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Sometimes when our cars begin to leak fluid we can blame leaking engine gaskets. Often these fluid leaks begin as seepage and developed into a problem that needs to be addressed for the health of the vehicle and the driveway or parking area.
Picture of engine gasket leak
Engine Gasket Leak

For as long as there have been engines there has been a gasket. Over the years the technology has advanced that makes these sealing components more efficient. But every once in a while when they try a new technology sometimes it's actually a step backwards.

A quick example of this is just my personal opinion. The latest in Gasket technology sometimes referred to as a composite looks and feels like plastic. An example of a step backwards is in the reliability of the Gasket in the General Motors V6 intake manifold. This part looks like a strip of plastic with embedded rubber seals.
 
 
In a gasoline engine the importance of good sparkplugs cannot be denied. The electrical arc between the electrode and the ground strap is like a miniature bolt of lightning that ignites the air fuel mixture and in turn generates the power that drives the wheels.
Picture of good sparkplug
good sparkplug

These miniature lightning bolts are commonly called sparkplug firing by most mechanics. If the sparkplug doesn't fire, the engine doesn't start. When diagnosing a no start condition some mechanics will say the reason the engine won't start is because there is no fire.

It is the ignition system that produces the electrical energy that fires the plug. Spark also must be maintained long enough to allow complete combustion of the air fuel mixture in the cylinder. The ignition system then has to deliver this electrical energy to each sparkplug at the right time.
 
 
Some helpful facts about airbags. A brief history of the available systems but more importantly what to do after an airbag deployment from an auto repair point of view. A quick education can help assure that after the repairs are completed your airbag is ready to deploy as per design intent.
Picture of daul airbags
Daul Airbags

As you might know an airbag is much like a heavy-duty plastic balloon that inflates fully within fractions of a second during a collision. A deployed airbag protects the driver or passengers from injury by limiting and cushioning movement during a crash.

One of the biggest things to remember is that the airbag was designed to be used in conjunction with a seat-belt. The seatbelt holds the person in place so that the airbag provides maximum protection.

These restraint systems have been around for quite some time and therefore vary greatly in the types of technology they use to deploy the bag.
 
 
Recycling car batteries is not as popular as it should be. When you think of the battery in most cases you would not consider it environmentally friendly.

Not only can they be broken down and recycled but they can also be efficiently reconditioned to be reused again in cars and trucks.
Picture recycling car battery
recycling car battery

In fact reconditioning batteries is a good business.

I worked in several used-car lots where we used reconditioned batteries exclusively. We would pay $15-$25 in some cases for a reconditioned battery that would last for several years.

Although the gentleman that we bought the batteries from was in it for the money and not to save the environment he was actually doing both. In some cases he was paid to dispose of the batteries or received them at no charge.
 
 
At some point in our driving career we will most likely have to replace a car battery. Deciding what replacement should be used can be left up to the professionals. But it is good idea to have some basic knowledge about the subject to make sure you're getting what you need.
Picture of optima replacement battery
Optima Replacement Battery

There are many choices available to consumers with many varying price points. Some more expensive batteries state that they will last longer and provide better reliability.

If your going to pay more money for one of these batteries it is a good idea to make sure that it still complies with what is required by the vehicle and the manufacture.
 
 
Often when an engine will not start the first thing to pop into somebody's mind is "it must be the fuel pump". I often have the same train of thought. And many times replacing the fuel pump is the answer to a no start condition.
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Electric fuel pump

But the percentage of times that a fuel pump will cause a cranking no start condition is most likely less than 25% (just educated guessing).

I suppose the actual failure rate of the fuel pump would be determined by year make and model of the vehicle.

But because the fuel pump is so often replaced before pinpoint diagnostics are performed I thought that I would discuss the subject of how a fuel pump circuit works.

Fuel pumps and no starts

Vehicles for around the last 20 years have in tank mounted electric fuel pumps. So this will be the type of fuel pump I will discuss in this short article.

Electric fuel pumps and circuits will vary greatly depending on the vehicle year make and model. Most of these fuel pump control circuits are tied to the vehicles main computer.
 
Water under car 08/16/2009
 
The water under the car situation. I see this every summer. As most of us know when you run your cars ac in the summer the condensation is released under the automobile.

When you park the vehicle after running the air conditioner a puddle of this condensation will collect underneath.

Some new drivers will see this water under the car and think a problem has developed. This next post is from a visitor that got sucked into this situation and how they got out of it.

I had water under my car

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puddle under car
I wish to thank you for your E-book regarding auto repair scams. I wish I had come across your work years ago.

I have a long commute, and I read the entire book in 2 sittings. I'll read it again just so some of your wisdom will rub off on me.

The book is very informative, and though I'm not a good negotiator, I would hope that I would be able to use some of your advice.

I recently heard some intermittent sounds in my car (sounds like screeching brakes?) When I looked under the car, I saw some water dripping.
 
Car ac repair 08/09/2009
 
Car ac specialty shops are popping up all over the country.

Automotive service retailers are realizing the pure profit involved in repairing automotive air conditioning systems. 
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car ac compressor
Car ac repair is also one of the commonly overcharged repairs on cars and trucks today.

It is also very common for automotive ac repair bills to reach well over $1100.

It is possible that an air-conditioning repair shop may overcharge the automotive consumer for simple a/c repairs unless they are savvy.

Many times the a/c repair shop will replace additional parts in the air conditioning system that may not need to be replaced.

When a car ac system stops putting out cold air, a very common cause of this is that the Freon leaked out.

This is where the diy car mechanic can jump into action, and actually locate where the refrigerant leak is.

Finding car ac system leaks

 
 

Fuel pumps can be considered high up on the list of common auto repairs. But if your engine does not start and you think it is not getting any gas the first thing to check is your dash mounted fuel gauge.

Just because the gas gauge on your dash is over half a tank does not mean that there is actually fuel in the tank.

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fuel sender
A defective sending unit or a gauge that is not calibrated right may be giving a false reading. Probing the tank with a flexible wire or dowel rod down the fuel filler tube will let you know if there is actually liquid gas in the tank.

If there is lots of good quality fuel in the vehicle the next step would be to listen for the fuel pump operation noise. When the key is turned on the pump should buzz like a hornet for a couple of seconds to build up system pressure of about 60 PSI.

The pump is usually energized through a relay and the oil pressure switch. Protecting against internal engine damage is the reason for this. For obvious reasons the car makers have decided to not let the engine run with no oil pressure present.

This is also a safety feature. If the automobile has been damaged in a collision the engine stalls, the oil pressure goes to 0 and the gas pump stops running automatically.
 
Brake surging 05/17/2009
 

This brake surging problem is one of the common auto repairs questions I receive often. See what it took to solve this issue on a 1997 Lincoln Town Car.

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Dave writes in about a brake pulse: Hi Mark, David here: I have problem with mothers Lincoln 97 town car that has a brake surge. I turned the rotors a while back and new pads installed also about 2 months ago.

When we go to brake the car surges on and off, can’t explain it. It feels like it hesitates, but we stop fine. I took off the front tires and checked the rotors and shoes. The rotors were smooth with no bluing and plenty of shoes remaining.

I don't have an idea what the brake pulse is all about? Could there be air in lines causing this surging or what? Is the booster going bad? Maybe the calipers are hanging up? Should I try relubricating the caliper slides? They have not been greased since the front pad replacement.

Let me know what you think. I do not feel it at the brake pedal as the pedal does not jump. It feels like something is out of round. This is the best I can explain without you driving the car. But again the car stops fine. More brake surge action happens at higher speeds it seems, but we stop fine.

Thanks from David