Repair And Fix it

The 2000 model year Dodge Neon uses a hydraulic pump to create pressure that assists the driver in steering the vehicle. The hydraulically assisted steering, commonly known as power steering, is especially helpful at lower speeds when the driver must use more effort to steer. Maintenance and removal of power steering components may require removing the hydraulic hoses that flow to and from the power steering pump.

Instructions

Removal

1

Locate the power steering gear near the front left wheel and determine if you can access the hose attachments well enough to remove them.

2

Remove the negative battery cable to ensure all steering components will be disabled.

3




Jack the front of the car and place it on jack stands. Remove the front wheels. Do this step only if you cannot access the hose connections at the power steering gear from the engine compartment or without raising the car.

4

Siphon as much fluid from the power steering pump reservoir as possible to reduce spillage.

5

Remove all hose clamps from the hose you will replace.

6

Loosen the hose nut at the power steering pump if you are removing the pressure hose. The return hose is only secured with a clamp.

7

Position a small bucket or other container underneath the hose as you remove it. Drain as much fluid into the container as possible to minimize hazardous fluid spills from reaching the ground. If you were able to siphon the reservoir, this step may not be necessary.

8

Disconnect the lower end of the hose. Try to contain spillage in a container.

Installation

9

Install the lower end of the new hose. Tighten the hose nut if it is a pressure or the hose clamp for the return hose. Tighten the hose nut to 25 foot-pounds of torque.

10

Route the hose upward along the same path it ran before it was removed. Install the upper part of the hose and tighten the clamp or hose nut. Tighten the hose nut to 25 foot-pounds of torque.

11

Reinstall the front wheels and lower the car if it was raised for access.

12

Reinstall all the hose clamps that were removed.

13

Refill the power steering reservoir with new fluid.

14

Reconnect the negative battery cable.

In 1995, Ford launched the Windstar in an attempt to pull some customers away from the overly successful Chrysler minivans -- the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. The 2000 Windstar had two V-6 engines available: a 200-horsepower 3.8-liter and a 150-horsepower 3.0-liter. In my years in repair shops, I have replaced the serpentine belt on numerous Windstar vans and have found that is is just like any other vehicle, with exception of a few details.

Replacing Serpentine Belt

When I replaced the belts on various 2000 Ford Windstars, I found that the tensioner pulley on the 3.0-liter V-6 engine just below the alternator pulley, and on the 3.8-liter V-6 engines, next to the power steering pump pulley. Because of limited clearance, I always used a 15 mm box-end wrench to rotate the tensioner, as a socket takes up a little too much working space.

The 2000 Mustang GT uses McPherson Type struts on its front suspension. This type of strut makes up part of the cars steering assembly, with the damper acting as the upper steering pivot. If you are noticing your Mustang is riding rougher and not handling as well, the struts may be to blame. You can purchase the individual strut or an entire assembly. The individual strut is cheaper, but its easier to replace an intact assembly.

Instructions

Removal

1

Loosen the lug nuts on both front wheels with a lug wrench and raise the car with an automotive jack. Place a jack stand under the lower controls that are on each side of the car. Remove the lug nuts and both wheels.

2

Use a socket wrench to remove the center bolts from the brake caliper guide pins and pull the pins out of the caliper. Pull the caliper off the rotor and secure it out of the way with a piece of wire. Be caul not to damage the brake hose.

3

Open the hood and remove the three nuts that attach the strut assembly to the cars frame.

4

Locate the mounting bracket attached to the strut assembly that holds the brake line. Remove the nut and detach the bracket. Cars not equipped with ABS will not have this.

5

Locate the two large bolts that attach the strut to the spindle and remove the nuts with a socket wrench. You might need to hold the bolt head with another wrench to prevent it from turning. Place a large screwdriver or punch against the each bolt and tap it with a mallet to drive it out.

6

Pull the strut assembly down and out of the car.

Installation

7

Insert the new strut assembly up into place. Make sure the strut is properly aligned and that the three bolts are inserted into their holes at the top. Replace the three nuts, but do not tighten them.

