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Posts Tagged ‘Car Maintenance’

With the harsh winter weather coming quickly upon us, it’s important to take the proper steps to protect your car. Sometimes it can be difficult to sort out all the advice that is floating around out there and even harder to trust some of your local mechanics. How can you be sure they are being honest? What do I really need to do to protect my car in the rough winter weather? There are a few important things to keep in mind this season and your car will be sure to make it through.

First, just because you drive a big all-wheel drive SUV doesn’t mean you don’t need to do some winter weather maintenance. Pull out that dusty owner’s manual from your glove box and give it a quick read. There is valuable information in that booklet that can give you the proper time table for your car’s maintenance. Begin winter car care with these simple steps. About once a month throughout the cold months, put a bottle of fuel de-icer in your gas tank to keep the lines from freezing. Make sure you also keep up with your oil changes. It is especially important in the winter. Check your manual, but cars usually require this maintenance every 3,000 miles or so.

During the winter, you are going to have to spend a lot more time defrosting your windows. So, it is important to make sure your heater and defroster is in good working condition. In addition to your heating system, be sure to check the levels of antifreeze in your cooling system as well. Checking both of these systems regularly will help keep your car in good balance. Another quick easy way to keep your car running well is to check and clean your battery regularly. Clean up the connections, as they can build up corrosion - clean them off and make sure all connections are tight.

One of the most important safety elements to check on your car for the winter is your tires. The roads can get pretty dangerous in the snow, ice and freezing rain so good traction is important. Check tire pressure regularly and make sure your tires don’t have any dangerous wear or nicks in the rubber. Keep your car stocked with some winter essentials in case an emergency happens while you're on the road. Things like gloves, boots, blankets, flares, flashlights, and food and water could potentially save your life if you happened to get caught in a winter emergency.

Taking a little bit of time to perform regular maintenance on your car can improve its life by many years. A lot of these maintenance essentials can be performed easily on your own. If you're uncomfortable performing these duties on your own, find a trusted local shop to take your car to. You will be glad you put in the time and your car will thank you with good performance throughout the frigid winter months.

Transmissions are one of the most complex systems under the hood. In fact, that’s the reason many auto repair garages will refuse to work on them. Some might perform minor repairs, but will refer you to a transmission shop for anything more extensive. There are a lot of parts involved in making sure that the system runs smoothly and mechanics are loathe to cause bigger problems.

This level of complexity often makes transmissions one of the least understood components to drivers. Adding to the confusion, they’re designed differently. Some are designed for front wheel drive while others are designed for rear wheel drive. In this article we will look at some of the differences. I’ll describe your transmission’s job and help you decipher the pros and cons of a RWD and FWD.

Understanding Its Job

Your car’s engine generates power through its 4-stroke combustion process. That power must be delivered to your drive wheels in order to turn them. Also, it’s worth noting that your engine has a range of RPMs in which it operates at maximum efficiency. Your transmission’s job is two-fold. First, it needs to deliver the power generated by the engine to the drive wheels. Second, it needs to perform this task while keeping your engine operating within its optimal range of RPMs.

This is accomplished through several gears. In low gears, the engine must turn more quickly in order to power the wheels. In higher gears, it doesn’t have to work as hard. The transmission helps the engine advance from first gear to higher gears while keeping your car moving at higher speeds.

RWD Versus FWD

If your car has rear wheel drive, the transmmission will be located on the back part of your engine. A drive shaft will connect it to the rear axle. Your engine generates power and turns the crankshaft, then that power is transferred through the transmission, then to the drive shaft, and then ultimately to the rear axle. The rear axle spins, which causes your tires to rotate.

A front wheel drive car works a little differently, though the concept behind the power flow is similar. The transmission is still located near the engine. With the final drive, it forms a transaxle. A front axle forms a connection with the transaxle, which delivers the power needed to rotate the front tires.

To keep the explanation simple, I’ve ignored the torque converter. In reality, power travels from the engine through the torque converter into the transmission. The other components work as described.

Is One Better Than The Other?

Modern vehicles usually have front wheel drive. An FWD weighs less, costs less to manufacture, and usually delivers higher fuel efficiency. On the other hand, an RWD distributes the weight more evenly across a car’s frame, which improves braking ability. Plus, because the design is less crowded than an FWD, it’s easier to service without taking everything apart. In the end, when choosing between RWD and FWD, consider your driving needs and the factors on which you place a high priority.

Your car’s alternator won’t last forever. Neither will your catalytic converter. Actually, your fuel injectors, ignition switch, and muffler can fail as well. Every auto part under your vehicle’s hood can unexpectedly expire and need to be replaced.

