Best products from r/cars

We found 144 comments on r/cars discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 1,801 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

1. Bafx Products - Wireless Bluetooth OBD2 / OBDII Diagnostic Car Scanner & Reader Tool for Android Devices - Read/Clear Your Check Engine Light & Much More

    Features:
  • [Compatible] Our automotive OBDII diagnostic engine reader works with all consumer automotive vehicles, cars & trucks in the USA that are model year 1996 or newer! Compatibility varies depending on vehicle country of location. See product description to check your vehicles computer compatibility based on your country of location. (NOT IPHONE / iOS COMPATIBLE)
  • [Simple To Use] Plug our OBD2 diagnostic scanner into your vehicles automotive OBD2 port; Pair diagnostic scan tool with your Android phone via Bluetooth; Download an app to use it with; Then connect & start scanning for live sensor data like a professional direct from your vehicles on board computer! (NOT IPHONE / iOS COMPATIBLE)
  • [Fix & Service Your Car For Less] Using our diagnostic code reader you can read, reset & clear your check engine error light fault codes with your Android phone (does not read ABS or SRS). Check and fix your emissions system readiness, know if you will pass emissions & smog test before you go with our diagnostic tool! (NOT IPHONE / iOS COMPATIBLE)
  • [Live Data] Monitor live real time live gauge data direct from your autos computer systen with our diagnostic trouble code reader such as O2 sensors, fuel pressure, Engine load & more; Freeze fram data; Map based sensor tracking plus so much more! Making it extremely easy to check up on the health of your vehicle just like the pros! Our automotive health tool will help you keep your gas or diesel vehicles running many miles longer!
  • [Guaranteed] Unlike other OBD2 car diagnostic scanners we guarantee ours will work on ALL OBDII protocols including J1850 which many have problems with! Works on both gas & diesel vehicles. Reads at faster speeds than most other OBDII wireless Bluetooth OBD 11 readers.
  • Our car trouble scanner works with all consumer cars, light trucks & other autos purchased in the USA model year 1996 & newer (gas OR diesel) including but not limited to Audi, Ford, GM, Chevy, Chrysler; Dodge, Jeep, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lincoln, Mercury, Mercedes, Nissan, BMW, VW, Porsche & More!
  • [Elm327 Compliant] If the app you wish to use states you will need an ELM327 compatible tool, our OBDII diagnostic programmer / reader tool will work with it! Our OBDII engine scan tool is fully compliant with the ELM327 programmer command set giving you access to numerous professional level programs to choose from!
  • [3rd Party App Required] A paid or free app is required to use our OBDII engine scan tool, we do not develop or sell these apps but have many to recommend such as: Piston, Torque Pro, OBD Fusion, DashCommd, OBD Auto Doctor plus so many more! compatibility in other countries, please see product description.
  • [2 Year Warranty] We proudly back our OBDII trouble code reader with a professional 2 year warranty against all manufacturing defects! Our friendly, USA based, professional support team provide top notch service and will help you make the most of your new OBD 2 scan tool!
Bafx Products - Wireless Bluetooth OBD2 / OBDII Diagnostic Car Scanner & Reader Tool for Android Devices - Read/Clear Your Check Engine Light & Much More
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Top comments mentioning products on r/cars:

u/radroachbrz · 1 pointr/cars

it's the 1.6 SOHC? Just leave it stock, spend money on tires, brakes, and rust fixes. Make sure it's not leaking oil or burning coolant (constant blue or white smoke out tailpipe would be indicator). Check that it has brake and power steering fluid, and that it's a nice honey brown and not black. And you'll probably need to check to make sure the battery doesn't need replacing (don't drive with a 10 year old battery!) Also: Timing belt, Water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, power steering belt. I don't know how long those last on a honda, but on a Subaru it's pretty crucial to get all that changed by 100k miles. Check that the muffler or exhaust pipes coming from the engine aren't rusting through and causing exhaust leaks. Replace coolant every 2-3 years.

If you need lots of mechanical tutorials, check out the Scotty Kilmer Car Repair youtube


If you need tints where you live, get a good tint job. I wouldn't go without em myself living in the hot sunny southern states.

Leave the car stock, there's no sense in putting money in this car. Upgrade the radio and speakers if you must, but good wheel and suspension parts are expensive, like worth more than the car. Don't throw parts at the car, save your money and get a DOHC Honda Civic Si instead.



If you need a good paint cleaning kit, Meguiar's Brilliant Solutions Paint Restoration Kit is pretty good for $20. But likely, the clear coat on your honda has already been eaten through and weathered unless it was taken care of, not likely. But you definitely want a clean windshield, fresh wipers, and also rainX windshield protection.




u/NotLucas · 2 pointsr/cars

All I could find is this: http://powerhouse411.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_5

There are much cheaper eBay kits, but I think it goes without saying that if you know anything about turbocharging a vehicle you don't want to get an entire kit off of eBay.

You can do it for cheaper if you're handy and want to DIY, I recommend reading both http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1932494294?pc_redir=1410935474&robot_redir=1

And: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0837601606?pc_redir=1410868060&robot_redir=1


The first deals heavily into understanding how it all works and makes you more comfortable with the process. The second will teach you everything you need to know about adding a turbo to a (your) vehicle.

Reading these will save you a lot of money if you end up deciding not to turbo your car, or they will build your confidence in it. I think a turbo V6 would be unique instead of the "V8 cop out".

