First Jobs How-To Pack

These are the jobs I tell every new owner to do first. They set a baseline, teach you your car, and save real money. Each job lists what to look up first, the steps in the order I do them, and the mistakes to avoid. There are no made-up specs here: every torque value, capacity and gap comes from your service manual, and there's a page to write them all down.

It's a 7-page printable and fillable pack (US Letter PDF), in two versions: fillable for your computer and clean for printing:

• Before Every Job: research, specs, parts, safe setup and photos, plus the metric-first tool list and how I do lug nuts.

• Job 1, Oil & Filter and Job 2, Coolant & Brake Fluid: step by step, including bleeding.

• Job 3, Brake Pads & Rotors (disc): step by step, with when to stop and get help.

• Job 4, Tire Rotation: break loose with a 1/2" ratchet, remove with a ratchet or impact, finish with a torque wrench. Plus rotation patterns and wear clues.

• Job 5, Basic Tune-Up: plugs, wires, cap and rotor, points, timing, filters and PCV.

• My Car's Specs & Job Log: 19 specs with source and page, plus a job log.

Instant download, for personal use. Always use jack stands and follow your service manual.

Highlights

• 7-page fillable + printable PDF

• 5 beginner jobs, step by step

• "Look Up First" spec boxes on every job

• Job record on every page

• Metric first, specs from your manual