If you take your car to the dealership, they’ll use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. On the other hand, the mechanic at your local repair garage is likely to use aftermarket alternatives. Which is better?

Claiming one choice is always better than the other is overly-simplistic; it ignores subtle pros and cons of each. Below, we’ll compare the advantages of investing in OEM parts versus buying their aftermarket equivalents.

The Advantages Of Aftermarket

Aftermarket components and systems are less expensive than their OEM counterparts. However, the percentage you’ll save will vary by the item your vehicle needs. Be cautious. A lot of aftermarket units seem low-priced, but hide defects that can leave you stranded at the side of the road.

Another advantage is that the quality can be just as high as Original Equipment Manufacturer systems. The reason is because the automaker is often forced to offset the performance of the component with other factors. For example, consider anti-lock braking systems. The manufacturer has to make sure the pads don’t squeal; otherwise, customers will complain. The problem is that high performance brakes are often noisy – ensuring the brake pads are silent sacrifices performance.

Yet another advantage of buying after-market components is that they’re widely available. Mechanics can easily obtain any replacement part your vehicle needs. In fact, they’ll often have them in stock.

The Advantages Of OEM

OEM parts also offer significant advantages. First, you’ll always know what to expect from them. They are nearly identical to the systems that were installed within your vehicle at the time it rolled off the factory floor.

Second, you won’t need to examine a given component in order to spot defects. Original Equipment Manufacturer parts are designed to be seamless replacements and possess a consistent level of quality. That means there is no reason to be concerned with compatibility and performance issues.

Third, they are usually supported by a one-year warranty. For example, if you have your alternator replaced and it malfunctions within the first year, the automaker will replace it with another OEM alternator without cost. The experience might not be the same if the alternator were an aftermarket unit.

Which is the Better Choice?

There are a few reliable rules of thumb to follow. Anything on your car’s frame (like a body panel) that needs to be replaced should be replaced with an Original Equipment Manufacturer replacement. Second, if you’re leasing your vehicle, you should also choose OEM parts. Otherwise, you’re likely to lose your deposit when you return the car. Third, for something like an alternator or a fuel pump (a key component), OEM is always the better choice.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to take a risk (and the risk can be substantial) in order to save a few dollars, aftermarket parts may be a good investment.

One of the advantages of keeping your older vehicle is that you’ll avoid the high cost and monthly payments associated with a newer car (not to mention the depreciation). Having said that, components wear out after tens of thousands of miles and several years of use. Finding replacement parts that will put your vehicle back on the road at a price that doesn’t blow your budget can be a challenge. A lot of motorists look toward junkyards as a reliable source of used car parts. But, is it a good idea to buy them there?

This article will explore some of the advantages and drawbacks of purchasing used components at salvage yards. I’ll explain how these vendors have changed over the years and offer a few tips for chasing down the used car parts you need. We’ll also take a realistic look at the potential cost savings.

This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Salvage Yard

If the last time you visited a junkyard was more than a decade ago, you may be surprised by the changes. Long ago, the carcasses of automobiles were strewn lazily throughout a plot of dirt. If you needed to find a particular component, you would spend time looking through the wreckage hoping to stumble upon it. Asking an employee for help was a hit-or-miss proposition; they would often be unaware of the items within their inventory.

Today, everything is computerized with each item stored within a database. Every water pump, radiator, passenger seat, and stereo knob can be found wtih the click of a button. If you need to find a specific item, you won’t be forced to spend hours digging through a dirty lot. Just ask an attendant to check the database. What’s more, a lot of salvage yards are now connected through a network. If one location cannot find a component in their database, they can check the databases of other locations.

How Much Money Can You Expect To Save?

All junkyards differ in terms of pricing. The amount you can expect to save will vary based on the item you’re searching for. Car seats, for example, might carry higher savings that fuel pumps. As a general rule, you should expect to pay 40% to 50% less than you would for a comparable new unit. A brand new “straight-from-the-box” alternator might cost $200. At a junkyard, you should expect to pay 0 to 0 for the same brand and model.

An important point should be made here. Buying certain components from a salvage yard is risky because you won’t know whether there are defects. If you’re purchasing a replacement rear bumper for your car, there’s little need for concern. However, brake systems, water pumps, alternators, and catalytic converters are more difficult to judge. One small defect can lead to a failure. I always recommend buying used auto parts that meet OEM standards. They’re far less likely to fail. Whether they’re new or remanufactured, the peace of mind they offer is well worth the higher price.

