Repair And Fix it

Like most ponderings in automotive repair, the question of removing spark plug wires from a running engine isnt necessarily so much one of "could" as it is of "should." Technically, yes, you can yank the plug wires off of a running engine just as easily as you could one that isnt running, but it may not necessarily prove conducive to you or your cars good health.

You Could

Removing a plug wire from a running engine isnt likely to result in catastrophic engine failure, particularly if you put it back on shortly afterward. All spark plugs misfire from time to time, you just dont notice it because its intermittent, random and usually happens so quickly that the cylinders firing again before the engine has a chance to vibrate. So, intentionally creating a misfire by removing the plug wire for a few seconds or even a few minutes isnt likely to destroy anything on most engines.

Common Effects on the Engine

Most engines have a rubber ring on the front of the crankshaft called a harmonic balancer; on the outer edge of the balancer is a heavy, metal ring. When the explosions in the engines cylinders push down on the pistons, the forces they exert quickly accelerate the crankshaft. When that accelerations over, the crank tries to slow down, resulting in a constant cycle of acceleration and deceleration that manifests as vibration in the crankshaft. The metal ring on the balancer resists these sudden, but tiny, vibrations and keep the crank from tearing itself in two. Over a long enough period of time, a dead cylinder and the resultant heavy vibration will over-work the balancer, causing it to fail. Once that happens, you could be looking at serious damage to the engine.

Effects on the Converter

Your cars catalytic converter works something like a blast furnace to convert toxic gases produced by your engine into more inert forms that wont drown polar bears or grow fish with three eyes. The converter takes advantage of unburned fuel -- which is, itself, a pollutant -- coming from your engine and uses it to fuel the furnace in the converter matrix. More fuel means more heat. Killing the spark in one cylinder will drastically increase the amount of fuel pouring into your exhaust, which will, at some point, cause the converter to overheat and fail. The engines control computer will compensate for this to some extent, but you can count on extra fuel going into the exhaust.

Lean-Out

Depending upon the computers control strategy, disconnecting a plug wire and leaving it that way could seriously fry something. When the oxygen sensor detects excess fuel in the exhaust, your cars computer may assume that this represents a net excess of fuel through all the cylinders. It will respond by decreasing the amount of fuel injected to all of the other cylinders in order to get the air/fuel ratio back in line. The resulting lean condition will increase combustion chamber temperature, causing overheating, detonation in the engine and, eventually, complete meltdown. Most computers do have programming provisions to account for a dead cylinder, and wont react this way; but some dont, and theres no way to be sure unless you know exactly how your fuel injection system thinks.

Safety Issues

Before pulling the plug wire off of a running engine, bear in mind that your are, in fact, grabbing a live wire with about 40,000 volts worth of electricity coursing through it. Normally, this electricity will pass through the plug wire and race to the spark plug, which acts as a ground. But when you remove that ground, the spark is going to find the next, most convenient ground. If you happen to be touching the body of the car when you pull the wire off, then you become that ground. While electricity normally wouldnt arc through the insulation, even if it is a bit old and damaged, removing the primary ground will make that spark pretty determined to get out whatever way it can. Its not likely to kill you unless you have heart or nervous system problems, since the amperage is very low -- but the sensation is rather, shall we say, "life affirming."

A 2002 Ford pickup is equipped with an On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD II) computer. This computer reads trouble codes sent from sensors positioned throughout the vehicle, and it keeps track of when the pickup needs to be serviced. When you see the Service Engine Soon light illuminate on your instrument panel, this is information being sent to you from the vehicles computer. Make sure you service the engine first before you attempt to reset and turn off the light. Otherwise the light will just keep turning back on and it wont accurately keep track of when your vehicle needs servicing.

Instructions

1

Lift up the hood of the pickup and prop it open. Remove the battery cable from the negative side of the battery using a 1/2-inch end wrench. Let the truck sit for about five minutes. Put the cable back in place and close the hood.

2

Put the key into the ignition and start the engine. Look at your instrument panel to see if the Service Engine Soon light turned off. If it didnt turn off, go to an auto parts store and buy an OBD-II code scanner to reset the light.

3

Plug the connector on the OBD-II code scanner into the port to the left under the steering column. Put the key into the ignition and turn the car on but dont start the engine. Key into your scanner your pickups make, model and engine size.

4

Wait for the trouble code for Service Engine Soon to appear on the scanner. When it does, press "delete." Remove the scanner from the port and start the engine. The light should now turn off.

A blow off valve is a device that allows recirculating air to exit the intake/exhaust system on a turbocharged vehicle. Without the blow off valve, air would be forced back into the turbochargers compression wheel when the drivers foot is taken off the accelerator, causing undue stress on the turbos components. This, in turn, slows turbo spool up time. Over time, this could cause the turbo to fail. Installing a blow off valve gives the air a place to go and relieves pressure from the turbos compression wheel during gear shifts (when the drivers foot is off the accelerator).

