Auto Repair|Timing Belt

The timing belt is a third type of belt used on most modern autos that I didn't mention earlier, mainly because checking this belt for wear will go past the scope of this blog. Not that it's impossible for the knowledgeable DIYer to inspect or even replace this belt , it's just that there are so many different types of cars and one would need a manual specific to the vehicle being worked on to have all the information needed to carry out this proceedure.

Timing belts differ from other belts used on cars as it has cogs (or teeth) on it and the pulleys (actually sprockets) have matching cogs. The cogs are used to keep the cam and crankshaft in time with each other to insure that the valves are opening and closing at the proper time in relation to the piston position.

Most manufacturers have a recommended replacement interval for this belt as on some engines failure of the timing belt can cause the piston to come in contact with the valves which in turn could do some very costly damage.
It is a good idea to always replace or have the timing belt replaced at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer

Auto Basics|The Engine

The engine is the heart of any automobile and understanding how it works will help you to understand things that can go wrong with it.
An engine is essentially a machine that converts energy stored in fuel to circular(or rotating) motion.
The most commonly used engine used in today's cars is the 4 stroke internal combustion engine.
Although there are many different variations of this deign they all function primarily the same way.
the main parts of an engine are as follows:

1. The engine block ( this is a cast assembly that contains the cylinder bores. It has provisions at the bottom to hold the crankshaft in place and provisions at the top to mount the cylinder head/s.
2. The crankshaft (as the name implies it is a crank much like that on a bicycle)
3. The piston (this is a cylindrical shaped casting that is solid on top and and has a pin running perpendicular across it's midsection to connect to the connecting rod)
4. The connecting rod (this is a cast or forged beam that has parallel holes in each end that is used to attach the piston to the crankshaft)
5. The camshaft ( this is a round shaft that has eccentric lobes placed throughout it's length these lobes are egg shaped and are designed to open the valves at a precise time in relation to the pistons location in the cylinder bore)
6. The cylinder head ( this has 2 functions, first to contain the compression created inside the cylinder bore and secondly to house the valves that open and close to allow new air and fuel in and spent gases out.
   

Auto Maintenance|Checking CV Joints

A CV joint is a universal joint of sorts that allows the drive axle to transfer the power from the differential to the wheels at varying angles.
This joint is enclosed by a rubber boot that keeps the lubricating grease in the joint and keeps dirt and debris out.
When the boot gets old it develops cracks that will allow all the grease to escape and the joint will wear quickly from exposure to dirt and moisture.
While there is wear on this component any time the car is in motion ,most often failure comes from exessive wear from lack of lubrication and debris.
It is very important to check the boots frequently for cracks and tears.
Replacing a boot early can save substantial money over having to replace the whole joint or in some instances the entire drive axle.

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Auto Maintenance|Belts and Hoses

Belts need to be checked periodically for wear and deterioration.there are 2 common types of belts found on cars today : the serpentine belt and the ever popular V belt.

Serpentine Belts

Most newer cars are using the serpentine belt exclusively as it adds the convenience of allowing one belt to drive all the accessories. This setup uses a series of pulleys both grooved and flat. The belt has grooves on the inside of it and a flat surface on the back side. the pulleys are arranged so accessories that pull the most load are driven from the grooved side to avoid belt slipping and premature wear. The tensioner pulley is in most cases spring loaded and keeps the belt at a preset tightness throughout the life of the belt. a good indication that a serpentine belt is headed for trouble are small cracks in the material to the inside of the belt (the grooved side).

Most cars using this system have an installation diagram located under the hood to help assist in re-routing the new belt. Usually all that is needed to change one of these belts is the proper size wrench or socket to release the pressure from the tensioner while the new belt is installed.

V Belts

The V belt has been around for ages and until recently it was the primary design used on automobiles. One of the drawbacks of this system is a seperate belt is needed to drive each accessory on the car and each belt has to be tensioned indiviually. Another drawback is if the back belt needs replacing all belts will have to be removed to get to it. One good advantage of this system is sometimes one belt breaking will not leave you stranded. As long as the water pump is still being driven you can "limp " the car to a repair shop. These types of belts actually load from the sides of the V and sometimes are hard to determine that they are worn past usability. as the sides become worn they ride deeper into the groove of the pulley to the point that they are riding on the bottom flat of the pulley and the belt ,at that point they are not making sufficiant contact to drive the accessory. This is eveident by the bottom of the pulley becoming "shiny" as the belt is rubbing against it. Another tell tell sign is the inner edges of the belt cracking. This is from the belt overheating as it is slipping in the groove of the pulley. It is a good practice to replace all the belts at the same time unless one broke because of an accessory failing and otherwise all the other belts are good.

