Repair And Fix it

The indicators on a car or motorcycle need to be functional in order for the vehicle to be road-worthy. Making turns or changing lanes without informing other road users can be very dangerous. If one of your indicators has a burned or broken contact, it will be necessary to repair it. Removing the contact and replacing it with a new one is a far more cost effective solution than replacing the whole indicator.

Instructions

1

Turn off the ignition and remove the contact clips from the battery. Use the screwdriver to remove any mounting screws holding the indicator assembly to the body. It should lift out as one complete unit.

2

The indicator assembly consists of a front and rear half, which are usually held together by means of a sprung plastic clip bridging the two halves. Locate the clip and press it using the blade of the screwdriver. The two halves will separate, revealing the inside of the indicator.

3

Unscrew the bulb and lift it out of the assembly. With the back of the assembly removed, you should be able to see the wiring. Locate the burned or broken contact.

4

Heat up the soldering iron and hold it to the base of the contact. The metal tab of the contact is held in place by a plastic spade clip, but the soldered electrical connection at the base must be released to remove it from the plastic clip. Melt the solder, taking care not to touch the plastic ridges at the edge.

5

Grip the end of the contact with the needle-nose pliers and pull it toward you, it should slide out from the clip, allowing you to replace it with a fresh one.

Harley introduced Road King dressers with an 82 cubic inch Evolution engine in 1993. The models were sold with 88 inch Twin Cam engines beginning in 1999, and since 2006 the model has been shipped with 96 cubic inch Twin Cam power plants. The current model weighs about 815 pounds. They are designed for long distance travel so riders who do a lot of touring are often concerned with gas mileage. After performing basic stage one power upgrades, more power always equals poorer gas mileage. There are, however, a number of suggestions for improving power without seriously degrading mileage on the road.

Instructions

1

It is common to call the first necessary power improvements to any new Road King the "Harley tax." The Motor Company inhibits the respiration of new motors to better meet government clean air goals. The first power improvement you should make is to your Road Kings air intake. Replace your stock air cleaner with a high flow air cleaner.

2

If your motorcycle is carbureted, rejet your carb, remove the factory installed air-fuel mixture plug on the bottom of your stock carburetor and fatten up the mixture slightly. If your bike has Electronic Fuel Injection, replace your EFI module with an aftermarket model or at least have your stock EFI remapped by a competent technician. Research done by Harley-Davidson in 2007 showed that Road King horsepower could be increased by about 9 percent by remapping alone.

3

Install a high performance, two into one exhaust. What the engine breathes in it must also breathe out. Installation of an efficient exhaust system can also add another nine or ten percent to your engines horsepower. Two into one exhausts help maintain equal back pressure in both cylinders. Replacing your Road Kings exhaust is a basic job you should have no trouble doing yourself.

4

If you spend most of the time on your Road King touring, you should consider a replacement cam or cams. Cams control the flow of air into and exhaust out of your cylinders. They also influence the power range of your bike. If you spend most of your riding time going 80 miles an hour through the wide open spaces you want your Road King to make power most efficiently in that power band.

5

Consider replacing your stock cylinder heads with aftermarket cylinder heads. Head design and porting is a craft that is difficult to perfect with mass-produced products. The shape and finish of your heads greatly effects efficiency of the explosions in your engines. Bigger bangs mean more power. Most after market head makers and porters claim power increases of up to ten percent with their products.

Maybe youve lost the key to your Honda Prelude, your key no longer works correctly or you just want to have a spare key on hand. Obtaining a new car key, even for an older model vehicle, is not difficult. Honda vehicles are equipped with key codes that are personalized for each individual vehicle. As long as you can provide the vehicle identification number (VIN), which contains the key code for your 1990 Prelude, to a professional key maker, you can obtain a new key.

Instructions

1

Locate the vehicle identification number (VIN) on your 1990 Honda Prelude. You can find this number in the original purchase paperwork, on the title or on your insurance information. It is also located on the doorjamb on the drivers side and is visible only when the door is open.

2

Call your local Honda service department or a professional locksmith to order a new car key. If you call Honda, you will have to pick up your key when it is ready whereas a locksmith might come to you.

3

Provide your VIN to the Honda service department or locksmith. This number will allow the service technician or locksmith to read the key code for your car and cut the key correctly.

