Repair And Fix it

Lots of people redesign their cars exterior, but remodeling the interior can make a car truly distinct. If you want your car to really express your personality, consider changing up the interior. Decide on a budget first, since customizing a car can become a never-ending process that costs a lot of money unless you set boundaries. Doing it yourself can greatly reduce the cost.

Your Cars Theme

Without a theme, you could end up with a bunch of random accessories and styles instead of a stylish, consistent look. Looking at your car from the outside, ask yourself how you would describe it--bold and trendy, sporty and adventurous, or cute and playful. If youre customizing the exterior too, imagine the look you want to create and think of how youd describe it. Jot down any words that come to mind, and any colors, textures, and accessories that fit that theme.

Use Ergonomic Design

If replacing seats, choose ones that are designed to give you proper support and let you change positions as needed, as Dennis W. Parks says in his book "How to Restore and Customize Auto Upholstery and Interiors." If restoring a vintage car that wont be driven much, using the original seats that came with the vehicle is fine. However, if you expect to drive the vehicle frequently, choose a more ergonomic design, meaning a design that helps the body to stay properly aligned for maximum comfort and health. Such designs often incorporate lumbar supports and numerous other features.

Consider Reshaping Hardware

Some car designers reshape consoles, dashboards and other interior components. As Parks illustrations in his book show, some console have a trendy concave top and back, sloping elegantly to the floor. Designers often use nontraditional colors, too, or select a new material like chrome or wood. Some serious enthusiasts design new storage spaces or weld on new accessories too, but visibility and accessibility should always remain priority.

Use Patterns Sparingly

Parks suggests to stick to no more than three or four patterns and colors. For instance, you might have black vinyl seating, a geometric fabric on the walls and a dashboard that matches the exterior. Too much becomes overwhelming. If using a bold print on the walls, dont add a contrasting pattern on the floor.

Choose Complementary Textures

Similarly, stick to textures that complement rather than clash with each other, as Parks says--vinyl and crushed velour dont mix. Match natural materials or those with a more industrial feel, pairing chrome with vinyl, not wood. Taking an upholstery class can give you all the skills you need to do that part of the job yourself, says Jim Richardson in "Classic Car Restorers Handbook." Compare swatches of your fabrics at midday so the angle of sunlight wont distort your perception of the colors, he suggests.

Lighting and Sound

Some people add LED light strips or patches to their car interiors for a neon glow. Others use dome or underbody light, or lights that can change color. Always make sure these extras wont affect your driving or the safety of others on the road, and that they comply with laws. Many people add a new CD player or a more powerful stereo to make driving more enjoyable, too.

The Chevrolet Lumina is a series of coupes, minivans and sedans manufactured from 1990 to 2001. The replacement fuel pump for these vehicles depends on the engine, which may be a six-cylinder 3.4 L engine or a 3.1 L engine. All versions of the 1997 Lumina have sequential fuel injection, meaning that the electric fuel pump on these vehicles uses high pressure to deliver fuel to the fuel injectors. You can access the fuel pump on most 1997 Luminas through a removable access panel in the trunk.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench, and remove the engine cover. Relieve the pressure in the fuel tank by loosening the filler cap for the fuel tank. Remove the cap for the fuel pressure port on the fuel rail, and connect special tool J 34730-1A to the fuel pressure port. Place the bleed hose for this special tool into a gasoline container. Open the valve on the special tool to bleed the fuel in the fuel system into the gasoline container.

2

Drain the fuel tank to 1/4 of its capacity, and remove the jack, spare tire and spare tire cover from the trunk. Take out the trunk liner, and unfasten the retaining nuts for the access panel with a socket wrench. Remove the panel, and disconnect the electrical connector for the fuel pump.

3

Clean the fuel sender assembly with a shop rag, and disconnect the quick-connect fittings from the fuel sender assembly. Remove the retaining snap ring on the fuel sender assembly with a socket wrench, so that the fuel sender assembly springs up. Remove the fuel sender assembly without handling the fuel pipes. Discard the old O-ring and clean the sealing surfaces for the O-ring.

4

Place the new O-ring on the fuel tank and install the new fuel sender assembly onto the fuel tank. Avoid folding the fuel strainer and ensure that the fuel strainer does not impede the movement of the float arm for the fuel gauge after the installation is complete.

