Finding a good, reliable brake repair shop can be an ordeal sometimes. Having to choose between the numerous independent mechanics in any given town and the larger chain retailers can be difficult as well. On the one hand, it is always nice dealing with a local company that has a good reputation, but on the other, the chain stores have gotten big for a reason--usually because of good prices and service. Although the many independent service technicians cannot be covered here, this is a list of the top brake repair shops based on price and service.
Brake repair is serious business, so it is in your best interest to find a service station that you can trust. Look into the three big chains listed here-Midas, Meineke and Pep Boys, but don't stop there. Check out a few local shops, for you might find an even better deal with more upfront accountability.
]]>In many vehicles a common cause of engine vibration is worn out or faulty sparkplugs. Worn out or dirty sparkplugs will cause the car's engine to misfire or not properly fire on each and every cylinder. When this occurs, it is commonly referred to as the engine missing or not firing on all cylinders. This can usually be corrected by installing new sparkplugs or correcting other spark or compression-related issues.
Loose or disconnected hoses can also be a common cause of many types of engine vibration. A loose or disconnected air hose or vacuum hose can cause quite a bit of violent shaking and vibration in your car's engine. To correct the problem, simply look for any loose or disconnected hoses and reattach them and replace them as needed.
If the vehicle shakes violently or the engine vibrates excessively when stopped at a red light or when parked with the engine on, this may be a good indicator that the motor mounts or transmission mounts on the vehicle are damaged or broken. A good way to tell if this is the problem is to simply put the car in neutral and see if the vibration or shaking decreases a bit. If it does, this is a good sign that there may be problems with your engines motor mounts and you should have the engine inspected by a qualified repair shop or professional mechanic.
Another common problem that causes engine vibration and nasty shaking is a poorly adjusted fuel intake system. Sometimes, idling problems that cause engine vibration may be as simple as adjusting the idle on a carburetor or cleaning components in the fuel intake system so that fuel passes through the engine more easily creating cleaner and more efficient combustion your car's engine.
Problems with your vehicle's timing belt, or other belt driven accessories, are another common cause of engine vibrations in vehicles. Timing belts and other belts that are loose or damaged will cause components controlled by belts such as fans and other parts to not rotate or turn a consistent speeds which will result in strange sounds and vibrations from your car's engine. To avoid these types of problems, you should frequently inspect all of the belts in your vehicle to make sure that they are free from crakcs and ribbing and also make sure that the belts are tight and operating as they should.
]]>The hydraulic lifter in a car's engine uses oil pressure to adjust a plunger and take up all the clearance in the valve train. This helps to ensure less engine noise and longer reliability, due to less wear and tear. A faulty hydraulic lifter will usually result in the rocker arm, valve tip and push rod also going bad if left unattended. You need to know how to tell when they hydraulic lifter is going bad or needs to be replaced.
Signs of a Faulty Hydraulic Lifter
The most obvious symptom of a faulty hydraulic lifter is the noise it creates in your car's engine. You can usually distinguish the faulty lifter by the distinct sound. Instead of a knock or ping, a faulty hydraulic lifter will usually make a sound more reminiscent of a tapping sound. The tapping will be quick in rhythm and may occur when the vehicle is cold or hot, depending on what the problem with the hydraulic lifter is. The lifter may be having problems with a sticking check valve, dirt, wear or other problems.
What to Do If You Have a Faulty Hydraulic Lifter
If your car has a faulty hydraulic lifter, replace it as soon as possible to avoid further damaging your engine.
In most cases, a faulty hydraulic lifter will simply need to be replaced. You might be able to get away with replacing a single bad hydraulic filter depending on the make and model of your vehicle. However, many mechanics suggest that when replacing one lifter, you should go ahead and replace them all, because it's generally a good indication that others will soon fail.
Depending upon the age of your vehicle, you might consider using refurbished lifters in your vehicle rather than purchasing new ones. Refurbished hydraulic lifters will cost a lot less money and will usually do an adequate job for older used vehicles, which may not have many more years of service left in them.
What Are Some of the Most Popular Automotive Hydraulic Lift Manufacturers?