After that do as much research as you can into your vehicle and read up on some v6 turbo builds, I'm sure it's been done. A turbo v6 can end up putting down some serious power (Note: GNX). Reading other builds will give you an idea of the overall cost. If you can part together a decent kit for pretty cheap, you still have to see if the trans and supporting parts can handle it.

http://www.mustangevolution.com/forum/f133/t10565/


If you're still interested after all of that, don't rule out superchargers! Larger engines tend to accept them better and you won't experience any lag.

u/tekdemon · 1 pointr/cars

Honestly if all you want is an aux or bluetooth input you can get a box that connects to the back of your current head unit and adds an Aux input. You then select this input using the CD button because the Camry's headunit supports a CD changer that's accessed by hitting the cd button twice (first to select CD then the second press selects the CD changer). The box basically mimics a CD changer but sends whatever you put in through the Aux.
You can then very cheaply buy a bluetooth adapter online for bluetooth-aux and many of them come with good microphones.

That's what I did myself because I like that it's much more stealth than a new headunit so you're not worrying about people trying to steal your headunit or having to deal with removable faceplates or whatever.

You just need a plastic panel prying kit that you can buy online to help take your dash apart, but it's pretty easy and can be done in maybe 20 minutes. I did end up needing to get a ground loop isolator to cut out engine noise since the Camry was never really designed to have an aux input.

I would take a look at the back of the head unit first actually, because I'm almost sure the 2002 Camry head unit actually uses the same connector as the later models like this and apparently they have very cheap connector units now like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Moonet-Auxillary-Integration-Highlander-Landcruiser/dp/B00ITHJ5BQ They have ones listed for the 2002 but I'm almost sure that's for the older headunit model but you should look at the back of the headunit to make sure this will fit. I bought a pricier one but this was years ago, they still have more expensive kits out there too.

Then you just need a female to female 3.5mm adapter and one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTC450-Bluetooth-Hands-Free-Input/dp/B009NLTW60/ (I own this one and it's great, but I got it on sale for cheaper than the current price)
https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Bluetooth-Hands-Free-BlackBerry-Smartphones/dp/B004EHZUYG (this one also has a good mic as well but don't bend the wires too much, I had the wired version and my wiring went bad.

u/CactusJ · 2 pointsr/cars

I always link this book in threads like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Path-Automobile-Reinventing-Corporation/dp/0316967084

The story of how Chrysler's minivan team created an automobile that captured the 1995 Motor Trend Car of the Year and other major awards - and reinvented a perilously entrenched corporation in the process - is as dramatic and inspiring a story as any in business today. Brock Yates, one of the most respected writers in the auto world, was given unprecedented access to Chrysler - every planning session, presentation, budget review, test drive, assembly line start-up, and marketing launch. The result is a book that unveils the mysteries of modern car-making, revealing how cars are shaped through countless interlinked decisions ranging from size and power to door configurations, color selections, and innumerable other interconnected details. It also captures the complex process by which the thousands of separate pieces that make up a car are designed, tested, manufactured, and marshaled into place at the exact moment they are needed. For any reader who cares about cars, this is the most intriguing look inside the mysteries of their creation ever written. At the same time, The Critical Path recounts an extraordinary drama of all-too-human managers attempting to make something new, in a new way, inside a corporate culture that resists them at every turn. The story of how Chrysler's minivan platform team kept their commitment to quality, schedule, and budget - with a $3 billion investment and the company's fate palpably in the balance - is as encouraging a tale as has emerged from American business in years. The unprecedented triumph and Chrysler's resultant comeback is a lesson in successful management that will be savored by any reader interested in how great companies make breakthroughproducts.

u/Waitits2015 · 1 pointr/cars

Try cleaning with Invisible Glass and a balled up newspaper. In my experience IG is the best glass cleaner, and the newspaper will clean effectively without leaving lint or streaks. Microfiber cloths (even "lint free" ones) will leave microscopic lint residue that can look like scratches.

I have a '14 Fiesta ST - I've also been around quite a few of them and this is the first I've heard of windshield issues. Could be a defective part, but probably just dirty. Either way Ford has been very good about honoring the warranty. Several of the FiST forums are frequented by Ford service liaisons who are happy to help interface between the owner & dealership - might not be a bad idea to sign up and see if you can get help.

u/dsteele713 · 2 pointsr/cars

Assuming you have a drill, $13 for a 3M Headlight kit. I drive a 2001 Honda and just did mine, and the difference was quite noticeable. The headlights are much brighter now since it's not being absorbed and redirected by those cloudy-ass lenses.

I'd spend $15 on an OBDII Bluetooth adapter and ~$6 on the premium version of the Torque app so you can read fault codes and real-time engine data.

We're at $34 right now. I'd buy a bottle of rain-x, some microfiber towels, and some cleaning products for my car (glass cleaner, soap, wheel cleaner, etc.), and that might come to another $30, though you could easily spend more if you don't have any cleaning supplies or decide to get all the goodies. I would then spend a few hours and go to town on your car. The few hours I spent were totally worth it when I consider how much more I enjoy driving my car now.

Finally, I'd buy a nice cabin air filter for $15 or so and replace the old one that is probably long overdue (when I replaced mine I found it had never been replaced in the car's 185k service). That will increase the quality of the air coming in quite noticeably.