5

Replace the retaining snap ring for the fuel sender assembly, and turn the snap ring clockwise with a socket wrench until it fully seats with the fuel tanks tab slots. Attach the electrical connector and quick-connect fittings to the fuel sender assembly. Connect the cable for the negative terminal on the battery, and fasten the filler cap for the fuel tank.

6

Turn the ignition switch for 2 seconds, then turn it off for 10 seconds. Turn the ignition back on and check for leaks in the fuel system. Replace the access cover in the trunk and tighten the retaining nuts to 96 inch-pounds. Replace the trunk liner, jack, spare tire and spare tire cover.

A stuck car horn can prove to be quite an embarrassment, especially if you cannot get it to stop quickly. And if you happen to be parked on a crowded street, it is even worse. The problems that can affect a car horn vary, so you may have to do a little troubleshooting to get it unstuck. Be prepared to take several minutes to get the horn to stop blowing if none of the easier options work.

Instructions

1

Press the horn again or tap it a few times. This may get the horn unstuck. If not, proceed to Step 2.

2

Turn off your engine. Refer to your car manuals circuit descriptions to learn where the fuse box is located. Find your fuse box and pull the horns fuse. If you can pull the fuse, this will silence the horn. If you cannot remove the fuse or find the fuse box, proceed to Step 3.

3

Open your cars hood. Locate the horn. If you can see the rear of the horn, you may be able to see the wires. In that case pull the wires. If you cannot pull them, use scissors or a knife to cut one of the wires. If you resorted to cutting the wire, make sure to tape the loose end so as to not short out your cars electrical system. If you are unable to locate the horn or disconnect the wires, proceed to Step 4.

4

Locate your car battery. Disconnect the main wires running to your battery with a wrench. Doing this may reset the car horn. Reattach the wires. If the horn goes back on, disconnect the wires again and proceed to an auto mechanic to get the horn fixed. If it does not go back on, also go to the mechanic to look into the problem.

Some car owners wonder if a vehicle can operate without a power steering pump belt or if this function is safe. Not replacing a PSP belt may save money and hassle at first, but it will eventually cause huge problems.

Function

The movement of the engine drives the PSP belt. The belt then transfers engine power to the PSP itself, which puts power steering fluid under pressure. This pressurized fluid amplifies steering wheel movement to make steering the car effortless.

Removal

Removal of the PSP belt stops the pumps function, and eliminates power steering. Technically, a car could be driven without a PSP belt, but its not a recommended practice.

Warning

With power steering disabled, the steering wheel becomes much less responsive and more difficult to operate. Without the circulation of power steering fluid, the steering mechanism will lose lubrication over time, ultimately causing the entire steering system to fail, endangering the life of the driver and others.

The exhaust system in your vehicle is attached at various points along the vehicles frame. The system uses an assortment of clamps and hangers to support the exhaust components, as well as to isolate them from excessive vibration. A failure of any of the clamps or hangers will result in the movement of the exhaust system, which will be felt by the driver as vibration. This can often be heard as buzzing noise from underneath the car.

Instructions

1

Lift the vehicle with the jack and place it on the jack stands.

2

Inspect the exhaust hangers and clamps. Look for any cracking or looseness.

3

Tighten any loose clamps or hangers by turning the mounting bolts clockwise with the wrench.

4

Replace any clamps or hangers that appear damaged in any way.

5

Raise the vehicle from the jack stands and remove them. Lower the vehicle to the ground.

Car emblems can be installed for a variety of reasons, including dealer and factory markings. Car emblems are often used to catch prospective buyers eyes or express personal style or opinions. Emblems that have been applied to a car with black paint are no more or less difficult to remove than any other emblems. However, black paint is prone to fading, which can leave a darker spot of paint behind once the emblem is removed. Fortunately, you can minimize this effect with a little bit of extra effort.

Instructions

1

Put your heat gun on its lowest setting and apply heat to the emblem by holding the heat gun a couple of inches away from the emblem. Be caul not to get the heat gun too hot, or it may make your paint bubble under the emblem and permanently damage your cars paint. Use the heat to weaken the glue adhesive holding the emblem on. Periodically check the emblem by attempting to pry a corner of it loose with the putty knife.

