How to replace the dome light in a 2001 Honda Accord EX sedan

The dome light is the overhead light that many drivers never even think about.  It typically comes on when you open the car door and goes off when you start the engine, and unless you need to read a map or find something in the back seat, you may never even use it.  But if the light does happen to go out, replacing it is an easy process.

You can probably find a replacement bulb at your local auto parts store (Sylvania DE3423 will work) but if not you can buy one online.  Amazon sells a two-pack for $7.59.  (AutoZone and O'Reilly each list it at $7.99.)

Follow the steps below to replace the dome light in a 2001 Honda Accord EX sedan.

1. Turn the light to Off

The dome light is located on the ceiling toward the middle of the car.  Push the switch for the light to the Off position.

2. Remove the cover

The plastic cover over the light can be removed by prying or popping it off.  There are two tabs on the rear side of the cover (toward the trunk of the car) that can be popped out with a small flathead screwdriver or knife blade.  Once the tabs have been popped out, pull the cover off.

3. Remove the bulb

The bulb itself sits in the housing held in by two metal tension brackets.  You can pull it out with your fingers -- remove one end first and then the other -- but be careful not to drop it because it could break or get lost.

4. Install the new bulb

Place the new bulb into the two brackets so that it clips into each one.  The orientation doesn't matter, as long as the light sits firmly in its housing.

5. Test the light

Push the light switch to On and verify that the light comes on.  If it doesn't come on, the bulb isn't sitting flush in its housing -- turn the light off and try to reseat it, then test it again.  If it still doesn't come on, either the new bulb is bad or you have a wiring problem.

6. Reattach the cover

Line the cover up so that the two large tabs are on the side toward the rear of the car, then push the opposite side of the cover (toward the front of the car) into place first.  Once that side is in place, push the rear side up, pushing the two tabs in slightly, and the cover should snap into place.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011. Prices and links have been updated.)

(Disclaimer: I earn a commission on Amazon sales made from links in this post.)

How to replace a fuse in a 2001 Honda Accord

Fuses are used in many different electrical systems (including in automobiles) to prevent major problems if something should go wrong.  If too much current is sent across a wire, it could destroy electrical components or start a fire.  When fuses are used, if an excessive current passes through a fuse, the fuse will blow, severing the circuit and keeping the components that rely on the fuse safe.

Every now and then a fuse in your car might blow, causing a component to not work.  Fuses often radios, windshield wipers, and other non-engine components.  To replace a bad fuse in a 2001 Honda Accord, follow the steps below.

1. Open the hood

Pull the hood release lever, located below the steering wheel and to the left.  This lever has a picture of a car with a raised hood on it -- pull it out, toward you, to release the hood.

Get out of the car and stand in front of it.  Lift up on the hood.  It should raise an inch or two.  There is a latch under the front of the hood, near the middle of the car.  Feel around for this latch and then pull on it to release the hood.  Push the hood up so you can see under it.

There is a long metal rod lying across the front frame of the car with a white plastic tip.  Pull this rod up and insert it into the hole on the underside of the hood on the right side, about halfway between the center of the hood and the right edge.  This rod will keep the hood from falling while you are working.

2. Locate and open the fuse box

The fuse box will be in the rear left corner of the engine compartment, as you're standing in front of the car.  It is a black plastic box, and on the top of the box is a diagram of the fuses contained inside.  Remove the fuse box top by pressing on the two tabs on the front of the box and then pulling the top up and out.  (You may have to slide the top forward a little before it can be pulled all the way out.)

3. Pull the old fuse

Inside the fuse box you'll see all sorts of different fuses and relays.  Locate the bad fuse and remove it from the fuse box by pulling it straight up.  (Be sure the engine is off first.)  A fuse puller can make the job easier, but a pair of needle-nose pliers can work too.

4. Install the new fuse

Set the new fuse into the hole left by the old fuse.  It should fit right into place.  If you're using pliers, be sure not to squeeze too hard so you don't crack the fuse.

5. Close everything up and test the fuse

Put the fuse box lid back on, rear side first, and then push it closed so that the two tabs in front snap into place.  Remove the stay bar from the hole in the hood and lay it back across the car's frame, popping it back into the clamp that holds it.  Then let the hood drop and make sure it's latched.

