Owner's book · not a shop
Open HoodKnow the car. Then the window. Factory specs in plain English — don't authorize until you can say this at the counter.
Owner's book · not a shop
Open HoodKnow the car. Then the window. Factory specs in plain English — don't authorize until you can say this at the counter.
Guides
Beginner · short stepsExpert · spec · code · mm
Pick the job. Watch a real video or open an honest search.
Curated jobs mapped to verified YouTube IDs. Search link when one ID is not honest enough.
How-to · Used · PPI and what to film
DIY-safe driveway job
A PPI is a paid hour on a lift, not a Carfax. You film title, VIN plate, cold start, test drive, and the inspector’s pointer on the lift. A checklist keeps you from skipping paperwork. Regular Car Reviews is for the culture of the price — not the torque spec.
Safety
Steps · beginner-friendly
Tools
Parts
No parts to buy first.
Bumper
Buying a Used Car Checklist: How to Inspect for Red Flags
A structured checklist: paperwork, exterior, interior, drivetrain, test drive — the chapters to film.
Watch on YouTubeIf you are not DIY · say this instead
Please do a PPI with a written report: leaks, frame, codes, and wear items with measurements.
Ask at the shop
Ask what they will not certify. A PPI is an opinion with photos, not a warranty.
Related clips · no live key
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Open YouTube searchRelated jobs
Used
Walk a used car before you fall in love
A for-sale car is a story. You want panel gaps, tire dates, cold-start exhaust, and the underside — rust, leaks, crumpled frame rails. Film it. If the seller will not let you, that is the answer.
Used
The advertised price is not the out-the-door price
Dealerships advertise a number that is not what you pay. Fees, add-ons, and “already applied” credits show up in the box. Regular Car Reviews is context for that conversation — not a how-to torque video. Walk if the out-the-door number cannot be written in one line.
OBD
Read a check-engine code with a cheap scanner
The light is a pointer, not a parts list. A $20–$80 OBD-II dongle plugs under the dash, usually above the driver’s left shin. You read P0xxx, write it down, then translate it — you do not clear it and hope. Open Hood’s /obd desk will read the same code you typed.
OBD
Scan the car the way you would a first car
Before you buy pads or ignore a light, plug in and read everything the cheap tool can see. A first-car walkthrough shows the port, the app, and how a check-engine light can be a bulb — or something that needs a real test.
Parts · obd-scanner