All About Auto

Nissan Frontier Timing Belt Removal and Installation

2012-04-14T18:37:00.000-07:00

Timing Belt Removal

1. First is to remove the engine undercover.
2. Drain the engine coolant on the radiator. Avoid the coolant to spill on the drive belt. After the coolant is drained, remove the radiator. 3. Remove the engine cooling fan and the water pump pulley.
4. Remove all belts such as Power steering pump drive belt, compressor drive belt, and the alternator drive belt.
5. Remove all the spark plugs.
6. Remove the distributor protector.
7. Remove compressor drive belt idler bracket.

8. Remove fresh-air intake tube for rocker cover.
9. Remove water hose for thermostat housing.
10. Remove crankshaft pulley bolt.
11. Remove crankshaft pulley with a suitable puller.
12. Remove front upper and lower belt covers.

13. Set No. 1 piston at TDC on its compression stroke by rotating crankshaft. Align punchmark on LH camshaft sprocket with punchmark on timing belt upper rear cover. Align punchmark on crankshaft sprocket wit notch on oil pump housing.Temporarily install crank pulley bolt on crankshaft so that crankshaft can be rotated.

14. Loosen timing belt tensioner nut, turn tensioner, then remove timing belt.

Timing Belt Installation

1. Confirm that No. 1 piston is set at TDC on its compression stroke.

2. Install tensioner and tensioner spring. If a stud is once removed, apply locking sealant to threads of the stud on the cylinder block before installing.

3. Turn tensioner fully clockwise with hexagon wrench, and temporarily tighten lock nut.

4. Set timing belt. Align white lines on timing belt with punchmarks on camshaft sprockets and crankshaft sprocket. Point arrow on timing belt toward front belt cover.

5. Loosen tensioner lock nut, keeping tensioner steady with hexagon wrench.
6. Turn tensioner 70 to 80 degrees clockwise with hexagon wrench, and temporarily tighten lock nut.
7. Turn crankshaft clockwise at least 2 times, then slowly set No.1 piston at TDC on its compression stroke.

8. Push middle of timing belt between RH camshaft sprocket and tensioner pulley with force of 98 N (10 kg, 22 lb).
9. Loosen tensioner lock nut, keeping tensioner steady with hexagon wrench.

10. Set feeler gauge as shown in figure which is 0.5 mm (0.020 in) thick and 12.7 mm (0.500 in) wide.

11. Turn crankshaft clockwise, and set feeler gauge as shown in figure. Timing belt will move about 2.5 teeth.

12. Tighten tensioner lock nut, keeping tensioner steady with hexagon wrench. 13. Turn crankshaft clockwise or counterclockwise, and remove feeler gauge.
14. Turn crankshaft clockwise at least 2 times, then slowly set No.1 piston at TDC on its compression stroke.
15. Install lower and upper belt covers.

Nissan Frontier Change Oil

2012-04-12T05:36:00.001-07:00

When changing oil for Nissan Frontier, be careful not to burn yourself since the engine oil is hot. When the skin is exposed on used oil for a long period of time may cause skin disease, so avoid a direct contact of skin on used oil. When skin contact with used oil cannot be avoided, wash the skin with soap or hand cleaner as soon as possible.

Changing oil for Nissan Frontier

1. Before doing the change oil, warm up the engine first. Check if there is oil leakage on engine components.
2. After the engine has warmed up, stop the engine from running. Wait for 10 minutes.

3. Remove the drain plug and the oil filler cap.

4. Drain the oil and install the drain plug. Ensure that the drain plug is clean before the installation. Use new washer for the drain plug.
5. Refill the engine with new engine oil. The refill capacity for engine oil is approximately 3.8 liters when the oil filter is changed and 3.4 liters when there is no change of air filter.
6. Check the engine oil level with the dipstick.

7. Warm up the engine. Inspect the area around the drain plug and oil filter for any leakage.
8. Stop the engine from running and wait for 10 minutes.
9. Check again the oil level with the dipstick.

Nissan Frontier General Maintenance

2012-04-08T21:55:00.003-07:00

General maintenance includes those items which should be checked during the normal day-to-day operation of the vehicle. They are essential if the vehicle is to continue operating properly. The owners can perform the checks and inspections themselves or they can have their NISSAN dealers do them.

OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should be performed from time to time, unless otherwise specified.

Tires
Check the pressure with a gauge periodically when at a service station, including the spare, and adjust to the specified pressure if necessary. Check carefully for damage, cuts or excessive wear.

Windshield wiper blades
Check for cracks or wear if they do not wipe properly.

Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, the engine hood, the trunk lid and back door operate properly. Also ensure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate hinges, latches, rollers and links if necessary. Make sure that the secondary latch keeps the hood from opening when the primary latch is released. When driving in areas using road salt or other corrosive materials, check for lubrication frequently.

Tire rotation
Tires should be rotated every 10,000 km (6,000 miles) for 2WD models and every 5,000 km (3,000 miles) for 4WD models.

INSIDE THE VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should be checked on a regular basis, such as when performing periodic maintenance, cleaning the vehicle, etc.

Lights
Make sure that the headlights, stop lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other lights are all operating properly and installed securely. Also check headlight aim.

Warning lights and chimes
Make sure that all warning lights and chimes are operating properly.

Steering wheel
Check for change in the steering conditions, such as excessive free play, hard steering or strange noises. Free play: Less than 35 mm (1.38 in).

Seat belts
Check that all parts of the seat belt system (e.g. buckles, anchors, adjusters and retractors) operate properly and smoothly, and are installed securely.
Check the belt webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.

UNDER THE HOOD AND VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should be checked periodically e.g. each time you check the engine oil or refuel.

Windshield washer fluid
Check that there is adequate fluid in the tank

Engine coolant level
Check the coolant level when the engine is cold.

Engine oil level
Check the level after parking the vehicle on a level spot and turning off the engine.

Brake and clutch fluid level
Make sure that the brake and clutch fluid levels are between the “MAX” and “MIN” lines on the reservoir.

Battery
Check the fluid level in each cell. It should be between the “MAX” and “MIN” lines.