Start the car and turn on the component that wasn't working because of the bad fuse.  It should work now.  If it doesn't, turn the car off and then check the fuse to make sure you inserted it fully, and also make sure it is the correct fuse.  If the component still won't work, the problem most likely lies within the component itself (or in the wiring to that component).

Note:

• Always replace a bad fuse with an identical fuse.  Never try to install a differently-sized fuse or use one with a different amperage or voltage rating than the one being replaced.
• Never remove or insert a fuse while the car is on or running.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to replace a fuse in a 2003 Honda Civic

Occasionally, a fuse will blow in your car, causing the door locks, power windows, or another component to fail.  Replacing the fuse is a simple procedure, and you can save money by doing it yourself rather than taking the car to a mechanic or auto shop.

To replace a fuse in a 2003 Honda Civic:

1. Open the hood

With the car off, pull the hood release lever, located to the left under the driver's side dashboard.  The lever has picture of a car with a raised hood on it.  Pull it toward you to release the hood lock.

Once you've pulled the lever, get out of the car and stand in front of it.  Feel under the slightly-raised hood for the latch that will release it the rest of the way (just to the left of the center).  Push up on the latch and raise the hood, then use the stabilizing bar (it lays along the front of the engine compartment, parallel to the bumper) to hold the hood in place.  The bar's white plastic tip fits into the hole on the right underside of the hood.

2. Open the fuse box

The fuse box is located on the left side of the engine compartment (as you're standing in front of the car, looking at it).  Push in the two clips on either side of the fuse box cover and lift it off.  There is a diagram of the fuses and locations on the underside of the fuse box cover.

3. Remove the bad fuse

For larger fuses, you can simply pull them out with your hand, but for smaller fuses it helps to have a fuse extractor or a pair of tweezers.  Pull the fuse straight up and out.

4. Install the new fuse

Gently push the new fuse into the spot vacated by the old fuse.  Make sure to push it in all the way, in the same orientation as the old fuse.

5. Close everything up

Reattach the fuse box cover, then put the stabilizing bar back where it was (there is a clip toward the front of the car that holds it in place) and close the hood.

6. Test the fuse

Start the car and test whichever component wouldn't work before.  If that component still doesn't work, either the new fuse is bad, the fuse isn't installed correctly, or there is another faulty part (such as a motor or a switch) causing the problem.

🛈 Always replace a fuse with a new fuse of the exact same size and type.

🛈 You can use a circuit tester to verify that a fuse is faulty and needs to be replaced.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

Subaru auto manuals

Owner's manuals:

- 2008 Subaru Legacy Sedan / Legacy Station Wagon / Outback Station Wagon

- 2017 Subaru WRX / WRX STI

- 2018 Subaru BRZ

- 2021 Subaru Forester

- 2022 Subaru Impreza

- 2022 Subaru Outback

- 2023 Subaru Solterra

- 2023 Subaru Outback

- 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Quick reference guides / quick guides:

- 2017 Subaru WRX / WRX STI

- 2018 Subaru BRZ

Getting started guides:

- 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Service bulletins:
- 09-74-21R: Cleaning Procedure for Carbon Deposit Removal to Address Engine Misfire DTCs, Black Smoke from the Exhaust, Lack of Power, Knocking (Ping) and / or Rough Idle Concerns (revised 8/30/21)

- 16-90-13R: Design Change to Lock-Up Type Torque Converter (revised 2/15/18)

- 18-203-20: Service Manual Corrections (11/20/20)

- 18-206-21: Service Manual Corrections (5/3/21)

How to disable the horn on a 2005 Honda CR-V

Just like any other electrical component, an automobile horn can malfunction.  There might be a short in the wiring somewhere causing the horn to blare uncontrollably, or maybe the problem lies with the car's security system.  If the alarm is being set off, either by a loud noise like fireworks or thunder, or by heavy precipitation, the horn will sound repeatedly.  For any of these reasons, you may wish to temporarily disable your CR-V's horn.  This can be done easily by following the steps below.

1. Pop the hood

The hood release lever is located under the steering wheel, close to the floor.  It is a black lever that sits right above the gas compartment lever, and it has a picture of a white car with its hood raised on it.  Pull this lever toward you to release the hood lock.

2. Raise the hood

There is a latch under the hood that will prevent it from being lifted more than a couple of inches, just to the right of the Honda "H" on the front of the vehicle.  Lift up on the hood with one hand as far as you can and find this latch with your other hand, then push the latch to the left to release it.