2

Pry the emblem off of the vehicle with the putty knife as gently as possible.

3

Use adhesive cleaner to remove leftover glue from vehicles paint. If you do not wash the area thoroughly and make sure all the glue is gone, dirt and debris may become stuck to your paint in the area where the emblem was located, which can be particularly noticeable on a black car.

4

Wax your car, paying special attention to the area around where the emblem was located. This can help reduce the difference in paint color between the paint that has been faded by the sun and the unfaded black paint that was protected from the sun by the emblem.

Airless sprayers work by pumping out paint from a small tip on a spray gun. There are no air compressors, nor is air involved in any way to move the paint. Airless sprayers are very efficient and will apply paint very quickly over a large area. If you are using an airless sprayer to paint your car, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Instructions

1

Cover all areas of your car that are not to be painted. An airless sprayer is not as easy to control as a brush, so do not take any chances that you may accidently spray a mirror or glass. When spraying, the airless sprayer paint will create a cloud of paint that will settle. Wear a protective covering.

2

Keep the spray gun aimed at the area that you want to paint. Never point it towards yourself. Move your hand in a horizontal motion while spraying. Do not stop to spray as you will create a heavy concentration of paint in one area.

3

Begin moving your hand from side to side. Once you have a steady motion, begin to pull the trigger.

4

Release the trigger before stopping motion of your hands when you are ready to quit painting.

5

Clean the sprayer so that no paint builds up and dries up inside.

To protect their consumers, vehicle manufacturers will recall any vehicle model that puts a consumers safety at risk. Due to safety belt buckle problems, steering knuckle problems and possible electrical shorts, Buick has recalled several vehicles to correct problems in their late-model cars. Under recall, needed repairs are completed free of charge.

2009 Buick Lucerne

On June 4, 2010, General Motors Corporation started a recall to correct an electrical system malfunction in 1,365,070 2009 Buick Lucernes. Under the recall, a fuse is added to the cars control circuit harness to reduce the risk of a electrical short on the printed circuit board.

Because additional problems concerning the heated washer fluid modules (HWFS) were reported after the electrical problems were corrected, dealers are also permanently disabling and removing the HWFS. The degree of damage around the modules varied from vehicle to vehicle. Some modules experienced slight melting while others had extensive melting of the plastic around the HWFS fluid chamber. An insert is being will be attached to the owners manual to indicate that the feature has been disabled and removed from the vehicle.

Buick

866-608-8080

Recall ID 10V240000 - electrical system

2007 Buick Lacrosse

Dorman Products Inc. is recalling 979 steering knuckles used in certain 2007 Buick Lacrosse cars. The steering knuckle parts being recalled are Dorman part P/NOS. 697-902 and 697-903. Both parts were sold under Dormans "OE Solutions" brand name. Due to a design defect, the steering knuckle in the HUB area could break and result in a loss of steering control. Dorman will replace the defective parts free of charge and reimburse for all labor charges. The recall began on February 23, 2009. Dorman can be contacted directly.

Dorman

800-523-2492

Recall ID 09E005000 -Steering

2009 Buick Enclave

General Motors is recalling 207,210 Buick Enclaves due to possible safely belt buckle restrictions. When the second row seat is returned to an upright position, the side trim may block the safely belt buckle from completely springing upwards. Applying force to return the second row seat to an upward position may result in the red release button being partially pressed. When pressed, the seat occupants will not be properly restrained. Under the recall, dealers are adjusting the second row side trim shields. Any damaged safety belt buckles will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2010. Buick may be called directly for information.

Buick

866-608-8080

Recall ID 10V3750000 - Seat Belt

Whether you need to tow your car to the local car repair shop or behind your RV while driving across the county, you will need to buy or rent a tow dolly. A tow dolly is the safe and legal way to tow your car. It has a single axle with a tongue, similar to the letter T. The tongue will hook to the towing package on the back of the vehicle which will tow the car. The towing package consists of a hitch and wiring harness installed on the back of your vehicle, and the wiring to control the lights on the tow dolly hooks into the wiring harness of the vehicle itself.

Instructions

1

Loosen the coupler latch on the tongue of the tow dolly and place the coupler over the 2-inch ball of the hitch on the vehicle which will be towing the dolly. Push the towing dolly back and forth a bit to ensure the coupler is seated properly on the 2-inch ball.