Car Wont Start Clicking Noise Only

2012-02-12T02:55:00.001-08:00

Car trouble symptoms: When the ignition is turned “ON” the car wont start only clicking noise is heard when trying to start the car.

Auto diagnose: When the car won’t start with only clicking noise is heard during starting, usually this means that there are no power flows into the starter to make the car crank. Since no power flows into the starter then this indicates problem involving battery. With that said the first part to check is the condition of the battery, confirm whether the car battery is functioning properly. To check the battery condition follow the below diagnosis.

1) Turn the ignition key “ON”. This is the position just before turning the ignition key to start the engine.
2) Turn the windshield wiper “ON” and let the wiper operates for about 30 seconds.
3) Observe the wiper speed, if the wiper operates very slowly and not as the usual speed then there is a problem with the battery. However, if the wiper operates at normal speed then it’s not a battery problem but rather a problem that involve the starter.

If the battery is not the cause of the problem, then there are two possible reasons why the car won't start and it’s either the car has bad starter or bad electrical connection. You see, starter is the device that cranks the engine to start the car, when the starter is bad the engine will not start.

Now, to determine whether the problem is really the starter or just a bad electrical connection, open the hood then locate the starter. Inspect thoroughly the wires/cable attached to the starter wires should be tight and secure if not then these is the possible cause of the problem. But if the wires are good then the problem is more likely the starter.

Car problem: Bad battery or Bad Starter

Car shop tip: When the problem involves the starter, you have to bring the car to a reputable auto repair shop then ask the mechanic to inspect the starter to confirm the trouble on the starter which you identify, ask is the starter can be repaired, if not then it is necessary to be replaced. Replacing starter could be costly so you may want to consider replacing it with a rebuilt one since it’s also reliable to use a rebuilt starter. This should fix your car that won’t start with clicking noise only during starting.

Brake Pedal is Hard to Push Down

2012-02-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

Car trouble symptoms: Brake pedal is hard to push down when the brake is applied means you have to step extra hard on the pedal for the car to stop

Car problem diagnosis: Most of the car that are built today consist of power brakes, it helps the driver in making the braking much easier, usually cars are equipped with power brake that is vacuum assisted. Now, when the power brake has problem the driver will have a hard time for the brake pedal to push down, extra effort is necessary on the brake pedal for the car to stop.

The vacuum assisted power brake unit make use of the vacuum from the engine to help in applying the brake. The system compose of the vacuum hose from the car engine going into a round metal or plastic canister that can be found between the master cylinder and the engine compartment fire wall.

There are other types of brake like the hydro-boost, when the car speed does not change when the brake pedal is depressed then the car uses hydro-boost brake unit. Now, to determine the cause of the problem you must observe the engine, when the engine runs rough the possible cause is that the vacuum hose is broken or there may be leak somewhere the vacuum hose. However, when the engine runs rough only when the brake pedal is depressed while the car is park then the possible problem is that the canister is failing.

There are other types of brake like the hydro-boost, when the car speed does not change when the brake pedal is depressed then the car uses hydro-boost brake unit.
Car problem: Bad or failing power brake unit

Car shop tips: When this kind of problem happens to your car the first thing to do is to identify what type of brake unit installed on the car by looking under the hood. Look for the power brake unit in between the master cylinder and the fire wall it should be a plastic or metal canister with 10” to 14” in diameter. Once you locate the vacuum assisted unit, check the hose that connects the unit to the engine if there is crack or leaks, if so then replace the hose. If the hose is fine then no other option but to bring the car to the car shop for diagnosis and repair if necessary.

Steering Wheel and Steering Problems Troubleshooting

2011-11-14T01:17:00.002-08:00

Steering wheel trouble symptoms: Steering wheel or steering column feels loose.

Steering problem possible cause: Loose component of steering shaft/column

Steering problem diagnosis: Steering wheels are connected to the steering gears through a steering shaft. The steering column serves as housing of the steering shaft that connected through steering column bracket. Usually a problem of looseness on steering wheel or steering column is caused by a looseness of steering column bracket. Another possible cause is a loose coupling or universal joint, the coupling or universal joint is a component that connects the steering shaft and the steering gear. When these components are loose it will be transferred on the steering column and the steering wheel.

What to do: Bring your car to the car shop and ask the mechanic to check the components of steering shaft /steering column.

Steering wheel trouble symptoms: Steering wheel vibrations at certain speed.

Steering problem possible cause: Imbalance front wheels / loose front end parts.

Steering wheel problem diagnosis: When the steering wheel vibrates at a certain speed the possibility is that the car has imbalance front wheel or loose front end components. When the front wheel is imbalance it means that there is a heavy spots on the wheel or simply the weight of the wheel unevenly distributed all throughout the wheel when the wheel rotates and can be notice at certain speed. To make the balance a small metal called wheel weights is place on the wheel assembly, when the wheels weights comes off due to many factors, then the wheel become imbalance again.

Likewise when there is a loose front end part vibration on steering wheel also happens, usually parts like tie rod and ball joints is the one causing vibrations when loose. Severe vibrations happens when the car reach a certain speed, the vibration will then be transferred to the steering wheel.

What to do: When you encounter this kind of problem the first thing to do is to have the front wheel balance. Any tire shop has this kind of service. Usually this will fix the problem, however when the problem still occur then bring the car to a car shop and ask the mechanic to inspect the front end for any loose parts.

Steering wheel trouble symptoms: Steering feels loose at higher speed.

Steering wheel problem possible cause: Over inflated front tires or One or more loose front end components.

Steering wheel problem diagnosis: Steering that feels loose is usually cause by overinflated front tires or a loose front end components therefore the first thing to do is to check whether the front tires is over inflate or not. Using a tire gauge measure the tire pressure of both the front tires, compare the results on the recommended tire pressure for your car model. The recommended tire pressure can be seen on the car owner’s manual or printed on the stickers located on the driver side front door. If the result is higher that the recommended pressure then this cause the problem. Tire that is overinflated has a tendency to bounce around while the car is running. When a car runs fast the more the tire bounce, this bouncing will then be transmitted to the steering that is why the steering feels loose or sloppy.