To make the hood stay up so you don't have to hold it, use the metal bar that lies across the front frame of the car.  This bar is topped by a white plastic tip that sits right in front of the battery on the right side of the car as you are standing in front of it.  Pull the bar upward and insert the plastic tip into the hole in the underside of the hood on the left side.  (This hole has an imprinted arrow right next to it, pointing to it.)  Make sure the bar is securely fitted into the hole before letting go of the hood.

3. Remove the fuse box cover

The fuse box is a black plastic box located on the right side of the engine compartment, behind the battery.  Pull the cover off of it by grasping and pushing in the four tabs (two on the front side, two on the rear) and lifting the cover off.

4. Remove the horn relay

The fuse box contains many fuses and relays that control various parts of the vehicle.  On the right side of the fuse box you will see a row of three black rectangles; these are relays, and the horn relay is the middle one.  Remove this relay by pulling it straight up and out.  If you can't pull it out with your hand, try using a pair of needle-nose pliers.  Place this relay somewhere safe, preferably somewhere in the CR-V so that you'll have it nearby when you want to reinstall it.

5. Reattach the fuse box cover

Place the fuse box cover back on the fuse box and push it straight down to snap it into place.  The large black protrusion on the bottom of the cover goes in the back (away from you).

6. Close the hood

Push the hood up slightly and remove the bar that is keeping it raised.  Lay this bar back across the front of the CR-V, snapping it into the white plastic clip that holds it in place.  Then lower the hood gently until it is a foot or so above the engine and let it drop.

7. Test the horn

To be sure you removed the correct relay, press on the center of the steering wheel to activate the horn.  The horn should not sound; if it does, you removed the wrong relay.

Tips & Warnings:

- For safety reasons, always make sure the car is off before doing anything inside the fuse box.

- If you want to double check that you have the right relay before removing it, the underside of the fuse box cover contains a diagram showing which fuse or relay sits where.

- When reinserting the horn relay, line up the terminals on the bottom of the relay with the slots in the relay cavity.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to disable the horn on a 2003 Honda Civic

If you have an alarm system on your car, it can sometimes go off at inopportune times.  Thunder is notorious for setting off car alarms, and precipitation such as hard rain or hail can also cause the alarm to go off.  If your alarm is easily set off by storms, you may want to disable the horn before a big storm comes, especially if it will be coming while you're trying to sleep.

Read on for a step-by-step guide to disable the horn on a 2003 Honda Civic.

1. Pop the hood

The hood release lever is located below the steering wheel right by the driver's door; it is a black lever with the image of a car with a raised hood on it.  Pull this lever toward you to release the hood.

2. Raise the hood

To raise the hood, pull up on it with one hand while feeling underneath it with the other hand to release the hood latch (located just to the left of the center of the hood).  Find this latch and push it up and to the right to free the hood, then raise the hood up and use the bar that lies across the front frame of the car (a metal bar with a white plastic tip) to keep the hood raised.  This bar fits into a hole on the underside of the hood.

3. Open the fuse box

As you're standing in front of the car, the fuse box can be found on the left side of the engine compartment, behind the battery.  To open it, push in on the four tabs (two on the front, two on the back) and lift the cover up and off.

4. Remove the horn relay

The electrical relay that controls the horn is on the left side of the fuse box.  There is a row of three black rectangular relays; the horn relay is the middle one.  Remove this relay by pulling it straight up.  The relay may be difficult to remove, and a pair of needle-nose pliers might help.  (If you want to be absolutely sure that you're removing the right relay, there is a diagram on the underside of the fuse box cover showing which relay goes where.)

Once you remove the relay, put it somewhere safe -- preferably somewhere in the car so that you'll have it when you want to reinstall it.  A good place to store the relay is in the drop-down compartment to the left of the steering wheel.

5. Close the fuse box

Place the fuse box cover back on top of the fuse box so that the large black protrusion faces toward the front of the car.  Push the cover down onto the fuse box, and the four tabs should snap into place.

6. Close the hood

Lift up on the hood slightly with one hand so you can remove the metal bar with your other hand.  Place this bar back across the front frame of the car and snap it into its white plastic clip.  Then lower the hood until it's about a foot above the car and let it drop down and lock.