An automotive hydraulic lift can come in a number of different sizes. If you are interested in a standard two ton engine hoist, Craftsman makes a very popular model that can be purchased at your local Sears store or online. This hoist costs under $200 and is well regarded by industry experts. If you are looking for a professional floor lift, Rotary Lift makes a wide selection of products. Their lifts can lift an entire car off the floor, and their heavy duty lifts are used for semi trucks and buses. These lifts are professional grade, and very expensive.
What Tools Are Required to Make an Hydraulic Lifter Adjustment?
Doing a hydraulic lifter adjustment can be somewhat complicated, so if you are not comfortable under the hood of your car, it is best left to the professionals. A hydraulic lifter is designed to ensure that there is zero clearance in a valve train. This leads to a quieter operation of the engine. In the majority of engines there is an adjusting nut on the rocker arm that can be turned to adjust the clearances between the valves and lifter. In many cases, hydraulic lifters have to replaced instead of adjusted. Again, if you are uncomfortable doing this type of work, you should take the car to a pro, as if done incorrectly, it can damage the engine.
Where Can I Buy a Hydraulic Engine Lift?
You can buy a hydraulic engine lift at a number of places. The majority of auto supply stores sell lifts. You can even buy one from Amazon if you prefer to do your shopping online. Doing a Google search will bring up a number of websites that are happy to sell you an engine lift. These lifts are not super expensive. You can buy a two ton lift for under $200. This type of lift can be used to remove an engine that needs to be worked on or rebuilt. If you have extensive work that needs to be done on your vehicle's engine, a hoist will pay for itself in a matter of months.
What Is the Recommended Gauge Size for an Engine Hoist Chain?
The grade of chain depends on the weight you are lifting with your engine hoist chain. If you are using a typical two ton engine hoist, you should be using a hardened steel grade-80 chain. These chains are specially hardened and used for overhead lifting. These chains can be purchased online at specialty chain shops. While most big box retailers like Home Depot do not stock this type of chain, they can often special order it for you. STREN-FLEX is a great place to shop for chains. You can shop for a variety of different chain sizes and strengths.
]]>Before you begin you will need a couple of tools to assist you in the repair. You will need a valve stem tool and a replacement valve core. Both of these should be readily available from any auto parts store. The valve stem tool is shaped like a "+" symbol.
First, you need to determine if your valve stem is leaking or not. You can do this by rubbing a mixture of dish soap and water over the uncapped valve stem with your finger. If bubbles begin to form it means air is escaping and the valve is leaking. If no air escapes you could have another slow leak elsewhere in the tire.
Now that you have determined the valve is bad, you need to deflate the tire. It is best to remove the tire in order to make this repair. While it is possible to make this repair when the tire is attached to the car it is always important to remember safety first. If the vehicle is jacked up, don't wrench on the tire or else you could pull the car off the jack. Once the tire is deflated, use the valve stem tool to unscrew the valve from the tire. It is important to note that the tire needs to be completely deflated before you remove the old core. Any pressure inside the tire will cause the core to shoot out of the damage potentially causing bodily harm. It is a good idea to wear safety glasses just in case. Dispose of the old valve core.
Using the tapered end of the valve core tool clean the valve stem. Make sure you keep the opening clean of debris and dirt and that any obstructions are removed from the area and inside the tire.
Install the new core using the valve stem tool. The same end of the tool that was used to remove the old core should be used to install the new one. Tighten the new valve by hand but be sure not to over tighten it or you could damage your repair, forcing the new valve to leak. Once installed, re-inflate your tire and replace the valve cap.
In 5 simple steps and 10 minutes you have just successfully replaced your tire valve. Some tire dealers will attempt to sell customers new tires when they have slow leaks, potentially costing you a lot of money. Repairing a tire valve is quick and easy and can greatly extend the life of your tires.
]]>Some trickle chargers can be left on a battery indefinitely. These would be used on a vehicle that is not used all the time or is stored away for the winter or the summer. A trickle charger built specifically for this is left on in the event that the vehicle is needed in an emergency or other unexpected situation. It keeps the battery from being depleted from non-use.
How to Use a Trickle Charger
Trickle charges employ the use of a battery regulator to regulate charging rate and prevent overcharging, charging your vehicle's battery at a rate similar to the rate at which it self-discharges so as to maintain full battery capacity. Charging at too fast of a rate or overcharging can cause damage to the battery.
