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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.

The manifold absolute pressure, or MAP, sensor plays a vital role in keeping an engine operating at peak efficiency. Without a properly functioning MAP sensor, an automobile engine will run poorly or may fail to run at all.

Purpose

The MAP sensor measures air pressure inside an automobiles intake manifold. The level of air pressure depends on how hard the engine is working. Under heavier loads, the engine uses more air, which reduces the pressure in the manifold. The engines computer uses the amount of pressure measured by the sensor to adjust the fuel injection and ignition timing.

Signs of Problems

A defective MAP sensor results in poor engine performance. Typical symptoms of MAP sensor failure include rough idle, stalling, spark plug "knocking" and an increase in fuel consumption. Auto-parts stores sell diagnostic scan tools, which determine if a MAP sensors working properly.

Replacement

A defective MAP sensor requires replacement. Manufacturers calibrate MAP sensors for specific models and engines, so car owners should note the type needed before purchase. When replacing the MAP sensor, drivers should also inspect the vacuum hose attached to it, and replace a hose showing cracks or other damage.

Like most other motorized or powerful electric devices on your car, the starter doesnt draw its power directly from the switch used to trigger it. Instead, the ignition switch triggers a sort of secondary switch, known as a relay or -- in the case of a starter -- the solenoid.

Starting System Basics

When you turn the ignition key on your car, the key closes a gap between the positive wire on your battery and a positive terminal on the starter solenoid, When the circuit closes on the solenoid, a switch inside of the solenoid closes and closes another circuit that links the battery and the electric motor on your starter. Hypothetically, you could just run a wire directly from the battery to the ignition switch and then to the motor, but that would require a lot of very heavy-gauge wire and a heavy-duty switch.

How a Solenoid Works

When electrical current from the switch enters the solenoid, it energizes a small electromagnet inside the solenoid. This electromagnet pulls on an metal arm attached to the batterys positive terminal against a metal plate attached to the starter terminal. In this way, the starter solenoid mimics the behavior of the ignition switch; you can think of the starter solenoid as a second ignition switch that sits in line between the battery and the starter.

Divorced vs Integrated

Modern starters generally use a starter solenoid integrated into the body of the starter itself, while older cars typically use a divorced solenoid mounted on the wheel well or firewall. The integrated solenoid and starter package is cheaper to produce and install because it reduced the number of connections in the electrical system and the machine processes necessary to install a separate solenoid mechanism in the engine bay. To locate your starter solenoid -- be it divorced or integrated -- simply follow the thick, red cable connected to your positive battery terminal.

Failure and Troubleshooting

A clicking starter solenoid usually indicates low battery power. The main starter circuit closing draws a great deal of power from the battery, which temporarily deprives the ignition switch of the amperage that it needs to trigger the solenoid. When the main circuit opens, power returns to the electromagnet, the circuit closes with a sharp click and the cycle starts over again. In this scenario, divorced solenoids have a slight advantage over integrated solenoids, since a driver can simply jump the exposed battery and starter terminals on the solenoid with a screwdriver. This circumvents the whole on-off-on cycle, possibly allowing a driver to start the car when he might otherwise end up stranded. This may be technically possible with some integrated solenoids, but the integrated solenoid is by nature harder to get to.

Exhaust Baffle

The exhaust baffle is a chamber inside a muffler or resonator that is designed to muffle or silence the otherwise loud exhaust system. Ingeniously, the muffler uses the baffle chamber to increase the amount of internal sound inside the chamber so by the time it exits the muffler, the sound cancels itself out. Exhaust is spent fuel and air of an internal combustion engine and is extremely loud coming from the cylinders of the engine. An exhaust system controls the sound through a manifold and a series of pipes, a catalytic converter (on vehicles) and the muffler. In some applications, resonators are present in the exhaust pipes that act as a second (or more) muffler on the system. Inside the muffler or resonator is a sealed chamber with two or more perforated tubes. The inlet perforated tube allows the exhaust to emit into the baffle chamber, bounce off the interior walls and enter into the outlet perforated tube where it is then directed by back pressure through the tailpipe of the muffler. The perforated tubes in the baffle chamber create a nondirectional interference with the flow of the back pressured exhaust and assist in silencing the exhaust.

Perforated Tubes

There are adjustable or do-it-yourself baffle kits that can be manipulated and inserted into the exhaust system muffler (most common on motorcycle mufflers) to change the pitch of an exhaust to either intensify or decrease the amount of sound the exhaust system emits. By doing so, these baffles can increase the horsepower of the engine (for racing), which subsequently decreases the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Conversely, a quieter, more controlled sound can be achieved.

Wear and Tear

After time, wear and tear and exposure, exhaust systems deteriorate. Due to condensation of heating and cooling, muffler and internal baffles can fail internally. Even if the muffler is not leaking, a deteriorated perforated tube in the baffled chamber of a muffler can create an annoying rattle during normal operation of the vehicle. Damage to the tube in the baffled chamber would require the replacement of the muffler and or attaching new pipes to restore the system.

Like most passenger cars, the windshield wipers on a Buick Park Regal can stop working for a number of reasons. Most wiper problems can be traced to an electrical failure. Some are simple to detect, diagnose and repair; others may require a voltmeter and an intermediate knowledge of electrical systems.

Instructions

1

Located the fuse box underneath the drivers side of the dashboard. Replace the two fuses that controls the wiper switch and wiper motor. Both fuses are located on the next-to-last row, with a blank fuse holder between them. Test the wipers.

2

Check to see if the vehicles turn signals are working. Since the turn signal is located on the same switch as the windshield wiper, the switch may need replacing. Its possible for the turn signal to be working if the windshield wiper is not working, but its unlikely that both stop working at the same time without a switch problem.

3

Inspect wiring underneath the dashboard and hood. Use a small flashlight to look for frayed or broken wires. Debris and regular wear-and-tear can damage wires. Reconnect broken wires, being careful to wrap them in electrical tape, or replace them entirely.

4

Check the windshield wiper linkage, or the part that moves your Park Avenues wiper blades. If the linkage is bent or damaged, replace it.

5

Lift the hood, turn the wipers on, and listen for the motor located underneath the wiper linkage. If you cant hear the motor, it may needs replacing.

If you need to get underneath your vehicle to make a repair, perform regular maintenance or rotate your tires, it is imperative that you elevate the vehicle safely to avoid accidental injuries while you are working under the vehicle. You can safely jack the axle ends of your vehicle off of the ground with the right equipment. Jacks and jack stands are available at most automotive repair shops for rental or purchase. If you decide to rent the equipment, check to make sure that all pieces are in good working condition before attempting to lift and support your vehicle.

Instructions

1

Find and identify the marked jack points on the frame of your vehicle. These points are behind the tires, towards the center of the vehicle.

2

Set the floor jack directly below the jack point behind the front drivers side tire. Lift your vehicle with the floor jack.

3

Position a jack stand behind the floor jack.

4

Lay a shop rag over the top of the jack stand.

5

Lower your vehicle onto the stand using the floor jack.

6

Perform Steps 2 through 5 on your remaining marked jack points to safely support your vehicle with the jack stands.