Things to note:

• Always turn the car off before removing or replacing any relays or fuses.
• When reinstalling the horn relay, it will only fit in one way.  Make sure the terminals on the bottom of the relay line up with the slots in the fuse box housing.  If there is writing on the top of the relay, it should be facing toward the front of the car.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to add oil to a 2006 Chevy Equinox

Things needed:

- 1 quart (or more) of 5W-30 motor oil

- a few paper towels or rags

- a plastic funnel (recommended)

Tips & Warnings:

- Make sure the car has had a while to cool off before touching the engine block or adding oil.  Never try to add oil while the car is on or running.

- A plastic funnel will make adding the oil a little bit easier, but it's not necessary.  Many grocery stores or gas stations will sell small funnels for a dollar or so, and some gas stations give paper funnels out for free.

Oil keeps everything inside your vehicle's engine lubricated and moving smoothly.  If you get regular oil changes, the mechanics or technicians that change your oil should fill it up every time.  Unless your vehicle develops a leak somewhere in the system, you may not ever need to add oil to your 2006 Chevy Equinox's engine.  However, if you do, this guide will walk you through the procedure, step by step.

1. Raise the hood

With the Equinox off, open the driver's side door and pull the hood release lever.  It is a black lever located close to the floor on the left side, and it has a picture of an SUV with its hood raised on it.  Pull the lever toward you, and the hood will unlock.

Once you've pulled the hood release lever, get out of the Equinox and close the door.  Walk around to the front of the vehicle.  With one hand, pull the hood up slightly so that there is enough to room to fit your hand underneath it.  With the other hand, feel around for the hood latch, which will be located right around the middle of the hood, close to the front edge.  Release this latch by pulling it toward you and then push the hood up with your other hand.

While you are holding the hood up, look for the black metal bar lying just past the grill.  It has a couple of bends in it at the end, on the passenger side of the engine compartment.  Pull this bar toward you to release it from the plastic clip that holds it in place and raise it up so that it lines up with the hole in the underside of the hood on the driver's side.  (There is an engraved arrow in the underside of the hood pointing to this hole.)  Fit the bar into this hole and make sure it is properly engaged, and then you can let go of the hood -- the bar will hold it place.  Do not let go of the hood until you are sure the bar is locked in.

2. Check the current oil level

Like almost all gas-powered vehicles, the Equinox has a dipstick that you can use to check how much oil is in the engine.  This dipstick has a yellow handle and is located very close to the front and center of the vehicle, just behind where the license plate is if your Equinox has a front license plate.

Pull on the yellow handle to pull out the dipstick.  It should have some oil on the bottom end of it.  Wipe off the whole length of the dipstick with a paper towel or rag.  Then reinsert the dipstick fully, let it sit for a second, and pull it out again.

Now check to see how high up the dipstick the oil goes.  There are several small holes in the bottom end of the dipstick -- oil will get caught in those holes, so see how many holes have oil droplets in them.  If all of them do, you probably have enough oil in the engine.  If none of them do, you definitely need to add oil.

3. Add oil

Wipe off the dipstick again and set it to the side somewhere out of the way.  Now open the oil cover, located near the middle of the engine block.  It is a round black cover with a picture of an oil can and a drop of oil coming out on it, and it will say 5W-30 on it (the type of oil this engine takes).  Twist the cover counter-clockwise until it won't twist any more, then pull it straight up.  Set the cover somewhere safe but out of the way.

If you have a funnel, set the small end of it into the opening left by the oil cover.  Open a quart of 5W-30 motor oil and slowly pour the oil into the funnel (or if you don't have a funnel, directly into the oil reservoir).  Add about a quarter of a quart at a time, and give the oil a minute or two to settle.  Then reinsert the dipstick and check the oil level again.

If all of the holes on the dipstick are covered in oil, you shouldn't need to add any more oil.  If the oil level is still low, repeat this step to add more oil, and check the level again after another quarter quart.  Make sure not to add too much oil -- it will cause excessive smoke and make the engine to run erratically, or not at all.

4. Clean up and close up

Once you've added enough oil, put the oil cap back on by sticking it into the hole and twisting it clockwise until it's tight.  Put the dipstick back into its well, and wipe any excess oil off of the engine block or anywhere else it might have dripped.

Lift the hood slightly so you can disengage the rod that holds it up, then lay the rod back across the front of the car and slide it into the white or gray plastic clip that keeps it in place.  Close the hood and make sure it latches.  Just to make sure everything is okay, start the car and let it run for a couple of minutes.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)