Upshifting(delaying in change gear). This article aptly describes the process with which you can fix your automatic transmission that is slipping or lagging.

Most of the manufacturers prescribed its customers the strict service maintenance procedure which should be followed in first hand to prevent this issue. Manufacturers are of the view that by performing this service every 25,000 miles, if your vehicle function under sever driving environment, will prevent break down of an automatic transmis­sion.

Few are given some of the severe driving situations or conditions:

• When your vehicle functions primarily in stop and go traffic surroundings most of the time
• Or when your vehicle indulge in more than half the time in stop and go traffic surroundings in ambient temperature is 90°F or higher.
• Use your vehicle in terms of tugging other vehicles, i.e. towing.
• Intensive driving in dusty surroundings
• If a vehicle is frequently drove in hilly or mountain areas.

The fluid in automatic transmission gets overheated and become grimy in these severe driving conditions. With the presence of impurities in the fluid it loses its ability to protect the transmission’s flimsy parts which will later receive damage.

Examining the transmission fluid of the vehicle used in strict or severe conditions will occasionally help to us locate the problem. If the break down has already occurred and you are experiencing lagging in the transmission, replacement of the fluid could also serve the purpose.

Following are given some of the steps, which are helpful not only to fix the slipping problem of the automatic transmission, and also to perform maintenance program to fight off the problem. These steps can be used in more than one situation. Like, either your are working on slipping of an automatic transmission or on a fluid leak from around the transmission pan. You use the same procedure.

1. Drive for about 10 miles to heat up the transmission fluid.
2. Turn off the engine and halts the car on a level surface. Make sure the transmission shift selector is in neutral place. Apply the parking or hand brake.
3. Lift up the front of the vehicle with the help of jack.
4. Adjust the front of the vehicle on the support stands carefully.
5. Place the wedges against both the rear tires, to avoid rolling back of the vehicle.
6. Take a large pan and place it under the transmission pan.
7. Slowly loosen the corner bolts first; this will help fluid to drain out from the corner to the dirt pan, instead of making the mess all over.
8. Unbolt all the remaining bolts and take out the transmission pan.
9. Before removing the fluid that remains in the bottom, examine it closely for particles, color and odor. Splash the fluid back and forth. The presence of brass or black particles is usual. However, if you find some bigger pieces, collect a sample and take it to the mechanic. The mechanic will be in clear position to suggest that what should be done to avoid this in future. Apart from this, the fluid color should be red with muddy looks and odors like varnish. In this case, filling the transmission with fresh fluid may sort out a slipping condition. By the way, if the fluid is white, the transmission oil cooler has a leak that is allowing coolant to mix with transmission fluid. Take the services of your mechanic to replace the cooler.
10. Scratch off the gasket from the frame (rim) of the transmission pan and from the frame of the transmission body. This material must b removed or in other case it will not let pan to settle properly to the transmission and hence will cause leak.
11. Clean or wash the pan with the help of using a nonflammable solvent, easily available from an automobile store.
12. Look out for fluid filter inside the transmission. It is not difficult to locate it. Open the bolts and take the filter out. Take a look at the filter, if it is made of felt or paper substance, put it back. It is made of metal, clean it properly and replace it.
13. Take a new gasket and with ample care place the gasket on the frame or body of the transmission pan so that the gasket lies straight during this process. Finger tight the bolts.
14. Make use of wrench to fasten all the bolts. Keep notice that not a single bolt left unfastened.
15. Take out the fluid dipstick of transmission and wipe it with clean thread.
16. Keeping in view the owner manual guide, take a recommended fluid type and pour it in the dipstick tube. Using non recommended fluid type may cause the damage.
17. After pouring fluid to a certain level, insert the dipstick into the tube and pull it out to see the fluid level. Keep filling the tube until the fluid level in tube reaches to the required level on dipstick.
18. Turn on the engine and let it idle for some time. Now keep your one foot firmly on brake to avoid movement. Start shifting the gear lever with certain pauses between all the shifts. Set the gear lever back to neutral or park position.

