost theirs! If you need to start a car without the key, this tutorial shows you how to find the wires in the steering column to find the eight cables undern ...more
Learn how to use a multimeter to check for proper ground with help from this quick video. Also shown, is how to use a Fluke probe to pierce wires to test voltage. You can uses these practices when installing car alarms, fog lights, car stereo, and accessories.
We've all been there before: We're in a hurry to get somewhere (often in bad weather), so we get in the car, turn the key in the ignition and.....WHUH! WHUH! WHUH! The darned battery is dead! After a stream of choice expletives (that is, if you're anything like me....;o)), we ...more
This tutorial is only for those who need it! Please don't be stupid and try to commit a crime. Anyway, in this tutorial you'll find out how to hotwire a Nissan Patrol in the likely event that you lose your keys. Messing with a cars wiring can be bad news if you don't have any ...more
Basic instructions on how to troubleshoot the heater blower motor of a Saturn S-series. The heater blower motor is located behind the glove compartment of your vehicle. Disconnect the negative and positive power supply. (The black wire is usually the negative.) Using a multime ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a robot car. To start, you will need to prepare the sensors by placing in the pins and soldering. After this, you will need to connect the wires to these and solder them into the correct places. Use a map to find the correct placement for ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to install a cold air intake for a 96-04 Mustang. First, you will need to lift up the hood and locate/disconnect all wiring harnesses. Then remove the bolt around the air filter housing and set aside. Separate the intake and the housing, then pul ...more
I you are interested in installing a ham or cb radio in your car, this two part tutorial should help. In these videos, you'll find out how to install a ham radio in a Jeep Liberty. It's a tricky task and requires that you make a few holes here and there, but in the end the res ...more
One day, your car may break down and you won't be able to afford to hire a mechanic, so what do you do... you look on the web for some how-to vehicle repair videos and become your own car mechanic, that's what. You don't need any advanced training to perform repairs and simple ...more
Replacing a turn signal is easy and will keep your car running efficiently. Learn how to switch turn signal sockets and bulbs, and how to check wiring in this free car maintenance video. Part 1 of 6 - How to Replace a turn signal. Replace a turn signal - Part 2 of 6. Click thr ...more
In this video, we learn how to install chase tail lights on a Mustang. First, you need to remove the rear trunk panel and trim piece. Next, prepare your tail light kit by following the directions that are given to you with the package. Next, cut the tail light wire. Now, put o ...more
If you're new to the RV world, then this next tutorial might help explain a problem you may experience. Installing an RV fan is a great idea, especially if it's able to take out the old air in your car and bring in new air. This tutorial talks about the issue with trying to i ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to build a subwoofer for a Mini Cooper. Start off by cutting the wood so it's to the exact sizes that you need. Next, attach the walls of the subwoofer together with a screwdriver and screws. After this, apply wood glue to the inside of the wood ...more
Want to learn how to harvest the sun? Just watch this science experiment video to see how to convert sunlight into hydrogen fuel. It's simple and environmentally friendly. You'll need a multimeter, a solar panel, some crocodile clips (or alligator clips), glass, water and car ...more
Gottlieb Daimler's "Revolutionary Riding Car" of 1885 doesn't look like a car (in truth, it would be more analogous to what we recognize today as a motorcycle), but it did mark the very first inkling of the automobile age. Wired reports: "Under the strictest etymology — the ...more
How many gallons of gas does it take to get from Kansas City to New York? Depends on what you're driving. In this custom-modded Indy race car designed by students at the DeLaSalle Education Center? About four. WIRED's Autopia reports, "A team of high school students has deve ...more
Warnings no one can get physically hurt just very emotional. Remote Control Demolition Derby Demolition derby cars are wired up with remote controls: 3 of the guys nervously strap themselves into each vehicle, whilst the other jackass's feel ecstatic to have hand held remot ...more
This video demonstrates a great way to take rust off of metal piece that are hard to clean by hand. You will need a plastic bucket, a wire hanger, and a battery charger. In the bucket mix one gallon of water and one tablespoon of washing soda. You can make washing soda in the ...more
The upcoming Shell Eco-Marathon promises to unveil vehicles that will blow current fuel economy standards way out of the water. California Polytechnic State University is one of the most promising contenders, with a vehicle that gets 13 times the 230 mpg General Motors promise ...more
