Got my Car Stereo removal keys stuck!!

So, I was sure i was onto a winner the other day when i removed my Sony 6000CD from my Focus, to get the serial number, to then get the unlock code. I bought some removal keys for £4 from Ebay

This is where i started acting all special. On putting the unit back, i couldn't work out why it wouldn't stay in, and the keys wouldn't come out! For about 30 minutes i was trying to work out what the hell was going on, i must have looked like a right douche bag! At one point i even got some pliers and tried to put all my weight into pulling the keys out. Nothing worked, all that happened was a bit of swearing, some mangling of the keys, and some small blood loss!

The next day i suddenly had a thought.. and it was a good one, so i thought.  I'll get the pliers and try to force the keys out whilst the unit it out.  That didn't work either, and all i did was bend a few things i really shouldn't have done.  I'd managed to stuff it up so that the unit had gone back, and was secured by 1 clip, with all four keys stuck in - so now i was really screwed!

Today i applied even more brute force, and managed to get the unit back out. Then i discovered the full horror of my specialness. All i needed to do was gently press the clips in on the side of the unit, and remove the keys. Then just drop the unit back in, and it clipped neatly in place! Head in hands, i was ashamed of myself - but at least I've got a working stereo, and no keys stuck in the holes.

Don't be a douche bag like me!

How Do I Change a battery in a Ford Focus?

"How hard can it be?" you say?  Well... not as easy as it could be - is the answer.  This is best done by two people. However - I would recommend not to employ some spanners from Halfords to do it! Here are the steps on how to do it yourself

1. Find your radio code - if you don't have it, then once you change the battery you will be soundless!
2. Unclip the top of the battery container (only one clip) and the side clip
3. get a 10mm socket and loosen the nuts around the terminals. Be careful not to loose them, or you will be screwed.
4. The metal harness securing the battery in the car is held on by a 10mm nut which is down the side of the battery container, A little hard to get at, but not impossible once you part the container a little. Again, be careful not to loose this nut!
5. Unclip the metal harness
6. Take off the terminals - you may need to lever the negative terminal off with something, a spanner or screwdriver will do it. You can also buy terminal pullers to make it easier.
7. Take out the battery (easier with two people)

8. Insert new battery
9. If its slightly smaller in length you will have to position it so the wires that connect to the ECU fit ok when the battery container is secured.
10.Reattach the terminals and tighten the nuts
11. Replace harness and tighten nut to secure
12.clip back the battery container covers

If you follow the above you should be done in about 20 mins!

Using washing up liquid to wash a car!

There are a surprising amount of people who think that its a waste of time buying special car shampoo, when you have washing up liquid to hand. This is a huge mistake to make!

Yes you may use it, and the car may look clean - but the contents of washing up liquid is actually harmful to car paint. Not only will you be taking off any wax or polish that's on the paint surface, the washing up liquid will react with the paint and in a few years time will basically be ruined. The bodywork may even start to corrode as a result of not having decent paint protecting it.

It could look like this if you continue this shocking behaviour:

So - don't risk it and don't be a cheap arse.  Buy some proper car shampoo and ensure your car paintwork is protected for as long as possible!