Friday, April 4, 2014
How to Replace the Wheel Cover on a 2009 HHR
Replacing the wheel cover on your 2009 HHR involves one of the preliminary steps necessary to change a tire, and its a fairly simple process. Botching one of the steps, however, or forgetting to ensure the security of your replacement cover could result in damage to your car or even an accident, as covers can go flying if they arent properly secured. Replacing the wheel cover on your 2009 HHR requires thoughtful attention to both the removal of the old cover as well as the placement of the new cover.
Instructions
- 1
Pry the cover off of your HHRs wheel using a flat-head screwdriver or the flat end of your lug wrench. There will be a small insertion point into which you can place the screwdriver or the lug wrench. A simple prying motion will release the wheel cover.
2Position the new wheel cover so that the valve stem in the tire extends through valve-stem hole in the wheel cover. Standard HHR tires have 16-inch wheels, so you will need 16-inch replacement covers unless you have modified your HHR with different tires.
3Secure the wheel cover in place by hand. There is a seam running along the edge of the wheel into which the inner edge of the wheel cover will fit securely. You should be able to move your hands away from the wheel without the wheel cover falling off.
4Tap around the edges of the wheel cover gently with a soft mallet, hammer or the edge of the lug wrench, depending on how caul you want to be in handling your new wheel cover.
Friday, March 14, 2014
How to Remove a 5 0L Timing Cover
The 5.0L engine is one of the most dependable and rugged engines that the Ford Motor Company has ever offered. Although it is a dependable workhorse, even the best engines parts occasionally fail. This is true of the front seal, located inside the timing cover on this particular engine. In order to replace the seal when it starts leaking, it is necessary to remove the timing cover. Although it sounds like a big job, most people with a little mechanical knowledge can do it in their own garage.
Instructions
- 1
Slip a drain pan beneath the radiator. Open the radiator cap Use a pair of pliers to loosen the petcock at the bottom of the radiator by turning it counterclockwise until it rotates freely. Spin the petcock counterclockwise until it is fully open, allowing the coolant to drain from the radiator.
2Remove the bolts that connect the oil pan to the engine block by attaching a socket from a socket wrench set to any combination of ratchet wrench and extensions that are necessary to reach each bolt, and turning them counterclockwise until they are free of the engine block. Remove the oil pan.
3Remove the crankshaft bolt by putting the correct size socket wrench on the ratchet and turning the bolt counterclockwise until it is free of the crankshaft. Slide the dampener and crankshaft pulley, which is bolted to the damper, off the end of the crankshaft.
4Remove the bolts holding the water pump to the engine block with the ratchet wrench and the appropriate sized socket. Remove the water pump.
5Remove the bolts attaching the timing cover of the 5.0 L engine to the engine block with the ratchet wrench, and/or extensions in the appropriate sized socket wrench. Remove the timing cover from the engine.
Friday, January 10, 2014
How to Touch Up Front Bumper Cover Paint
The nature of driving on roads anywhere in the United States has the issue of small bits of debris bouncing up and hitting the front bumper causing paint damage. The smallest of pebbles at 55 miles per hour can create a scratch or paint chip that will look ugly on a new car. This problem can easily be rectified with a trip to the auto store or dealer.
Instructions
- 1
Examine the damage to the bumper cover. if it is a large nick, more than 1 inch, you need to use the 200 grit sandpaper. If it is less, then use the 400 grit. You are not sanding a large surface. Hold the sandpaper between the thumb and forefinger and gently rub the damaged area. You are just trying to rough the surface.
2Wipe the area clean. It is a good idea to use the damp cloth and wipe an area around eight inches around the damage, this will keep it from getting any excess dirt under the paint. Allow to dry.
3Paint the damaged spot. The easiest way to do this is to carefully paint inside the damaged area first and try not to go outside the lines. The touch-up paint comes with a brush on the inside of the bottle connected to the cap. Allow the paint to dry.
Friday, October 18, 2013
How to Remove a Timing Cover on a Small Block Chevy
Underneath the timing cover of a small-block Chevrolet engine sits the timing chain and gears. Most often this cover is removed in order to replace the timing chain, but it is also part of the disassembly when rebuilding a small Chevy V8. Though the timing cover sits on the front of the motor, it is obscured by other engine components mounted in front. To remove the timing cover, these obstacles must be removed first.
Instructions
- 1
Drain the engine coolant and engine oil. On some Chevy models, the oil pan will also need to be removed in order to take off the timing cover.
2Remove the bottom radiator hose by loosening the screw clamp with a flat screwdriver, draining the coolant into the waste bucket. The bottom hose is the one that hooks to the water pump. If the top hose and radiator are in the way, they will need to be removed as well.
3Take off the cooling fan and then remove the drive belts.
4Remove the water pump. Allow the excess fluid to drain from the block into the waste bucket.
5Remove the harmonic balancer with a harmonic balance puller. Do not pull on the edges of the harmonic balancer or it will separate the rubber from the metal housing.
6Take off any additional brackets that may be in the way.
7Disconnect the engine mounts if the engine needs to be raised in order to access the timing cover.
8Remove the bolts on the timing cover and pull the cover loose. If you did not take off the oil pan, then open the timing cover slightly and tilt it back. Cut the front oil seal off evenly with the engine. Remove the cover.