Coolant And Heater Hoses

It's a good idea to at least visually inspect radiator and heater hoses at least once a month.
With the engine cool squeeze the hoses with your hands and look for signs of cracking. the hoses should be firm but not soft, if they feel brittle when squeezing them it is a good sign to replace them. Check the hoses for chaffing as rubbing against other objects can lead to a worn area that is weakened and may blow out when pressure is built up. Also note any spots where fluids have came into contact with the hoses as they can become soft when exposed to oils, grease, or brake fluid. When the engine is hot and pressure is built up on the cooling system look for bulges, especially at each end of the hoses where they attach to the radiator and the engine, this is a common spot for fatigue. a busted radiator or heater hose can leak all the coolant out of the engine rapidly and cause the engine to overheat. This can lead to a very expensive repair. Do not try to "limp" an over heated engine to the next stop unless it is an emergency.

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Easy DIY Auto Inspections

The #1 cause of automotive breakdowns is lack of proper maintenance,inspection, and repairs.
While breakdowns can be at best a great inconvenience the good news is with a little time spent doing some inspection and maintenance they can often be prevented.
Most people just drive until something breaks then they want to cuss at the car and call it a piece of junk ,the truth is it's just a machine and any thing with moving parts invariably has wear involved.
The first step in doing some routine maintenance is familiarize yourself with the parts of your car that need attention regularly to keep everything rolling along smoothly.
If you bought your car new an owners manual should have accompanied the vehicle during purchase and most owners manuals have a routine maintenance guide in the book.
It's always good to keep a record of the inspections and maintenance you have performed (or had done by someone else) and the mileage when the work was done.
Okay , let's start with the basics and work our way into more technical areas. you may want to make a copy of this list to reference until you get used to doing these checks.

Simple outside checks to keep you aware of any problems before they become major

1. Visually check tires for wear,cuts, and low air pressure ( daily)

• All can lead to tire failure and it's better to have it repaired or replaced at your convenience than on the side of the road

2. Check air pressure in tires with a gauge (weekly)

• While visual inspection can give you an immediate determination of a problem, it's impossible to see if the pressure is exactly what it should be for optimum performance. Low air pressure can cause premature wear, tire overheating and degraded fuel mileage and tire failure.

• Don't forget to check the air pressure in the spare tire occasionally. The only thing more disappointing than having a flat on the road is discovering the spare is flat too!!
  

3. Visually check for rust lines around lug nuts (daily)

• rust lines leading from the lug nuts on a wheel can indicate loose lug nuts and this can be a potential accident waiting to happen , not to mention a very costly repair should they strip or break off.

4. Visual inspection of the back side of the tires (inboard) (monthly)

• What you're looking for here are signs of fluid or grease streaming to the outer edges of the tire or accumulating inside the rim.
  

• This quick and easy inspection offers up some information to alert you of possible leaks in the brakes system and/or wheel seals that may be getting ready to fail.

5. Turn on all the lights and do a visual check to insure that all are burning and visible

• when doing this check don't forget the high beams and turn indicators

6. Visually check windshield wiper blades and check the operation of them when inside
7. Visually check under car to make sure nothing is loose and/or hanging down ie exhaust, wires, mufflers. Also look for any fluids leaking
8. Walk around and check for loose items on your car , antennas, mirrors, chrome or moulding.




Under the Hood

Let's start this section by locating and familiarizing yourself with the parts we are going to be inspecting.
If you have any problem locating these don't hesitate to ask for help , most auto parts stores will be happy to show you where these are in hopes that you do business with them when you need parts.

(Caution)

All following checks should be performed with engine off and keys removed to prevent anyone from accidentally starting engine while you are inspecting the car.
The only exception to this is checking automatic transmission fluid level.

1. Engine oil dipstick
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Transmission dipstick (automatic only) (most automatic transmissions are filled through the dipstick tube)
   
4. Power steering dipstick (most times this is part of the cap on the power steering pump)
5. Brake fluid reservoir (usually located on drivers side firewall)
6. Engine coolant reservoir (usually close to radiator filler cap)
7. Engine radiator (located in the front directly behind grille) (WARNING !!! never remove radiator cap when engine is HOT!!!
   
8. Fan belt/s and accessory drive belt/s (located on the front of the engine) (note- most front wheel drive vehicles have the engine turned sideways so the front of the engine may be located behind the left front wheel)
9. Windshield washer fluid reservoir.
10. Battery (should be easily identified as large square object with 2 large cables attached)

Now that you have located all the items we will be inspecting we will divide each item into a section and discuss what we a re looking for and what if any repairs you will be able to make .

Ready?

1. Checking Fluid Levels
2. Checking Belts and Hoses
   

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Save Money on Auto Repairs and Maintenance

During the tough economic times we are experiencing right now ,everyone is trying to find ways to save money.

One way to cut expenses is to learn some basic skills to perform your own routine auto maintenance and repairs

Not only will this save you money in repairs ,a well maintained auto performs better and and gets better fuel economy ,saving you money at the pump as well.

Auto repair manuals are available for just about every make and model car on the road today and with a little reading anyone with a little mechanical ability can perform some of the maintenance on their own cars.

Even if you don't intend to do any of your own repairs, it's a good idea to learn a little about how things work on your car and what parts do what. This will give you an edge when you have work performed by a garage and you will be less likely to be taken advantage of.

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