However when the tire pressure is within the standard then the possible problem is a loose or worn front end component. Frond end components are those parts located underneath the front of a car those parts are tie rod ends, control arms, and ball joints. When these parts are worn or loose the effect is the steering feels loose or sloppy.

What to do: If the problem is overinflated tire, deflate the tire to the recommended tire pressure. This will improve the steering, if problem still occur bring the car to the shop and ask the mechanic to inspect the front end for any loose or worn parts then repair or replace if necessary.

Steering wheel trouble symptoms: Power steering is gradually becoming to be stiffer.

Steering wheel problem diagnosis: When the steering gradually becomes stiff the possibility is that there is something wrong with the power steering system. Power steering system help driver to steer the car more easily, steering system works by pumping a power steering fluid to create hydraulic pressure that is applied to the steering gear. When the pump failed to create enough hydraulic pressure into the steering gear the steering will become stiff. Pump will create insufficient pressure when it is failing or when there is a leak on the system. This will result to stiff steering gradually.

Steering wheel problem possible cause: Problem with power steering system.

What to do: If you encounter this kind of problem the first thing to do is to check the power steering fluid level. If the fluid level is low there is a leak somewhere in the system, locate the leak and repair if necessary then ad hydraulic fluid on the system. However if there is enough fluid on the system then the possible problem is the steering pump, bring the car to the shop and ask the mechanic to inspect the power steering system particularly the steering pump and repair if necessary.

Engine Stall Troubleshooting and Problem Diagnostics

2011-10-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: When the engine stall happened when the engine is cold or it occurs during morning with wet condition.

Car problem diagnosis: There is moisture on the distributor cap. This kind of problem happens when the engine is cold especially on morning with wet weather. When the weather is wet and you park your car overnight on open parking moisture is formed inside a distributor cap because the engine is cold, the formed moisture will allow the electrical current to sweep inside the distributor cap, when this thing happened it will cause the engine to misfire. The misfiring is so extreme that will cause engine stalling.

Car shop advice: This kind of problem can easily be avoid, if you forecast that a rain is coming do not leave your car to park outside , better park the car on a covered parking to avoid the formation of moisture inside the distributor cap.
However when this kind of problem becomes frequent the possible cause is vacuum leak. Vacuum leak problem often start undetected until it get worst overtime until the engine stalls. The purpose of the vacuum that is created on your car is to determine how much fuel is needed by the engine. When there is vacuum leak the air fuel mixture going into the engine will not be accurate thus causing the engine to stall. In this case no other option but to bring the car to a carshop. Tell the mechanic to check for possible vacuum leak, usually it can cause by a problem on EGR and PCV valves.

If your car is a fuel injection type, the possible problem is a bad throttle position sensor. Since the severity of this problem remains the same over time a bad throttle position sensor is most likely the cause of the problem. The purpose of the throttle position sensor is to feed data on the engine computer system to determine the amount of gas the injection system must be injected on the engine. If the data is not accurate it will affect the amount of fuel injected into the engine, thus causing the engine stalling. Bring the car to a shop and ask the mechanic to check the throttle position sensor.

Car Maintenance Schedule for Car Owner

2011-10-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

Car maintenance schedule is considered as one responsible thing to do when you own a car, it is a must to conduct inspection or scheduled maintenance of your car before it will be used as well as follow the car maintenance schedule provide by the car manufacturer that is included on the warranty booklet when a car is purchased on the dealer. There are several essential things to do as car owner to ensure that the car operates properly for day to day operation making it safe for entire journey for the passenger as well as the man behind the wheel.

In preventing car breakdown it is not only a job of auto mechanic but also car owner’s responsibility to ensure that the car is road worthy to use so that to ensure road safety not only the person to use the car but also every motorist that travel along with them.

Below are the things to check as well as the parts of car maintenance schedule to avoid car breakdown especially while the car is in operation that may result in car stalling or much worst, a car accident.

Tire condition and pressure checking. Check the tire and tire pressure at least weekly or before going for a journey it is important to check the tire and tire pressure of all four tires including the spare tire. This is essential especially when having a long distance trips. Set the tire to the standard tire pressure specified on the car owners manual or the pressure indicated on the label that usually adhere on the driver side door. Use a tire pressure gauge for checking since it is not accurate for visual checking to know if the tire is over inflate or under inflate. Tire pressure should be checked after the car runs for about 1 km. Also check the tire for damage or excessive tire wear, since it is not safe to run the tire when it is damage or when the tread is excessively worn out.

Car battery terminal and fluid condition checking. At least every two months the car battery should be checked, start the checking on the battery terminals. Observed the terminals if there is a presence of cruddy like substance, this substance prevents the flow of current into the starter when cranking the engine. Use a wire brush to remove the substance then rinse the terminals with soap and water. Once the terminal is cleaned, apply enough amount of petroleum jelly to prevent accumulation of cruddy like substance in the future. Then inspect the amount of battery fluid if it’s enough, the fluid must cover the top plate. Insufficient amount of battery fluid can lead to battery drainage, overheating or even exploding.

Brake fluid. Brake fluid should be check at least every month, observe the reservoir if there is enough amount of brake fluid, and also observe if the fluid is dirty this happens when the fluid have not been replace for a long period of time. Insufficient amount of brake fluid may result to loose of brake effectiveness when braking.

Belts condition inspection. Belts such as compressor belt, fan belt, alternator belt should be check at least monthly. Observed all belts if there is looseness, worn out, or cracks and replace if necessary. Continuously use of damage or worn out belts can cause breakage which may result to car problem such as engine overheating or battery draining depending on what belt is broken.

As for the timing belts, it should be replaced every 50,000 miles broken or not to avoid being broken when the especially when the car is in operation. Broken timing belt can cause car stalling and might damage the engine and can cause expensive repair for the car.

Power steering fluid. Power steering fluid should be checked at least every two months, check if the power steering fluid is sufficient enough, if not then this means that the system has leak. When the power steering fluid is not sufficient this might cause accident especially while driving at high speeds.