Using a trickle charger is very easy. Most trickle chargers consist of a simple box (where the "guts" of the charger reside), a power cable and two alligator clips. Before connecting everything, be sure to set the voltage and amperage appropriate for your battery. Check the switches and buttons on the charger box and set them prior to connecting the charger to a power source.
Ensure Battery Is Ready for Charging
Before you begin attaching your charger, it is important to ensure that all safety precautions are taken. First, it is important that your vehicle is parked in a place free of rain, and well ventilated. The charging process can produce excess hydrogen gas, and if allowed to concentrate in an enclosed structure, an explosion or fire can occur. Make sure the ignition of the vehicle is turned off and the key is removed, and that your charger is unplugged.
Locate a Suitable Ground Location
Finding a suitable location to attach the negative terminal of your charger is the key to safe and effective completion of your trickle charger circuit. Ideally a spot of bare metal on the frame, or a large bolt attached to the chassis or engine block should be used, but if one cannot be located, a section of the frame that is free of excessive dirt, grime and oil will suffice. The negative terminal on the battery should never be used, as it can cause an explosion or fire.
Attach Cables
Connect the alligator clips. There should be a black clip and a red clip. Take the red or positive cable and attach it to the positive terminal of the battery to be charged. Once you have ensured you have a solid connection, connect the black, negative wire to your ground location located in step 2. It is important to ensure that this negative wire is solidly attached before plugging in your charger. Do not touch the wires while the charger is plugged in and turned on, as serious shock or injury may occur.
Once everything is in place, connect the trickle charger to a power socket.
Turn on Charger
Once your connections have been made, ensure that all of the proper settings are set as per the manual's recommendations for the type of battery you're charging. Plug in your charger and set it to the "On" position. Most battery chargers have an amp meter that will read higher on a dead battery, and lower to 0 on a fully charged one. If this meter reads low, your battery may not need a charge, or your ground connection may not be adequate. Turn off the charger, unplug it and retry the connection if this problem occurs.
Check the charger's display to make sure it is charging properly. If it fails to begin charging after a few minutes, your battery is mostly likely dead and beyond recovery. Otherwise, keep the battery charging until it is full.
Some trickle chargers can safely be left connected for months without doing harm to your battery, providing an easy long term battery maintenance strategy. Others may only be left connected for a few days at most. Be sure to check your trickle charger's manual for details.
The one amp trickle charger is used for charging your motorcycle battery, your golf cart and other small things of the like. A motorcycle battery will lose one percent of its charge everyday just doing absolutely nothing. So leaving your battery uncharged will likely kill your battery. At the same time, overcharging it will kill your battery.
The two amp six and twelve volt battery trickle charger has the convenience of multiple battery connectors. It charges motorcycles, lawn tractors, ATVs and snowmobiles. This trickle charger can charge small batteries or large batteries, and can even be used for classic or antique batteries. It has two different charging settings. There is a two amp trickle charge rate for six volt batteries, and a four amp trickle charge rate for twelve volt batteries. It has a reverse hookup connection, with fifty amp clamps for top and side post batteries. There is a twelve amp plug in for charging car batteries, also. This trickle charger literally takes care of all your needs.
]]>On smaller-displacement engines in front-wheel-drive cars and most engines in rear-wheel-drive cars, replacing a leaking exhaust manifold gasket is quite easy.
As stated, replacing a gasket causing an exhaust manifold leak is quite easy. You'll need a couple of wrenches or deep sockets to remove the manifold. You'll also need something to remove traces of the old gasket. Emery cloth or some very light grit sandpaper is perfect for this, but we've found that a small scraper works best, especially in tight confines. You can pick up these scrapers from Home Depot or Lowe's.
Typically, most shops use what is known as a parts and labor guide to determine how many hours of labor to charge for any given repair. Usually, this type of repair will run between two and three hours. Most independent shops charge around $80 to $90 an hour, so it should cost between $160 and $270 in labor. At a dealership, with a labor rate of approximately $110 an hour, you can expect a labor bill of between $220 and $330. Of course, if you plan on replacing the leaking gasket yourself, there will be no labor cost involved, and you can learn something to add to your arsenal of Things Every Guy Should Know.
