From the mechanics toolbox: allot of the do it yourself, self serve auto parts houses offer free battery installations and free code scans of the Obd management systems please note IMPORTANT: the hand held scanners these stores use is a generalized and not specialized piece of equipment so if you have a check engine light on it's better to let a qualified shop diagnose and handle the repair for best results. too many people are burning the candle at both ends with our current world situation and tell shops they need the car back "quick" and just want the part replaced It's highly recommended to allow the shop to launch an investigation into the failure.
an example being a catalytic converter code stored on the obd (on board diagnostic system) sure you can replace this item and be on your way, but did you know that a failed O2 sensor or catalytic converter could be writing on the wall pointing toward a bigger problem? this system is designed to sense the hot gases coming from the engine so common things to cause a repeat failure of these items includes but not limited to anti freeze passing through the combustion chamber or possibly an oily residue. if you do one catalytic converter change per year I recommend to have a compression test performed on the car to rule out excessive blow by pointing toward oil rings and also have the radiator check for exhaust gasses pointing toward a leaking head gasket allowing anti freeze to pass through the combustion chamber fouling plugs,ruining o2 sensors and catalytic converters. Finally regarding the OBD diagnostic and the infamous check engine light, just about any and everything could cause the light to light up anything from an improperly installed fuel cap to a plugged fuel injector and beyond. I recommend that you start with determining if there is a degrade in over all performance? if yes take to your mechanic immediately if not start by checking fuel cap is it loose? if so remove and reinstall then remove the positive battery cable for 10 minutes and re-install and start car. did light go out? if not take to your mechanic if light did go out this means that cap was not tight allowing excess air to enter your fuel tank flagging a check engine light.
Restoring Performance: Maintenance not only keeps your fuel costs down it ads to a more enjoyable driving experience with the restoration of performance to your car. items in this category include fuel injection service (I like Bg 44k performance enhancer)available at most Napa auto parts stores. oil change along with a fresh air filter at the same time restore airflow and smooth engine operation to your car as well. most new car manufacturers state in the owners manual you do not need tuneups before in some instances 100,000 miles i change plugs at 15,000 miles for optimal performance. Being an ex truck driver I keep a close eye on the condition of all my vehicles so i recommend to watch wear patterns on the front tires are the tires wearing evenly? if bald on the inside or outside its time for an alignment of the front end tires facing away from one another soak up mpg robbing you of economy and causing a drag on the car keep tires rotated and car in alignment. some of the smaller foreign cars even with tuneups feel at times with the gas pedal to the floor like they are still rolling backwards if this is the case take your vehicle to the nearest muffler shop to have your catalytic converter checked to make sure its not plugged. if its plugged its not allowing air to escape from the engine destroying your performance. ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT AN ENGINE IS ONE HUGE AIR PUMP meaning the more air you can pass through your car the more power you are going to put down on the ground
Manual transmission woes- when a car has a transmission problem sometimes it's noticeable sometimes the problem can go undetected(Manual transmission equipped) if you have a manual transmission car its important from time to time to observe at what point the clutch pedal gets the car moving (this measurement is observed from fully depressed position on the floor to the point the drivetrane engages or car starts moving. if car begins moving with pedal aprox 1-1/2 to 3 inches off the floor this is somewhat normal however if the pedal travels almost completely upward before car engages warning this is a troubled sign writing on the wall a repair is lurking. I would highly recomend not letting the car get progressively worse at this point as a car with no clutch is a car you are not going to shift. another tell-tale sign of big problems lurking is a chattering sound coming from beneath the floorboard of a manual transmission while the car is in neutral this is telling you the throwout bearing (part that depresses the pressure plate is shot and it will cause premature wear on the clutch diskitself. some of the newer cars feauture what is known as a clutch slave cylinder as opposed to old fashoned mechanical linkage going from clutch pedal to the fork.
EMERGENCY PROJECT limp HOME- IN THE SHOCKING EVENT YOUR CLUTCH FAILS YOU CAN USE YOUR IGNITION SWITCH TO START CAR ROLLING IN A FORWARD MOTION BUT DON'T GIVE IT TO MUCH ACCELERATOR AS YOU WILL NOT BE SHIFTING THE CAR MERELY MOVING IT IN THE GEAR ITS IN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. the clutch job is not for a novice hobbiest but should be leftup to a shop to repair as there are too many things involved such as clutch disk/pressure plate alignment in regard to the flywheel which should always be turned down to avoid pulsing of clutch pedal while car is being operated as well as transmission removal/replacement. now if you are insistant on doing this yourself lets have a look around your shop to make sure your at least going to be safe while being extremely frustrated underneath that car, Most important is a sturdy set of jackstands not something that was salvaged at a garage sale but stands capable of safely holding your car in the air IE: car weighs 3500# your stands should be two ton jackstands. Next we need to look at your jack, if its the bumper lift variety i want you to open up the garage door walk around to your trash can and pitch it not next week, but now!!! i highly recomend a floor jack available at sears, harbor freight and many other tool outlets in america. buy the jack that will again accomodate your cars weight and I always like to buy the jack with the highest reach possible reach being the height the jack lifts car typically from 12" to 15 inches i also recomend some 4x4 wood blocks for the extra reach to get car high enought to pull the transmission. lifting car is important as well so you dont bend the body of car or damage a suspension componet. referto your cars owners manual for proper lifting procedures.last and very important is saftey eyeware, you are going to be under your car all kinds of crap will fall off car directly into your eyes protect them!
a final note when it comes to your safety,
please le someone know before embarking on a big quest like a clutch job in the unlikely event the car hops off the stands and onto you its good for prople to know where you last were.