Automatic transmission fluid. For car with automatic transmission, the ATF should be check every 12000 miles, observe the color of the fluid if its black or brown with the smell like burnt this is an indication that the transmission operates at extremely high temperature, in this case you need to bring the car to repair shop for checking.

Those are just few car maintenance items that can be checked by car owner, there are more that is indicated on the car owners manual that included when the car is purchased, however the most important car maintenance schedule that should not be neglected is by performing the most common services such as oil change, lube job, and engine tune up this will determines how long the car will last when this was performed regularly the car will maximize its life

Car Shakes on Idle After Start Up

2011-09-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: Car shakes on idle after start up, while idle the entire car is somewhat shaking.

Car problem diagnosis: When the car shakes when idle it is an indication of engine misfiring problem. Probably one or more cylinder inside the engine is misfiring. An engine consist of cylinder that runs smoothly when it firing properly, when one or more of the cylinder misfire or did not fire properly the engine will be become imbalance, this imbalance will cause the car to shakes on idle during starting enough to cause entire shaking of car.

Now the problem is why is the engine misfire? Several reasons can cause engine misfiring but the usual cause is bad spark plugs or spark plug wires or a worn distributor cap. Another reasons is a burned valve but is occurred mostly on old cars, when a car have burned valve the compression of the affected cylinder will suffer and without compression the affected cylinder will misfire which may result on car shaking.

Car shop servicing advice: When this kind of problem happened the first thing to do is to replace the spark plug and the spark plug wires then observed if misfiring will occur after replacement. Usually by replacing the spark plugs and the spark plug wires can fixed the problem of engine misfiring. However when replacing those parts did not solve the problem the next thing to do is to replace the distributor cap. Most car shop has those kinds of replacement parts.

If you decide to replace those parts yourself you have to check out your car repair manual, usually it indicates the procedure on how to replace the spark plug, spark plug wires and distributor cap. If you decide on not doing the repair, just bring the car to the car shop for servicing, ask the mechanic to have the car subjected to tune-up this will cover checking of those parts, if the problem is not been fixed then the last option is to check the car for burned valve and replace if necessary.

Blue Smoke from Exhaust Pipe

2011-09-22T00:57:00.000-07:00

Blue smoke that comes out the exhaust pipe is an indication of burned oil from the engine combustion chambers. Therefore when diagnosing blue smoke you have to find out why the engine burns oil and by determining this problem you can pinpoint the cause depending on the condition when the blue smoke was notice.

Cartrouble symptoms: Blue smoke from exhaust pipe comes out when accelerating.

Car problem diagnosis: Blue smoke form exhaust while accelerating is an indication of a worn valve stem seals. Valve stem seal prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber, if the seal is worn or gone bad, oil will get past the valve stem into the combustion chamber. In this case the oil inside the combustion chamber will be burned thus becoming blue smoke that will comes out the exhaust.

Car servicing repair tip: Replace the valve steam seals, however replacing valve stem is expensive so be prepared to pay more than the usual repair. Replacing valve steam seals will usually fixed the problem, if not then your car need a complete valve job.

Car trouble symptoms: When the blue smoke was notice with the engine power lesser than usual, especially when the car is going uphill.

Carproblem diagnosis: When blue smoke is detected with the engine is weak then there is a problem with the rings. The rings are used to keep the engine oil from entering the combustion chambers and also to maintain the engine compression. Now, when there is problem with the rings the oil will enter the combustion chamber and burned inside the engine, the result of burning is the blue smoke coming out the exhaust. Also when the rings has problem the compression will become weak thus the car will become weak in power.

Car servicing repair tip: Ring job is costly therefore you have to make sure that the rings is the culprit, bring the car to a shop for checking. The engine must be subjected to “wet compression test” to determine the ring condition.

When to Repair Your Car or Get a New One

2011-09-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

When your older car starts to falter, it’s usually more practical just to fix it then buy a whole car. However, inevitably, that time will come when you may need to trade in or trash your old car for a new(er) one. Here are some things to consider when you’re dealing with car repairs or considering buying a new vehicle:

Making Repairs

When you first bring your car to the shop, you probably won’t consider getting a new car right away. There are some standard reasons to opt for a car repair over buying a new car. For starters, getting a repair is almost always less expensive than buying another, especially if you have the automobile expertise to repair on your own. Even for the most expensive car repairs, like replacing auto transmissions, camshafts and lifters, which can cost you $3,000 or more, it’s usually worth the investment to repair. Calculating the costs of buying new versus keeping your old car includes factors like depreciation, taxes, fees, and insurance, which will most likely cost you more in the long run than simply making the repair.

Trading In or Trashing Out

While $3,000 repairs could be worth it, at a certain point you will need to trade in, buy new, or trash your old car, sending it away with a company like uShip car transport. According to some, you should wait until your car hits about 225,000 miles of driving before getting another vehicle. This mileage calculates out to about 15 years of car usage, typically. If you haven’t made it to the 225,000 mile mark, there could be other reasons why you would want to part with a car early. For example, with extremely high gas prices, you could want a more fuel-efficient model. Take mileage into consideration when making your car calculations, estimating roughly how much you spend on gas a year and, in turn, how much you could save with a fuel-efficient car.

With gas mileage or other factors in mind, you can estimate whether the repair is worth it based on current car costs or total worth. Calculate whether the cost of repairs is greater than a year of monthly payments or the vehicle’s total value using one of the many car estimate tools, like Kelley Blue Book. If the repairs exceed the annual monthly payments or total worth, you should consider another car.

Saving on Future Repairs

Some used-car owners cash in to resources like extended warranties to save on their car’s numerous repairs. This could be either a great way to save money or a complete scam, depending on the company. Make sure to fully investigate extended warranties and their reviews before deciding on one that you can trust.

Additionally, try to avoid the expensive repairs like cylinder head assembly and spark plug breakages by regularly changing oil and coolant while also replacing the thermostat when needed. Camshaft and lifter problems can also be avoided by flushing transmission fluid regularly, and keeping transmission filter fresh.