Instructions

1

Open the hood and disconnect the negative cable from the battery terminal. Disconnect the positive cable from the battery terminal.

2

Remove the battery.

3

Locate the factory recirculating valve. Use your shop manual if you need a visual description for the valve specific to your vehicle. This valve recirculates the intake air to the exhaust. This is the device we want to replace. There will be two hoses connected to vacuum lines. The top vacuum line is connected to the throttle body after the intake. This vacuum pressure is what makes the valve operate.

4

Use either a screwdriver or socket wrench (either should work) to remove the screw bolts on the hose clamps.

5

Slide the hose clamps out of the way and use the screwdriver to pry both the vacuum lines off.

6

Install the new blow off valve. Install the hoses the opposite way of removal.

7

Put the batter back in and reconnect the positive cable to the battery first, then the negative cable.

You can turn off the seat belt chime on your 2005 Chevrolet yourself from your home garage. The chime is there to remind you that you need to fasten your belt, but many people find it very annoying. Just keep in mind that it is illegal to drive without your seat belt fastened in most states. So leave the chime intact if you live in one of these states, as turning off the chime wont allow you to use the seat belt.

Instructions

1

Call a junkyard and ask if they have any 2005 Chevrolet vehicles in your exact model. If they do, ask them if they have any seat belt assemblies. Some yards will remove the seat belt part for you, but you may have to do it yourself at others. If so, make sure you bring a Flathead screwdriver and a socket wrench set with you.

2

Cut the seat belt strap with scissors and remove the seat belt clip by sliding it from the seat belt strap.

3

Fasten the clip into the seat belt buckle on your vehicle. This will shut off the seat belt chime.

An illuminated traction control light in a 2001 Jaguar 4.0 is an indication that the ABS computer detects a problem with the traction control or anti-lock braking system. This could represent a current problem or a previous problem that has yet to be cleared from the ABS computers memory. An illuminated traction control light will remain on until the ABS computers memory is cleared and reset. In order to clear the computers memory and turn off the traction control light, a connection must be established between the ABS computer and an automotive scan tool. Once a connection is established, the memory can be cleared and the light will turn off automatically.

Instructions

1

Rotate the ignition switch to the OFF position in order to turn off the engine.

2

Locate the Jaguars diagnostic communications interface port, or DCIP. The DCIP is mounted just out of side, underneath the dashboard, below the steering wheel. The port has 16 connection pins and is the male end that connects to the female end of the scan tool.

3

Connect the female end of the scan tool to the male DCIP and turn the ignition switch to the ON position, then power on the scan tool.

4

Enter the make, model and year of your vehicle when prompted by the scan tool. Search the menus using the navigation keys on the scan tool and enter the ABS computer menu. Choose the option to read the trouble codes from the ABS computers memory. Write down the trouble codes that display on the screen. These alphanumeric codes have a very high diagnostic value and can explain why the code was triggered, should the light re-illuminate once the codes are cleared.

5

Choose the option to clear the codes from the computers memory. Once the memory is clear, the scan tool will indicate this on the main screen. Disconnect the tool and start the Jaguars engine. Confirm that the traction control light is now off.

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.

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.

Sometimes its easy to figure out why your battery is dead because you left the lights on, or accidentally bumped an interior light as you got out and it went unnoticed. But, after the car is jumped and the battery dies again, its clear that you need a new battery or something else is drawing off the battery even when the car is off. Replacing the battery wont fix the problem if your car has a parasitic battery drain. Rather than a costly trip to the mechanic, find the source of the problem yourself with a multimeter, also known as an ammeter.

Instructions

1

Charge your car battery if your car doesnt start. Otherwise proceed to step 3.

2

Let the car sit for at least 20 minutes after recharging the battery so the engine, lights and fuses will be cool.

3

Turn off the radio, unplug any devices from the lighter socket like phone chargers or GPS units.

4

Pop the hood. Remove the keys from the ignition. Check that all interior and exterior lights are off. Get out of the car and shut your door. Check that all the other doors are shut securely.

5

Connect the meter to your cars battery per the manufacturers instructions. Once the meter is in series with the post and clamp, the display will show the current draw from the battery. Now, its time to go searching for the root of the problem.

6

Pop the trunk. Touch the interior light. If the light is hot or warm, that means the light is staying on even when the trunk is closed.

7

Open the glove box. Touch the interior light. If the light is hot or warm, that means the light is staying on even when the box is closed.

8

Pull fuses methodically until you see the number displayed on the meter drop. This means youve found the source of the drain. Put each fuse back in the right socket after pulling it if you found the number didnt go down.