The 4-stroke combustion process (intake, compression, power, and exhaust) normally occurs smoothly. The pistons, spark plugs, fuel injectors, and other components work like a well-oiled machine. Pressure builds within the combustion chamber until the air-fuel mixture contained within it is ignited by the spark plug. That’s what propels your vehicle forward. When you hear a knocking sound as you accelerate, especially during heavy load, that means there is something wrong with your engine. When this occurs it is referred to as spark knock. And it can lead to expensive damage.

In this article, I’ll explain what is happening inside your engine to produce the knocking or pinging sound. We will explore some options and provide some clues to the root problems.

What Is Spark Knock?

The knocking sound is due to the fuel within your vehicle’s combustion chamber detonating. Rather than burning cleanly, it explodes under load, over and over. This occurs due to erratic build up of heat and pressure inside the chamber. It is not being controlled properly, and the excess heat and pressure is igniting the gas.

You might not immediately notice a change in the performance or output of your car engine. However, over a period of time, the spark knock can cause problems such as cracked rod bearings, broken rings, and head gasket problems. Each of these problems can be expensive to repair.

Reasons Knocking Can Happen

So, why does detonation happen? It can occur when your car’s exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system malfunctions. The EGR valve main function is opening when you are putting your engine under heavy strain such as towing a trailer or something up a hill. By opening, it allows excess exhaust to flow out of the combustion chamber, lowering the temperature. If the EGR fails, this process cannot happen.

Detonation can also happen if your car’s knock sensor malfunctions. This sensor is supposed to identify situations in which the fuel is igniting erratically. It then tells your car’s computer to change the ignition timing in order to compensate. A failed sensor prevents this from occurring.

With older vehicles, the detonation can be a result of carbon buildup. This happens when the carbon accumulates inside the combustion chamber on the pistons. This issue is easy to resolve by having a mechanic flushing the injectors and combustion chamber to clear all carbon build up and deposits.

Low-octane gas is another common cause of detonation. Some gas station owners label their pumps with “87″ when the octane is actually lower. Try filling your tank with a premium grade fuel from a respected brand (for example, Chevron).

If you hear knocking when your engine is under heavy load, take your vehicle to an experienced mechanic as soon as possible. He’ll have the necessary equipment to test your engine and identify the root cause of the fuel detonation. If you ignore the problem, you could be setting yourself up for expensive repairs in the future.

Overhauling or replacing a transmission is expensive. This is partly due to the cost of the assembly (in the case of a replacement) and partly because of the specialized training required to take it apart, clean it, and reassemble it.

Most auto repair shops will agree to install a replacement part, but will refuse to perform a complete overhaul. In fact, many shops that specialize in tranny repairs will strongly recommend a replacement. This is because of the enormous amount of time and effort involved with an overhaul. A new model can cost 00 or more, which can be a problem. Even a remanufactured assembly can cost nearly as much.

Fortunately, many problems can be fixed without overhauling your transmission. In this article, I’ll describe the most common problems drivers experience and how they can be resolved. I’ll also explain the process mechanics go through when performing an overhaul.

Leaking Fluids

One of the first signs of a leak is a small pool of reddish fluid on the ground directly underneath your tranny. Repairs may not be necessary if the leak is small and you’re willing to keep a close eye on the fluid levels. You’ll need to check the levels consistently; a loss of fluid can quickly lead to expensive damage.

If the size of the leak is substantial, it’s a good idea to have a mechanic fix it as soon as possible. He’ll put your vehicle on a lift to examine the assembly from underneath. Once he identifies the leaks, he’ll reseal them. Most seals and gaskets can be resealed without the need to remove your car transmission. The exception is the front seal; if it forms a leak, there’s a high likelihood that your mechanic will need to remove the assembly to fix it. That can become expensive.

Odd Shifting Behavior

Under normal driving conditions, shifting should occur fluidly. However, when parts become worn, your transmission will begin to behave strangely. For example, hard shifting may occur where gear changes are accompanied by a jolt. Or, you might hear a high-pitched whine.

These are red flags – they indicate that there is something wrong. If your mechanic can address these issues early, he may be able to replace the responsible parts without taking the assembly out of your vehicle. If these problems are left unchecked, they will usually lead to bigger – and more costly – problems down the road. Eventually, an overhaul or replacement may be necessary.

What Happens During An Overhaul?

Your transmission is removed from your car and completely disassembled during an overhaul. Each piece is laid out, inspected, and cleaned. Parts that have become worn past the point of being useful are replaced. Also replaced are most of the seals, bands, and gaskets. Mechanics will typically discard your torque converter and install a remanufactured unit. Once everything has been inspected, cleaned, or replaced, the entire assembly is reassembled and placed back into your car. An overhaul is normally a long, costly, and labor-intensive process.