Front End Vibration Occurrence While Driving

2011-06-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: While driving the car the front end portion vibrates.

Car problem diagnosis: Vibration on the front end portion of car is usually a cause of imbalance front wheels. As you probably know tires and wheels are not perfectly manufactured there are some manufacturing flaws that affect the tires or wheels like for the tires there are portion where some section is thicker than the other making the weight of the tire not evenly distributed. When the tire was assembled to the wheel this uneven weight distribution can make the assembly imbalance. To correct the imbalance wheel weights will be attached on the assembly to compensate for the uneven weight distribution made by manufacturing flaws.

If the wheel assembly is out of balance the wheel rotates unevenly when the car is driven thus causing vibration. The vibration can become severe when the car reaches a certain speed causing the front end components to vibrate and can easily be felt by the driver especially if the problem is on the front tires.
Car problem: Out of balance wheel

Car shop tips: When your car suffers from front end vibration while driving the first thing to do is to have the front wheel balanced. The tire can be balanced using static method or dynamic method. When we say static method this mean that tire is remove from the car then have it balance. On the other hand, dynamic balancing means is that the tire will be balance on the car which is the best method to use because the wheel is balance with the consideration of the influence of the brake disc or drum with the wheel.

Wheel balancing should be included on your routine car maintenance to maximize the life of the tire and to minimize the occurrence of front end vibration on your car.

Bouncy Ride from Your Car

2011-06-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: When riding your car the ride feels somewhat bouncy.

Car problem diagnosis: Some think that a bouncy ride from their car is cause by a weak suspension but it’s not. This problem is often cause by a weak shock absorber or a weak strut cartridges. As may not know the suspension system is consisting two major components namely the shocks and the spring, this components can either be integrated with one another or separated from each other depending on the design. When these two major components are integrated with one another it is called the strut. The shock on this kind of system is called the strut cartridge, the principle for both system is that the spring will absorbed the irregularities of road like road undulation, a dip or bump and the shock or the strut cartridges prevents the spring from bouncing back and forth for a longer time.

Now, since the car ride is bouncy this only means that the shock has problem or in case of strut the strut cartridges has problem, these is because the spring keeps bouncing and can be felt by the driver and the passenger.

Car problem: Problem on shock or Strut cartridges.

Car shop tip: To fix this kind of problem the first thing to do is to know what kind of suspension your car has, whether the car has shock or strut. Usually cars suspension are made of strut, however there are also car that are using strut on the front and shocks on the rear in any case you should determine what type of suspension has to provide the best solution.

Now, observe where the bouncy portion is, is it coming from rear suspension or the front suspension. It is important that you know where the bouncy portion is, after you locate the problem, replace the shock or strut where the bouncy ride occurs. Usually replacing these parts will fix the problem. Car often has a replaceable strut cartridges so better check your car if there is no need to replace the strut assembly.

Power Window Troubleshooting and Repair

2011-06-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

Power window problem often comes in several fashions like when the window opens slowly or even to point that the entire window stop to work properly. In any case if encountering power window problem can annoying. Power window troubleshooting and repair is no need for an expert mechanic because you can easily do it yourself if you just know the basic.

As a basic to correctly fix the problem you have to look first for the cause of the problem. Start your troubleshooting on the power window switch. Remove the power window switch and look for any sign corrosion or dirt. Corrosion and dirt sometimes on the switch cause the power window to malfunction especially on the drive, cleaning of the switch can often fix the problem if not then you have to look for other cause of the problem.

Usually the most common cause of the power window problem is bad motor, like any other part power window motor also worn out, if that happens the power window will malfunction. Now, the next thing to do is to take off the trims where the power window malfunctions and locate the window regulator, look on the repair manual that covers your car model it has specific instruction on how to remove the regulator, since regulator cannot be repair you have to replace the regulator with new one to fix the problem. Any auto shop offers this kind of part. After replacing the old regulator with new one, function first the power window if it works properly before returning the trims. Make sure that all wires are in place before fixing all the trims. This should fix the problem of your power window.

As the car goes old the parts worn out so expect the car to develop problem, however you can prolong the life of your car by just following the car maintenance schedule set by the car dealer or the one that is indicated on your car owner’s manual and service manual.

Steering Wheel Shakes When Braking

2011-05-07T23:04:00.003-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: Steering wheel shakes when braking. The shaking occurs when the brake pedal is depressed. When the shaking of the steering wheel is extreme it can easily be noticed by the driver.

Car problem diagnosis: The problem that involves the shaking of steering wheel when braking is a clear indication of problem on the front end of your car. The front end is consist of several components that is why sometimes it is difficult to identify what particular parts causes the problem.

However, since the shaking only occurs during braking then we can safely say that the possible reasons is a problem on the brake system and because the involve part is the steering wheel therefore the most probable cause of the problem is within the front brake system but which part of the brake system?

Well, the most common reason for the steering wheel to shakes during braking is a misalignment of brake components, and the components that are often encountered misalignment are the front pads and the rotor disc, when those part is misaligned it causes uneven contact between the two during braking the uneven contact will creates vibration. And since the steering wheel is connected into those components by means of a front ends, therefore whenever there is vibration that resulted from uneven contact between the pads and the rotor the steering wheel is also affected in thus the shaking or vibration of the steering wheel happens also.

Now, why are the pads and the rotor misaligned? Usually when there is warping of the front disc it will become misaligned to the pads, another reason is when there is a worn out or loose front wheel bearings it creates misalignment.

Car Problem: Warped Front brake Disc or Loose/Worn Out Front Wheel Bearings.

Car shop advice: With this kind of problem you have to bring the car to a reputable car repair shop. Tell the mechanic to check the car front wheel bearing for any looseness or wear, if the result is good, then the next thing to do is to check the brake disc for any warped. When there is a warping of the disc the mechanic will probably have the brake disc machined.

But when your brake disc is machined, take not that it is necessary to also replace the brake pads so that it will mate and align to the newly machined brake disc, if you use the old pads it will not be matched to the brake disc thus may create problem. This should fix the steering wheel vibration when braking.