8

Replace the two bolts that hold the strut to the spindle. Replace the nuts and tighten them to 141 to 191 ft.-lbs. of torque with a torque wrench.

9

Replace the brake line bracket.

10

Tighten the top bolts to 25 ft.-lbs. of torque.

11

Place the brake caliper into place and insert the guide pins. Repeat the strut replacement procedure on the opposite side. Replace the wheel and lug nuts.

The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve in your 2000 Toyota RAV4 is an exhaust intake regulator attached to the intake manifold of the engine. First introduced in the early 1960s, it regulates the mixture of fuel and exhaust (oxygen) entering into the engines combustion chambers. It operates by allowing measured amounts of exhaust to enter the combustion chamber, thus reducing the temperature within the chamber during combustion. It has become a vital part in improving fuel efficiency and reducing smog.

Instructions

1

Open the hood and locate the EGR valve, which is mounted on the left-rear of the intake manifold near the firewall. Leave the battery plug in, but use precaution not to contact the posts with any tools.

2

Disconnect the air intake tube leading to the inside-left fender well and attached to the intake manifold. This will provide for better access for replacing the EGR valve.

3

Unplug the single-prong electrical connection from the EGR valve by hand. Disconnect the rubber vacuum tube and inspect both of these parts for excessive wear or cracking. Replace these parts as necessary.

4

Remove the two EGR mounting bolts located on the valve using a socket wrench. Gently tap the valve to break the seal using a hammer or rubber mallet. Remove the old EGR valve and scrape away the old gasket using a paint scraper. Be careful not to allow any debris to enter the engine block.

5

Apply a thin bead of high-temperature-resistant gasket sealer onto the new gasket. Place the gasket with sealant down, directly onto the manifold opening. Do not to disturb the gasket placement, which can cause a void. Be sure that the mounting bolt holes are properly aligned so that the replacement valve will seat and mount properly.

6

Carefully install the new EGR valve into the manifold opening. Secure the valve in place with the two mounting bolts. Reattach the rubber vacuum tube and the single-prong electrical connection. Reconnect the air intake tube.

7

Disconnect both battery cables using a crescent wrench, which will reset the electrical system and check-engine light indicator. Keep the battery disconnected for at least six hours before reconnecting it. Then reconnect the battery, start the engine and check to see if the check-engine light remains off. Test the repair by turning the vehicle off and on several times while observing if the check-engine warning light comes on.

The washer pumps in a 2000 GMC Jimmy are located on the outside edge of the washer fluid reservoir, next to the right-side fender. These electric pumps draw fluid from the reservoir and force it through rubber tubes that connect to the washer jet nozzles. Over time, the small motors inside these pumps wear out and fail, rendering the washer fluid system inoperable. In order to replace these pumps, the washer reservoir must be removed from the vehicle.

Instructions

Removal

1

Shut down the engine and pop open the hood. Open the washer fluid reservoir cap and draw the fluid out of the reservoir and into a bucket with a hand pump.

2

Disconnect the electrical connectors and hoses from the washer pumps near the bottom of the reservoir.

3

Remove the screw holding the reservoir to the vehicle with a ratchet and metric socket.

4

Lift up on the reservoir and remove it from the vehicle. Remove each from the reservoir by gently pulling and twisting it until it pops loose from its rubber grommet.

Installation

5

Install each new pump into the reservoir by pressing it into the rubber grommet, using a twisting motion, until it is fully seated.

6

Set the reservoir into position inside the engine compartment and reinstall its retaining screw. Torque the screw to 27 inch-pounds, using a torque wrench.

7

Reconnect the hoses and electrical connectors to both pumps.

8

Place a funnel inside the reservoir fill hole and refill the reservoir to the appropriate level, then test the pumps.

Replacing the catalytic converter on your Firebird can improve fuel economy, engine performance and drivability. Catalytic converters are not prone to failure but when they do go bad, they will run very hot and can choke off the flow of exhaust from the engine. Replacement converters are available from several sources including automotive parts stores or the dealers parts department. Some salvage yards or parts recyclers also stock good used converters at discounted prices.

