1. apply touch-up paint over it
   removing the rust down to bare metal
2. apply clear nail polish to it
   drill through it

You can't just paint over rust or use anything else to cover it up, because it will just fester and keep eating away at the metal. Instead, you just remove it, and that's usually best done with a wire brush or rough sandpaper, and sometimes a combination of the two. After that you can repair the paint.

1. yes, but only for a minute and no more
   absolutely not
2. yes, enough to warm it up to normal operating temperatures
   run it for a good hour before changing the oil

By warming up the engine to the normal operating temperature, you help ensure that the sludge that might have collected in the sump flows out when you drain the oil. If the engine is cold, you might be introducing the fresh oil to that right off the bat.

1. pry bar
   crow bar
2. hammer
   none

Using a tool to check if the tie rods have any free play, which is a sign they're worn out and need replacement, can result in damage. Instead, just use your hands, since they're sufficient for the task.

1. air compressor
   blinker fluid catchall
2. overflow reservoir
   coolant bypass coupling

Tracking down a coolant leak can be frustratingly difficult, but sometimes you forget to check the simplest of spots. The reservoir's plastic can crack, allowing for leaking. Of course, the hoses, radiator, hose fittings, and even the central heating core are possible sources of a leak.

1. wipers frozen to the windshield
   turning the stereo volume up
2. bare wires touching the car body
   improper fuse

One of the many mysterious conditions in a car is when a fuse keeps blowing out. While there are many potential causes, sometimes tracking down the actual source can take time and patience.

1. buttering the wheels
   opening and closing it 50 times
2. lubricate the track
   turning your music up

Before you just starting squirting WD40 into the sunroof track, you should read in the owner's manual if there's a suggested lubricant. Some automakers prefer you use a lithium grease or something else.

1. spark plug socket
   socket wrench
2. breaker bar
   hammer

Removing spark plugs that have been installed in an engine for years can be a difficult job, if you don't use a breaker bar for leverage. When you install new spark plugs, or even put back the same ones, spreading some lithium grease on their threads will make removing them easier later.

1. bite them
   tug on them really hard
2. squeeze them
   spray them with liquid nitrogen

Over time, rubber hoses can start to deteriorate. It's not hard to detect when that's happening, if you simply squeeze the rubber to feel for any signs they're going hard or brittle. Also, look for cracks of any kind.

1. boiling water
   hair dryer and compressed air
2. butane torch
   plunger

There are many ways to pull dents from a car, but you need to determine if the dent is in metal or plastic, because that will affect which of the methods are options. Of course, you can always buy kits made for pulling dents, if you don't want to take any chances.

1. if the wind is blowing
   how tightly the cap has been torqued
2. if the engine has cooled off some
   the air speed velocity of a swallow

Pressurized systems means that opening the cap on the reservoir is kind of like opening a two liter of soda right after someone shook it up, only the liquid is extremely hot. In other words, you should open it with extreme caution, and only after letting the engine cool some.

1. cylinder head cover
   valve covers
2. ignition wires
   air cleaner box

Removing valve covers is a simple, ones-step process. You might need to replace the gasket, so be aware of that potential and have the right supplies on hand. Still, it's easier than removing the entire cylinder head cover.

1. tightening it
   spraying penetrating lubricant around it
2. striking it with a hammer
   touching a crystal to it

A stuck bolt can be a frustrating thing to deal with, but you have a lot of options for loosening it. Sometimes the issue is that corrosion has built up on the threads, so movement or vibrations can knock that off. Other times, you just need some lubrication to help everything get moving.

1. apply duct tape
   polishing
2. rub it with a terry cloth
   wax it

Swirls in your paint look bad, especially as they increase and build up over time. They're signs of microscopic damage or scratches in your car's paint, but you can remove them easily by simply polishing your car.

1. apply wheel cleaner
   spin the tires to avoid flat patches
2. check that the brake calipers aren't rusted solid
   torque the lug nuts to spec

Most people think just tightening the lug nuts by hand will keep the wheels on, but that might not be the case. It's best to use a torque wrench and tighten the lugs to precisely what the automaker specifies in the owner's manual.

1. the oil light coming on
   engine overheating
2. check engine light
   stumbling

A bad thermostat can really toy with how your engine operates. Not only should you watch for overheating, but also note if the engine doesn't reach it's normal operating temperature, fluctuates in temperature, or even just starts having performance issues.

1. the dead car
   it doesn't really matter
2. the running car
   both at the same time

Really, it doesn't matter which car you hook up to the cables first, since you should be doing it with the car that works shut off. If you don't, you risk electrocution or other dangers, so it's worth just turning off the engine until everything's set up.

1. engine fan
   oil level
2. fuses
   coolant level

It might seem counter-intuitive to some people, but coolant actually powers the heater in your car. It flows into the central heating core after leaving the engine, dumping off some of the heat it picked up, but if the coolant level is too low it won't flow there.

1. salt them lightly
   rub some engine oil on them
2. spray a lubricant in the hinges
   spray them down with soapy water

Automakers might recommend a particular lubricant for this procedure, but white lithium grease is usually a good one to use, since it works in the extreme temperature range your car will likely be exposed to.

