Hot Driving & Safety How-Tos

How To: Break into Your Car to Retrieve Your Keys

Have you ever locked your keys inside of your car before? I net you have, you've felt the frustration, you've felt the pain, but don't pull out that cell phone just yet... you don't need a locksmith.

How To: Pass a California DMV Driving Test

If all things go well, you'll only have to take your road test once. That's the goal: to ace your test on the first try and then start driving on your own. Granted, it's a nerve-racking experience, but keep in mind that the California Department of Motor Vehicles wants you to pass. So much so, they give you the examination answers ahead of time! All you have to do is study.

How To: Are You Being Followed? How to Check Your Car for GPS Tracking Devices

There's been a lot in the news lately about tracking devices, and it's been pretty much all bad. They can be useful if your car gets stolen, but if you weren't the person who installed it, chances are you don't want it there. Just type "GPS tracking device" into Google and on any given day you'll find an article about someone who got busted by one of these things. Even if you don't have to worry about getting into trouble, you still don't want people following you. Here's how to make sure you...

How To: Unlock a Car Without a Key

How many times have you locked your key inside your car and had to pay those outrageous locksmith fees? Ever worked for an hour or sometimes longer trying to coax a coat hanger in through a window, all the while wishing there was an easier way to unlock your car door? Well, there is, and this video will show you how. You can pop that lock open in a matter of seconds with something as simple as a tennis ball. Check it out!

How To: Drift with go karts

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to drift with a go kart. When making a drift, do not press hard on the brake pedal and slow down at the turns. As you make a drift, press smoothly on the brake pedal and stick as close to the left side as possible. When you press the brake pedal to hard, the wheel will spin and will cause the kart to spin out. This video also provides a visual demonstration on how to properly drift with a go kart. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy drivin...

How To: Wear a seat belt properly

Seat belts save lives… but are you wearing yours the right way? Size up yours for a safe ride. You Will Need:

How To: Do a five point turn

You may have to do a turn in the road where the road is narrow or your vehicle is difficult to steer. This video shows you how to safely do a five point turn Do a five point turn.

How To: Use steering wheel controls in the 2010 Prius

In this video, we learn how to use steering wheel controls in the 2010 Prius. The Prius has steering wheel mounted controls that come with touch tracer display. When you press these, the display produces the duplicate on the panel to see what you are doing. This is located in the driver's line of sight. You will find radio, volume, and radio channel controls on the left hand side. You will also find voice activation and phone on the left hand side. The switches on the right hand side will hel...

How To: Start a car without needing the key

Please only use the information in this video if you have lost your own car key or you are helping out a friend who has lost theirs! If you need to start a car without the key, this tutorial shows you how to find the wires in the steering column to find the eight cables underneath. Here's what to look for and then what to do so you can get your car running and go to where you need to be.

How To: Pair a phone through Bluetooth with a 2010 Prius

Learn how to pair a phone through Bluetooth with a 2010 Prius in simple steps. 1. You can connect your phone to the vehicle through Bluetooth without using any wires. 2. Press the 'Info Phone' button on the right side of the display screen, press 'Phone' now and press 'Yes' when prompted. 3. Now enter the pass code when prompted on your phone to pair it successfully. 4. You can pair more than a single phone by using the same process but you can use only one at a time. 5. You can also transfer...

Skip the Long DMV Line: Renew Your Driver's License at a AAA Office Instead (No Membership Required)

If there's one way to get a visceral response from someone, it's bringing up the DMV. Regardless of the reason, whether it's the long lines, disgruntled employees, or just general inefficiency, I have yet to meet a single person who doesn't mind the trip. Just look at all those happy faces.

Quick Tip: Pointing Your Car Remote at Your Head Increases Its Range

Keyless entry remotes are great, but they don't always work how you want them to. One of the most common complaints is that they just don't reach far enough, and there's nothing more annoying when you can't remember where you parked. After all, what's the point of having "remote" entry if you have to be right next to the car for it to work?

How To: Unlock a Car When the Keys Are Locked Inside

In these auto lockout emergency videos, learn what to do when you've locked your keys in the car—aside from calling a locksmith. See how to use special tools, usually readily available to the public, to unlock your car free of charge.

How To: Unlock a Car Door with a Clothes Hanger

This video shows you how to unlock a car door with a hanger but warns it isn't easy and may take some practice. First you will need a hanger as long as your arm, then insert the hanger in the hole on the left side of the window. Try to feel around and find the pin inside the hole. After you find the pin pull up on it. Try not to lock your keys in your car so you don't have to do this anymore.

How To: Pair your bluetooth phone to Ford SYNC

Sometimes pairing your mobile phone with your car is a difficult and unwritten chore to accomplish. But now with Ford's new SYNC system, you can easily pair your cell phone. It's as easy as pressing the Phone button. Let it search for already stored bluetooth devices, and if none are stored, simply press the Arrow buttons until you see the Add Bluetooth Device option. It's that easy!