We're at $79 so far. I would go on your car's forum to see if there are any cheap fixes or improvement you can make to the car. I had a problem where sometime when the car would go over bumps or take a hard turn I would hear this squeaking noise. Turns out that the front suspension bushing can rub against the bare metal surrounding them when they get old, and a few bucks worth of lithium grease will quiet them down to where you can't hear them. Simple, cheap fix that made me love the car more. See if you can find something like that for your accord.

I also think minerdeity's Aux to bluetooth adapter would be great if you have an old car that doesn't have bluetooth.

u/officeroffkilter · 4 pointsr/cars

You probably want this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

It is about air cooled VWs, but it goes through all the automotive systems. Later chapters cover things like VW disc brakes and fuel injection in the 1960s. It's a clear book with pictures and a humorous approach to the basics of a car. You can start from a point of no knowledge and get a pretty good idea of internal combustion principles.

Good luck!

u/Seeker80 · 7 pointsr/cars

Learn more about driving.

Many techniques and principles from racing can be applied on the road at perfectly legal speeds. Some of this can be demonstrated at 30mph or even less.

The techniques can make you a safer driver as well. Practicing the various skills as you drive, even on something as simple your commute will help keep you engaged and focused on your driving. This helps keep you attentive like you should be anyway, so it's just a bonus.

u/keytarin · 1 pointr/cars

I can also really recommend the kit /u/schwartzd used. The kit includes sandpaper pads and a foam buffer that you can attach to a power drill. It was a long and kinda tedious process but the more time and care you take the better it will appear. Results also hold up spectacularly as well- previously I had used a Turtle Wax brand hand polishing kit that while did clear up the lens, the hazing was back in as little as three months. I used the 3M kit on my lenses last June and today they are still as clear as the day I bought them.

I've seen the kits go for around ~$30 at auto stores but you can get them much cheaper off Amazon.

u/AWildAnonHasAppeared · 3 pointsr/cars

This seems to be the best one out there for $25

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005NLQAHS/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_263_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41qPjS0dkUL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C76_&refRID=0RT24HHDK5X4SK9BK152

Everyone is talking about how awesome and essential it is. Mine should be arriving tomorrow too which is awesome. Good luck!

u/bananas2000 · 3 pointsr/cars

Wow. I should get into paint correction. <$250 for all the tools and polish and waxes. As a car guy, I don't mind waxing my car every 6 months (or 4 months if you're in the frigid north or are anal). I also feel it's foolish to drop $2k-4k on these nano-quartz-bullshit schemes that a lot of car guys swear by nowadays. If you want to drop $4k on paint protection, go for it, but I can get a full window-out repaint for the same price!

Here's what I learned:

Buy the equipment:

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7424XP-6-Inch-Variable-Speed-Polisher/dp/B002654I46

https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Action-Hook-Flexible-Backing-Plate/dp/B0008G1RDK

https://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature-Microfiber-Towel-Case%2C-324-count.product.100341124.html

https://www.amazon.com/Collinite-Liquid-Insulator-Wax-845/dp/B000JK2D06

http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html (MIN: 2 orange, 2 white, 1 black, 1 blue -- I prefer doubling this order; Autogeek almost always has 10-25% off coupons on their mailing list)

You will also need an extension wire with the appropriate gauge (too thin/cheap cables might cause you to burn your Porter Cable motor!)


Buy the compounds (start with UC; if swirls aren't getting cut, move up to 50%/50% UC and 105 on the pads; finish with 205 regardless):

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G17216-Ultimate-Compound-15-2/dp/B001O7PNNM (medium aggressive)

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mirror-Glaze-Ultra-Cut-Compound/dp/B003LMGDHI (most aggressive)

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mirror-Glaze-Finishing-Polish/dp/B001O7PNXC

Wash your car with this, and the two-bucket method:

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G7164-Class-Shampoo-Conditioner/dp/B0009IQXFO

https://www.amazon.com/Zwipes-Chenille-Microfiber-Premium-Scratch-Free/dp/B002J7KCOG

Claybar the car:

https://www.amazon.com/YGDZ-Quality-Detailing-Claybar-Shipping/dp/B01MF4BVVS

It took me about 5-6 relaxed hours on a Sunday with a few beers for the full correction. Now I simply top up the wax every few months (and that only takes 30 min).

The thing is, once you do the full correction and get rid of all your swirls and scuffs and whatever clearcoat damage (wash + claybar + M105/UC + M205 + wax), then you don't have to do the FULL correction ever again.

Ever again meaning, if you wash the car properly thereafter with the two-bucket method. You'll simply need to top up the wax once it stops beading -- the wax will protect the clearcoat from damage and swirls.

My wax lasted 6+ months being daily driven in the California sun with three coats of Collinite 845 -- I assume if yours will see more snow and ice and rain, perhaps it'll only last 3-4 months. But since a bottle costs <$20 and you'll get at least 36+ layers out of it, I always recommend this versus the "nano coatings" that people are shelling out $2-4k for.

Here's the Collinite fanboy thread:

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/40243-collinite-845-definitive-how-guide-legendary-wax.html

Any other questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!

u/HORSEtheGAME · 14 pointsr/cars

How about a diagnostic reader? Something like this. Basically if your car has the engine (or another) light on you can plug that in and your phone will tell you what the problem is. You'll need an app like Torque for it to work.

A dashcam is another gift that is something anyone could benefit from, but not everyone would necessarily think to buy for themselves. Over on /r/dashcam they have some really good guides on what to get. Expect to spend about $100, though. It seems like this one is the best bang for your buck according to their guide.

u/gasfarmer · 2 pointsr/cars

You're not going to find one 'decently priced'. Just give up on that ideal right here and now.