2

Push down on the latch to close the coupler latch over the 2-inch ball and place the pin through the latch to securely lock the tow dolly onto the hitch. Pull up on the towing dolly to test if it is secured. If the coupler seems loose on the ball, adjust the coupler, using a wrench.

3

Connect the wiring plug of the tow dolly to the plug beside the hitch. If the wires do not have a plug, then connect the color coded wires of the dolly to the corresponding wires of the towing package. The yellow wire controls the left blinker, the green wire controls the right blinker, the brown wire controls the tail lights, the white wire is the ground and the red wire is for optional brakes on the dolly.

4

Attach the safety chains to hitch. Crisscross the chains, allowing slack in the chains for moving around corners.

Vehicle sun visors come in various colors, shapes and sizes, and they may be equipped with a plain mirror, a lighted mirror or a transmitter. Due to their being flipped up and down and sometimes used as a storage shelf, sun visors take a lot of abuse. If your sun visor becomes damaged or you would just like to upgrade to a better model, with some basic tools and a little bit of patience, you can easily replace the sun visor in your car.

Instructions

1

Locate the sun visor mounting bracket in your car. Many brackets have a plastic cover that conceals the mounting screws.

2

Pry off the plastic cover with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the cover caully because the plastic is thin and may have hardened; it can easily crack and break.

3

Compare your replacement sun visor to your existing sun visor to make sure the mounting hardware hole pattern is the same. If your sun visor has a lighted mirror or a built-in transmitter, compare the wiring harness connections to make sure the new sun visor will be able to connect to your vehicles wiring.

4

Determine if your sun visor is held in place with Phillips or Torx screws. Use the appropriate screwdriver to remove the screws. Put the screws and the plastic cover in a container so they dont get lost.

5

Disconnect the wiring harness from the sun visor if the visor has power accessories.

6

Remove the sun visor caully from the headliner of your vehicle.

7

Position the replacement sun visor over the mounting holes and start the screws into the holes by hand. Once the screws are holding, tighten them with the appropriate screwdriver.

8

Connect any wiring harnesses from the new sun visor to the wiring harnesses on your vehicle.

9

Move the sun visor into all of its possible positions and verify that all electronic components work correctly.

10

Reposition the plastic cover over the mounting bracket and caully push it into place.

Mufflers are in a precarious position. Located under a car, theyre vulnerable to bumps, rocks and road debris that can cause holes or other damage. If you have muffler problems, youll know right away because of the loud noise. Replacement is often the best option to restore your car to quiet operation. Before you can mount a new muffler, youll have to remove your old one. Fortunately, the process is not too difficult

Instructions

1

Prepare the car for muffler removal by jacking it up with a standard car jack or putting it up on car ramps. Since the muffler is located underneath the car, youll have to be able to access that area and move around well enough to do the required work.

2

Put on protective goggles before starting the actual removal work. A muffler can be rusty, and small chips can easily fly up into your eyes. Goggles will protect them from any debris that might fly around while you do the cutting and prying required to remove the muffler. You may also wish to wear work gloves to protect your hands from cuts.

3

Lubricate the muffler clamp nut with a coating of penetration oil, and apply the oil to the fittings as well. These parts tend to be dusty and dirty because of their position underneath the car, which exposes them continually to dirt. The oil will make them easier to manipulate and remove.

4

Remove the nuts that connect the muffler to the exhaust pipes. If the oil does not loosen the nuts well enough to be turned for removal, or if the muffler is welded in place, cut the connecting pipes with your hacksaw. Then, remove muffler nuts from the hanger using your impact wrench. Allow it to drop down so it can be loosened from the rear mounts.

5

Using the pry bar, complete the removal process by removing the muffler from the rubber straps that are keeping it in place. You can now take the car down from the jack or ramps.

Small paint marks are among the most common damages to automotive paint. Black marks on a white car especially stand out and can be made worse with the wrong technique. Knowing how to properly remove black marks on a white car can produce a great-looking finish without worsening the original marks.

Instructions

1

Sand the black marks with 2000 grit sandpaper and water until the black marks are gone. Keep the sanding surface moist. Dry sandpaper will damage the paint surface.

