Repair And Fix it

An engine lift, also called a hoist, is a heavy-duty piece of equipment used to lift automobile engines out of the chassis so that mechanics can work on or replace them. Engine lifts are manufactured by numerous companies, but designs are generally the same with similar parts. A typical engine hoist is composed of a stand, a jack, (also called a hydraulic ram) and a boom with chains and hook attachments.

The Stand

The engine lift stand, also called the legs or frame, is a foundation that stabilizes the lift and bears the weight of the engine when the lift is loaded. A good engine lift stand is made of steel or other sturdy, durable metal. Many engine lift stands are equipped with pivoting casters with locking brakes so that the entire lift can be easily and safely moved or repositioned.

The Jack or Hydraulic Ram

The jack or hydraulic ram composes the vertical, central portion of an engine hoist, and is the part of the device that does the actual lifting. The hydraulic jack functions similarly to a car jack, and is equipped with a lever operated by manually pumping it to raise the engine incrementally. All hydraulic rams should be equipped with a safety device to control how quickly the lift lowers the engine, and to prevent it from slipping or dropping.

The Boom, Chains and Hooks

The boom is a long, horizontal arm, usually equipped with chains and hooks, that is mounted onto the hydraulic jack. A boom is designed to balance load forces so that a loaded engine lift will not tip over. Once the hooks are attached to the engine, the boom rises incrementally as the hydraulic jack is pumped, lifting the engine free of the chassis. The chains allow the engine to dangle from the boom with some horizontal motion, which makes it easier to maneuver the engine.

Power steering ers to steering assisted by a hydraulic pump, a pulley belt controlled by engine speed, a rotary valve device and steering gears. There are two types of power steering: rack-and-pinion steering and the recirculating-ball steering.

Steering Wheel

The steering wheel is a wheel controlled by the driver of the vehicle. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the wheels of the vehicle turn. The steering wheel is the user-controlled part of a power-steering system.

Rotary Valve

A rotary valve is a device that senses the forces applied on a steering wheel. It is part of a spool valve assembly. The rotary valve has a torsion bar. Force applied to a torsion bar causes it to twist and rotate the inside of the spool valve. The top of the torsion bar in the rotary valve connects to the steering wheel. Depending on the steering system, the bottom of the torsion bar connects to the worm gear or the pinion, which turns the wheels. When the spool valve turns, a port opens and allows steering fluid to flow to the appropriate lines. The lines connect to the power cylinder.

Rotary Vane Pump and Pulley

A rotary vane pump provides the hydraulic power for the power steering. The cars engine along with a belt and pulley run the pump. Retractable vanes inside a chamber of the pump spin and force hydraulic fluid to the outlet for the rotary valve. The pump runs faster when the engine is running faster. Higher engine speeds create higher pressure on the fluid flowing to the outlet. The pump also has a pressure-relief valve that opens if there is too much fluid pumping, such as with high engine speeds.

Steering Gear: Rack and Pinion

The steering gear turns the wheels. In a rack-and-pinion steering system, the pressurized fluid pushes on the power cylinder mounted on the rack. The resulting changes in pressure from the fluid moves the rack, making steering easier. The rack is a long metal piece with a flat side. On the flat side there are teeth cut into the edges. A steering shaft connects the steering wheel with the rack. A pinion gear on the end of the shaft connects with the teeth of the rack. On each end of the rack is a tie rod, which connects to the spindle of the wheels.

Steering Gear: Recirculating Ball

In a recirculating-ball system, steel balls roll between the steering shaft and the rack piston. With assistance from the hydraulic system, the rack piston moves up or down on a worm gear to turn the wheels.

Return Line

The return line directs the fluid from the power cylinder back to a reservoir on the pump.

All motor vehicles are assigned a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). This VIN is a series of letters and numbers that when decoded reveals information about the vehicles make, features, manufacturer and origin. Knowing the breakdown of your VIN is helpful when you need replacement parts for your vehicle. The number is used by vehicle vendors and shops to determine the specific parts you need for your vehicle. Decoding a VIN is simple once you understand what each character means.

Instructions

1

Find your vehicles VIN. It can be found on the drivers side, either on the dashboard, door frame or on the edge of the door itself. The VIN is 17 digits long and Manual added on a metal plate that will be affixed to the vehicle, which will make it easy to identify once located.

2

Note the second figure of the VIN. This specific letter or number represents the vehicles manufacturer. For instance, a Cadillac has a "6," BMW "B," Toyota "T," Chevrolet "1," Dodge "B," Nissan "N" and Honda "H." This will help the shop or auto parts store determine the make of your car.

3

The third character represents the vehicle type or its manufacturing division. For instance, it can be a coupe, hatchback, convertible or pickup truck. This will identify your cars body type and aid in determining the appropriate replacement parts for your specific vehicle.

4

Notice the fourth through eighth figures of your VIN. These five characters represent your vehicles specific characteristics such as the body style, model, engine type and series. For instance, for BMWs, these characters will determine if your car is a 3, 5 or 7 series, and also reveal the type of engine you have (V-8, V-12). However, each manufacturer sets the meaning for these characters according to the specific make.