VW Nerds like myself, and those who are packed to the rafters at VW Vortex, The Samba, TDI Club, etc, etc. are always on the hunt for aircooleds. You can pretty much rest assured that anything that approaches 'steal' territory will be snatched up within a few days, if not hours.

You're almost guaranteed to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a project, just due to the demand and the market price.

So if you're serious about buying one - set aside an appropriate amount that you're ready to spend at the drop of a hat, and search ads as often as possible. When something pops up, you'll be ready to go.

In my area a $300 Squareback was posted, and it was sold within 2 hours - just as an example.

That said - figure out which generation you want.

Do you want aircooled, or watercooled?

Do you want a T1? T2? T3? Westfalia? What about a Doka?




Aircooled engines are the easiest things you could ever rip apart. This book is the holy grail for aircooled VW's. Anything you could ever want or need to know lies within those pages - or on the Samba.

Watercooled VW engines are all covered by Bentley manuals - just seek one out, and you're golden.

Also, if you're interested, join us over on /r/Fahrvergnugen !



u/bittabet · 1 pointr/cars

I recommend finding one that supports Apt-X for the best audio quality. I used the BTC450 for a few years and it did a great job. Oddly they put out a newer version that was supposed to avoid the need for a ground loop isolator but the reviews are pretty bad on the new one. If you don't have electrical noise issues I'd probably stick with the BTC450, though I did use a ground loop isolator myself because I was using an Aux to CD changer adapter on my old ass car. I've also used the Belkin variant which I didn't think was as good.

Just make sure you place the mic/remote in a good place so it picks up your voice well and you can easily reach the controls for next/back/pause.

The only issue I can foresee a bit here is that some Buicks keep the cigarette lighter port on all the time even when the car is off, in which case the auto-on models may permanently stay on. When it's unpaired I don't think these use a lot of power but just something to check before using any of these.

u/TakoChitsu · 5 pointsr/cars

Clean your windshield thoroughly. Get some glass cleaner that doesn't have any harsh chemicals in it. I personally use Invisible Glass:

Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaner - 19 oz, 91164 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007OWD2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bAnAzbV5C5N9J.

Don't get the one that has the rain repellant. Spray it on, clean it well with a microfiber. Once you do that I spray some clay bar lube or soapy water (water+dawn) on the windshield and go at it with a clay bar. After claying the whole windshield, I splash some water on it and go at it with the glass cleaner again and dry the windshield. As another said, I apply car was onto the windshield, let it cure, buff it off. Try this and it might stop squeaking since you already tried changing wiper blades. Also, make sure to clean the wipers with glass cleaner too.

u/seacritasianman · 1 pointr/cars

Definitely check out r/AutoDetailing,

But some quick tips, make sure you get a dual action orbital polisher, not a normal rotary polisher. It's pretty easy to mess up your paint with a normal one if you're not well practiced, but DA polishers are pretty easy to use as long as you pay attention to what you're doing. There's also random orbit polishers, but those don't generally provide enough power to do any serious paint correction...

​

Examples:

Rotary polisher (hard to use): https://www.amazon.com/POLISHFLEX-Compact-Variable-Rotary-Polisher/dp/B004XAN4M4/ref=sr_1_12?keywords=rotary+polisher&qid=1551213120&s=gateway&sr=8-12

​

Random orbit polisher (no power):

https://www.amazon.com/DECKER-WP900-6-Inch-Random-Polisher/dp/B000077CPT/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=rotary+polisher&qid=1551213120&s=gateway&sr=8-10

​

Dual Action polisher (what you probably want...):

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7424XP-6-Inch-Variable-Speed-Polisher/dp/B002654I46/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=rotary+polisher&qid=1551213120&s=gateway&sr=8-7

u/verbthatnoun · 4 pointsr/cars

avoid FM transmitters.

They don't work very well. There are lots of ways you can get audio from your phone to your car stereo.

The cheapest way to do it correctly is an FM Modulator, these hook up directly into your car's antenna port. I had this one. Does require removal of the radio to plug into the antenna port, and it needs a power and a ground tapped into. But this way is totally worth it, if you don't want to tackle it yourself, a shop would probably charge about $50 to install it.

I wouldn't ever suggest an FM transmitter because you probably will be constantly fiddling with it while driving due to its un-reliable signal broadcasting, and the cheaper it is, the worse it will be at giving good signal.

Alternatively, the best way to go is just to replace your radio, JVC has a couple of cool inexpensive radios that are under $100, they have USB connectivity for iPods and iPhones, and also have bluetooth for handsfree calling and A2DP streaming (wireless audio streaming). I had one of these in my SVT Focus, it took about 15 seconds after starting the car for the radio to pair with the phone, but it would automatically start playing the last song I had playing in my music app, so there wasn't any fiddling with the phone every time I got in the car.

Edit: THIS is the newer model of the JVC I used to have, sounded really good too. Note that this doesn't have an optical slot.

u/XxRoyalxTigerxX · 6 pointsr/cars

There's a smaller sized blue OBD2 plug in on Amazon it goes along the lines of "panlong" or something, it's only like $10-15, works fine in my Lexus and Mercedes, it's able to clear errors and stuff, real-time info works well. And it's really low profile unlike those other adapters so if it sticks straight into the foot well it won't bother you



Edit: it's $11

Works fantastic with torque pro
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJPHEBO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_o..cBbK4QXZ3R

u/mburke6 · 5 pointsr/cars

I bought my first car in 1984, a '71 Beetle, for $300 when I was in high school. It had over 200K miles on it. Me and my buddy dropped a $450 rebuilt engine in it in my dad's driveway and neither of us were mechanics, but we were armed with a copy of How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive.