2

Wipe away any dust or debris with a clean towel.

3

Apply rubbing compound to the sanding surface.

4

Polish the rubbing compound into the sanding surface with an orbital polisher.

5

Wipe away any excess rubbing compound with a clean towel.

As a car part seller, you may have to occasionally ship an engine to a customer in a different state or across the country. The customer is relying on you to ship the engine securely in one piece and without delay. This can be accomplished when you use a reliable freight shipment company and take the necessary precautions when packaging the engine block for delivery.

Instructions

1

Drain all fluids from the engine so it is ready for transportation (see Resources). Ensuring the engine is clear of fluids will help you avoid damage and delays during shipping.

2

Position a sturdy wooden pallet on level ground. Place the engine block in the center of the pallet.

3

Tie down the engine with rope. Ensure the rope goes through the pallets wooden slates as necessary. This will firmly hold the engine block in place.

4

Wrap the stretch wrap around both the engine block and pallet. This will further secure the engine.

5

Deliver the pallet to the freight shippers warehouse or terminal. Alternatively, you can request for the shipper to pick up the shipment from your location, however, this will cost you additional fees.

6

Check the pallet and engine one last time before signing a delivery confirmation agreement with the freight company.

A car dolly, or tow dolly, is used to move a vehicle from one place to another when driving it is not an option. The immobile car is driven or pushed up ramps onto the carriage and strapped down with safety straps. A fixed cradle dolly takes corners differently than a swivel cradle dolly since there is no pivot point on the dolly. Care should be used while towing the dolly around corners.

Instructions

Axle Preparation

1

Measure the length of the axle between the leaf spring mounts. Cut the axle at the center of this distance with a metal cutter.

2

Measure the inside diameter of the axle tube to determine the required outside diameter of the sprinkler pipe. Slide the sprinkler pipe into the axle tube so that 6 inches of sprinkler pipe is inside the axle on each side.

3

Weld both joints of the axle and sprinkler pipe using the welder.

The Cradle

4

Cut two 80-inch and two 23-inch pieces of angle steel. Weld the angle steel into a rectangle.

5

Weld a piece of angle steel 18 inches from each of the shorter sides to create two boxes on either end of the cradle.

6

Into each of the boxes you just created, weld two pieces of angle steel that run parallel to the longer side of the rectangle. The new pieces of steel should be 6 inches from the outside edges.

7

Tack weld the cradle onto the axle between the tires to make sure it is square. The center of the cradle should be at the center of the tire. Fully weld the cradle in place. The axle will be offset from center. The front of the dolly is the side with the offset.

The Tongue

8

Cut a 4-foot piece of box tubing. Under the center of the cradle, tack weld this piece of box tubing to the cradle and to the bottom of the axle. Make sure that the tongue is centered and completely welded at the cradle and axle.

9

Cut two more pieces of box steel, each 12 inches long. Place one piece on top of the other piece and slide it forward 6 inches. Weld together.

10

Weld this piece onto the 4-foot piece of tubing already on the dolly, overlapping the pieces by at least 6 inches.

11

Cut another piece of box tubing two feet long. Weld this piece onto the top 12-inch piece of box steel, leaving six inches overlapping. Weld the trailer coupler onto the end of the tongue.

12

Cut two 27-inch pieces of box tubing. Angle them between the tongue and the cradle and weld into place.

Finishing the Dolly

13

Cut the 8-foot plank in half to form two 4-foot pieces. Cut two 12-inch pieces of angle steel.

14

Attach one piece of angle steel to one end of each plank to form the ramps for the dolly.

15

Attach one fender to each side of the cradle of the dolly using the hardware and instructions provided with the fenders.

16

Mount and wire the trailer lights according to the instructions provided with the lights.

The location of the vehicle in winter will affect the type of oil chosen during colder months. Hawaii, for example, stays relatively warm all year and therefore there is less need to change oil weight with the season. Consulting the owners manual for the specific vehicle will reveal what the manufacturer recommends (for instance, the owners manual for a 2001 Honda Civic recommends using 5W-20 oil year-round, but 5W-30 is acceptable if 5W-20 is not available).