Instructions

1

Raise the front of the car with a jack and position a set of jack stands under the frame to support the car. Locate the catalytic converter under the passengers side of the car.

2

Remove the retaining bolt on the exhaust clamp at the rear of the catalytic converter with a wrench. Move to the front of the converter and remove the four bolts from the mounting flange between the front of the converter and the exhaust pipe with a socket and ratchet.

3

Lower the converter down and move it out from under the car. Discard the old converter.

4

Position the new converter under the car and raise it up into position. Slide a new gasket in between the front flange on the exhaust pipe and the flange on the converter. Install the four mounting bolts and tighten them with a socket and ratchet.

5

Install the exhaust clamp on the rear of the converter and tighten the retaining bolt with a wrench or socket and ratchet. Do not over tighten the bolts; the pipe will deform causing an exhaust leak if this bolt is too tight.

6

Raise the front of the car off the jack stands with a jack. Remove the stands from under the front of the car and lower the jack.

General Motors has issued multiple recalls of 2000-2005 Chevy Monte Carlos for problems ranging from fuel leaks to air bag defects. Engine fires, crashes or injury to vehicle occupants could result. Concerned vehicle owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to determine whether their Monte Carlo vehicles may be affected.

Steering and Brakes

In 2004, certain 2004 model year Monte Carlo vehicles were recalled because of problems with lower-than-required torque in the bolts mounting the front brake caliper to the steering knuckle. The bolts could break or back out, causing difficulties in steering and/or braking. In a separate recall, certain 2000-2007 Monte Carlos were recalled in 2009 for a broken steering knuckle problem.

Air Bags

In 2002, thousands of model year 2002-2003 Monte Carlos were recalled due to a manufacturing problem with the drivers side air-bag inflator. If the air bag deploys, shards of the inflator could fly out and hurt someone in the car. A small number of 2003 Monte Carlos were subsequently under recall as well, to repair a separate defect that could cause the drivers side air bag to rupture.

Fuel System

In 2004, certain 2000 model year Monte Carlos equipped with 3800 V6 (L36) engines and certain Delphi fuel pressure regulators were recalled because a fuel leak could occur and cause an engine backfire. Backfiring could cause the intake manifold to rupture and displace a fuel line, potentially causing fire. In 2007, various 1995-2005 Monte Carlos equipped with Delphi fuel pressure regulators were recalled for a similar fuel problem that could cause a fire.

Engine

In 2009, 1998-2003 model year Monte Carlos equipped with 3.8L V6 naturally aspirated engines were recalled for dripping engine oil onto the exhaust manifold. This could cause an engine fire.

Dodge produced several trims of the 4x2 and 4x4 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 in 2000, as well as 4x2 and 4x4 trims of the Dakota pickup truck. Each model came with its own alignment specifications. Some trims of a given model shared certain alignment specs, but several trims came with distinct alignment guidelines. Before making any adjustments to the alignment of a vehicle, it is important to clarify that the specs apply to the exact make, model and year of the vehicle being worked on.

Ram 1500 4x2

The alignment specs for all trims of the 2000 Ram 1500 4x2 are the same, except for the caster angle specs for the Club Cab and Quad Cab trims. The alignment is not adjustable on the rear end of the vehicle. For the front end, the caster angle limits are +1.0 to +3.65 degrees on all trims except for the Club Cab and Quad Cab trims, for which the limits are +1.0 degrees to +4.0 degrees. The caster angle cross tolerance is +0.5 degrees for all trims. The camber angle should be set at +0.5 degrees on all trims. The ideal toe-in is +0.1 degrees.