1. Switch off the engine and pull out the dipstick to check the level. If it has dropped below the required level, add enough fluid to bring it back to the given mark or a little below. Excessive amount of fluid may also cause the severe damage. So, be alert not to fill the fluid more than required.
2. Examine the fluid level and leakage over the next few days. If you find any traces of drops of fluid at the parking place or the drop in fluid level, the pan must be leaking. You need to tighten the bolts, if the problem persists, you may need to replace the gasket for possible leaking.

All the old fluid never drains out of the transmission during draining process. Most of the time, some fluid will be trapped in torque converter. In case, if the torque converter in your vehicle does not have drain plug, you will have to repeat drainage process more after driving the vehicle in the addition of every 5000 miles. The easiest solution to avoid this strain is to install a 1/2-inch threaded drain plug in the transmission pan.

Once the drain plug is installed in a transmission pan, drive the vehicle for excessive mileage, for example up to 5000 miles so that the new fluid get mix with the old fluid left in the torque converter. Now you can easily released fluid out of the torque converter by unbolting the drain plug.

It is not a difficult task to check whether the noise coming from any one of the door. You need a two-inch-wide duct tape to seal the stitch between the body of the vehicle and one of the doors. Drive the car and examine that the noise has still coming or disappeared. Repeat the same process with all the doors until you have found the defective door. Once the fault located, the insulation of that needs to be fixed as described in the following paragraphs.

To find out whether the weatherstripping is accountable for water leaking into the vehicle, take a garden hose and stand about 3 feet away from the target, i.e. aim at the point next to the spot where water is found. Now spray the water on the seams between the door and the body for about 15 minutes. Gradually move on to the next section but in the mean time you need to be patient because water can take a time to its way inside the vehicle through the gap between weatherstripping and body

Once it is understood the water or the air is leaking around a door, look over weatherstripping for rends. You can repair it with silicone rubber sealant, which is easily available in the stores (hardware).

Tenderly pull on the piece to its whole length to examine whether weatherstripping has separated from its conduit. If it does so, clean the conduit with the help of rag. Take rubber cement or liquid butyl sealer and apply it to the base of the weatherstrip­ping and the conduit. Once you have finished with this press the weatherstripping back to the channel until it stick to the channel. You can use spring-type wooden or plastic clothespins as clamps to serve the purpose.

The next step is to inspect weatherstripping for simple worn out. For this you need a crisp dollar bill. Placed it at the defected spot and close the door. Try to pull the dollar free. If you find any resistance, it means that the weatherstripping is ripped at that place. Apply the same process to check the rest of the length.

Pull out the worn out weatherstripping from the conduit. Make the conduit dirt free with the help of solvent. If you locate rust, scratch it off. Then take a double-sided polyethylene foam tape and adjust it on the channel.

Clean the bottom side of the weatherstripping with the help of rag and mineral spirit to remove the greasy substance from the weatherstripping underside. Once the weatherstripping gets dry press it back on the conduit. The thickness of the double-sided polyethylene foam tape will resolve the problem.

Sudden halting in wet weather required following measures:

The engine starts normally as it usually does and runs perfectly for a number of miles. But after miles of driving it stops without any warning. Attempts at restarting within the first 30 to 60 minutes after the halt takes place usually fail. Severe temperature is not the factor. The wet-weather is the only reason.

If you are having this type of trouble, take a spray bottle full of water. Start the engine and leave it inactive for sometime as you spray water over the distributor cap. Make certain that you spray the whole surface of the cap with sufficient amount of water. During this process if the engine stops, the trouble lies inside the distributor.

Before opening the cap, turn off the engine. Inspect the inner side for a bit of carbon. If you found any traces of carbon it means that the cap is crack and you need to replace it.

The next step is to examine the distributor rotor. Remove it from the distributor shaft and inspect it closely. Look for deterioration on the metal terminal and for cracks in the body of the rotor. Replace a damaged rotor if required.