The cost of the replacement gasket will vary depending on make, model and year of your car and how many cylinders the engine has. For example, on a 2000 Chevrolet Impala, you can expect to pay between $18 and $28 at your local auto parts chain retailer for the gasket itself. This price will increase to around $50 if you go to the dealership, but an aftermarket gasket will work perfectly fine in this situation.
With the prices quoted above, you can expect a cost of $18 at the low end for do it yourself repairs to as high as almost $400 at a dealership to repair an exhaust manifold leak.
Creative Commons photo by VirtualEm
]]>Brake Problems
There are several things that can go wrong with brakes. Worn out brake pads, calipers and drums might be the issue, but it could also be a problem with your master cylinder, individual wheel cylinders or simply a lack of fluid. The cost of repairing brake problems fluctuates depending on what is wrong.
Low Fluid
The easiest of brake problems simply involves a low amount of brake fluid in the master cylinder. Removing the cap and topping off the fluid is the way to fix it, but keep in mind, if the master cylinder is empty, pouring more fluid in will push air into the system. To fix this you will have to bleed the brakes. If you can't do this yourself, it will cost some labor hours with a mechanic.
Worn Pads or Drums
A standard brake problem is worn pads and drums. Because brakes use friction to stop the car, as time wears on, so do the brake pads. It's just a simple fact of physics. Friction causes wear. After a while, brake pads must be replaced. You will detect a need to replace pads by hearing gradually increasing squeaking whenever you hit the brakes. If it goes on too long without being replaced, eventually you may have to replace the drums and/or rotors as well. At this point, what could have been a relatively inexpensive fix is now more expensive. A standard replacement of pads may cost $75 to $100, whereas a drum, rotor, and/or caliper replacement can get up into the several hundreds depending on the extent of the problem.
Master Cylinder and Wheel Cylinders
The master cylinder is where the brake fluid is stored and through pressure, sent to each wheel cylinder. This fluid is what applies force to the pads and drums when you press down on the brake pedal. If the master cylinder goes bad, when you press down on the brake pedal, it might go to the floor and take longer to stop the car. At best, your braking power is greatly reduced; at worst, it could endanger your life by not stopping the car. The average cost of master cylinder repair is usually between $200 and $300, but it can be more, again, depending on the scope of the fix. If individual wheel cylinders need to be replaced, the cost will go up.
The repair price for an entire brake job—rotors, calipers, drums, pads, cylinders—can run you $750 or more. Therefore, it's best to stay on top of brake repair and get the pads replaced when you hear squeaking. Components like master cylinders wear down after time, so eventually it will have to be replaced. As long as you keep brake fluid in it and keep an eye on it, though, you'll be safe to drive and can take the steps to have it fixed when it comes time.
]]>Looking for a new car? Start here >>
Transmission Grinding or Strange Noises
A vehicle transmission that is contaminated with dirt, grease and sludge can display symptoms very similar to inadequate levels of transmission fluid. When driving your vehicle, if you notice your transmission grinding or making strange sounds, you should stop the vehicle and check the transmission fluid level while the engine is still running. Insure that the transmission fluid color is bright red and not brown or black because of grime or sludge. If the fluid level of the transmission is acceptable, your vehicle probably needs a transmission flush.
Problems Shifting Gears
Regardless if you drive an automatic or manual, your car requires clean transmission fluid that flows easily throughout your car's transmission. A transmission that contains too much dirt or sludge will cause sluggish response in the transmission which will result in your vehicle changing gears too quickly or too late while driving. In manual transmission vehicles, you may find it very hard to change gears at all.
Slipping Gears
A dirty transmission may cause a lack of hydraulic power, much the same as not having enough transmission fluid will cause. In order to stay in the appropriate gear, the transmission must develop enough pressure. When a transmission is too dirty, contaminants may interfere with the flow of transmission fluid that helps with this. If you're transmission has no other problems, and the fluid level of the transmission is full (or close to it), the problem is probably restricted fluid flow due to a buildup of dirt and contaminants that need to be flushed out.
Surging of the Vehicle
When your vehicle's transmission is polluted with a lot of dirt and contaminants, and needs a transmission flush, you may notice unexplainable surging of your vehicle. Because your car's dirty transmission does not allow for adequate transmission fluid flow, your vehicle may tend to jump or surge forward and fall backwards for no good reason. This is caused by inconsistent flow of clean transmission fluid that is needed to ensure smooth operation of the gears and other moving parts inside the transmission bell housing.