Numbers and Letters on Oil

The numbers on motor oil show the oils viscosity rating and range from zero to 50. The oils weight is the "viscosity index" on a scale up to 100 degrees Celsius. The lower number, often followed by a W for "winter", corresponds to the oils ease of movement during colder temperatures. The higher numbers correspond the the oils thickness and ability to maintain that thickness even at higher temperatures. Numbers such as 5W-30 have a wide range, from below -30 degrees to over 100 degrees.

Age of the Vehicle

Older vehicles, whose engines have high mileage, are often recommended to use or switch to an oil that is thicker. This will help limit the noise produced by older engines, as well as reducing the overall oil-consumption by the vehicle and prolong its life. The improved lubrication of the engine helps protect it from wear due to long-time use and age.

Regional Differences

Many newer vehicles, less than 20 years old for example, are recommended by manufacturers to use one type of oil year-round, such as the 5W-20 in a 2001 Honda Civic. If the location, however, suffers extremely cold winters (temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius, for instance) local auto parts stores and mechanics will have regionally-appropriate recommendations for oil weights. Not all manufacturers will account for such temperature extremes in the owners manuals so consulting local experts will prove helpful.

Hourly Rate

According to AutoMD, an online auto repair advice site, this job will take roughly an hour to complete depending on the make, model and vintage of the automobile, Dont forget to factor in your own work speed and competence level. Repair shops charge $90 to $120 per hour for their technicians. Independent repairmen normally charge somewhat less.

Charge Flat Rate

You may consider charging a flat rate for the repair, depending on the circumstances. If you are doing the job for a friend, neighbor or relative, you might want to charge only for the material needed to secure the window back into the track. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this particular repair and unsure how much time you will need to complete the job, give the customer a flat rate quote.

Bottom Line

If you were a trained technician, familiar with this sort of repair, you wouldnt be asking this question. Assuming you are unfamiliar with window repairs or only a part-time repairman, give the customer a flat rate quote based on the cost of materials, the amount of time you estimate you will need and what you consider is a fair rate.

Emission problems can factor heavily into the selling of a car. These problems may prevent a sale in a state where a smog certificate is required. When you are selling a car with emission issues in states that do not require such certification, you can help facilitate a sale by making the necessary adjustments for the market. Use the emission problems to your advantage.

Instructions

1

Place a sales ad on a website like Craigslist. In the body of your ad, mention the cars emission problems directly. Include all details related to the emission troubles. If you are aware of the specific cause of the problem, add this information as a suggestion for repair. For example, if a faulty catalytic converter is causing the problem, state that it needs to be replaced.

2

Drop your asking price below the Kelley Blue Book value. Say, in your ad, that the emission problems are the reason for the lower price. Market your car as a good deal for any prospective buyers due to the lowered price. Be willing to negotiate. Include a section that cites the benefit purchasing a car with a fixable problem at a very good price--that the buyer could save money. Make sure that this is the case--that the price of the car and the repair are less than the value of the car. Remember that a car with a problem isnt likely to be attractive to buyers unless they can save money.

3

Disclose all emission issues to a prospective buyer who contacts you. Go over the information regarding the emission problems once again. He must agree to incur all responsibility regarding the problems. He must be aware of possible smog checks in the future, which he will be completely responsible for.

In its most basic form, a vehicles power train consists of two main systems: the engine and the drivetrain. The engine creates the power, and the drivetrain harnesses it to turn the wheels.

Engine

A gasoline internal combustion engine combines a mist made of air and fuel in its intake manifold. When the intake valves open, a spark plug fires to ignite this mixture, pushing the piston downward to turn the crankshaft. The revolution of the crankshaft pushes the next piston up, and the process repeats to continue the rotational motion.

Transmission

The transmission connects to the engine via a torque converter or a clutch plate or plates, depending on the type of transmission. Power from the engine turns the input shaft and then transfers through the transmissions gears to attain the desired output ratio.

Driveshaft and Differential

In some cars, the differential bolts directly to the transmission in a single housing. In others, it mounts on the rear axle and connects to the transmission via the driveshaft. The differential is responsible for flipping the rotational motion of the driveshaft onto the separate axis of the axle turning the wheels.