Another critical part inside the distributor that has to be considered when sudden wet-weather stalling becomes an issue is the pickup coil. It is recommended to contact your mechanic to examine this part.

If in the previous step, where distributor cap has been sprayed with water, does not result in the halting of the engine, you need to spray all the electrical connectors excessively. Electrical con­nectors are two-part assemblies that are held together with clips.

In case the engine stalls this time, you are required to follow these steps:

1. You need to turn off the ignition switch.
2. Remove the clip and pull apart the connector.
3. Inspect both the halves of connector for cracks and contact your mechanic for replacement.
4. Check the pins of the connector for possible bents. If you find any bent pin, straighten it with the help of tongs.
5. Clean the inner sides of both the halves of the connector with the help of brush.
6. Put a thin layer of non-conducting grease inside the male half of connector.  Non-conducting or Dielectric grease is a special lubri­cant that resists water without restraining the flow of current.
7. Connects the two halves tightly together and lock them with the clips.

Delayed halting in wet-weather

This situation usually arises when the ambient temperature is between 35 and 50°F. The engine functions properly in the beginning and after a certain mileage it begins to stammer as if running out of gas. After causing trouble it stops. But it can usually take 15 to 20 minutes gap to restart the engine.

This issue arises when the condensation forms inside the choke or carburetor, fuel pipe blocking or minimizing the flow of fuel to the engine. To rectify this problem, keep the fuel tank full if possible. The use of antifreeze fuel-system into the fuel tank in the winter season when there are possibilities of the icing up of fuel system can serve the purpose. Before using any antifreeze liquid make sure that the liquid is attuned with the fuel system your engine’s type.

Further Readings:

• What Is Car Tuning? Car Tuning Guide
• Auto Tuning In Pieces – Major Areas Of Auto Tuning

To test whether the switch is responsible for overheating or not is not a big task. You can easily test it with the help of ohmmeter.

Steps to Follow

• Make sure that the engine is cool. Open the engine hood and start the engine to locate whether the cause of overheating is failure of the fan to turn on. Keep an eye on the fan as the engine warms up.
• Leave the engine run for few more minutes. Ask your helper to keep focus on the gauge and temperature light. If the temperature warning light glows or the temperature gauge approaches the hot mark, turn off the engine.

• During all this time you keep an eye on fan, if it spins, the cause of overheating does not lie with the switch.
• If in other case fan does not rotate, turn off the engine and wait foe the engine to cool down before testing the switch.
• Once the engine cools down, trace the wire from the fan motor to the electrical connector.
• Disconnect the fan from the electrical mechanism by pulling apart the connector.
• Find the wire from the connector to where it attaches to the cooling-fan switch, which is attached either into the tank of the ra­diator or into the engine.
• Remove the wire of the cooling-fan switch.
• Unfasten the switch from the radiator or from the engine with the help of wrench.
• To make sure that either the switch is working or not places it in water pan, but keep the terminals (some switches have one, others have two) outside the water. Placed a kitchen thermometer in the pan and adjust pan on kitchen-stove burner.
• Use ohmmeter to test the switch. If the switch has one terminal, touch one of the ohmmeter probes to the terminal and touch the other probe to the threads. If the switch has two terminals, touch each ohmmeter probe to a terminal. The ohmmeter should display an infinity reading.
• Lit up the burner and wait until the thermometer indicates the water temperature reached at 220°F. Repeat the ohmmeter test. The ohmmeter needle would swing to 0 or nearly to 0. If it doesn’t, the switch is defective.

After it is confirmed that the switch is defective, buy a replacement specified for the cooling system of your vehicle. To prevent the leak in future coat he threads of the new switch with pipe thread sealer or wrap them with Teflon plumbing tape. Screw the switch in place by hand until it is finger-tight. In the end tighten the switch back to its place firmly with the help of wrench.