The takeaway is this: be aware of fluid leaks and odd behavior. If you notice them, have a mechanic take a look as soon as possible. You’ll prevent further damage and reduce the chances that you’ll need a new, remanufactured, or overhauled transmission.

Recommendations regarding when to change your vehicle’s air filter fall into a surprisingly wide range. Some experts claim that doing so every 3,000 miles helps to ensure that your vehicle’s engine is performing as efficiently as possible. At the other extreme are proponents that claim that changing it every 30,000 will suffice. In truth, neither is entirely correct. It;s based on more factors than the standard 3000 miles indicators. What’s more, this is one area in which it might behoove you to ignore your owner’s manual (I’ll explain why in a moment).

The basic job of the air filter is to prevent dirt, grit and debris from getting to your car’s engine. This is significantly important. When foreign particles enter the engine, they can accumulate and cause expensive damage. By filtering them, your engine can remain free of debris and perform more effectively.

In this article, I’ll explain why your driving circumstances will influence the frequency with which you change your air filter. I’ll also describe its value in the context of fuel injection systems.

Consider Your Driving Situation

People drive in different circumstances. For example, you might drive in an area that is not exposed to a large amount of dust. If that’s the case, you might be able to drive 20,000 miles without needing to replace your car’s air filter. On the other hand, suppose you live in a city that undergoes perpetual construction. Grit, dust, and dirt are always a factor in the outside environment. In that case, you may be able to drive 10,000 miles before needing a replacement part.

The more dust and debris that is in the air or kicked up on the road, the more frequently you’ll need to buy a replacement. This is the reason why you should only use your owner’s manual as a guide. The automaker has no way to know whether you’re driving your car in extremely dusty conditions or not.

The Age Of Fuel Injection Systems

Newer vehicles are not equipped with carburetors; fuel injection systems have taken their place. The advantage of fuel injection is that it offers a more precise blend of air and fuel for combustion. That allows your car engine to perform with greater fuel efficiency. The issue remains that a clogged filter can cause many problems with the system. Even though your car’s computer will attempt to recalibrate the mixture based upon available airflow, the ratio is imprecise. As a result, fuel efficiency plummets and your engine’s performance is hampered.

Invest A Few Extra Dollars

When it’s time to buy a new air filter, spend a few extra dollars and invest in quality. A high-quality replacement will generally cost less than $20, yet its overall impact can be enormous. It is designed to keep dirt and other particles away from your engine to prevent damage an increase performance. It will also affect your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

You should also check for clogging in your air filter every time you have the oil changed. You may not need to swap it out, but at such a low cost, it’s far better to err on the conservative side.

Most of us drive vehicles with automatic transmissions. They’re more convenient for daily commuting and they’re more prevalent; automakers equip the majority of their fleets with them. Having said that, cars with manual transmissions are generally more fun to drive, especially on highways and roads uncongested with traffic. The magic is in the control given to the driver. In effect, the motorist chooses which gears to hit and when to hit them, allowing him or her to maximize engine performance.

Even though manual trannies are becoming rarer each year, they continue to be the main ingredient in performance vehicles. We will cover the basics of your automobiles manual transmission. I’ll describe the basics regarding how they work, including how moving the shift knob through the gears translates into drive power to the wheels.

Keeping Below The Redline

Your vehicle’s engine has limits; it’s generally referred to as the “redline.” When you put pressure on the gas pedal, you’ll hear the engine grow louder as the RPMs climb. The redline is the point past which your engine becomes in danger of failing – or blowing apart under the stress.

Most engines enjoy their peak performance at approximately 5,500 RPMs. The goal is to reach that level but not cross it. That’s what a manual transmission does. It lets the driver set the gear ratios that allow the engine to operate within its optimal RPM range without exceeding the redline.

Gears & Clutches

In a manual 5-speed or 6-speed, the driver controls the gear ratios through the clutch, a component that connects the engine with the transmission. When the clutch pedal is pushed down, the connection is severed. When the clutch pedal is released, the connection is reestablished. When connected, engine powers the revolutions of the output shaft which in turn powers the layshaft. The teeth of the gears interlock so that the spinning of the gears coincide with the spinning of the engine.

How The Shift Knob Contributes To Gear Selection

From a top-down perspective, the positions of the shift knob look similar to an “H” formation. When you move the knob into a particular position, it powers a gear selector fork. That fork powers a collar within the tranny. The collar is outfitted with dog teeth that fit into the grooves of the 1st through 5th (or 6th) gears. Depending upon the position into which you move the shift knob, the corresponding gear will be engaged.

