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Complex machinery, like a cars transmission, requires periodic maintenance to ensure a long lifespan. Allowing air pressure into the transmission assembly can harm the transmission, rather than help.

Function

A typical transmission moves power from the cars engine, through its gear assemblies and out to the wheels to propel the vehicle forward. Transmission fluid flows throughout the assembly to provide pressurized cooling, lubrication and control gear shifting.

Considerations

Air pressure seeping into the transmission, such as from a leak, causes the transmission fluid within the hydraulic system to lose pressure. As a result, the clutch disc begins to slip, causing the vehicle to change gears roughly or not at all.

Prevention/Solution

To prevent air pressure from infiltrating the transmission, make sure all seals for the transmission filter and pan are free from cracks or twists. Verify that all bolts holding the filter and pan are torqued evenly so the seals can meet effectively.

A lonely, moonlit road, in the middle of nowhere is not the place to discover that you do not know the proper jacking procedure for your Taurus. Getting the vehicle safely up, and off the ground is best learned in a calm and safe setting. Learning the proper procedure first, before you actually need it, can go a long way toward ensuring that you can safely raise and lower your Taurus when that unexpected flat tire, or other roadside emergency arrives.

Instructions

1

Place the Taurus on level ground. Engage the parking brake and put the transmission in park.

2

Locate the wheel which is diagonally opposite the wheel that is being lifted and block it. It can be blocked with a rock if necessary.

3

Locate one of the four notched sections of the rocker flange. There is one near each wheel, under the body panel, at the bottom. The top of the jack is designed to fit into this notch.

4

Place the jack under the notch and raise it by turning the handle clockwise. Guide the jack face into the notch. Continue turning the jack handle clockwise until the vehicles tire is off the ground. To lower the jack, turn the handle counterclockwise until the vehicles tire is back on the ground and the jack can be removed. When finished, be certain to unblock the opposite wheel.

Every manufactured vehicle has a vehicle identification number (VIN), which provides the owner with information regarding the vehicles origins and source engine components. In the mid-1950s, as mass auto production escalated with demand, Detroit auto manufacturers began stamping their vehicles to identify them. Early identification numbers varied by manufacturer, but in 1977 an ISO (International Organization of Standardization) for the VIN came into effect, which the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration adopted in the early 1980s as a requirement for all licensed vehicles. For the car-repair enthusiast, interpreting the VIN properly will ensure the right parts for the vehicle.

Instructions

Looking up parts by VIN

1

Locate your vehicle identification number. The most common location for the VIN is on the door frame or post of the front driver-side door, or on the dashboard close to the windshield. The VIN can be in other places though, such as the machine pad on the engine, or stamped on the steering wheel or column. The VIN is also listed on vehicle documents such as the title certificate, registration, warranty or maintenance books.

2

Decipher your VIN. The first character in a VIN denotes the country of origin, the second character is the manufacturer and the third character identifies the vehicle type (or division). The fourth through eighth characters are very important from a parts perspective as they identify model attributes such as body style, engine type and model series. The ninth digit is the check digit (mathematically determined to verify VIN accuracy), and the 10th and 11th characters identify the model year and manufacturing plant. The last six digits are the unique identifiers for each vehicle.

3

Apply the VIN information to a part source. This process has benefited greatly from the digital age, and many parts retailers and manufacturers list their supply catalogs online. On their websites you will also have the ability to search their databases by VIN. If sourcing through the computer doesnt sound appealing, both dealership service centers and retail parts outlets have the ability to find the parts you need through your VIN.

A clogged or stopped-up converter will affect the performance of the vehicles engine. Partially clogged will reduce power because the exhaust system is not being allowed to breathe properly. A completely clogged converter will prevent the engine from running. It may start up, but once the back pressure of the exhaust builds up between the manifold and throttle, it will choke itself out. Any quick fix to allow the vehicle to run should be considered a temporary solution to a bigger problem.

Temporary Solutions

The quickest temporary solution is to remove the front oxygen sensor. This will create an exhaust leak before the back pressure builds up against the clogged converter. An exhaust leak is loud and everyone is going to know that you have a problem with your car the second you start it. It will be louder upon acceleration. Windows in your vehicle should be rolled down to prevent carbon monoxide and other harmful pollutants from contaminating the air inside the passenger cab. This fix should only be done to get the car from point A to point B -- point B being the repair station to have the catalytic converter replaced.

To prevent an exhaust leak from occurring, another alternative is to remove the converter, hollow it out if capable of doing so, and then replacing it. Another would be to apply a piece of flex or straight pipe in the place of the catalytic converter. This is a highly illegal practice that most every reputable repair facility will refuse to perform because of liability. And again, this type of quick repair should be considered only temporary to get the vehicle from where it is to the repair station.

The Computer and Emissions

Todays vehicles are designed to run with catalytic converters and bypassing them, even temporarily, will affect the performance of the engine and can cause further damage to other components. Oxygen sensors are set in place upstream and downstream in the exhaust system to monitor fuel-to-air ratio from the throttle and to also monitor the catalyst efficiency. When the oxygen sensor cannot perform its intended purpose, it will trigger the check engine light to illuminate. In addition, the intense heat from a clogged converter can easily damage the upstream sensor. When the upstream sensor cannot communicate its data to the engine control module, the computer is unable to make the necessary adjustments for the perfect fuel-to-air ratio to decrease emissions. Unburned fuel can bypass the throttle in a rich (too much gas) fuel case or too much air can cause a lean fuel case, where the engine may chug, buck and even stall.

A temporary or quick fix to a clogged converter should be rectified as early as possible to prevent damage to other components and to abide by government laws that mandate catalytic converters on vehicles that came with them originally.

Catalytic converters do not necessarily clog due to age or failure on their own. A poor-performing engine, leaded fuel or an oxygen sensor failure can contribute to the decline and demise of the catalytic converter. Replacing the converter may help the exhaust breathe for the time being, but if the vehicle is not properly diagnosed, the new converters longevity will be compromised.

Direct-Fit Versus Universal

There are two common types of replacement converters and both have their benefits and drawbacks. Direct-fit converters are designed to fit the vehicle as the original converter did. This application will come with the necessary flanges, pipe extensions and any other features to allow you to remove the old converter and replace it with one in the same manner. Direct-fit are more costly, but will save you installation time or save you money in labor because a professional doesnt have to install it.

Universal converters are much cheaper, but theyre often nothing more than just the converter itself. In other words, it will not come with flanges, pipe extensions or any necessary features to remove the old converter and install the universal one in its place. Universal simply save you money on the price of the converter, but you will undoubtedly have to invest more time or more money to make the converter fit to your exhaust system. In some cases, welding or having pipe extensions made by muffler shops will be required. Overall, consider the benefit of the direct-fit converter to save yourself the time and hassle of trying to install the universal.