1. compressed air
   stick a needle into the nozzle
2. soapy water
   vinegar on a cotton swab

If you look in most car owner manuals they recommend using a needle or something similar to remove salt, dirt, or whatever might be clogging the nozzle. You can also use the needle to point the nozzle in the right direction, if you notice it sprays too high or low.

1. dirt or debris buildup
   excessive heat
2. pitting of the rubber
   the rubber has dried out

Your windshield and the wiper blades are exposed to all kinds of dirty situations, so you need to keep them clean. Dirt, salt, or whatever else might accumulate on the blades and cause streaking, but you can clear it all off with a soft cloth.

1. spark plug fouling
   bad gasoline
2. clogged tailpipe
   the wire boots aren't sealed completely

The ignition wires come at different lengths, making it difficult to get the wires switched with the wrong cylinder, if you pay attention while installing them. The more likely scenario is that the rubber boots that are supposed to seal around the lip of the spark plug wells aren't on snugly and the engine is suffering from a lack of compression.

1. tape
   super glue
2. suction
   heat

Plastic become malleable or you can shape it when it hits a certain temperature, so that makes reforming it possible. Just be careful to not heat it up too much, or you'll melt the plastic and have a huge mess on your hands.

1. worn muffler
   worn exhaust hangers
2. full catalytic converter
   excessive back pressure

The exhaust system on any car is held up under the car by rubber hangers, which can stretch, crack, and break over time. Replacing them is a quick and easy process really anyone can do.

1. the engine idles rough
   bad fuel economy
2. one or more electrical accessories stop working completely
   the door hinges pop

Fuses are designed to break in the event of a surge in electrical current, like if a bare wire touches the car's body or frame, protecting the electrical components from being fried. If the radio, wipers, horn, etc. just stop working suddenly, check the fuse box first.

1. pull with a wrench
   pinch them with a clamp
2. pry them back with a screwdriver
   you don't

To make the brake calipers move further from the disc, you must first pinch them using a clamp. Position the clamp over the soft rubber on the caliper, manually backing the calipers off. Once you've reassembled everything, pressing on the brake pedal should move the calipers back to the original position.

1. super glue
   heated sand
2. wax
   polishing compound

You shouldn't use this method on a windshield with severe pitting or other damage, but instead should just replace the glass. Always wear safety material, because the polish literally removes the glass from around the pits.

1. the trunk lid
   the car
2. struts
   the trunk release mechanism

Those struts, which look like shocks on either side of the your trunk lid, keeps it from falling closed. Once those wear out, you just need to unbolt them and bolt in replacements, something that should take little time.

1. brush your teeth
   save it for analysis
2. scrape off any remnants of the old gasket
   lift it from the driver's side first

Usually, a head gasket will lift right off the engine block. Still, it often leaves behind some material on the metal, which if you don't scrape off, will negatively impact how well the new gasket seals. Always remove all the material before you even think about installing the new gasket.

1. pour vinegar over it
   douse the terminals with rubbing alcohol
2. wire brush
   blow compressed air onto the terminals

About the only shortcut to a solution on battery terminal corrosion is to buy a terminal brush, which is round with the metal bristles in the middle. It works faster than a regular metal brush, but you still have to scrub the corrosion off, which can take some time.

1. unbolt it
   disconnect the fan
2. shake it vigorously
   pour water over it

Before you do anything else, you must locate the fan's electrical connector and unplug it. You might need to pinch a tab or two before pulling the connection apart, but once done you'll be able to proceed with unbolting the fan and taking it out of the car.

1. knock on the pan with a hammer
   park the car on a hill
2. rev the engine for five minutes
   run the car until it reaches normal operating temperature

The transmission fluid will drain more fully and faster if you heat it up first, so drive the car for a short trip until the temperature gauge reaches the normal level. Also, be sure to have fresh fluid, a catch pan, and new filter kit before starting.

1. polish them
   wax them
2. use glass cleaner on them
   you can't

You can buy a polishing kit or compound from any auto parts store, or some people will use toothpaste for the job. An actual polisher can make the work easier, since you're essentially wearing off the plastic on the lens that's been damaged by UV rays, exposing undamaged material under it.

1. on the sidewall
   in the tread
2. in the tread and shoulders
   anywhere

Driving over a screw, nail, or something else that punctures a tire isn't the end of the world, as long as it's in the tread and isn't a quarter of an inch or larger in diameter. Damage to the sidewalls or shoulders can't be repaired.

1. your shorts
   coolant
2. tire air pressure
   oil and air filter

Driving on dirt roads kicks dirt up into the air, which makes its way into the air intake and also the oil. Swapping the air filter and oil more regularly is a good idea, so you don't deal with problems later.

1. nail polish
   model airplane paint
2. touch-up paint
   super glue

If you go to the dealership and provide your car's VIN or the exact paint name from the sticker in the driver's doorjamb, you can buy a small bottle of touch-up paint. It matches the paint exactly, but you'll still need to polish the area for the best outcome.