What is the Effect of Engine Misfiring on Your Car?

2011-05-03T04:23:00.001-07:00

When there is engine misfiring on one or more cylinders the engine balance will be thrown off. When this happens each cylinder inside the engine is not firing correctly and this can cause the engine not to run smoothly. An engine with cylinder that is not firing correctly creates excessive engine vibration that when become extreme can also cause the shaking on the entire car.

Several reasons can cause the engine to misfire, however the most common reason based on the car shop experience is a bad spark plugs or bad spark plug wires, also a worn distributor cap is likely to cause such problem of engine misfiring. If any of the reasons mentioned above happens on the car, it can affect the air/fuel mixture inside the engine cylinder.

Another cause of engine misfiring but is rare to happen is a burned valve. As you may not know, an engine with burned valve can cause the affected cylinder improper engine compression which can be resulted to an engine misfiring.

The car shop advice:

When your car suffers engine misfiring, the first thing to do to fix the problem is to replace the spark plug and the spark plug wires, usually just by replacing those parts will solve the problem. However, if engine misfiring continues to happen the next thing to do is to replace the distributor cap. You can find those parts available at any auto shop.

When you follow the recommended car maintenance schedule by your car dealer then you can avoid this kind of problem to occur because maintenance tune up covers those three items when you subject your car for maintenance. You can also find the routine schedule of maintenance on your car owner’s manual or warranty booklet so can have an idea on when to bring the car to hop for maintenance.

If the problem still exist then no other option but to check the valve, the possibility is that the car has burned out valve and you have to bring the car to shop for the mechanic to inspect the valve then repair if necessary. It should fix the engine misfiring since it’s the last option you have.

What Causes Black Smoke from Exhaust of Your Car?

2011-05-01T03:05:00.001-07:00

When black smoke comes out from exhaust of your car while you drive it means that the air fuel/ratio is too rich and when the air/fuel ratio is too rich, more gas is being burned from the car engine combustion chambers.

What causes the air fuel/ratio to be rich?

As you may not aware of, one of the common cause is a clogged air filter, a clogged air filter will restrict the amount of air coming inside the engine combustion chamber. Therefore, when a black smoke comes out the exhaust of your car the first thing you need to check is the air filter, check whether the filter is clogged. When doing this just remove the air filter and visually check if there an accumulation of dirt on the filter. If dirt is present then it is more likely the cause of air/fuel ratio being rich. Fixing this one is easy you just have to replace the filter.

But for instance, there is no dirt present on the filter, then a possible cause of the problem has something to do with your car fuel injection system, the fuel injector sensor may be bad, the job of the sensors is to measure various engine factors that use to calculate how much fuel is injected into the engine cylinder, if the sensors gone badly the air/fuel ratio will be wrong causing the black smoke out the exhaust. The sensor that commonly causes black smoke from exhaust when faulty are the mass airflow sensor, throttle position sensor and engine coolant temperature sensor.

It is difficult to identify which of the three is the problem therefore you need to bring the car to a reputable car shop then ask the mechanic to check your car with engine analyzer, replace the sensor at fault to to fix the problem.

Car with carburetor engine

For car with carburetor the most commonly cause of black smoke problem is a stuck choke plate. To find out if it is indeed a stuck choke plate problem, locate the carburetor and remove the air filter unit to be able to look down the carburetors barrel, examine the location of the choke plate inside the carburetor barrel, if the choke plate is nearly close or close then your car suffers from stuck choke plate problem and this is the cause why there is black smoke coming out the exhaust. To correct the problem apply choke spray to the choke linkage if this does not correct the problem you need a new choke.

However after examining you found that the choke plate not stuck then the only remaining possible cause that makes your car to emit black smoke from exhaust is a vacuum leak, if this is the case then you'll need to bring your car to a reputable car shop and ask the mechanic to test your car for a vacuum leak. Take this problem at once to avoid much bigger problem that may arise from having a black smoke from exhaust of car.

Transmission Slipping Out of Gear

2011-04-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

Transmission slipping out of gear can cause by several reasons and it will depends on what particular gear the transmission slip out, if the transmission slip out particularly on high gear this is usually caused by a faulty shift linkage or it can be caused by input shaft movement that is excessive. Shift linkage has something to do with the transmission not to stay out of gear, when the shift linkage is bad, it will make the transmission slip out of gear especially in high gear, and likewise a minimum input shaft movement is necessary for the transmissions to avoid the transmission stay out of gear. When the input shaft excessively move it can cause the transmission to jumps out of gear.

However when the transmission slip out of gear while driving, this is usually the case of an out of adjustment shift linkage, an out of adjustment shift linkage can cause the transmission to slip out of first gear or the second gear, however there are also other reasons if the transmission slip out of second gear that is when the shifter fork is loose, this will likely cause the transmission to jump out of second gear.

There are other causes of this kind of transmission problems but can only be determine by looking at the actual transmission itself. The above causes are the most likely possible reasons why the transmission is slipping out of gear however in determining the exact cause of the problem the transmission must be opened up and checked by a professional, without the actual transmission it is very hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem but instead the most likely possibilities can be determine based on the experience.

When your car encounters a transmission slipping out of gear bring the car immediately to the shop that specialized in working with transmission problems. Usually adjustments of shift linkage can fix the problem, however if the adjustment wont work then a more expensive work must be done and it will cost you a lot.

Steering Wheel Vibrates When Driving

2011-04-14T04:11:00.001-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: Steering wheel vibration when driving is noticed, the steering wheel vibration occurs especially at a certain speed.

Car problem diagnosis: Steering wheel vibration when driving can cause by two possible reasons, the first one is that the car might suffer a front wheel imbalance and secondly the car suffers from a loose front end parts.However with the above causes mentioned the most likely to cause steering wheel vibration problem is the imbalanced front wheel. The front wheel will become imbalance when the weight is not distributed evenly throughout the wheel this mean that some portion of the wheel have a heavy spots.