A car’s manual transmission follows a beautifully graceful design. This doesn’t mean the design work is rudimentary. On the contrary, like a Swiss watch, the gears, dog teeth, and other components adhere to a well-honed precision. For car aficionados, that level of precision translates into irreplaceable engine performance.

Some auto repair jobs come with prices that seem appropriate given the size of the part, time required to fix or replace it, and the value of having a particular problem resolved. Others can mysteriously cost an arm and a leg, even if the issue is unimportant and fixing it carries negligible value.

The fact is, there are a lot of parts, service jobs, and repairs that can take a significant bite out of your checking account despite seeming small or easy. We will explore several car repair options that seem small but can be extremely costly.

More Than A Cosmetic Scratch

Think of the consequences of a low front end as your drive over a speed bump. You get out of the car and notice some minor damage on the bottom of the front bumper. You may think the largest expense will be the time you wait for having the car damage repaired, so you take your car to the local body shop or garage. Prepare yourself; the cost to fix it might run into the thousands of dollars.

The bumper can actually hide structural damage in the front-end. Actually, even when the bumper appears to look just fine, the front-end may need replacing.

Foreign Performance Models

When you have a performance vehicle you can expect even the smallest repair job to be quite expensive. For example, consider an exhaust valve that needs to be replaced. Normally, the cost would be about $30 in parts and additional $30 in labor cost.

On a high-end car designed for muscle, the price tag can skyrocket. It’s not uncommon for a small job like this to turn into an expensive nightmare. For example, the mechanic may need to practically remove the entire engine in order to get to the valve. And more then likely he will charge way more then $30 for his labor.

Seeing White Smoke

White smoke coming from a car’s tailpipe looks innocent enough. It can be the first sign that future repair, replacement parts, and expensive mechanic bills are headed your way. When operating your vehicle, the car engine goes through the combustion process. Coolant keeps the surrounding temperature under control. If the coolant gets into the combustion chamber, it will burn and produce white smoke.

There are a couple of ways this can happen. Sometimes, the gasket can break and need to be replaced. Diagnosing the problem and narrowing it to a simple gasket issue usually means removing the intake manifold. And that’s the least expensive path. If you remove the intake manifold and discover that the gasket is fine, your mechanic will need to start dismantling the engine. This will be an expensive price.

Unfortunately, many auto repairs that turn out to be enormously expensive cannot be avoided. However, the next time you visit your mechanic for a “minor” job, you’ll at least be prepared for possible bad news.

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Every minute you’re driving, your vehicle’s engine goes through its combustion process thousands of times. As it does, it produces intense heat. Nearly half of that heat leaves through the tailpipe and dissipates in the air. The other half must be absorbed by the auto parts that comprise your engine. That includes the cylinder heads, pistons, and other components.

On their own, these parts cannot withstand the high temperatures generated by combustion; they would start to malfunction and eventually fail completely. Luckily, your car has a cooling system. It is specifically designed to help these components soak up the excess heat without their being destroyed in the process.

Below, I’ll give you a brief overview of the three main car parts that make up your vehicle’s cooling system. I’ll explain the job they do and how they help ensure your engine doesn’t overheat.

#1 – Water Pump

The “secret” behind your cooling system’s effectiveness is the coolant. It circulates throughout the engine and surrounding components, absorbing much of the excess heat along the way. Then, it travels into the radiator which is cooled by constant airflow.

In order to circulate, the coolant must be pumped along its path. This is the job of the water pump. It’s powered by your car’s timing belt, though older models might have a flat belt that powers the pump. If the timing belt breaks, it cannot operate the water pump, which will ultimately prevent the coolant from circulating and absorbing the heat.

#2 – Plumbing

By plumbing, I’m referring to the auto parts through which the coolant travels. That includes a network of hoses, valves, and the radiator. This includes the heater core, but that is not a significant part of this dialog. We’re mainly concerned with the hoses. Because the hot coolant travels through them continuously, they deteriorate quickly. It is recommended that you replace your hoses at least every 3 years. Every four months, you need to check them for fissures and cracks. The hoses are relatively inexpensive, so if you notice crack – even small ones – replace them.

#3 – Sensors And Thermostat

Your car’s cooling system is equipped with sensors, fans, and a thermostat to monitor and control the temperature around the engine. They work in congruent of each other to assure that temperatures stay with in a predetermined limit. If any of these parts fail, the temperature can rise higher than normal. When that happens, your vehicle’s performance can be hampered and emissions will likely rise.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of your vehicle’s cooling system. When all of the components involved work properly, your car’s engine will perform its combustion process without problem. However, if the water pump, hoses or valves, or sensors or thermostat malfunction, your vehicle can overheat. And that can easily lead to expensive car engine damage.