One day, your car may break down and you won't be able to afford to hire a mechanic, so what do you do... you look on the web for some how-to vehicle repair videos and become your own car mechanic, that's what. You don't need any advanced training to perform repairs and simple ...more
Ever wonder how all of those tiny chips and components can fit inside your laptop or smartphone? If you tried to squeeze them in there yourself, your laptop would quickly become too heavy for your lap, and your mobile phone would need wheels to stay mobile. The secret to mini ...more
We've all heard of the power that red wine holds. It can help lower risks of heart disease, boost your brain power, and can even recharge your car battery. But last year, a group of Japanese physicists made headlines when they announced that they could induce superconductivity ...more
Turn a 'toy' radar gun into the real thing! Cops don't even have one like this! While this is a completely new and different design, the inspiration for this video is from an article by Ken Delahoussaye in MAKE Magazine. Just watch this video tutorial on how to hack a toy rada ...more
In order to repair a damaged spark plug, you will need the following: pliers, newspaper, brake cleaner, a mallet, a block of wood, a screwdriver, a valve cover gasket set, Lock Tight, and a high impact socket. Label your spark plug wires. Remove the four 10 mm head bolts. Lea ...more
If you have ever found yourself working on a car project at your home and ran out of fuses, this tutorial is for you. Instead of going out and paying around $30 to $40, make your very own. It's wasy and saves you time and money. If you need instructions on how to do this they ...more
With an impressive series of viral music videos to their name, it is no surprise that the latest video from indie rockers OK Go is another hit. The video is directed by James Frost, in collaboration with Syyn Labs, a collective of engineers that work on elaborate art projects. ...more
Grab your electric guitar, strap, amp, and your pick and check out this free guitar lesson. This video tutorial will teach you country guitarists how to play a Johnny Cash song. Not just any Johnny Cash song, but one of his most famous: "Folsom Prison Blues." The solo for this ...more
Feeling unprepared for the next earthquake? In this tutorial, learn what to do and what not to do to survive "the big one". You'll be surprised to learn that hiding in a doorway is a myth! You Will Need: • A safe place • Sturdy shoes • A fire extinguisher • A flashlight ...more
CONTEST ENDED: WINNERS ANNOUNCED This contest has ended and winners have been announced. To see who won, check out our quick winners post. Thanks to everyone for submitting their ideas! ORIGINAL CONTEST Mad Science is back with another contest this month. This time, you've ...more
Bikes are a great form of transportation. They use human energy more efficiently than any other machine. You can keep it in your closet or hallway. You can even take it on the train in a pinch. However, this portability is also the bike's biggest draw back. If you own a bike i ...more
By trial and error, I have found a good way to remove the door panel from a 2002 Ford Explorer (and other similar years). The first two steps can be done in either order, but doing them in the order I have listed below will prevent damage and scratches to the paneling. Remov ...more
WonderHowTo is a how-to website made up of niche communities called Worlds, with topics ranging from Minecraft to science experiments to Scrabble and everything in-between. Check in every Wednesday evening for a roundup of user-run activities and how-to projects from the most ...more
Nikola Tesla In my opinion, one of the most neglected inventors of all time. The names Edison and Marconi come to mind as familiar, but Tesla? Most think of a car. Few know that Tesla is responsible for alternating current, florescent lights, radar, remote control, generators ...more
WonderHowTo is made up of niche communities called Worlds. If you've yet to join one (or create your own), get a taste below of what's going on in the community. Check in every Wednesday for a roundup of new activities and projects. Thanks to all of our active moderators and ...more
Lori Nix is a photographer whose stunning work depicts curious scenes of danger and disaster: abandoned spaces, architecture in a state of extreme deterioration, natural calamities, and more. But the mysterious places she captures with her 8x10 large format camera aren't actua ...more
Before you go running off to the Apple store, you may want to educate yourself. DVICE is kind enough to compile the 20 biggest complaints about the iPad from a whole slew of reviewers. 1. Upscaling makes old iPhone/iPod Touch apps ugly. "Here's the problem: It looks terrible ...more
Since the invention of the mechanical clock, enclosure of the commons, and proletarianization of labor, the alarm clock has been the bane of our existence. While not actually evil, it does represent the constant and uncompromising glare of our owners shaking a patronizing fing ...more