How To: Use Active Trac (A-TRAC) on the 2010 Toyota 4Runner

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner comes with a feature called Active Trac or A-TRAC. A-TRAC traction control has the traction benefit of locking front and rear differentials, but with less weight. The ABS (anti-lock braking system) will automatically brake a slipping wheel. This will provide extra torque so that wheels with more traction can continue to push the car along. This automatic feature works seamlessly and the driving experience is not hindered in any way. However, the driver can turn this on...

How To: Remotely access the a/c in a 2010 Prius

Prius models that are equipped with tilt-slide moon roof have a remote control button on their smart keys for the remote air-conditioning system. Before leaving the vehicle, make sure the headlights are switched off or set to auto. All windows are closed and check the temperature setting of the AC system. As you return to the Prius, press the remote AC button on the smart key remote to activate the air conditioning system. The cabin will cool to the pre-set temperature without turning on the ...

How To: Want to Find Your Stolen Car Fast? Forget the Police and Call a Taxi

A car is stolen every 33 seconds in the United States, and from that, the percentage of vehicles recovered in the first day is a whopping 52 percent. Over the next week, that number rises to around 79 percent, but after those initial seven days are up, it's unlikely the vehicle will be found.

How To: Retrieve Keys Locked in a Car

In this 15-part video guide, you'll learn how to retrieve keys locked inside a car, use tools to unlock a car without a key, and prevent car theft, taught by an expert locksmith.

How To: Open the gas door & cap in a 2010 Prius

Learn how to open the gas door and cap in a 2010 Toyota Prius in simple steps. Locate the remote fuel filler door which can be found on the floor next to the driver seat. Pull the lever up to open the fuel filler door. Remove the cap by turning it slowly counter clockwise and hang it on the filler door. After filling the recommended fuel place the cap and turn clockwise till you hear a click sound. Finally lock the fuel filler door to finish.

How To: Operate a Semi-Auto Quad ATV

This video provides a tutorial on how you can operate a Semi-Auto Quad ATV. The quad used in this movie is a Kawasaki Bayou 250cc 2wd.

How To: Use downhill assist on the 2010 Toyota 4Runner

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner comes with several features – one of which is Downhill Assist Control or DAC. When the driver turns the DAC feature on by simply pressing a button, it will help the car as it descends along slippery and/or steep slopes. When DAC is activated, a green icon will be lit up. DAC works with the A-TRAC (or the Active Traction system) and the ABS (or anti-lock braking system) to help keep the 4Runner's speed below 15 mph, a safe speed for driving down steep grades.

How To: Get a vehicle health report with Ford SYNC

To make sure your car is healthy and up to par with required maintenance, you can use Ford's new SYNC system to get vehicle health reports for you car. It gives you vehicle diagnostics, scheduled maintenance, recall information, and more. You just need to go online to your owner's account and set up your reports.

How To: Operate the headlamps on a 2010 Prius

Toyota USA shows you how to operate the headlights of the 2010 Prius. Follow this guide to operate the headlights on the 2010 Prius: To turn on the headlights, use the switch on the end of the left hand stalk. Rotate it once to turn on the parking lights, twice to turn on the headlights. The fog lights are switched on my rotating the inner control ring. If your model comes with LED headlamps, you can turn on the headlamp washers by pushing the button located to the left of the steering wheel.

How To: Install cable style tire chains on your automobile

The Oregon Department of Transportation shows you how to install cable style tire chains in this video tutorial for the winter. These are tips and techniques for cable chain installation and removal from your auto's tires. The winter is here, and driving safely means protecting yourself against the snow and ice. Tire chains on your automobile is the perfect solution.

How To: Use the paddle shifter in the 2010 Ford Flex

Not sure what a paddle shifter is? Well, if you own the 2010 Ford Flex, you are at least aware of its existence. You can switch your vehicle from automatic transmission to manual transmission in the 2010 Flex, and there's these things on the steering wheel called paddle shifters, which allow you to shift between gears without ever taking your hands off the wheel. Learn how to use them.

How To: Use turn-by-turn navigation with Ford SYNC

Turn-by-turn navigation is easy with Ford's new SYNC system. Cities, businesses, your favorite places - name your destination and SYNC returns with your turn-by-turn directions. To add your favorite locations, you simply need to visit your owner account online, then you're ready to find your favorite directions, or any other directions needed.

How To: Open & utilize the trunk area of a 2010 Prius

In this tutorial, we learn how to open & utilize the trunk area of a 2010 Prius. To access the cargo area, open the rear hatch by pressing on the release above the license plate. To keep items out of sight, there is a sliding cover that you can pull back and hook into slots. To open, pull towards you slightly, then reel it in. There is additional space under the floor which can be accessed by twisting the locks and removing from the vehicle. Underneath this, there is a cargo bin, and undernea...

