INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Even if you are just starting a new game and don't have a lot of simoleons, make sure your Sims' lot has all the amenities they need. They need a bed to sleep in, a kitchen with a sink, stove, and a refrigerator, a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower or bathtub, and a TV, stereo, or some books for entertainment. One amenity that is often overlooked is the trashcans. Make sure you have trashcans both inside and a large trashcan on the outside of your lot. To access build mode, select the icon that resembles a hammer and wrench at the top-right corner of the screen. Here you can add to your house or purchase amenities. Setting Sim autonomy to full allows Sims to act on their own behalf and fulfill their needs on their own. Use the following steps to set Sim autonomy to full: Select the icon with three dots () in the upper-right corner. Select Game Options. Select Gameplay in the sidebar menu to the left. Use the drop-down menu next to "Autonomy" to select Full. Uncheck "Disable autonomy for selected Sim". Select Apply Changes in the lower-left corner of the options window. To check your Sims' needs, select the Sim's image at the bottom of the screen and then select the icon that resembles an emoji with an arrow icon next to it in the lower-right corner. If any of you Sims' needs are red, they need to be taken care of immediately. If their needs are yellow or orange, they'll need to be taken care of soon. Your Sims needs are as follows: Bladder: If their bladder is low, click the toilet and select Use to send them to the bathroom. Hunger: If they are hungry, click the refrigerator to have them get a quick meal or leftovers. You can also click the stove, microwave, or grill to have them cook or serve a meal. Energy: If your Sim's energy is low, click a bed or couch and have your Sim lay down for a nap or go to bed. You can also have them drink and energy drink or brew coffee with a coffee maker. Fun: If your Sim's fun is low, have them watch TV, read a book, listen to music, play a video game or any other fun activity. Social: If your Sim's social is low, have them interact with other Sims in your household. If there are no other Sims in your household, select the phone icon at the bottom of the screen and have them call another Sim in town. You can also use the phone to arrange to have them travel to one of the venues in town to interact with other Sims. Hygiene: If your Sim's hygiene is low, select the shower or bathtub and have them take a shower or bath. Unless your Sim has the slob trait, most Sims hate a messy house. If you find trash piles, have one of your Sims throw them in the trash. If there are dishes sitting out, have one of your Sims wash them and put them away. If a countertop, sink, or shower looks spotty, have one of your Sims clean them. If there is green gas coming out of the toilet, have one of your Sims clean it. As your Sims get promotions and earn more simoleons, purchase better household items. If any of your Sims are waking up with an achy back, upgrade the bed. If appliances keep breaking or catching fire, replace them with better ones. You can also get showers, sinks, and toilets that don't need to be cleaned as often. Whims are optional tasks that your Sims want to do. They appear as thought bubbles above your Sim's head in the lower-left corner of the screen. Select a thought bubble to see information about the whim. Whims are usually tasks such as "Chat with other Sims", "Dance to music", "Watch TV", etc. Not only does completing whims make your Sims happier, but they also earn rewards points. To access the Rewards Store, select the Aspirations icon in the lower-right corner. It's the large hexagon-shaped icon. Then select the icon that resembles a present in the upper-right corner of the pop-up window. This displays the Rewards Store. You can use your Rewards Points to purchase potions and traits. A Happy Potion will make your Sim instantly happy for a while. You can also purchase traits that reduce or eliminate some of your Sim's needs.

SUMMARY: Build a house that has what your Sims need. Set Sim autonomy to full. Check your Sims' needs. Keep your house clean. Upgrade your amenities. Complete whims. Purchase potions or traits from the Rewards Store.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Whether you're shopping for new plugs, you just bought new plugs that you want to check before installing, or you want to check the function of your current set of spark plugs, you need to learn the appropriate gap between the two electrodes on the end of each plug. Each vehicle's measurement will be different, though most are generally somewhere between 0.028-.06 inch. You can either look in your owner's manual or go to the auto parts store and have them look it up for you. Modified engines require smaller gap settings to account for the amount of power you're putting through the engine. General rule of thumb: the more power, the smaller the gap. There are several varieties of tools used to measure the gaps of spark plugs, some of which are more appropriate for more modern plugs, which sometimes feature delicate precious metals. Most measuring tools will also feature a flat edge typically used for bending the bottom electrode on the spark plug to adjust the gap slightly. A coin-style gap measure is usually the cheapest option, and works by running the edge of the "coin" through the gap until you reach a point where it stops. The edge is marked like a ruler, designating the thickness of the edge at that point. This is a good tool for older plugs you want to check the efficacy of, but can also inadvertently widen the gaps as you use it. A wire coin gap works essentially the same way as the regular coin-style gap, but features different wire measures of varying lengths on the edge around the coin. A blade-style feeler gauge is an effective and versatile tool. Built like a pocket-knife, this gauge features different blades of varying widths, some with wire on the end and some without, placed in the gap to check the spacing of the electrodes. You can also use multiple blades to measure larger gaps. These are effective to use while adjusting. . If you've just pulled it out of the box, it should be in pretty good shape, but if you're checking a plug that you've been using in your car it's a good idea to clean it off a little with a clean cloth. Spark plugs can build up some whitish soot on the contact points, so you'll want to make sure they're somewhat clean to get the most accurate reading. You can use a little bit of quick-drying (90%) alcohol on the contact points to clean them off if they're especially dirty. Lots of build-up or any blackening on the contact points might be a sign of a plug that's outlasted its prime, however. If they're especially dirty, you might consider buying new ones. Place the appropriate blade or wire on your gap tool between the electrode tips of the plug, or pass the coin through the electrodes to determine the measurement.

SUMMARY:
Learn your vehicle's gap specifications. Select an appropriate gap tool. Clean the spark plug Measure the gap by passing the tool through the electrodes.