Showing posts with label that. Show all posts
Showing posts with label that. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2014

How to Troubleshoot a 1984 Honda Accord That Wont Start When Hot

How to Troubleshoot a 1984 Honda Accord That Wont Start When Hot

Hot weather can impede your 1984 Honda from starting properly if the coolant has not been monitored properly. Heat can also cause a battery to die out because the car will be running the air conditioning all the time. Your 1984 Honda could also cease to start if you have a clog in your fuel system. All of these can be diagnosed with minimal knowledge of your Accord. You dont have to be a mechanic to get your car running again.

Instructions

    1

    Put your key into the Accord and turn the ignition. Look to the dashboard to see if the control panel is lighting up. Make a not of the fuel levels and the battery level when your turn the ignition.

    2

    Fill the car with fuel if your gas gauge shows that the tank is empty.

    3

    Open the car hood and look at the connections to the battery. Reconnect the terminals if the battery terminals have come loose.

    4

    Use another car and a set of jumper wires to start the Accord. Connect the jumper wires to the battery according to the "+" and the "-" signs on the wires. Connect the other ends to the battery on the other car.

    5

    Start the other car and then try to start your Accord. Leave the Accord running and then turn it off after 15 minutes. Try to restart the car. If the Accord does not restart, replace the battery.

    6

    Turn the ignition and press the gas pedal all the way to the floorboard of the Accord. This will stop the throttle sensor from adding gas to the engine and clear your fuel plugs. Try to start the car with the fuel plugs cleared.

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Monday, December 9, 2013

How to Remove a Converter That Makes a 1996 Mustang GT Start Smoking

How to Remove a Converter That Makes a 1996 Mustang GT Start Smoking

Catalytic converters are a legally-required part of the exhaust system of every gasoline-burning vehicle in the United States. These systems clean the leftover fuel that comes through the cars exhaust and makes it less damaging to the atmosphere before it is released. When the converter malfunctions, however, it can cause your car to smoke or your check engine light to illuminate. The catalytic converter system in your Mustang GT is near the center of the car, between the engine and the mufflers. The 1996 Mustang GT has dual exhaust pipes which are routed from the muffler to the rear of the car on either side.

Instructions

    1

    Use a jack to raise the rear of your Mustang off the ground and secure it with jack stands. Do not attempt to repair or remove any part of the exhaust system unless you are certain the car has not been running. This system gets very hot when the engine is fired.

    2

    Use plastic ties or heavy duty wire to secure the exhaust pipes to the Mustangs frame. Once the catalytic converter is removed, these pipes may fall if not secured.

    3

    Locate the Mustangs O2 sensors. There will be one in front of the catalytic converter and one behind in Mustangs manufactured after 1995. You should only have to remove the one in front. Use an O2 sensor wrench to loosen the sensor and its connecting pipe, then remove them with your hand.

    4

    Use a socket set to remove the bolts in the front and rear of the catalytic converter. Sometimes this is difficult to do. If they seem frozen into place, spray a rust-breaking automotive lubricant on the bolts and allow to sit for one hour.

    5

    Tap the catalytic converter with a hammer, keeping one hand on the unit. If it seems to move easily, pull it out of the muffler pipe and remove it. If it does not move easily, rap it several times with the hammer until you can remove it with your hand.

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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Signs That a Catalytic Converter Is Going Bad

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emissions device that is part of a vehicles exhaust system. In charge of lowering the exhaust emissions that exit a vehicles tail pipe, a catalytic converter can negatively impact vehicle performance if it goes bad or stops working properly. What follows is a brief list of the most common signs of a bad catalytic converter.

Reduced Exhaust Flow

    A major sign of a plugged up and/or bad catalytic converter is reduced exhaust flow measured at the vehicle tail pipe. Engine exhaust must travel through a catalytic converter before exiting the tail pipe; a bad catalytic converter can block and/or impede exhaust flow.

Reduced Engine Power

    If a bad catalytic converter seriously impedes the flow of a vehicles engine exhaust flow, reduced engine horsepower can occur. This is due to the increase in engine exhaust back pressure that results whenever engine exhaust flow is impeded and/or reduced.

Reduced Exhaust Pipe Temperature

    It is common for a bad and/or plugged catalytic converter to cause abnormally low exhaust pipe temperatures on the backside of a catalytic converter. As engine exhaust exits an engine and travels down the exhaust system and through the catalytic converter, the exiting exhaust flow can be restricted enough to cause significantly reduced exhaust pipe temperatures between the catalytic converter and the tail pipe.

Increased Hydrocarbon Emissions

    Catalytic converters work by reducing the levels of hydrocarbon emissions exiting a vehicles tail pipe. A bad catalytic converter can lose its emissions-lowering capabilities and cause an increase in exhaust hydrocarbon emissions, a condition that is normally picked up when a vehicle is undergoing a routine smog inspection.

Reduced Fuel Economy

    Any obstruction and/or abnormality in a vehicles exhaust system has the potential to reduce vehicle gas mileage by creating exhaust back pressure within a vehicles engine. A bad catalytic converter can cause a reduction in vehicle fuel economy if it restricts the flow of engine exhaust to the point of causing a marked increase in engine exhaust back pressure.

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

How to Troubleshoot a 1969 Chevy Truck That Wont Start

How to Troubleshoot a 1969 Chevy Truck That Wont Start

A 1969 Chevy truck might be having starting problems because of a dead battery or an insufficient level of fuel in the gas tank. The battery is one of the most important components of starting a vehicle. Without the battery, the motor will not get the electrical charge that it needs in order to start. By jump starting the battery, you can get the battery to charge up. Adding fuel to the gas tank could also be a quick fix to your starting issue.

Instructions

    1

    Check the fuel level in your Chevy truck. Add fuel if you think that you might have a broken gas gauge. Get a mechanic to replace your gas gauge.

    2

    Open the hood and attach the positive lead from your jumper cable to your battery. Connect the negative lead from your jumper cable to the negative terminal on your battery.

    3

    Get a friend to attach the positive and negative leads from the jumper cable to their cars battery.

    4

    Start your friends car and then start your Chevy truck. Leave the truck running for a about 5 minutes to allow the battery to charge.

    5

    Turn the truck off and then restart the truck. If the truck does not restart, you will need a new battery.

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Sunday, October 6, 2013

How to Troubleshoot a GM That Wont Start

How to Troubleshoot a GM That Wont Start

General Motors makes a variety of automobiles, but they all have two things in common--all of the vehicles must have a good battery and enough fuel to start the motor. If you are having problems starting your GM vehicle, you can troubleshoot the issues with the battery and the level of fuel in the GMs tank. Troubleshooting these issues will save you time and money before you employ a mechanic to look at your GM.

Instructions

    1

    Check the fuel level in your GM. Make sure you have enough gas to start the car. Add gas if needed and then start your GM.

    2

    Pop the hood and connect the positive lead from your jump cable to your battery. Connect the negative lead to your negative terminal.

    3

    Get a friend to attach the positive and negative leads from the jumper cable to their cars battery.

    4

    Start your friends car. Start your GM. Leave the GM running for a little while to charge the battery.

    5

    Turn the GM off and then restart the car. If the car does not restart, change your battery.

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