Ram 2500 4x4

As with the 2000 Ram 1500 4x2, the alignment specs were the same for all trims of the 2000 Ram 2500 4x4 (except for the caster angle on the Club Cab and Quad Cab trims). The alignment is not adjustable on the rear end. The caster angle limits for the front end are +1.0 degree to +2.68 degrees for all trims other than the Club Cab and Quad Cab, for which the limits are +1.0 degrees to +2.8 degrees. The toe-in should be set at +0.1 degrees. According to the "Wheel Alignment Specifications" manual by the Naas Publishing Company, Dodge did not specify a camber angle for the 4x4 trims of Ram pickup trucks in 2000.

Dakot 4x4

The caster angle limits for the front end of the 2000 Dodge Dakota 4x4 are +0.5 degrees to +3.16 degrees for all trims except for the Club Cab, for which the limits are +0.4 degrees to +3.16 degrees. The cross tolerance is +0.5 degrees for all trims. The camber angle limits are -0.25 degrees to +0.5 degrees, with a cross tolerance of +0.5 degrees. The front toe-in can range from +0.06 degrees to +0.1 degrees. The ideal thrust angle is +0.4 degrees.

The lower beam on the 2000 Honda Civic is integrated to the higher beam headlight unit. The single bulb houses dual filaments that account for each lower and higher beams. Unfortunately, when one filament burns out, replacing the headlight is required. The good news is, replacing the lower beam incorporates the same procedure as the high beam since it is the same bulb. The headlight beams on most all modern cars are halogen bulbs that can be compromised if touched with human skin. Alkaline oils in skin will create a weak spot on the bulb that will expedite its failure.

Instructions

1

Ensure the headlight switch inside the 2000 Honda Civic is in the off position and the engine is off. Open the hood.

2

Pull the power steering reservoir off of its retaining bracket (if replacing the drivers side headlight beams only--passenger side beams have open access). Support the reservoir in the engine compartment so it doesnt lay on its side or the reservoir will leak power steering fluid from its cover/cap.

3

Squeeze the sides of the wire harness connector to unlock the tab and pull the connector from the blades of the headlight beam.

4

Pull the rubber dust boot off the headlight beam. There are two pull tabs on the dust boot--one on top and one on the bottom.

5

Unclip the headlight beam retaining wire from its hold-down slot by pushing in on it and lifting the wire upward slightly away from the slot. Pivot the wire on its screw hinge and remove the headlight beam unit from the headlight assembly.

6

Put on gloves before handling the replacement 9003 automotive headlight beam to avoid touching the bulb with bare skin.

7

Align the three tabs on the base of the headlight beam with the three notches in the headlight assembly unit.

8

Hold the headlight beam in place and swing the retaining wire on its hinge against the back of the headlight. Press in on the wire and slightly down to clip it on the hold-down slot.

9

Press the dust boot back in position and then reattach the wire harness connector to the blades of the headlight beam. Replace the power steering steering reservoir on its bracket (if applicable).

10

Test the headlight beam by turning on the headlight switch before closing the hood.

The 2000 Pontiac Montana features a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine. The battery is located in the engine compartment behind the passenger side headlight assembly. It fits snugly inside the engine compartment and requires the removal of a cross brace to gain access to the side-post battery. The battery also is very heavy and needs to be maneuvered out of the engine compartment, which can be a challenging task for some people.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of the 2000 Pontiac Montana after removing the keys from the ignition (if applicable).

2

Remove the two lower retaining bolts of the passenger-side cross brace on the front radiator frame rail, using the ratchet and a socket. Remove the upper retaining bolt of the cross brace near the passenger-side firewall with a wrench. Remove the cross brace.

3

Remove the black negative terminal bolt from the side post battery using a hand wrench. Remove the red cap (if applicable) from the positive battery terminal and remove the terminal bolt with the wrench.

4

Remove the battery hold-down wedge bolt with the ratchet, extension and socket. Remove the bolt and hold down wedge.

5

Tilt the battery slightly toward the center of the engine and place one hand underneath the left side of the battery and the other hand on the right top. Lift the battery out of the engine compartment.

6

Install the replacement battery into the engine compartment by reversing Step 5.

7

Replace the hold-down wedge and retaining bolt and tighten the bolt.