How To: Adjust the interior lights in a 2010 Prius

In this video, we learn how to adjust the interior lights in a 2010 Prius. To adjust the intensity of lights, rotate the thumb wheel that is left to the steering wheel. Rotating up increases the intensity of the lights. Rotating downwards dims the instrument panel lights. There is a central light switch located on the roof. There are three positions that turn the lights on, off, and auto. There are also right and left map lights which you can switch to turn on or off. The lighting in this car...

How To: Change temperature settings in a 2010 Toyota Prius

In this video, we learn how to change the temperature settings in a 2010 Prius. All the climate controls are on the center console. The steering wheel can also help you change the temperature control. Press the green switch first then you will be able to set the temperature that you want the car to be. The system will then maintain that temperature. If you want to use the fan, select the fan and then select the speed you want it to be at. There is also a front and rear defroster you can press...

How To: Access XM Satellite Radio in a 2010 Prius

In this tutorial, we learn how to access XM satellite radio in a 2010 Prius. To access this feature, press the "sat" button the dash or the "sat" button the steering wheel. You can also use the voice recognition button on the steering wheel by saying "satellite radio" out loud after pressing it. You can search for music by channel or use the type scan button while in audio mode to find the type of music you prefer. There are a variety of channels offered, look at your channel guide to find th...

How To: Pass a California motorcycle skills test

Safe motorcycle riding requires knowledge and skill. Testing two-wheel vehicle operators is the best measurement of the skills necessary to operate safely in traffic because people often overestimate their own abilities.

How To: Use rear parking assist on a 2010 Toyota 4Runner

One of the many features that comes with the 2010 Toyota 4Runner is Rear Parking Assist. To use this feature, press the button to the left of the steering wheel that is marked P. The system will beep and the green LED will be lit, confirming that the feature is turned on. When the car is put into reverse, the parking assist will start beeping. As the car gets closer to an object, the beeping will gradually get faster and faster. When the car becomes very close to an object, the beeping will b...

How To: Read the information displays inside a 2010 Toyota Prius

In this tutorial, we learn how to read the information displays inside a 2010 Prius. There are a lot of features on the Prius that can improve your fuel economy. The energy monitor and hybrid system indicator can help you save gas and tell you how your car is running, along with what kind of power it's using. On the next screen, you can monitor the consumption of your gas so you can see what mpg you are getting in the last hour or five minutes you were driving! You can do this for a trip or f...

How To: Use ratchet tie down straps

This video shows you how to properly use ratchet tie down straps. It would be a good idea to keep these in the back of your truck or your car to tie down stuff.

How To: Use the AC power outlets in the 2010 Toyota 4Runner

Select Toyota 4Runner models are available with two 120-volt AC power outlets. To use this feature, the engine must be turned on and running. Press the AC switch to the left of the vehicle's steering wheel. The LED will be illuminated when active. One outlet is located in the center console. The other outlet is at the rear of the vehicle in the cargo area of the Toyota 4Runner. Use the outlets as needed.

How To: Operate the windshield wipers in a 2010 Prius

Toyota USA provides this quick video guide to show you how to use the windshield wipers in the 2010 Prius. If you want to control the wipers and washers, take the following steps: To operate the wipers, move the right hand stalk up for a single wipe, or move it down to activate the intermittent setting. Move the stalk down one more position to select a slow and constant wiper mode. One more down pull selects the fast wiper mode. Pulling the entire stalk towards you will activate the windshiel...

How To: Get turn by turn directions with Ford SYNC

If you have just purchased a new Ford Taurus, you may have noticed the new SYNC feature. SYNC is a GPS built right into your dashboard. If this is your first time using a global positioning system, you may need a few pointers. Check out this video and learn how to access step by step directions and get where you need to go.

How To: Use the smart key for the 2010 Toyota Prius

In this video, we learn how to use the smart key for the 2010 Prius. You can use this just like any other keyless entry system. Press the lock button to lock the doors and the unlock button to unlock the doors. When you press unlock once it unlocks the drivers door, if you press it twice within 3 seconds, it unlocks all the door. After 60 seconds, the Prius will automatically lock itself. Press the red alarm key if you need to draw attention to yourself in an emergency situation. Make sure yo...

How To: Load a CD in a 2010 Prius

This is an easy guide on how to load a CD in a 2010 Toyota Prius. On units with standard audio system, insert CD into the slot to load. Press eject button on the left to eject. On units with JBL audio systems, press the load button in the right hand side and wait for the light. Next to the CD port to turn amber until solid green. Now you can insert a CD (if you'd like to load all 6 CDs), press and hold the load button and wait until light turns solid green. Now you can insert the next CD and ...