That Beetle ran pretty well for 8 years until I sold it for $500. My Beetle was not seen by me as "the car to have", by any stretch of the imagination, but at the time it was the only car I could afford. Although it had a few quirky problems, I remember it fondly. The car was as basic a vehicle as it could possibly be. So simple it was kind of charming. Still, I would have preferred a GTO.

When I drove it for long periods of time, it would vapor lock. Air would get in the gas line feeding the carburetor when the engine got hot and the engine would quit. Sometimes you just had to wait by the side of the road for the engine to cool down, then it would be fine again. Sometimes when I was going down a large hill, I would shut the engine off and coast to cool the engine. Later I relocated the fuel line away from the engine, and eliminated that problem.

Although the car would go in the snow like nothing I've ever owned since, there was almost no heat. Most of the car would remain at the outside temperature, but the driver's side vent would keep my left foot comfortably toasty no matter how cold it was. I had to keep an ice scraper in the car to remove the frost buildup. On the inside.

The windshield wiper fluid was powered by the pressure in the spare tire. I would over inflate the spare to get good pressure. The one time I got a flat and needed the spare, it had no air in it.

One winter, I backed the car down somebody's icy driveway and parked. It was one of the rare times I got the car stuck. My wheels couldn't get traction and just spun futility. My Vdub was a two speed auto-stick (no clutch), I put it in 2nd, got the wheels spinning, opened the driver door, got halfway out and gave it a shove. The wheels gripped and the car got away from me as it trundled up the driveway, across the street, through a neighbor's fence, finally coming to a rest against a tree.

u/Arben72 · 1 pointr/cars

No. They're pads that go under your factory seat cover and are wired to a 12v power source directly. Like so.
Pretty easy to install, just have to pull out your seats, pull off the cover, tape it on, reverse the process and wire it up. Takes a while, but it's not really hard to do. I'm pretty sure automotive interior shops do installs for cheap too.

u/dubyaohohdee · 12 pointsr/cars

Not sure if all scanners can do this, but I have this $50 unit. It will pull cleared codes and tells you how many miles the code has been active. Friend of mine was out test driving a car and called me to ask if he could stop by. He pulled in and when we restarted the car there was a check engine light. Plugged in the scanner and there was some transmission module alert. App said the code had been cleared 25 miles ago.

u/idksomuch · 2 pointsr/cars

I drive a Scion iA (2016) and found these heating pads for heated seats. I installed them and they work great but there are sensors on the seat and now, the airbag light flashes on my instrument cluster and the passenger airbag light doesn't even turn on. I checked all the wiring to make sure they're plugged in and unplugged the battery for 15 minutes. So far it hasn't worked. I'll probably just take out the pads that are on the part of the seat where the butt goes. There's a pad on the vertical portion of the seat, where your back leans against it. I hope that fixes the airbag thing, but anyone else have any suggestions?

u/code-sloth · 3 pointsr/cars

Actual link so others can see more easily: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS

Yep, that's the one I have. Works like a charm for two years now.

u/42wycked · 1 pointr/cars

These work great. Goes between antenna and radio for the best quality possible.

https://www.amazon.com/iSimple-IS31-Antenna-Modulator-Aftermarket/dp/B002U5XPBE

u/AxDal · 1 pointr/cars

Thats good to know haha. Do you think you could make an educated guess if what I currently have is nearing that limit or if I still have a decent amount of overhead? I have one of these dash cams if it helps: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07PD2KJQH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/alientity · 1 pointr/cars

Right, I'm saying that I can do all of this already with the cheap hardware on the market (example).

You do get what you pay for, but it does work. The Android app Torque is what made these interfaces even more popular.

There are better interfaces on the market, which can be used with devices such as the Arduino (example)

u/cantremembermypasswd · 3 pointsr/cars

The most you will probably hear here is don't use Armor All cleaners for the surfaces (do more harm than good and leave a bright sheen) and visit /r/autodetailing.

These are just items I have used personally and would recommend:
Best interior cleaner I have found is Meguiar's Interior Cleaner with some microfiber towels.

Haven't had to deal with anything for anti-fogging, but for windows I use Stoner's Invisible Glass. It's a little too good in my opinion, now I have to figure out how to fix 6 little nicks in my windshield I wouldn't have noticed otherwise...


u/snaaaaaaaaaaaaake · 1 pointr/cars

Maximum Boost by Corky Bell is an excellent resource for understanding turbos. I loved it. http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Boost-Turbocharger-Engineering-Performance/dp/0837601606

u/thatsboot3101 · 2 pointsr/cars

I have this one with the android Torque Pro app.

