My Moen Adler faucet I installed 7 years ago is failing and is difficult to turn to the off position. I had suspected it was starting to fail when there was a bit of play turning the handle several months ago. Though replacement 1222 cartridges range in price from $25-$75, Moen has lifetime warranties. I called their customer support and a new cartridge will be shipped to me with no hassle or proof of purchase. Checking youtube videos and reading reviews, it is recommended to get a cartridge puller in case the old one is stuck. I was able to find inexpensive pullers on both Aliexpress and Ama ..read more

I have seen panel failures with wide vertical bands. The vertical sections are fed by flex connectors TAB (Tape Automated Bond) bonded to panel boards at the bottom of the TV. TAB bonding uses expensive specialized equipment and ripped connections are not economically repairable. The flex connector could also contain an embedded COF (chip on flex) IC. If the IC fails, there could be artifacts within the vertical band. If the flex is completely ripped off, the corresponding vertical section will be dark with no signal. Liquid (such as windex) trickling into the bottom of the bezel can also dam ..read more

My parents house built in the 70s has aluminum wiring and lights and outlets had been updated previously without consideration for the compatibility of fixtures with aluminum. Though aluminum wiring can still be used, there is increased fire risk due to contact with dissimilar metals. In preparation for an electrical inspection required by the home insurance company, I updated previously changed outlets and switches. My initial updating involved adding copper pigtails to Decora styles (non-aluminum compatible) switches and outlest using Alumiconn terminals. These are pretty expensive at aroun ..read more

My Maytag dishwasher soap dispenser stopped releasing and it wasn’t really a big deal since you could just put the soap in beforehand without using the timed release. I assumed the problem was the actuator which releases the spring loaded lid. My model was PDB3600AWE and the actuator part number is 902899. I opened up the panel to confirm the correct part (few videos on youtube) and ordered a new one from ebay. When I went to install it, I noticed the wire going to the part was cut near the door hinge. This damage was likely the problem and not the actuator itself. Resoldering the wire confir ..read more

I thought that the wipers needed an adjustment but the main culprit is a worn bushing on a wiper rod. The entire rod needs to be replaced. Here are two youtube videos to for this repair. It is relatively simple but here are some extra tips. You do not need to remove the enitre wiper assembly. The rod can be removed with the assembly bolted in place. I used a rubber mallet to pound the new one back in. The weatherstripping does not need to be completely removed. You only need to remove it up to the split point where the two sections join. I removed it from the shorter passenger side. To put i ..read more

This smart TV was reported to be shutting off on its own. When I plugged it in, it appeared to be fine but when I connected via wifi to the internet, it started to shut down after a few minutes. This model uses an all-in-one combination board with no separate wifi module that can be replaced. In order to factory reset it, I had to turn off my wifi and use the remote code menu-0-0-0-0-0-0 to get to the service menu. This model is similar to Element brands as well. I tried using wired ethernet and the TV shut off as well. Replacement of the board would be more than the value of the TV. The post ..read more

My factory alarm failed to arm after pressing lock on my key fob and I suspected a bad actuator. The alarm will not arm if all the doors and the trunk are not locked. I had replaced both door actuators already with OEM ones so have encountered this previously. Checking all of my locks, the trunk was not locking. Found this guide here for replacing the trunk actuator. Confirming the part number 74896-S6M-A01 online, I found an aftermarket for $13 USD on ebay, Dorman 746-747 for $70 USD on Amazon and an OEM for $130 USD. Ordered the cheap aftermarket one since I don’t intend to keep the car for ..read more

The Samsung NU series has a high rate of backlight failures causing dark vertical bands or dark sections of the screen. See post here. The one repaired here has the right side dark. The backlights are edge lit from the bottom and running in Dynamic mode and at maximum level will tend to burn these out pretty quickly. This model has two strips with each wired in left and right banks. Though only one side was bad, I replaced both with new strips. Part number is AOT_55_NU7300_NU7100_2X40_3030C There are a few sellers on ebay. I was lucky and the light spreading inner panel was not burnt by the h ..read more

This TV had a fan error displayed on the TV. Removing the back cover showed the fan caked in dust. I vacuumed and sprayed duster on it and it was spinning when I turned the TV on. You can see the location above the VGA port so you may be able to clean it without removing the back. The post Toshiba 55TL515U Fan Error appeared first on Tech Home Travel ..read more

If your apps are running slow or giving errors, you should try a factory reset. 1. With TV off.  Press Mute-1-8-2-Power and TV should come on with the service menu.  Hit OK on OPTION, OK on Factory Reset and OK again on Factory Reset.  You should just press OK three times in a row.  TV should reset.  Be very careful in the service menu since you can brick your TV changing things. 2. Go through the setup wizard and complete it to the end Backlight failure is common in LED TVs. Keeping the backlight level at around 55% will make them last. I would also recommend turning ..read more