8

Connect the positive terminal bolt to the battery and hand-thread it into the side post. Tighten the bolt snugly with the wrench.

9

Connect the negative terminal bolt in the same way as the positive terminal bolt in Step 8.

10

Start the engine to test the operation of the battery before replacing the cross brace and retaining bolts.

When Volkswagen designed the radio enclosure system for the 2000 Jetta, they created a unique retaining system that allowed the radio to be removed without having to dismantle the entire dashboard. This system is comprised of locking tabs on the back of the radio and two slots on the front of the radio. When special tools are inserted into each slot on the front of the radio, the locking tabs disengage, allowing the radio to move out of the dashboard.

Instructions

Removal

1

Obtain the anti-theft lock code for the radio, before turning proceeding with the radio removal. If you cant find your lock code, youll need to contact your local Volkswagen service department and they can provide you with a code.

2

Turn off the ignition and take out the key. Insert each special tool into the radio opening slots and press them down at the same time until they disengage the radio retaining tabs.

3

Pull on the loopholes built into the special tools to remove the radio from the dashboard. Make sure to pull the radio straight out of the opening; dont twist it or tilt the tools.

4

Disconnect the radios electrical connectors. Remove the special tools from the radio by releasing the locking tabs on each side of the radio.

Installation

5

Reconnect the radios electrical connectors and set the radio into position in the radio dashboard slot.

6

Press the radio down into the dashboard until its fully-seated and you hear the locking tabs engage.

7

Power the radio on and uses the number buttons on the front of the radio to input your security code.

8

Press and hold the right side of the Seek button for two seconds to confirm the code.

9

Power on the radio and test it to make sure it works properly.

Replacing the oxygen (O2) sensor in your 2000 Honda Civic can improve the vehicles idle, fuel economy and engine performance. The O2 sensor reads the percentage of oxygen in the exhaust gases as they exit the engine, then converts that information to milliamps--these are used by the engine management computer to adjust the air/fuel mix going into the engine. If a sensor fails, the engine will run very rough and even stall during driving.

Instructions

1

Raise the front of the car with a jack, then support the car on a set of jack stands. Slide under the car, just behind the front wheels, and locate the O2 sensor on the catalytic converter.

2

Disconnect the electrical connector on the O2 sensor pigtail from the connector on the main wiring harness by releasing the locking tab and separating the two halves. Place an O2 sensor socket on the sensor, then turn it counterclockwise with a ratchet, removing the sensor from the catalytic converter.

3

Insert a new O2 sensor into the threaded hole in the catalytic converter and turn it clockwise, using an O2 sensor socket and ratchet to tighten it. Connect the wiring harness connector on the car to the pigtail connector on the O2 sensor, pushing them together until the locking tab snaps in place.

4

Slide out from under the car, raise the car off the jack stands with a jack, then remove the stands from under the car. Lower the jack, setting the car on the ground, then remove the jack from under the car.

The Tacoma is a compact pickup truck that Toyota has been manufacturing since 1995. You can read the codes pertaining to the "Check Engine" light on your 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD II) computer receives trouble codes from various sensors positioned throughout the vehicle. It alerts you to any trouble codes pertaining to the emissions system or engine by illuminating the "Check Engine" light on your instrument panel. You can read these codes using an OBD II code reader. This computerized hand-held device can be purchased from any auto parts retailer. This is an easy job that should take about 10 minutes to complete.

Instructions

1

Find the DLC port on the drivers side dashboard under the steering column. Plug the connective end of the OBD II scan tool into this port. You may have to rotate it to make it fit. Make sure you dont force it in or it may bend the pins inside.

2

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "On/Off" position. This powers on most scan tools. If not, find the power switch on the scan tool and turn it on.

3

Select the "Read Codes" command on the scan tool. Wait for the scan tool to display the codes. Write the codes on a piece of paper and look up their meaning in the scan tools manual.

4

Unplug the scan tool and turn off the vehicle. Have the necessary repairs made according to the codes diagnosis.