Can monitor pretty much anything your car has a sensor for. Speed, RPM, IAT's, EGTs, boost/vacuum, coolant temp, oil temp, oil pressure, MAF g/s, acceleration, 0-60, 60-0, can do video with overlays for track usage, read and clear codes. Was definitely worth it.

u/bmw2002guy · 1 pointr/cars

How to keep your Volkswagen alive. http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
Yes they focus on old Volkswagens but you'll learn a lot about general car maintenance and how they work plus it a fun read and written in non-auto speak for the average person to understand. Most of it will apply to any car you own.

u/Bigfrie192 · 3 pointsr/cars

You could wire in your own seat heaters. Something similar to this. I out some in my wife's car and they work great. Installing requires you to take your seat apart though. A good interior detailing also goes a long way.

u/jvgreene · 2 pointsr/cars

I've got one of these, works great and is pretty cheap. I hid the little input/switch panel in the storage space under the radio.

u/gamblekat · 0 pointsr/cars

I've tried a few Bluetooth->AUX audio kits, but this Kinivo model is the best. It's cheap, too.

u/NotYourAutomaton · 1 pointr/cars

For best ease of use, I used an audio input FM modulator which basically adds an aux input and hijacks the antenna at the flick of a switch.

u/jc0mm5 · 1 pointr/cars

Check this book out:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0837601606/?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Excellent resource. You'll learn quite a bit. Volumetric Efficiency, sizing turbos, proper air/fuel ratios, etc.

u/Twotest · 1 pointr/cars

Do you know what I do with my in-dash media system? I put this on top of it and never turn it on.

I love android, but I doubt I will ever use any car's media system. They're all so shitty. All of them. I have yet to see a single one that didn't suck. Even BMW's iDrive blows. Tesla makes one that seems okay, but for the price you pay for it there are so many cars that are better.

u/Why_Is_This_NSFW · 1 pointr/cars

I wired up an FM Modulator so I could get an AUX jack in my old 9-3. Since the head unit is so tightly tied to the car (and the SID and it's all fiber) it's hard to modify it. That was the best solution I could find to make it sorta useable.

My FM modulator was a bit different as it was just a standard small toggle switch, so I used one of the blank covers and drilled and dremeled it and mounted the toggle switch in there.

u/loualbano · 2 pointsr/cars

I had bad luck with those little blue ones. They're good because they are small, but for some reason mine couldn't talk to a few cars I tried it on. A friend had a similar experience.

https://smile.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-34t5-Bluetooth-Android/dp/B005NLQAHS/

That one is a bit more, but it's worked every time I used it and seems to connect to BT quicker.



u/midareashi · 3 pointsr/cars

There are some good comments here already so I'll just recommend Maximum Boost if you want to read up on turbocharging.

u/jonnyrocket · 1 pointr/cars

Once you get through the basics and start looking into performance, I would suggest "Maximum Boost" by Corky Bell. It is pretty much the gospel of turbocharging. Amazon link

u/GVIrish · 3 pointsr/cars

Small stuff I use when working on cars:

u/pvera · 1 pointr/cars

You can get an antenna bypass FM modulator, it plugs between your FM antenna and the antenna input. This is better than the FM transmitter method, especially if you live in an area with a saturated FM band.

Good example: https://www.amazon.com/iSimple-IS31-Antenna-Modulator-Aftermarket/dp/B002U5XPBE

u/notkeegz · 2 pointsr/cars

Something like this is all you'll need. I've used my tekton a bunch and it stays accurate. If you have amazon prime it's like $25

u/LagCommander · 2 pointsr/cars

I use the 3m kit plus this sealant and it has personally worked out pretty well for me, but I'm a pretty amateur detailer.

I also have done a decent amount of side work with it and prefer to do the lower grits by hand and use a drill/polisher for the 2000 grit sand + polish.

Edit: I'll add it's probably not a permanent solution, but on my previous vehicle I had a lot of trouble with cheaper "headlight protectants" and it would slowly start to yellow after 4 months. Not major, but enough for a detailers' eye to notice. With the meguiars I never noticed it again.

u/pet_the_puppy · 3 pointsr/cars

http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headlight-Restoration-System/dp/B001AIZ5HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410403758&sr=8-1&keywords=3m+headlight+restoration+kit

3Ms kit is amazing. It works wonders. The one "with protectant" isn't worth the $10 premium, they just include a packet of wax that you might as well just buy a whole bottle of separately.

u/ABSOLUTELY__BASED · 10 pointsr/cars

An actual mechanic would probably have some super fancy diagnostic tool, but you can buy a personal OBDII that bluetooths to your phone really well for like $20 on Amazon

u/devont · 1 pointr/cars

Does it have the 6 CD changer? If so, you may be able to install an FM Modulator. If it has the 6 CD changer it's the same head unit as my '01 Escape so I know it will work. Take the head unit out, wire the modulator to the power and the ground, and disconnect the antenna from the radio, plug it into that, and plug that into the radio. Then you have an auxiliary input that sounds just as good as CD quality. The one I linked to is the one I've used for over 3 years now with no hassle. If you're interested, PM me for more details about the installation.

u/MadComputerGuy · 1 pointr/cars

I just got this one...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JRGOKQ8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It works excellently. After reading the reviews, I WILL NOT use it on the dash. I currently use it mounted to my window.

u/Onlinealias · 3 pointsr/cars

Go get this. Use as directed and your headlights will be as clear and shiny as new.