As you may not know tires have some flaws during manufacturing some portion weight much more than other portions of the tires that causes unbalance, when the wheel is assembled a “balancing” weight commonly called the wheel weights is attached to the wheel to compensate this unbalance before installing the wheel to a car, however when this balancing weight is detached to the wheel due to some reasons, it causes the wheel to rotate unevenly and vibration occurs, the vibration will then be transmitted directly to the steering linkage up the steering wheel in which can easily be felt by the driver especially at a certain speed.

The other reason of steering wheel vibration which is the loose front end happens when parts like tie rod and ball joints are loose, when the car reaches a certain speed the vibration become extreme and will be transferred to the steering column up to the steering wheel, however like what is mentioned above this kind of problem is not likely to happen.

Car problem: Imbalance front wheel or loose front end parts.

The car shop tips: When vibration in steering wheel happened on your car the first thing to do is to have the front wheel balanced, usually this can fix the problem vibration on the steering wheel, if its still occurred after balancing then its time to seek the help of a mechanic to inspect the front end of the car because probably it was a loose front end parts that causes the vibration in steering wheel.

Steering Wheel Feels Sloppy or Loose

2011-04-09T02:47:00.001-07:00

Car trouble symptoms: Steering wheels feels sloppy or feels like loose while you drive the car at a higher speed.

Car problem diagnosis: There are several reasons that cause the steering wheel to feel sloppy or feel like loose when you drive, this happens when front tires was over inflated and has a tendency to bounce around while the car is being driven especially when driven at higher speed, the bouncing effect is transmitted to the steering wheel linkage that resulted to loose or sloppy steering wheel feeling and can be felt easily by the driver. To determine that it is indeed the cause of the problem, check the tire pressure use a tire pressure gauge and check the air pressure of the front tires. The tire pressure should be within the standard value or the recommended tire pressure limit set by the car manufacturer. This standard tire pressure value or the recommended tire pressure limit set by the car manufacturer can be found on the car owner’s manual, you can also find the standard tire pressure usually on the label located on the driver side door of the car.

After checking if you found out that the tire pressure is within the standard value then the tire pressure thing is not the cause of the problem. There are other cause of the problem, and this might be a problem that involves the car front end components. The usual problem on the front end is a loose or worn out components like the tire rods, ball joints or the control arm. If one of those parts is loose or worn out it can cause the steering wheel to become sloppy or simply feels like loose.

Steering wheel problem possible caused: Faulty front end components or over inflated front tires.

Car shop advice: When the cause of the problem is just an over inflated tires then its easy to fix, you just have to reduce the amount of air and measure the tire pressure again until the standard tire pressure is met. Again the recommended tire pressure value can be found on the owner’s manual of the label on the driver side front door.

However if the tire pressure is within standards then this is a case of loose or worn out front end components, in this case you have to bring the car to a shop. Tell the mechanic about your diagnosis and ask to check the front end to determined what is the problem and have it repair if necessary.

Chrome Rims Care and Maintenance

2011-03-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

Chrome rim is one of the parts that improve the look of your car and like any other part that affects the aesthetics of the car it should also be properly care and maintain regularly. However maintaining the glossy look of the rims can be challenging since the rims is exposed to surroundings that may affects its look and aesthetics. Several factors should be taken into consideration to protect the life of the chrome rims coating.

Care and Handling Tips for Chrome Rims

Before you start cleaning the rims, ensure that the rims are cool down. Since rims becomes hot when in use, cleaning the rims without cooling it down can bake any cleaning agents that you are going to use to clean the rims and this will creates spots on the rims. However, allowing the rims to cool down first will prevent the rims from developing spots.

Using a hose spray down first the chrome rims to rinse away all loose dirt with water and remove debris that is accumulated into the rims because the debris tends to scratch the chrome rims when you wipe the rims with cleaning agents. Clean the rims one at a time to prevents the spots of soap that can dry on the rims.

Clean the rims with a soft, non-abrasive cloth so as not to scratch the rims do not use any stiff brushes or steel wool pads on the chrome rims because it can damage the chrome in the rims. Just use mild soap and water solution when cleaning the rims because some chrome rims cleaning agents contains harmful ingredients such as acids and solvents that can make the rims dull and strip away the chrome rims protective coating.

After the rims are cleaned with soap and water solution, rinse the rims thoroughly with water. Avoid the use of steam cleaners because it can make the protective coating of the rims to become dull. Allow the rim surface to dry. If you want to make the chrome shiny then apply amount of chrome polish on the rims.

To preserve the shininess of your chrome rims proper care and maintenance should be done on the rims so that its look will last longer to usual, include the cleaning of the rims on your regular car maintenance schedule.

Transmission Flush as Part of Car Maintenance

2011-03-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

Do you know what is a transmission flush?

Well, transmission flush is the removal of old transmission fluid from your car transmission as well as removing old fluid residue from the converters. It is believe to be that these flushing of transmission can maximize the life and the functionality of the transmission that is why some include this process in their regular car maintenance schedule. However, this kind of process will not guarantee that the old fluid will completely remove.

Transmission flush is done by forcing the fluid in reverse manner as the normal fluid flow through the use of a machine. A special solvent is force back by this machine through the engine and transmission in high pressure. But some say that this kind of process will do harm to your car system than good. Since a high pressure cleaning solvent is force back through the engine and transmission it can cause the accumulated sludge from the system to be forcefully remove, this sludge will then flow through the small passages which the oil passes in normal flow, with this there is a possibility that this sludge will tightly block those small passages like the valves since valves are mostly once way passages. When this happens, during the normal operation of the car the fluid flow will be blocked by the sludge that traps into these small passages causing loss of lubrication of the engine as well as the transmission. If that is the case the result would be shifting problem or even an engine problem, in both cases it’s very expensive to repair.

With that said transmission flush is not recommended by the car manufacturer to include as regular car maintenance, there are some dealers that might tell you that it necessary to maximize the life of your transmission. However do not fell into this kind of deception, just follow what the car manufacturer is recommending, you can check it out on the car service booklet.