In this video series, let Robert Wilkens help you fix accessory problems in your car. With his instruction on automotive wiring, you can learn how to replace fuses. Robert shows you how to install radios, speakers, and power windows too. He also teaches you how to put in a car ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to recharge a car battery. To restart a car battery that is dead, you will need to have another vehicle parked in front of it with the hood facing towards it. Now, you will need to take jumper cables out and place them on the battery of each cars ...more
Gear up the performance of your car with a comprehensive tune-up. Check out this video tutorial from the DIY Network to see how to give your car a complete tune-up. You'll need to get spark plugs of course, and the wiring harness. If your vehicle needs a change, help it out wi ...more
Motors. The word screams of complexity. They're everywhere and in everything, from car engines to airplanes to toys and electric wristwatches. But sometimes the most complex things can be really simple, as in the case of the homopolar motor, where the main point is a magnetic ...more
Add a perfect theme dessert to your next Hawaiian luau with this decadent coconut cream pie. After a long week at work there’s nothing better than a little back yard barbecue fun with friends topped off with the perfect treat. If your family is constantly clowning around duri ...more
In this series of home car repair videos, our expert mechanic takes you through each step of repairing your valve cover gaskets. He demonstrates how to remove and replace valve cover hoses, spark plug wires and ultimately the gasket itself. Part 1 of 19 - How to Replace a valv ...more
There's been a lot in the news lately about tracking devices, and it's been pretty much all bad. They can be useful if your car gets stolen, but if you weren't the person who installed it, chances are you don't want it there. Just type "GPS tracking device" into Google and on ...more
Still have an old tape deck installed in your car? This nifty hack lets you upgrade to the digital age without sacrificing your love for cassettes. There's nothing wrong with some low-fidelity tunes in your car every now and then, but if you want to listen to the tunes on your ...more
Last time, I showed how to start putting together an AC arc welder from scavenged microwave parts, focusing on the transformer modifications. Now, I'll show you how to finish up your DIY stick welding machine by fixing up the electrical system and performing the finishing touc ...more
With MP3 players all but dead, phones are now the dominant portable music devices. While smartphones have gotten better at this task over the years, they do have some glaring limitations when it comes to music. On the bright side, we can use these limitations to help find the ...more
The guitar is a double-edged sword. I've played all my life, and though I love the act of guitar playing, there are quite a few people I could live with never hearing play again—ever. Paradoxically, it seems that the less dexterous and committed to practicing are the more lik ...more
In a previous project, I showed how to build an electrical Jacob's ladder using an old microwave oven transformer (MOT). In this project, I modified the secondary coil on the MOT, which converts it from a high voltage/low current device into a low voltage/high current metal me ...more
How do you make a 1950 Studebaker even cooler? By installing an iPod Nano in the dashboard, of course! The folks over at MAYA Design hacked their way to a touch-controlled sound system with this project they've dubbed the "Nano-Baker" (or "Stude-iPod") using a pair of Apple ea ...more
Most new stereos come with an auxiliary port built in, but if you drive an older car, you're usually stuck with the radio or CD player, and we all know both of those options suck. So, rather than paying the $95 fee the dealership wanted to charge, or replacing the stereo alto ...more
Ask anyone that works on the development of driverless vehicle technology and there is a very good chance that AutonomouStuff will have supplied something to their project. Ottomatika, Cruise Automation, and Otto are all companies that specialize in self-driving technology, a ...more
There are plenty of times when we need to charge our phones but don't have access to electricity. Whether the power is out do to storms, you're camping and run out of juice, or you're in a Tom-Hanks-like Castaway situation, it's important to have a charged phone in case of an ...more
A lot of my hacks use salvaged parts from an old microwave, with the microwave oven transformer (MOT) being the most useful component. In this "Quick Clip," I'll be using a MOT again (a dual MOT stack) to make deadly flame-looking electricity jumping around midair. This scien ...more
In this project, you'll learn step by step how to modify a microwave oven transformer into a high-current device that can pump out 800 amps of electrical current, which is enough amperage to melt metal. If you liked the Metal Melter you saw in my previous project, here's how y ...more