Delay in Vehicle Movement
Another sign that your vehicle may have contaminated transmission fluid is when the vehicle stalls for one or two seconds before moving after having been put in gear. If there are no other problems with the transmission, a transmission flush may help.
You should be aware that if the vehicle is displaying these symptoms, your dirty transmission may have already caused bigger problems.
]]>Start your search for a new Volkswagen >>
The Volkswagen's Tiptronic transmission is very modern and uses cutting edge technology. However, it has a few inherent weak points. These have been identified by the manufacturer and steps have been taken to resolve them. The problems with this transmission are hard shifts from gear 1 to 2, erratic shifting from gear 3 to gear 4 and a shudder in the torque converter. These can be rectified by following the Volkswagen service bulletin and downloading the latest software.
In certain cases, an important solenoid, N89, has failed. This causes a sudden shift from gear 4 to gear 1, when the gear gets stuck at the shift from gear 3 to gear 4. This causes a sudden deceleration, similar to when the brakes are suddenly engaged.
A faulty temperature sensor in the DSG system of models of the Jetta results in a false negative lighting of the warning lamps on the dashboard. In rare instances, this sensor results in transmission slips, causing the vehicle to shift suddenly to neutral. The affected vehicles have been recalled.
A faulty clutch component of the mechtronic unit causes sudden downshifts. Affected vehicles have been recalled by Volkswagen.
Before you buy a Volkswagen, you should be aware of the above problems in the transmission and select a model that isn't affected by these troubles. Otherwise you should wait until the problems have been completely resolved by the manufacturer.
]]>Engine knock can be caused by many things, however, some of the most common are as follows:
The three causes of knock are the most common, and also the least expensive to fix. If your car is still experiencing knock after these suggestions have been followed, try and take it to a reputable shop.
What is the Best Gas Octane Rating?
Gas octane rating is the tendency of fuel to burn and is achieved by mixing the fuel with additives. A higher octane rating means that the fuel will burn slowly, while fuels with lower octane ratings will burn faster. High performance vehicles such as race cars will require high octane fuel like premium gas. This is not necessary for other cars, and use of low octane fuel such as regular gas should be just fine. However, if you drive a carburetor vehicle, you should consider the higher octane fuel, as the carburetor is not as efficient as newer fuel injection technologies. You can, therefore, conclude that the best fuel rating for your vehicle is that indicated on the owner manual, which is 87 for most cars.
What is the Average Cost of Replacing and Installing Spark Plugs?
What you pay for installing spark plugs in your car will vary greatly, depending on whether you take it to a dealer shop or visit your local mechanic. The difference in price is amazing, with your mechanic being the better option if you are looking to save some money. Buying a spark plug will cost you an average of $5 with the upward ceiling being about $10. To this cost, you will need to add a small installation fee for your mechanic, though this is actually something you can easily do by yourself if you have a spark plug spanner and a little skill. Observe your mechanic doing it several times and you can do it yourself with no trouble.
]]>See our New Car Tires Buying Guide >>
In recent years, many Chinese tire manufacturers have come under attack for making substandard and unsafe tires available for sale in the United States. Furthermore, some Chinese manufacturers have been the subject of forced recalls by many state Attorney Generals and the Federal Trade Commission. While there are many variations of Chinese import tires that have come under attack, companies that have been the subject of forced government recalls include:
All of these brands of cheap tires are made by the China-based Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company; furthermore, it is alleged that these tires lack even the most basic of safety features such as gum strips which are a rubber feature that helps prevent steel belts inside the tire from separating or damaging the rubber.
While these 4 brands are definitely brands you should stay away from, many motor industry experts recommend staying away from Chinese brands altogether. While some Chinese-made tires are a little better than the brands mentioned above, most Chinese-imported tires lack safety and performance features such as belt stiffeners, bead wedges and nylon cap plies that are considered to be industry standards these days. In short, don't buy cheap, imported Chinese tires. If you're searching for good values on discounted tires, consider tires from quality American manufacturers like Goodyear or Cooper Tires. All of these companies offer low-cost, high-quality tires that will fit most budgets.
What's the Difference Between Off Brand Tires and Normal Brand Tires?