Transmission flush is not necessary just follow the recommended regular change oil and transmission service recommend by the car manufacturer indicated on the service booklet included together with the service manual included when you purchase the car.

A Well Maintained Car can Help Lower Your Car Insurance Rates

2011-02-15T02:31:00.000-08:00

Car insurance rates are based on several different factors, but they all have one thing in common. Everything that determines your car insurance costs depends on your potential risk of having to file a claim while you are covered. A good maintenance routine can cut down on your chances of being involved in an accident due to a mechanical problem while you are driving. You can save money on your insurance rates by keeping a safer driving record due to the good condition of your car. You can also save money directly through special incentives that some insurance companies offer for people who can prove that they are taking good care of their vehicles. Keep your maintenance receipts and ask your agent if your insurance company offers any type of discount for drivers with good maintenance records.

Discover Potential Problems Early

Car engines experience heat and friction every time you turn the key. Many of the engine parts are made of materials that break down slowly over time and use. Having your car inspected for possible wear and tear problems will allow you to replace or repair those parts before they have a chance to surprise you while you are driving. Your mechanic will be able to see if a belt or a hose is starting to wear down and needs replacement. Changing the oil regularly will prevent a buildup of debris that can clog up your system. It is much safer to discover a problem when the car is in the shop than to find that something is wrong while you are on the highway.

Increased Safety Means Fewer Claims

When you prevent mechanical failure, you also prevent situations that could cause damage to you or your vehicle. A single accident can raise your insurance rates considerably. Anything you do to avoid a potential accident will save you money on your car insurance in the long run. Many insurance companies offer special discounts for drivers who do not need to file a claim over three consecutive years. Regular maintenance can play a big part in keeping your car safe and free from accidents during that time.

Special Discounts for Good Maintenance

Most large car insurance companies offer specific discounts for drivers who can prove that they follow the manufacturer's suggested maintenance schedule for their cars. If you keep all of your maintenance receipts and follow all of the manufacturer's suggestions for oil changes, transmission flushes, tire rotations, and other normal maintenance issues, you may qualify for a percentage off your regular insurance rates. Insurance companies are happy to provide an incentive to keep you safe and reduce your risk of filing an insurance claim.

Car Insurance Quotes Comparison is a website that helps consumers find and secure the deepest auto insurance discounts by keeping them informed about auto insurance and rates.

Brake Problems Car Shop Troubleshooting, Diagnosis and Repair

2011-02-02T01:59:00.001-08:00

Brake problems are vital when it comes to car safety because brake is one of the most important parts of our car, the maintenance involving the brake system must be taken seriously. Therefore when a car suffers brake problems troubleshooting and diagnosis of the problem must be done at once to provide necessary repair on the brake system that will prevent a serious accidents when the car is use for driving.

As brake problems is a must to be repaired a guide to troubleshooting brake problems is a requirements for easy determination of the causes of braking problem that helps the mechanic into making the right decision of which components of the brakes must be repaired or if not repairable is need to be replace.

Several problems involving the brakes may occur such as squealing noise, spongy brake pedal, brake shaking and vibrations. In any case the need to repair brakes at once can lead to prevention of more serious problem that may occur that is why our auto mechanic provides car servicing tips that will help you diagnose or troubleshoot braking problems and helps provide do-it-yourself solution to repair problems on brake if necessary.

The following are potential brake problems that may occur on your car brake system, feel free to browse our article if you found any brake questions related to your car and comments if you have any topic you want us to cover that involves car brakes.

Spongy Brakes Pedal Feeling When Depressed. When you depressed the brakes pedal you will feel spongy instead of the solid feeling you feel when the brake is properly functioning.

Steering Wheel Shakes When Braking. During brake application the steering wheel starts to shake which indicates a problem on the front end.

Brakes Grinding Sound Occurs during Application. When you apply the brakes, a grinding sound occurs coming front either the front or rear brakes.

Squealing Brake Noise Heard When Braking. While you apply the brake a squealing noise coming from the brake can be heard.

Car Vibrates While Braking. When the brake is apply the entire vehicle shakes.

Rattling Sound Heard from the Brake. While driving a rattling sound is heard coming from either the rear or front brakes.

Brake Pedal Vibration. The pedal vibrates while the braking but it can only be felt coming mainly from rear end.

Clunk Noise from front End. Clunk noise is heard coming from the front end while braking.

First Time Car Insurance for Teenagers or Young Drivers

2011-01-23T22:22:00.000-08:00

Application for First time car insurance for teenagers or young drivers can be difficult to secure especially from insurance company that plays a major role in car insurance business. If you’re a teenager and new to driving when you need to apply for car insurance, some company is very hesitant to provide you with car insurance quote. Insurance company thinks that as a young driver you are aggressive on the road making you a high risk due to lack of experience in driving, however if you get approved for car insurance then expect that those companies will charge you a much higher premium compare to the much experience driver. First time drivers tend to be high risk because of this insurance company is playing it safe by charging much expensive insurance premiums.

Now, if you want to secure a first time car insurance quotes for teenagers without any much difficulties then make sure that when you buy a car it can be classified as low-risk. The types of car you drive have much influence when securing for first time car insurance for teenagers. What are those low risk cars?

Cars that is low engine and no modification has been made on its body is considered a low risk car, car with safety and anti-theft features can also be considered as low risk and can also lower car insurance premiums. Since you are a first time driver you have to expect that it is difficult to secure an affordable insurance policy, but need not worry because there are ways to secure discount when buying first time car insurance.

Discounts are provided by insurance company to those drivers that learn their driving skills on the accredited driving schools since driving schools teach the driver to become responsible on the road. Also including parents as an additional driver can also credited with discounts. But the best way to get lower insurance premiums is to do a car insurance comparison. Shop around for quick car insurance quote and compare their prices, there are a lot of insurance companies to choose from that have an affordable coverage. When comparing, consider your deductible because the higher your deductible the lower your premiums.

But in any case, higher or lower premiums, it’s a fact that even when you’re a teenager or young drivers when you drive a car it is required to have car insurance therefore you need to buy a first time car insurance for teenagers.