4

Provide proof that you are the owner of the vehicle for which you are requesting a new key. You will need to show the Honda service department or the locksmith your photo identification and proof of ownership such as the vehicle registration, insurance card, or purchase paperwork with your name on it. You can then pay for your new key.

Over time, many things happen that cause old tools to work not quite as well as they once did. In the case of socket wrenches, this can easily happen. Frequently, something will happen to a wrench or socket that makes the handle and the socket stick together. This can be caused by bent or dented tools, temperature expansion or by grease, dirt or other substances getting into the tool. To keep your tools useful even as they age, you may need to know how to get a stuck socket and handle apart.

Instructions

1

Apply some WD-40 or other lubricant to the joint where the socket connects to the wrench.

2

Wrap a rag around the head and the shaft of the wrench so that you can get a good grip on both parts of the tool without your hand slipping. Pull the two pieces apart if you can.

3

Clamp the handle of the socket wrench carefully in a vise. Wrap the tool with several wraps with a rag if youre worried about scoring the tool in the jaws of the vise.

4

Tighten a crescent wrench or monkey wrench around the socket or use a pair of pliers to get a strong grip on it. Again, wrap it in fabric if youre worried about biting into the tool. Pull as hard as you can until you separate the tools.

5

Insert a thin-bladed flat head screwdriver in between the socket and the wrench and try to pry it off if nothing else has worked.

Rims are the inside portion of the wheel apparatus that a tire surrounds. While hubcaps come standard on most cars to cover this portion, rims are made for cosmetic appeal as well as performance. Rim scratches easily occur during daily driving. Scraping a curb or getting hit with rocks while driving can cause these scratches. Luckily, there are repair shops available that recoat your rims to make them look new again. AWRS Wheel Repair, Fix Rim and Wheel Technology are a few companies that recondition rims.

Instructions

AWRS Wheel Repair

1

Navigate to the AWRS Wheel Repair site. Click on the "Locations" tab in the top center of the toolbar.

2

Click on the "Downward Arrow" and select your State in the "US Locator" section.

3

Call or write the store and ask for a quote to have your rims recoated. Give details about the issues with the rims. Phone numbers and email addresses are linked to the site.

4

Schedule an appointment with the store. Replace your tires with a different set of tires. Load the tires and rims into your trunk.

5

Drop off the rims to the local store. Rim recoating takes approximately one to 14 days, depending on the type of recoating and the schedule of the local store.

Fix Rim

6

Navigate to the Fix Rim site. Check to see if there is a location near you. Call 888-4-FIX-RIM.

7

Set an appointment with Fix Rim. Fix Rims sends a van to your location to fix your rim on the spot.

8

Wait for the service person to examine your rim. If your rims cannot be recoated on the spot, they will send the rims to their operation location to recoat the rims.

ACU-TRU

9

Navigate to the ACU-TRU site. Click on the "Find A Dealer" tab in the top center of the toolbar.

10

Click location nearest you on the map.

11

Call or write the store and ask for a quote for rim recoating. Give details about the issues with the rims. Phone numbers and email addresses are linked to the site.

12

Schedule an appointment with the store. Replace your tires with a different set of tires. Load the tires and rims into your trunk.

13

Drop off the rims to the local store.

Two ways are available to get a Harley with a more open, unrestricted exhaust, unless you live in California. The most economical way is to drill a one inch hole through the stock baffles of your Harley. You need a bit at least eight inches long and you must drill in the center of the baffles. Proponents believe this simple solution to the overly restrictive stock exhaust can produce up to seven more horsepower. But, this approach will not work with Harleys sold in California because the catalytic converter gets in the way. Most riders simply replace their exhaust with aftermarket pipes. Here is how you do that.

Instructions

1

Make sure your engine and exhaust pipes are cool. Cover the frame, engine, swing arm and rear wheel behind your exhaust with clean rags so you will not scratch your paint or chrome. Loosen all nuts and bolts that attach the exhaust system to your motorcycle with a socket wrench or box wrenches.

2

Find the exhaust support bracket behind the exhaust pipes and remove it with a socket and wrench. Spray penetrating oil around each muffler where it joins the exhaust pipe. Wait five minutes and then pull the mufflers off with your hands. Repeat as necessary.