Most people are not sure about the safety of using off brand tires on their vehicles. You may have wondered about the difference between your normal brand tires and the off brand tires that seem to be relatively unknown, and only available in certain parts of the country. The truth is, there is no difference when it comes to quality standards between the two. Almost all off brand tires are manufactured by the normal brand tire manufacturers. Though they will produce the off brands for specific dealers. For example, the manufacturers of Goodyear tires also manufacture Douglas tires, which are sold by Wal-Mart. Buying off brand tires will actually save you money, as they tend to be cheaper than normal brand tires.
Can You Mix a Brand Name Tire With 3 other Different Brand Tires?
Most manufacturers deliver a car with a brand name tire set. The reason for this is not just uniformity, but there are also safety considerations as to why you should not mix different brand name tires. Each tire is manufactured with particular specifications on tread life, temperature, speed rating and tread pattern. So despite being of similar width and height, two tires of different brand names are not the same. Having your car fitted with different brand name tires will reduce handling and traction, which means reduced safety for you. So the short answer to the question of having your car fitted with a mix of brand tires is no, for your own safety.
What are Private Brand Tires?
Simply put, private brand tires are tires that are manufactured by one company but sold and distributed by another company. Private brand tires are almost always produced by the same companies that produce name brand tires. Name brand manufactures will often produce private brand tires to make sure that they maximize on production capacity. They will apply the same materials, production lines and manpower to make the tires, which they do not have to go and market themselves. Private brand tires will often be cheaper than the similar name brand tires. Though they will be of similar quality as they undergo the same testing and have to meet quality assurance standards set by the government. Thus, serves you the same as the name brand tires.
]]>Proper tire alignment is important to avoid excessive wear on tires and vehicle parts. Bad tire alignment can decrease your MPG, make wheels work against each other, and wear out tires by causing bad tread wear patterns. Here are some signs that suggest you need an alignment fix.
Bad tire alignment can lead to a lot of different problems on a vehicle. Here are some of the reasons it's not a good idea to keep on driving without a good tire alignment from a professional shop.
Read more about Wheels and Tires >>
Auto cost helper sites provide a range of pricing for a tire alignment. This breaks down into categories:
To understand wheel alignment we must understand the terms used and what they mean.
Camber pertains to the angle of a wheel. The measurement is calculated in degrees. Looking at the front of the vehicle, if the wheel is leaning outwards, it is a positive camber. If the wheel is leaning towards the car, it is a negative camber. When the camber for the wheel is not true or dead centered it leads to uneven tire wear that causes the car to pull to one side or the other. Some front wheel drive vehicles cannot be adjusted for camber, therefore if the camber is off on this type of car it means that some part is worn out or broken within the suspension system and needs to be repaired.
When the steering wheel on a car is turned, a pivot is turned by the front wheels. This pivot is attached to the suspension system of the car. The angle of this pivot is calculated in degrees which is called caster. If you look at your car from one of the sides and the pivot's top portion is leaning towards the back of your car, it is a positive caster. When the top of the pivot is leaning to the front, it is in negative caster. When the caster of the wheels is off, it causes the car to not track correctly when moving straight. This can cause the steering of the car to be too light or too heavy making it difficult to control. Caster is also usually not adjustable on front wheel drive cars. When the caster is off on these cars there is some part within the suspension that needs to be repaired.
The "toe" of your vehicle is how far the front of the tire is from the back. When your tires are toe in it means the front part of the tires is closer together than the back portion of the tires. When looking at the front tires, if your tires resemble a triangle in their relationship to each other with the small end towards you, your car is toe in. If the triangle has the small end toward the back of the vehicle then this means it is toe out. Your tires should be even from each other, forming a square. When the tires are toe in or out, it will cause them to wear rapidly. The toe of a car is adjustable on all types of cars.
It is very rare for poor car tire alignment to cause loud tire road noise. This would mean a very serious problem in your alignment if it got to this point. Tire alignment basically means that your tires are straight in relation to each other and for them to be crooked enough to make a loud noise against the road is indicative of a severe situation. Poor tire alignment is evidenced by drifting while driving where the car seems to pull to one side or the wheels being visibly off center. If left unattended, poor alignment will cause uneven wearing of your tires, and it remains an extremely rare occurrence to have loud noise from your tires due to poor alignment.