To make sure for certain leakage, fill the radiator with antifreeze agent (coolant). Start the engine, leave it on for some time and after awhile turns it off. Make sure that there is no leak.

Checking and changing the spark plugs is an easy and quick task. Cleaning them will improve the performance and economy of the vehicle. Follow the directions to replace worn out spark plugs.

Directions

Step 1:

First, the spark plugs have to be located. They are found by locating the spark plug wire leading to the cylinder head. In case of more than one plug, write down or mark each plug wire before removing it.

Step 2:

The spark plug has to be cleaned before removing it. Any built up dirt can fall into the cylinder when the plug is pulled out. Make sure that everything is clean and don’t let anything fall into the cylinder.

Step 3:

Put the spark plug socket and ratchet handle on the spark plug and turn it anti-clockwise for loosening it. Initially it will be tight but will come out easily after that.

Step 4:

Inspect the electrode end of the plug and observe if there is any carbon buildup on it. If it is oily, then the rings are worn out. If the plug is tan, then the engine is properly working.

Step 5:

Make sure that the replacement plug and the old plug are of the same size. The threads should match and have the same length. In case you are unsure about the plug you should buy, just take the old plug to the auto store and consult the counter person.

Step 6:

The gap of the new plug has to be checked. The engine manufacturer’s specifications with explain it.

Step 7:

The plug has to be inserted back by hand into the cylinder head. Make sure the threads are lined up.

Step 8:

Use the socket and ratchet to tighten the plug. Tighten the plug to the torque specification directed by the repair manual. The auto parts store worker can guide you regarding the torque specification for your vehicle.

Step 9:

Now the plug wires can be put back on the correct plugs. They have to be snapped on and not pulled off.

Tips and Precautions

• A loose spark plug can shoot out of the engine like a bullet. The plug should not be loose.
• The engine will run poorly if the spark plug wires are put back on the wrong plugs.
• Get the plug of a right size.
• Make sure the plugs are gapped to the specified gap.

Safety precautions

Protective clothing and equipment must be used whenever a task is performed in a workshop. These protective items include:

• Hand protection – such as rubber gloves and barrier cream
• Eye protection – such as face masks and safety glasses
• Respiratory equipment – such as face masks and valved respirators
• Ear protection – such as earmuffs and earplugs
• Work clothing – such as coveralls and steel-capped footwear

In case you aren’t sure what is required then the supervisor can be consulted.

Safety checks

• Let the engine cool down before assessing the coolant hose, this will make the handling much easy.
• Always make the work area as safe as possible it can be. Workshop equipment that is broken, worn out or damaged should not be used.
• Always make sure that the engine is shut down before checking the radiator hoses.
• Always wear suitable personal safety equipment before beginning the work. This will prevent any injuries.
• One must observe and understand all the personal safety procedures when doing the tasks. The supervisor can be consulted if you are unaware of anything.
• The manufacturer’s personal safety instructions should always be followed to prevent any damage to the vehicle being serviced.

Directions

Step 1: The clamps and hoses should be inspected

Both of the hoses that transmit coolant between the engine and the radiator have to be located. One is located at the top of the radiator and the other at the bottom. Each hose has to be squeezed. It will be springy and flexible, if it is weak and soft or brittle and hard, then it needs replacement. Observe any signs of cracking or swelling especially on the susceptible bottom of the lower hose. Inspect that the hoses are not corroded and are being held firmly by the clamps.

Step 2: Removing the hose

Before either of the hoses are removed, drain the coolant from the system. Use an appropriate tool to remove the clamp. If the hoses won’t pull off easily, then be careful not to damage the radiator fitting by applying excessive force. Cut the hose in numerous places to remove it without difficulty. The hose fittings on both the engine and the radiator have to be cleaned using sandpaper.

Step 3: Verify the replacement

Get new hoses and compare them with the removed ones and make sure that they have same diameter and length.