3

Find and loosen the oxygen sensor with a box wrench. Disconnect the oxygen sensor with your hands. Disconnect the head pipes with a socket wrench. Remove and save the retainer rings and clamps from your old pipes for reuse.

4

Bolt on the new mounting bracket included with your replacement exhaust. Always use wrenches to turn bolts. Use a thread locker on the threads. Install the retainer rings and clamps from your old exhaust on your new exhaust with your fingers and a screwdriver.

5

Your new exhaust will probably be a one piece exhaust without slip-on mufflers. Bolt your new exhaust to your exhaust manifold and the new mounting bracket. Hand tighten all bolts and then wrench tighten.

6

Apply Teflon paste to the heat sensor and reconnect. If supplied as separate pieces, insert the new baffle or baffles into the tail pipes. Attach the new heat shields with a flat-head screwdriver.

Due to their high-reflectivity, scratches tend to be quite visible on chrome-plated surfaces. A nasty scratch or gouge can easily distract from the beauty of the wheels. If the scratch is minor, a simple polishing may be all thats required to remove it. If, on the other hand, the damage runs deep into the plated surface, the scratch must be filled in and then touched-up with paint.

Instructions

1

Feel the scratch with your fingernail. If the damage does not extend deep into the plating, it can likely be buffed out. Wipe down the wheel to remove any dirt or debris before continuing.

2

Polish the scratch using grade 0000 steel wool that has been dipped in rubbing compound. Use small, circular motions, reapplying the rubbing compound often. Continue this process for several minutes, pausing periodically to wipe off the area and evaluate the progress. If the scratch is removed by the process, consider the task complete. If not, the wheel will have to be touched-up.

3

Mix a small amount of epoxy by following the instructions outlined on the packaging. Using a toothpick, fill in the scratch with the epoxy and allow it to dry. Polish the area again with the steel wool to even out the surface.

4

Cover the epoxy with a layer of chrome touch-up paint. Allow the paint to dry, then polish it with a buffing pad and a mild paint polish. Do not use steel wool on the paint. If necessary, apply a second coat.

The power window assembly in a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox is controlled by a switch thats mounted in a switch panel in the center of the dash board, just behind the shifter. This switch panel contains four switches; one for each window. The switches connect to wires that run to grounds, relays, and fuses within the vehicle. Because of the complex wiring system needed to control the window, its not possible to bridge any of the terminals or manipulate the wiring to raise or lower the window without using the switch. Unfortunately, if the switch fails, the switch panel needs to be replaced in order to raise or lower the window.

Instructions

Removal

1

Grip the bottom of the center column trim bezel. Pull up gently on the bottom of the bezel to detach it from the center column.

2

Work around the column trim bezel, gently pulling up at the edges until the entire bezel is detached from the vehicle.

3

Disconnect any electrical connectors from the back of the trim bezel, including the window switchs electrical connector.

4

Remove the screws holding the switch assembly to the bezel with a screwdriver, then remove the switch assembly.

Installation

5

Set the new window switch panel into position on the bezel. Reinstall and tighten the screws to 22 inch-pounds with a torque wrench.

6

Reconnect the window switch panels electrical connector. Reconnect any other electrical connectors from the car to the bezel.

7

Set the bezel into position and press down around its circumference in order to seat all of the retaining clips. Test the window switches to ensure that they work properly.

You can get the trouble codes from your Hyundai XG350 using a handheld computerized device known as an OBD scan tool. When sensors positioned throughout the Hyundai detect a malfunction, they send alphanumeric trouble codes to the on-board diagnostics computer (OBD) which stores them for you to retrieve with your scan tool. This scan tool can be purchased from any auto parts retailer.

Instructions

1

Locate a port on the lower part of the drivers dash. Plug the scan tool into this port, taking care not to force it in. Rotate it until it fits properly.

2

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "on" position, but dont crank the engine. This will power on the scan tool. Wait while the OBD scan tool retrieves the codes.

3

Write the codes on a piece of paper and look up the meaning of the codes in the OBD scan tool manual.

4

Unplug the scan tool from the port and turn off the vehicle. Have your Hyundai serviced or repaired based on the information retrieved from the codes.