BTW, don't get any other brand. I've used them and they all pretty much suck. The 3m stuff I linked to is like freekin magic.

u/Trumpsafascist · 1 pointr/cars

Yes, like this. They also have a Bluetooth one. iSimple IS31 Antenna Bypass FM Modulator for Factory or Aftermarket Car Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002U5XPBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ei.7CbB0AJ060

u/PM_ME_UR_FALCONPUNCH · 1 pointr/cars

I got this one and it works perfectly with torque pro

u/sudo-apt-get-rekt · 1 pointr/cars

Not sure if it answers your question, but I’ve successfully used this scanner on my passat and my relatives ‘09 BMW 335i in addition to my other relatives ‘08 Dodge Journey. Bluetooth obd2 scanners are very finicky with iOS, but it does work.

u/ssmy · 2 pointsr/cars

If you aren't super picky and just want it to work, a wired FM modulator is a pretty good solution. Not too much work (just need power, and plugs in where your antenna goes in). Wireless is usually way too noisy. An aftermarket stereo is probably an even better option, but that could be a bit more money.

u/TheresShitInMyBucket · 1 pointr/cars

Just get a torque wrench and whatever socket fits your lug nuts. Look up what your car is supposed to have and just leave the wrench set to that.

Check it up every few months, only takes like 10 seconds to do and doesn't need any special skill to accomplish. If you can use a screwdriver you can use a torque wrench, just makes a loud click when it hits the setting. Sure beats going to a tire place every time you need to do that.

u/jldude84 · 1 pointr/cars

I like the BAFX reader off Amazon.

Tells you sooooo much cool stuff and casts it right to your smartphone.

u/Thenot_so_Mini_Gamer · 1 pointr/cars

I got this a while back when it was on sale for $50. It is a great dash cam, although i have yet to use it in any real world issues.

The resolution is fantastic (its 1080p) for a small dash cam and while the built in mic isn't the best, the only thing it gets used for is recording my awful singing voice.

u/teckademics · 12 pointsr/cars

I'll go first, personally any type of wireless OBDII blutooth device that links with a smart phone. Troubleshoot check engine and get live stats of how your car is running. Not to mention it's usually cheaper than a full blown code reader.


https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-34t5-Bluetooth-Android/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1479145100&sr=1-4&keywords=obdii+bluetooth

u/armildarken · 2 pointsr/cars

This one worked well for me, I bought one of the little blue cheap ones and it caused my ABS compute to go nuts on my toyota and wouldn't work on our ford. This one works fine with both IIRC.

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Bluetooth-diagnostics-Android/dp/B005NLQAHS

Although I get so much use out (datalogging) of it I might buy one of the nice $70 ones in the future.

u/MinnesotaTemp · 13 pointsr/cars

Install heated seat inserts in my Subie, change my oil and hopefully not a damn thing else.

u/drummer2k7 · 2 pointsr/cars

I use it in my 04 Subaru wrx with the bafx adapter http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_Yi9rub0RQMT7Y

Very useful tool for check engine lights and general diagnostics. Makes an incredible amount of data available to the home mechanic.

u/CalistaF · 2 pointsr/cars

use a slight dab of liquid gasket, I put it on my finger and just put a paper thin coat on both sides after cleaning the pushrod tube, block, and head with a cleaner that can remove oil/grease.

Best book ever if you dont have access to an old school vw mechanics locally for advise http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101

u/eastmandoc · 1 pointr/cars

OP get this. It auto connects and goes through your aux so music quality is better than BT.

https://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTC450-Bluetooth-Hands-Free-Input/dp/B009NLTW60

u/iamnotcreativeDET · 1 pointr/cars

This is the wifi dongle I use for my iPhone 7 Plus, it has instructions on what manual IP address to set so it doesn't interfere with internet connectivity through Cellular, jam your tunes and watch your boost.

u/ascendant512 · 1 pointr/cars

For those who do not know, about 95+% of the bluetooth OBDII dongles on the market are based on the ELM327 chip or a clone of it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELM327#Pirate_clones

ELM sells the chip to a manufacturer for not very cheap who then turns it into a finished product like:

https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-34t5-Bluetooth-Android/dp/B005NLQAHS/

The clones generally work fine almost all of the time, but the updated genuine ELM chip covers more edge cases. You can tell the clones from the real ones pretty easily (the price and construction are a dead giveaway). So if you decide to get a clone, there's no need to waste money - ebay is much better than amazon for this purpose: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=elm+327&_sacat=0&_sop=15&LH_PrefLoc=3&LH_BIN=1

u/spartanerik · 2 pointsr/cars

Yeah, the iOttie I have (version 2) has an extending arm, and the length of it gets stabilized by a screw.

https://www.amazon.com/iOttie-Universal-Holder-iPhone-Samsung/dp/B00JRGOKQ8

My phone is close to my steering wheel

u/CarsAndBikesAndStuff · 1 pointr/cars

I am very OCD about my car and its paint. I also live in an apartment complex with no hose, no covered parking and lots of shitty parkers. I recommend hitting up r/autodetailing and checking out their wiki.

​

As for my own cirumstances, I don't have a clear bra or ceramic coats as I prioritize paying my student loans to hundred to thousands of dollards of paint protection. However, I clean my car using AMMO Frothe, and do paint correction every so often as needed with a DA, Maguiars 205 and 105, and some Chemical Guys orange and white pads. I used Wolfgang Gloss 3.0 sealant on my car before winter and every month during the warmer months. If the car needs it, I'll do a gentle clay application before sealing.