Step 4: Refit the hose

Apply little sealant to the hose fittings and the make the clamps loose, they have to be placed over the hose ends before the hose is adjusted into position. The clamps have to be tightened securely but be sure not to over-tighten and smash up the hoses.

Step 5: Refill cooling system and check

Use coolant liquids to refill the cooling system and start the engine for a couple of minutes. Check the connections and make sure that there are no leakages. Check the tightness of the clamps again when the engine reaches its typical operating temperature.

EGR Val

The EGR or exhaust gas recirculation technology was made with the objective for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles. For achieving this aim, a feedback mechanism was made that had the ability to indirectly decrease the emissions of nitrogen oxide. By adopting the very process that leads to its creation, this technology reduces nitrogen oxide emission. This technology works by emitting a portion of exhaust gases from car engine which is supplied back to combustion cylinder of the engine.

The feedback of the exhaust gas displaces the combustive mixture of gases by volume leading to a drop in the combustion heat produced in each cycle. Without comprising a great level of the pressure produced in the cylinder, the cycle of combustion happens at a low temperature. The compounds of nitrogen oxide are formed quicker from a higher temperature mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. As the EGR valves decrease the temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder, relatively less amount of nitrogen oxide is produced that is accountable for causing pollution.

The EGR valves are installed in the engine assembly for establishing and controlling this feedback mechanism. The exhaust gases are only let in by the EGR valve when the car’s engine is not idle or when it does not need higher combustible concentration of fuel. An optimum performance is ensured by it when the RPM requires high power and prevents a rough performance when the engine is getting idle. The latest EGR valves are operated electronically.

If the EGR valve goes wrong, then engine efficiency will drastically drop down. A major problem occurs when the EGR valve remains stuck open and disorders with engine efficiency. In this type of situation, the engine cylinders floods with the exhaust gases resulting in decrease in the availability of oxygen. This affects the engine function completely. This is the reason why defective EGR valve need to be replaced immediately.

Replacing EGR Valve

This guide will help you to replace EGR valves that cannot be repaired. This task can be easily done if you are ready to do it yourself. The tools required for this task are wrench, socket set, small drill bit, screwdriver and a special tool called carburetor cleaner. A new EGR valve and a new gasket accompanied along are also needed.

First, the car battery has to be disconnected and the position of EGR valve has to be located. Then some disconnections have to be done. The air supply hose, vacuum hose and electrical accessories have to be removed with a screwdriver.

For removing the EGR valve unit, the bolts that hold it in place have to be removed. These EGR valve mounting bolts can be removed with wrench. The valve has to be inspected and it must be made sure that it has no chances of getting repaired. In such case, proceed and use a new valve, along with a new gasket to replace it. For securing the valve in position, the bolts have to be mounted in place. Afterwards, your actions would have to be retraced for replacing all the components and electrical accessories that were initially removed. The air hose can be reconnected and other connections can be restored. The battery connection has to be restored now. With this, the replacement procedure of EGR valve is complete.

The location of this component is in one of the distant corners of the engine compartment. Usually it is a black container containing charcoal pellets that are meant for absorbing fuel vapors. However every charcoal canister is not located in the engine compartment. Some canisters are mounted on some vehicles closer to their gas tanks for providing maximum efficiency.

The charcoal canister is attached to the gas tank through a series of hoses on a vehicle. It is designed to catch fuel vapors from the gas tank and then store them until the started engine can suck the flames out. This is also helpful with emissions as the flames are burned along with the fuel. If the charcoal canister needs to be removed for any reason, it can be easily done at home with ordinary tools. In this article, a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado vehicle is being considered. However, the process is similar to other vehicles also. Follow the directions.

Directions

Step 1:

Raise the vehicle using a jack and place it on jack stands. Before crawl underneath, make sure that the vehicle is secure.

Step 2:

Crawl under the vehicle to the driver’s side and locate the charcoal canister by the gas tank. This is ahead of the gas tank and has many plastic fuel-line connections going into it. Use the flathead screwdriver to disconnect those lines.

