5.7 L GM engine belt diagram 03/12/2010
Below will be a 5.7 L engine belt diagram that you can use to get your belt put back on. Since this is one of the most popular GM motors of all times I thought it would be a good thing to post. Picture of the 5.7 L engine drive belt diagram  Belt Diagrams This engine better known as the 350 small block is one of my favorite all-time engines. I and my friends use to joke that this engine was so popular that you could get valve cover gaskets for it in the grocery store. Even though General Motors has moved on and replaced this engine with lighter weight larger displacement power plants the old 5.7 L remains a favorite for hot roders and truck drivers alike. 5.4 Liter belt diagram 03/05/2010
Here is the 5.4 Liter belt diagram by popular demand. Engine belt noise is a common complaint on many vehicles and many different engines. The Ford 5.4 L engine is no different in this respect.  5.4 L engine belt diagrams Ford came out with some tactics to help technicians deal with this common problem. Please take a minute to read them before installing a new part on your engine. There are many causes that can force serpentine belts to become noisy. Sometimes this is due to pulley misalignment or even a wobbling accessory pulley. Also incorrect alignment of the drive belt can result in noise and premature wear. Mechanic Career Opportunities 01/16/2010
Many mechanic career opportunities exist that are not well known. I am currently employed as a fleet service technician servicing mostly diesel equipment. I have been doing this for the last five years and it's a good job.  New car dealer Prior to this my mechanic career had taken me the route of the new car dealership technician. I held this position for about 20 years and worked for about six or seven different new car dealerships. It is commonplace to switch jobs several times in a mechanics career. Although there are always exceptions to the rule. A real life example would be my first dealership when my mechanic career first started. Me and my best friend were hired right out of high school by a local Pontiac dealership. After we completed our training and passed our ASE certification tests I moved on for more money. My buddy stayed planted at that dealership and still works there today. Routine maintenance and service 12/29/2009
Although modern vehicles are packed with electronics that look like they belong on the space shuttle this does not reduce the need for routine maintenance and service. Some would say that this modern automotive technology has made service requirements more important than ever.  car computer Although the computer systems can make adjustments to cover up some problems, the vehicles computers cannot replace parts that wear. The onboard electronics cannot tighten loose bolts that have come loose from vibration. No more than they can change engine oil or flush cooling systems. Simple problems such as these can set off a chain of events and cause heart problems that will continue to worsen if not addressed. Even if these problems do not stop you from starting and reaching your destination they can cause issues with overall performance and efficiency of the automobile in question. Various maintenance procedures usually are performed according to a schedule recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. Car mechanics would reference these services as preventative maintenance. If the vehicle's owner fails to follow the recommended maintenance schedule provided by the carmaker problems may result. Engine belt diagrams 4.9l ford 11/26/2009
Engine belt diagrams 4.9l ford. Replacing a drive belt without a diagram is not easy. By request I have posted a picture of the belt routing for this extremely popular Ford V8 engine. Drive belt failures are still one of the leading causes of on the road breakdowns. Many maintenance items can now reach 100,000 miles before replacement or servicing is required.  Ford 4.9l Belt Unfortunately this has not trickled down to the modern-day serpentine belt. Although the 4.9 liter ford engine does come with a hardy belt from the factory that I have seen go for up to 75,000 miles. This is one reason I recommend you take a trip to the Ford parts department for a replacement. The ford factory belts in my opinion is of much higher quality then let’s say a dayco made in china part. In some case the ford belt may be double the price and worth every penny. In fact I have had some belt noise issues with the dayco direct replacement for the 4.9l ford. As a professional mechanic you really can't put a price on fixing it right the first time. Engine belt diagram 4.9l ford 4.9 Liter Ford V8 Tires Improve Fuel Economy 08/31/2009
Fuel economy has been discussed heavily on the Internet, but I need to throw in my two cents. We all hear car mechanics and automotive experts say make sure your tires are properly inflated. Yet how often do people actually check it. In fact most motorists will not even look at their tires until someone else points out a problem. So what’s the big deal and why does tire pressure effect miles per gallon anyway? The main reason for the reduced efficiency is that under inflated tires will have more rolling resistance. This will force the engine to work harder to move the car the same distance. Left unchecked this condition can really raise your annual fuel costs much higher. How to check tire pressure Premium Fuel Economy One common mistake is people will pull into a gas station and check tire pressures after driving for awhile. You should always let the tires cool down before checking pressure. Hot air expands and may cause false readings. Also the manufacturer specification is provided as a cold setting. Car makers are required to place a tire information label in the car providing the correct tire pressures both front and rear. This label may be found on the edge of the door or doorjamb. Sometimes they are in the glove box. Or I have even seen them on the inside of the gas door or cover. Why is my oil pressure low 07/25/2009
Often drivers will look at their oil pressure gauge and become concerned with readings that are below the halfway mark.  oil pressure gauge I have often connected my trusted mechanical gauge and found oil pressure readings that were quite different than what the gauge was saying. If you are concerned with low oil pressure readings the first place to start is to find out exactly what the specifications are. Your auto service manual will provide oil pressure; specs for at idle, and also part throttle conditions. In some cases Diy car mechanics may be surprised that very low oil pressure is OK at idle by the manufacturer standard. Free Check Engine Light Diagnosis 06/20/2009
I wrote a page about free check engine light services and the problems associated with them. This brought on a question from a visitor that is going down the same road as many before him. You can see the discussion below.  So I just read your article about free check engine light scams. I went to AutoZone they gave me the O2 sensor deal however they did recommend a friendly mechanic instead of selling me stuff. The reason I went wasn't because of the light though it was because my car was stalling out randomly. The mechanic offered me a free diagnosis just because we were from the same area of the country and he related to me. However he thought the problem was the engine temperature sensor and when he fixed it the problem stopped but then the check engine light came right back on. So I took it back and he said well I guess we can fix the o2 sensor and he did that but the light came back on again. Now during all this I already knew at the time that my catalytic converter was messed up but the person who inspects my car each year told me that I could get away without fixing it for awhile so I didn't fix it because before I met the "friendly mechanic" I got a quote somewhere else and the price was ridiculous. Chevrolet Fuel Pump Question 05/09/2009
Another common auto repairs question would be about the replacement of a Chevrolet fuel pump. Here is a question and answer submitted recently from a visitor. Chevrolet fuel pump replacement Hey Mark I have a Chevrolet fuel pump question for you. I have a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina four door sedan. It has only 85k miles on it. The body is in fairly good shape, but it has given me much trouble. Last Thursday it cranked but would not start, when I tried to leave a doctor's office about 10 miles from home. Online Auto Service Manuals FAQ 04/25/2009
Find answers to online auto service manuals frequently asked questions. Submitted questions about how these services work answered by a car mechanic that uses them often!  A few common questions and answers about online service manuals. Below are a couple of examples of recently submitted questions I have fielded from diy car mechanics about purchasing and using online auto repair manuals. | Mark Gittelman
My friends and co-workers call me Master Tech Mark. I am a Certified Master Technician with 25 years of hands on wrench turning experience. CategoriesAll ArchivesMarch 2010 
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