Automobiles, like many forms of life on Earth, long ago left the oceans for drier climes; and like most others evolved to land, autos arent particularly keen on going back to the depths. Whether or not a car runs after a good dunking partly depends upon the engine in question, partly on how much water it encountered, and why it stalled in the first place.

Puddles

Splashing through deep puddles -- those no deeper than about 6 inches, or slightly above the bottom of the oil pan -- is common enough that most manufacturers build cars to account for it. If a quick dunk into a puddle or a brief splash causes your engine to stall, then odds are water got into something electrical and shorted it. Most low-hanging sensors likely to encounter water -- the oxygen sensors and crankshaft position sensors -- arent prone to damage by it, but water in the will interrupt the signal they produce. Odds are good the car will start after you unplug the electrical connectors and dry them out.

Immersion Up to the Engine Block

Lets say you live in a flood-prone area and you wake up one morning to find your car standing in about a foot of water -- right up to the engine block or the bottom of the doors, but not past them. If the car refuses to start under these conditions, then its almost certainly because water has penetrated the lowest-hanging electrical connectors. The car may not start while its in standing water, but it should be fine afterward as long as the fuse block or computer hasnt gotten wet. Even a completely submerged computer may not be beyond saving as long as you dont send any power through it while it still is wet -- but dont count on it working after you dry it out.

Immersion Up to the Valve Covers

Unless you own a Jeep or a Hummer H1, immersion up to the valve covers is well beyond what the factory had in mind when they designed your car. If your car stalled while going through water up to the door handles or the bottom of the valve covers, you may have more significant problems than those electrical in nature. If it didnt stall because of an electrical short, then odds are that it stalled because water in the pipe created enough backpressure to halt the combustion process. Once the engine stalls, all of that pressure goes away and water comes flooding up through the exhaust system. At the very least, you may expect serious thermal shock damage to the catalytic converter core, and possibly a completely flooded engine.

Total Flooding -- Car vs. Submarine

In the above scenario, where the car stalled with water above the level of the exhaust ports in the engine, then water would flood up through the manifold and into the cylinders. Try to start the car with the cylinders full of water -- assuming the starter works -- and you end up permanently damaging the engine through hydro-lock. Once that happens, your engine is effectively toast. However, say the engine didnt stall until water got up past the intake system. In that case, youre looking at gallons of water sucked into the engine and almost certain hydro-lock. At that point, nothing can save it.

Salvaging the Vehicle

The good news is that as long as your engine didnt go into hydro-lock, theres no reason it shouldnt run after a thorough drying and replacement of the oil and any damaged electrical components. In cases of prolonged immersion, youll also need to drain the fuel tank and lines. Certain components, such as the computer, ignition module and possibly the ignition coil, are almost sure to go following immersion, but theyre replaceable. The guys at BBCs "Top Gear" television program proved this while attempting to destroy a diesel Toyota Hilux pickup truck by dropping it at the bottom of the English Channel and leaving it overnight. After a bit of drying, fluid replacement and electrical work, host Jeremy Clarkson started the truck and drove it home from the beach.

Like other years for the first generation of the Dodge Stratus, the 1998 Stratus is standard-equipped with a 2.0 L SOHC engine. If you have experienced persistent electrical problems and you have singled out the car battery as the cause, it is likely that an alternator replacement is in order. The replacement procedure for the alternator on this model is a fairly straightforward task that can be done quickly and easily at home.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable from its terminal post and slip the cables rubber grommet over the electrical post to prevent an accidental discharge.

2

Disconnect the electrical field circuit from the alternator, which is located toward the front of the vehicle and is turned by the drive belt. Disconnect the B+ terminal wire by prying off its terminal cover with a flat screwdriver and removing the wires retaining bolt.

3

Loosen the pivot bolts on the alternator until you can maneuver the alternator back and create slack in the belt. Remove the belt, then finish removing the alternator mounting bolts, making sure not to lose the spacer on the pivot bolt on the top. Slide the alternator forward and remove it from the vehicle.

4

Place the new alternator in position and mount it with the bolts, but leave the bolts loose. Reconnect the B+ terminal wire and tighten it in place with its retaining bolt, then reconnect the field circuit terminal. Install the drive belt and properly tension it, then lock it into position by tightening the alternator mounting bolts.

5

Reconnect the negative battery terminal. Start the car and inspect for proper functioning of the electrical system.