The tire alignment price you pay will vary depending on the alignment done and the location. The recommended alignment is a four wheel alignment and you should make sure that this is what you are getting, as you may be charged less for a front wheel alignment or a thrust alignment, which takes care of the rear axle only. A price in the $60 to $85 range is reasonable, depending on various factors. Most mechanics will begin by quoting a higher price than their final offer. Negotiate the price and get the best possible deal. Anyone asking for more than $90 is too expensive, and you should look elsewhere.
Tire alignment costs will vary depending on the type of car that you are aligning. For example, if you were to align a smart car, the alignment costs might be less than if you were trying to align the latest Cadillac CTS. It's a matter of cost and car. A truck, on the other hand, will likely cost even more to align. Especially if it is a 4X4, because you not only have the full alignment of the front end to take care of (idler arm, upper/lower racks, steering assembly, etc.), you would also have to make sure that the driving wheels on the rear four-wheel-drive were also working correctly. This could cost you more than you think.
A rear tire alignment will tend to be less expensive than a front-end alignment for one reason, complexity. In a rear alignment, you are still setting toe-out and toe-in, but that's about it. You will have to make some minor suspension adjustments, but they can be achieved with a wrench. If you need to insert rear shims (spacers) to bring your car's rear end into alignment, a wrench will do. The front end, with its toe-out/toe-in, idler arm assemblies, steering rack assemblies and the like is more involved, since one thing affects another. So, a front alignment will actually be the more costly alignment.
Rather than tire vibration, engine vibration is easy to determine. First, sit at a red light and watch the tachometer if your vehicle has one. If the engine refuses to settle down and the idle level runs between 800 rpm and 2,600 rpm, you can be pretty sure you have an engine idle problem. If you have a tire vibration, you won't notice it until you are at speed. Once you've hit cruising speed, you will likely feel the steering wheel vibrate. Holding it by one hand will just confirm it. If it's a tire vibration, it could indicate wear or a tire problem. It might also indicate that your crankshaft could be slightly out of alignment, or it could just be a resonance with the roadway.
Oversteer and understeer are more likely signs of poorly maintained tires than the signs of bad tire alignment. Poorly maintained tires should be treated for safety purpose. On the other hand, an alignment manifests itself in cupping in the front and rear tires. If you find such cupping, give your tires a shake to see if there's play in them. If there is, then the chances are good the toe-in and toe-out have to be reset, as do the idler arms. Once that is completed, your car is ready to roll. However, watch the state of your tires and keep them in good shape.
]]>A faulty vehicle speed sensor can cause an array of problems. In fact, symptoms of a faulty speed sensor may also result symptoms of other common components such as a defective coil pack or bad throttle position sensor. However, here is a list of the most common symptoms associated with a bad engine speed sensor:
If your car is experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should take your car into a local dealership to have them run a computer diagnostic on your vehicle. While some of the problems may seem transmission related, it is usually better to take your vehicle to a repair shop that has complete computer diagnostic equipment before going to a specialty repair shop.
]]>Coolant Consumption
There are literally dozens of coolant passages in the cylinder head of a modern car. Coolant flows through these passages to pull excess heat out of the engine. The head gasket seals these passages to keep the coolant from running out of the passages into the combustion chambers of the engine. A ruptured head gasket can let coolant leak into the cylinders, causing the engine to consume coolant. To check for a blown head gasket, first look at the exhaust pipe with the engine hot and the car running. Is there excess steam or water dripping from the exhaust? Put your hand in front of the exhaust outlet. Does the exhaust seem wet or steamy? Next, check under the hood with the engine running. Look at the coolant reservoir. Look for bubbles from the engine inlet. Any of these could be signs of a blown head gasket.
Oil Consumption
There are just as many oil passages in the cylinder head as there are coolant passages. Oil passages are cast into the cylinder to transport and return oil to and from the valve train. The head gasket seals these passages as oil moves between the engine block and the cylinder head. Excessive consumption of oil can be caused by a rupture in the head gasket. Oil consumption can be caused by other things (like worn piston rings) but if your car is going through too much oil, a blown head gasket could be the culprit. An engine that is burning too much oil will idle poorly and have bluish-white exhaust. If your car is exhibiting these symptoms, it should be checked for a blown head gasket.