​

Edit: This is the DA I use, but I recommend getting a separate velcro backing plate to mount reusable pads. Full disclosure, my gf works for the corporate parent company of Porter-Cable, and I got the thing dirt cheap.

u/squad_dad · 1 pointr/cars

If I buy one like this, can I leave it plugged in all the time? I have one currently that I have to plug in and unplug every time I want to use it. Not that that's a huge issue - it's right in front of the gas pedal - but if I can find a small form-factor one I wouldn't mind leaving it connected at all times.

u/f1_stig · 1 pointr/cars

Most of the suction cup ones I’ve seen have the bottom peg able to slide left and right to allow the six port to be exposed regardless of the phone.

this is the one I have

u/TomT12 · 1 pointr/cars

Exactly. I am just a basic DIY mechanic so I didn't really want to spend that kind of money on a scan tool. The torque app is $5 dollars. I bought [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) OBDII reader as well. So far it has done everything I have needed. Ill link the app as well, it can really do quite a lot of things.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque

u/kylesach · 2 pointsr/cars

Wired FM modulator. Works with any car and you won't get the drop in quality you would get with a wireless transmitter.

u/Zarkamo · 2 pointsr/cars

If you just need to clear codes then disconnecting and reconnecting the battery will do that for you. If you want a code reader anyway then I bought this code reader that has worked well with the Torque app. Only complaint is that it only updates about every second so horsepower, torque, and 0-60 don't get good readings. No idea if it is the dongle, app, or just what OBDII can do but something to be aware of.

u/alecwatersmusic · 2 pointsr/cars

Coming from someone who is very into cars and hungry to learn about them, this book was recently referred to me.

u/LocalAmazonBot · 2 pointsr/cars

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-FM-MOD02-Universal-Modulator-Satellite/dp/B001QBG614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397225185&sr=8-1&keywords=FM+modulator

  • UK: amazon.co.uk
  • Canada: amazon.ca


    This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting).
u/BGTBGT · 3 pointsr/cars

If you have an android you can do this for $28 to any car with an obd2 port.
Buy the bluetooth obd2 reader...

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-PIC18F2480-diagnostics-compatible/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369776856&sr=8-1&keywords=odb2+bluetooth

Then download the torque pro app to your phone.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque&hl=en

I use the track recorder plugin to see my autocross run speeds and lateral Gs and such.

u/Enemyboatspotted · 3 pointsr/cars

Here is the one I'm using there are cheaper ones but I jsut opted for the one with the most/best reviews.

u/Torisen · 3 pointsr/cars

If you have an Android phone get one of THESE and then THIS app for your phone. $29 and you can read your codes and learn a lot more about what your car's doing.

The sensor probably works with iPhone too, but I've never tried it.

u/identifytarget · 3 pointsr/cars

Out of curiosity, what's your monthly auto premium?

Oh and P.S. buy a fucking dash cam

u/vikster101 · 1 pointr/cars

They're only $50-100 on Amazon. The expense (or time) to install them properly is in the labor. You can pay an upholstery shop ~$150-300 to install them or buy the tools and follow Youtube tutorials.

u/themaincop · 2 pointsr/cars

Does your car have a CD player and an aux input? In my old car these two products were excellent:

https://www.amazon.ca/Kinivo-BTC450-Bluetooth-Hands-Free-Input/dp/B009NLTW60

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B016GNYZIC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you're already happy with the mount you have you don't need the second one, I really liked mine though. When I was car shopping I really put a premium on Apple CarPlay but now I realize it's still shitty if your car is powered by an underpowered Android tablet from 5 years ago, which it appears most new cars are.

u/teh12 · 2 pointsr/cars

Not just size of the turbine.. many factors such as distance the charge needs to travel through the intercooling, the pressure of the charge, the temperature, the AF mix.. too many to type without writing a book.... Take midareashi's advice and get Maximum Boost.

u/Chizzoink · 3 pointsr/cars

This. Pick up any Android phone for uber-cheap (just has to have bluetooth and Android 2.0 or higher), buy Torque for $5, and buy one of these adapters for $24 Prime.

Total cost would be around $50-75 depending on the phone, and then you have an emergency phone, too.

u/TripleThreat · 3 pointsr/cars

/u/Doug-demuro you need an fm transmitter that connects between your head unit and antenna plug and is powered. You can plug into he transmitted via aux or use a Bluetooth adapter. I get 0 interference.

I use this one and have 0 complaints other than the slightly more tedious initial install. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002U5XPBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yfPuzb0M9NP1A

u/superluke · 4 pointsr/cars

Every air-cooled VW owner needs at least one copy of this book.

Preferably more than one - one go use and get dirty, one to keep in the house.

u/D0gDay · 1 pointr/cars

This:

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-34t5-Bluetooth-Android/dp/B005NLQAHS?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00


That, a magnet and sock, a VIN checking website subscription, a friend and a flashlight are the best tools to check on a used car.

Flashlight to inspect crevices.

Friend to start the car from cold while you inspect the color of the exhaust. Then, shift in and out of first and reverse to see if the engine is stable. Then, the friend depresses the clutch, and you listen for chatter. Then a few WoT and you look and listen.

Magnet goes in the sock and you touch it to suspect areas. If it falls, there was rust repair (or it's a plastic panel. Haha).

The reader will scan for any fault codes that currently exist. It will not look for old codes, but it'll tell you if its a O2 sensor or misfire.

A VIN checking website subscription like AutoCheck or CarFax to check if there have ever been accidents or if there's a healthy service record. For that matter, demand all the service records. If they don't have them, don't believe anything they say, and imagine that the vehicle has never had service.

I say all of this as a guy who got fucked each time he bought a used car. My GTI had a hidden accident I could have found with a magnet. My wife's Passat was a lemon (legally. It failed six times under the previous owner), but it wasn't revealed at the time of purchase, and we didn't check the VIN. And more. Three more. Which accounts for five of the five used vehicles I've bought.