5

Look at the 10th figure of your VIN to see the code for your vehicles year. Vehicles dated prior to 2001 will reflect a letter and thereafter would reflect a number. For instance, vehicles made in 1981 will show a letter "B," 1982 a "C," and so on. Starting in 2001 this character is a number. For example, vehicles made in 2001 have a "1," 2002 "2" and 2009 "9." This will help the shop, mechanic or website where you are looking for parts to determine the year model of your car and the parts that are suitable for your specific vehicle.

A fuel pump is one of the most important parts of a vehicles fuel and exhaust system. Its job is to pump fuel from the gas tank to the fuel line. If a fuel pump isnt functioning properly, then the engine may stall because not enough fuel will be able to undergo proper combustion. There are many types of fuel pumps, and they all have slightly different designs. However, most fuel pumps work via the same principle--a difference in air pressure is used to propel the fuel in or out of the pump. The most basic components of a fuel pump thus remain the same regardless of the model. Below is a short guide to these main parts.

Camshaft and Lever

Although technically not part of the actual fuel pump, the camshaft is a rotating rod with an asymmetrical head on it. This camshaft rotates 360 degrees. Above the camshaft sits the external portion of the fuel pump lever. As the camshaft rotates, at a particular point in the rotation, the shape of the camshaft causes the fuel pump lever to lift up. The internal side of the fuel pump lever consequently goes down.

Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a membrane within the fuel pump that creates a difference in air pressure. In the human body, muscles pull down on the diaphragm, allowing the lungs to expand. This creates a difference in air pressure and air (gases) rush into the lungs to balance this difference. In a fuel pump, the diaphragm is connected to a rod that is connected to the fuel pump lever. As the internal portion of the lever moves down due to the camshaft rotation, the rod moves down, as well, pulling the diaphragm with it. This creates a difference in air pressure, and fuel moves into the pump to balance the difference.

Intake Valve

A fuel pump usually has two main valves. These valves operate in conjunction with the movement of the fuel pump diaphragm. The first valve, the intake valve, opens when the diaphragm of the fuel pump moves down. This lets fuel into the pump from the tank.

Outtake Valve

The second valve of a fuel pump, the outtake valve, closes when the diaphragm moves down. It separates the fuel pump from the fuel line. When the diaphragm moves up, the valve sequence reverses. The intake valve closes so that fuel cant get pushed back into the fuel tank, and the outtake valve opens so that the fuel is pushed into the fuel line.

Other Parts

There are many different models of fuel pumps, each with a slightly different design. These designs may mean that the fuel pump includes additional parts, such as screws, springs, gaskets, sensors and more. These peripheral parts to the fuel pump allow the main parts to be secured in place, prevent leaks, or allow the system to sense problems in the fuel flow.

A cars exhaust system has the job of directing the exhaust gases that are created by the engine safely away from the vehicle. If the exhaust system is not functioning properly, dangerous exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle, putting the occupants at risk. There are several parts that help direct the exhaust gases, extract some of the worst pollutants from the gases, and also reduces the noise of the exhaust system.

Exhaust Manifold

The exhaust manifold is the part of the cars exhaust system that attaches directly to the cars engine block. The exhaust manifold is a pipe or series of pipes that provides a route for exhaust gases to exit the cars cylinders and make their way through the cars exhaust system. The exhaust manifold can be made of aluminum, cast iron or stainless steel.

Catalytic Converter

After the exhaust gases exit the engine via the exhaust manifold, they pass down a pipe and enter a large pod-looking device called the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is a key part of keeping certain harmful exhaust emissions out of the air. The catalytic converter scrubs certain chemicals out of the cars exhaust with precious metals and chemicals that are packed inside. Catalytic converters operate on heat, so they function at their full capacity once the engine has heated up to normal operating temperatures.

Muffler

Many cars mufflers are visible from behind. The muffler is the large compartment the exhaust tip is attached to. The sole purpose of a muffler is to muffle the noise of the exhaust system. The system of compartments and various materials placed in different kinds of mufflers function to absorb noise so it will not come out the cars tail pipe. If a cars muffler has a hole in it, the car will instantly sound much louder.

An ASE certified parts specialist has expert knowledge of the parts used in automobile and heavy truck service and repair. Getting certified requires passing a series of six exams issued by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. ASE certification as a parts specialist must be renewed every five years.

Testing Centers

Paper versions of the tests can be taken at over 700 testing centers nationwide. Testing is done each May and November, and the deadlines for registering are March 31 and September 30.

Registrations

According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, applicants may register for the ASE parts specialist exam by mail, telephone or online. To register for computer based testing, applicants must register and create a profile at the ASE Online Testing and Education Center.

Fees

Taking the paper and pen version of the tests costs a $32 registration fee and $26 per test taken as of 2010. Registration for computer-based testing costs $70 and each test taken costs $37.

The Tests

The test questions are written by a cross section of parts industry experts and are entirely job related. The exams include test questions on every aspect of auto and heavy truck parts knowledge as well as questions covering parts cataloging, communications and sales skills.