Oil Mixing With Coolant
A dangerous symptom of a blown head gasket is the mixing of oil and coolant. If coolant is mixing into the engine's oil supply, this can be very detrimental to the lubricating properties of the engine oil. It can cause damage to engine bearings and other parts of the engine. Check the engine's oil dipstick. Brown, bubbly oil or any inconsistencies or traces of water on the dipstick can be symptoms of a severe head gasket failure. Have the car's engine checked right away.
How to tell if it's time for an engine rebuild >>
Head gasket installation varies somewhat depending upon the type of car you have and, more specifically, the type and size of the engine. Generally, the process outlined below is necessary to complete in order to install a new head gasket in your vehicle.
Tools and Materials
Access the Head Gasket
One of the most difficult parts of the task of replacing a head gasket in a vehicle is simply accessing the gasket. In order to do so, you have to carefully remove a large set of different engine components. The head gasket is located deep within the engine framework. For a specific idea of how to remove the parts necessary to access the gasket, it's helpful to use your vehicle owner's manual as a guide. Look through the manual for a breakdown of how to access the head gasket specifically in your car. When removing the components, be sure to handle each piece very carefully so as not to break it. Put them aside in the same order in which you remove them.
Remove the Old Gasket
Use a wrench to remove the bolts from the cylinder, then lift the head off of the engine. Use a prybar to remove the old gasket from the engine. Set it aside to be properly discarded later on. Gently clean off the surface of the head underneath where the old head gasket was. This will ensure that you'll have a strong seal for the new gasket.
Check the Head and Replace the Gasket
Visually examine the head of the engine for signs of damage, wear and tear or other problems. If all seems to be in order, place the new gasket securely on the head so that there is a tight seal. Be sure that there are no gaps between the head and the new gasket. Push the gasket corners together with the head firmly. If there are any areas that do not connect, use RTV to help secure the seal. Place all of the other components back into the engine securely before you close up the hood and attempt to start the engine once again.
GM made extensive use of the 350 across its lineup until 2004, when it was discontinued in favor of more modern and fuel-efficient engines.
Chevy 350 Engine History
Chevrolet first produced the small block V8 in 1955 as a 256 cubic inch (4.3-liter) engine. By 1967, though, it had grown into the high-performance 350 cubic inch power plant used in the cars such as the Chevrolet Camaro. It went on to power everything from the Corvette to the Caprice, and was either standard or optional on many Buick, Cadillac and Oldsmobile sedans and wagons.
Beginning in 1985, Corvettes featured a fuel-injected version of the Chevy 350 engine; other passenger cars equipped with the 350 engine continued to use a four-barrel carburetor. Computer-controlled emissions systems became standard on all Chevy 350 engines in the early 1980s, with throttle body fuel injection becoming standard around 1988.
Chevy 350 Engine Specs
The Chevy 350 engine is a 350 cubic inch (5.7-liter) small block V8 with a 4.00 and 3.48 inch bore and stroke. Depending on the year, make and model of a car, horsepower ranges from approximately 145 to more than 370. Rated at up to 380 pound-feet of torque, this engine is great for towing; however, fuel economy is low and -- depending on the compression ratio -- it might require premium fuel.
GM uses RPO codes, or Regular Production Option, to identify its engines; Chevy 350 engine codes are stamped near the cylinder head on the passenger side, where the alternator may hide it. The majority of engine codes begin with the letter L -- L31, for instance.
Chevy 350 Replacement Parts
Long considered one of the easiest engines to rebuild, the Chevy 350 is commonly modified for increased performance with a plethora of aftermarket parts, including high-performance intake and exhaust components. Numerous websites and service manuals feature diagrams, as well as information on general maintenance, modifications and engine rebuilding.
Chevy 350 Crate Engines
Many companies offer new and rebuilt Chevy 350 crate engines for sale. Among them is Mr. Goodwrench, which produces new Chevy 350 crate engines in numerous configurations. The base version of this engine makes 195 horsepower and features an 8.5 compression ratio. These engines are available in 2-bolt and 4-bolt versions; those intended for cars built after 1987 have an enhanced hydraulic roller lifter camshaft for better performance.
Websites that offer crate 350s include Chevy350Engines.com, Rebuilt-Auto-Engines.com and Jegs.com. If you need a modified 350 for use in a high-performance muscle car, you can visit SummitRacing.com.
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