Step 3:

The charcoal canister has to be unbolted from the frame, use a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket for doing this task. Remove it from the vehicle by sliding the canister out of the bracket.

Tips and Precautions

• Never smoke or use any ignition source near the vehicle when removing the charcoal canister. The fumes from the tank can ignite and can possibly harm you and damage your vehicle. While removing the canister, be sure not to keep any ignition source around. If it is needed to be kept open for a longer time then use a plastic bag and some tape for temporarily creating a strong seal around the lines

Things Needed

• Rubbing compound
• Lint-free cloth
• Automotive cleaning detergent

Directions

Step 1:

Park the car in a shady place away from direct sunlight and allow the car’s surface to cool down.

Step 2:

The next step is to wash the scratched area using an automotive cleaning detergent, then use a lint-free cloth to wipe the area clean.

Step 3:

Apply the rubbing compound in circle on the surface of a clean lint-free cloth. Make sure that the size of the circle is approximately about a quarter coins.

Step 4:

Start rubbing the surface of the scratched area in tight circles with the cloth and the rubbing compound.

Step 5:

Give some time to the rubbing compound to dry. When the compound turns a chalky white color, it means that it has dried.

Step 6:

Use a clean lint-free cloth to wipe off the rubbing compound from the car’s surface.

Step 7:

Repeat the process if necessary until the scratch vanishes.

Tips and Helpful Information

• Don’t use any type of paint; make sure that the one you buying is specifically designed for use in vehicles. Besides this, it must be kept in mind that only the same color of paint should be used. If something of the same color is used but with a different shade, then this will only give a bad look to your car.
• In case of very deep scratches, the best option is to take the car to an auto repair shop because they are best for handling extreme scratches and achieve a more desirable result.

Further Readings:

• How to Polish a Scratch Out of a Car – Polish Scratch Guide
• How to Remove a Small Scratch from Your Car

Directions

For making sure one does not waste time others areas that don’t require any repainting on the car, just go over the whole car and note down any spots that require a touch up. It will be a good idea to make a list as it may wind up resulting in the details of the repaint work needed to be done. The task of touch up also includes purchasing the correct paint for your car. This paint is available in aerosol cans, touch-up bottles and brush-tipped applicators for greater detailing. Get a paint that is specially used for touch-ups. However it must be kept in mind that the paint bought from auto mobile stores might not give good results.

It is important to thoroughly clean the car that has to be retouched. Most importantly, the area that has to be repainted must be completely dry and free of grime, dirt and debris. It should be additionally cleaned with a wax remover. Dry conditions are preferable for working and humid conditions are not suitable. Use sandpaper specifically designed for use on automotive paint, to lightly sand the area that is to be repainted. It must be ensured that any paint on the adjacent areas that adheres poorly should also be removed. The possible duct produced in this course should be cleaned before applying a clear coat layer as a base for the paint. The manufacturer’s directions should always be followed.

It is ideal to do a spot test on some hidden area of the car before starting to actually use the paint. The paint should be tested over the base coat and also to have an idea how shiny and polished the final result will be. Before starting the paint job, always shake the paint thoroughly. Whether the areas are medium sized or large sized, the paint should be applied in straight motion with even back and forth motions. It is recommended to overlap the first round of spray by the second by roughly half of its width.

For painting small areas, it is practical to use the paper end of a cardboard matchstick for painting application. Fine brushes or a toothpick are other available options. It is recommended to apply paint in 2 to 3 layers for building up above the area of the adjacent paint. Allow 24 hours for the paint to dry completely before sanding it very softly with a fine sandpaper. Finally, apply polish and wax for a higher shine.

Tips and Precautions

• Do not use automotive paint when it is humid. This repair job is worth doing right.
• Don’t buy paint from auto parts stores because they do not sell quality paint.
• Overspray can be a problem at some occasions. Use fine steel wool to remove overspray from glass.

Further Readings:

• Car Paint Protection Guide
• How to Touch Up Car Paint Guide