Repair And Fix it

The catalytic converter in auto exhaust systems controls air pollution by chemically converting unburned hydrocarbons and combustion products into natural atmospheric gases. Motorists in Alabama may seek to replace these devices with a straight piece of exhaust pipe in the belief removal of the converter increases engine horsepower, or because the converter has failed and they want to avoid the costs of replacing it. But they would be breaking Alabama and federal law.

Systems Must Work

The Alabama Pollution Control Act (State Code Chap. 28, Sec. 22-12) requires owners of automobiles that are equipped with air pollution control systems to maintain those systems in good working order.

Cant Drive Car

The Alabama pollution law prohibits operating a motor vehicle in the state if its catalytic converter and other air pollution control systems have been removed, disabled, or are otherwise not working correctly. Violators face a potential maximum $10,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Federal Law, Too

Even if Alabama law had stood silent on catalytic converters, there still is a federal law that prohibits removal or replacement of a properly functioning catalytic converter. This law applies in all 50 states, said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys website. Violations by individuals are punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, while a business could be fined $25,000. Federal law requires that a failed converter be replaced with one that meets EPA standards and is a match for the original equipment.

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.

Viton, a registered trademark of DuPont, refers to a substance known as an fluoroelastomer that has multiple uses where continual functioning in extreme heat is essential, such as automotive engines. Fuel systems, in order to meet stringent emission requirements, place a burden on the parts in the system, which includes o-rings that must hold their seals. These o-rings are often specifically designed and manufactured with Viton to meet all the demands.

Heat Resistance

O-rings, like other parts in the automobile engine, sustain high temperatures on a continuing basis, and must hold their seal over a long period of time. Viton rings specify resistance to temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius, or 392 degrees Fahrenheit. According to DuPont, their o-rings display a maximum continuous service temperature of 204 degrees Celsius.

Ability to Hold Seal

Volume change, or swell, denotes movement in the physical nature of the o-ring, caused by the extreme heat of the engine. In measuring the ability to hold a seal and not leak, Viton must be resistant to most swell. According to test results reported in Problem Solving Products, after 100 hours in air at 150 degrees centigrade (a temperature equal to or greater than a typical engine), Viton o-rings retained more than 90 percent of their original sealing force.

Hardness

One specification for o-rings involves the hardness of the substance, which relates to its ability to withstand adverse forces in the engine. A Shore (Durometer) hardness test remains a standard for assessing this specification, with the Shore A scale being used for o-rings. Measurements range from 0 to 100, with the higher the number, the harder the substance. According to Marco Rubber, the following are the results for this specification: ETP o-rings 78, GLT o-rings 75, GFLT 73, B 75 and F 79. To put this item in perspective, SubsTech lists shoe heels as a 70 and shoe soles as an 80.

Tensile Strength and Elongation

According to MatWeb, tensile strength measures the force per unit area (MPa) necessary to break a substance, and tensile elongation measures the percentage increase in length before breaking. For this specification, ETP o-rings measured a tensile strength of 17.9 and an elongation of 145 percent. Other Viton o-rings rated from 13.6 to 17.6, with elongation ranging from 140 to 240 percent.

The valve train linkage is a basic necessity of a combustion engine. To understand the workings of an engine, you must first understand how the fuel and air make their way to the cylinder where they are combined.

Valve Train Function

The valve train consists of the valves and the camshaft in your engine. The valves open and close to allow air and fuel into the cylinder, and then to allow exhaust out of the cylinder. The camshaft is a rotating metal rod with different sized bumps along its length. This rod lifts and drops the valves according to cylinder and combustion order as it turns.

Linkage Function

The valve train linkage is the part or parts that attach the camshaft to the valves themselves. Some engines have valves that sit directly on the cam, others have rods and lifters that link the two parts.

Considerations

As in most mechanical things, fewer parts means less potential for problems. This would make the direct or short linkage engine preferable to an engine with a complicated valve train linkage. Many older cars were built with the more complicated system.

Preparation

Before the exhaust manifold on a Jeep Grand Cherokee can be installed, the vehicle must be prepped. The battery and air cleaning assembly, including the filter, must be removed; and all coolants, such as windshield cleaning solution and radiator fluid, should be drained and flushed from the system. Disconnect the air-conditioner and detach the starter motor and all heating hoses. You are removing them to gain access to the cylinder head.

Removing Existing Parts

Remove the manifold by, first, taking out the heat-shield components and disconnecting the starter motor. Detach the Y-pipe, and unbolt and lift out the manifold, along with the gasket between the unit and the engine. Rusty bolts and fasteners are usually treated and cleaned before the new manifold is installed.

Installation

Before the exhaust manifold is attached to the cylinder head, covering all six cylinders, position the manifold gasket over the edge of the opening. Then set the manifold into place over the gasket. Tighten the bolts, starting in the center and moving toward the ends, and reconnect the unit to the Y-pipe. Reinstall the disassembled parts in the opposite order in which they were removed.

A vehicles brake system is composed of many parts, such as calipers, discs and brake pads. When any one of these parts is out of alignment, vibrations, rusting and ultimately large amounts of friction force can cause noise that is often described as "squealing." Brake systems can be diagnosed and fixed at home without a necessary visit to the mechanic if the vehicle owner knows what to check. Some common solutions include brake pad replacement or lubrication.

Instructions

1

Drive your car for a few miles every day. Moisture from environmental precipitation can rest upon brake systems, causing small amounts of rust to form on the discs. Using the brakes on a daily basis will help wear this rust away and keep the brake system noise-free.

2

Change the brake pads, which are made to become thinner over prolonged use. Thin brake pads will give off a metal scraping sound, which is an indication they need to be changed. Choose brake pads made out of non-asbestos material to remove risks of inhaling cancerous contaminants.

3

Spray a can of aerosol brake lubricant onto your brake pad system to reduce fiction between the brake pad and the brake caliper. Spray this lubricant only on the side of the brake pad and disc facing away from the tire. Apply brake grease manually in the same manner.

4

Clean out the dust within the brake drum. Remove the drum, and wipe the dust away with a spray cleaner and towel. Allow the drum to dry completely before replacing.

Dual exhaust is applicable on motorcycles, trucks and cars. Replacing dual exhaust with an aftermarket system may increase engine power, fuel efficiency and provide a better sound. Aesthetically appealing aftermarket dual exhaust pipes can also replace dull and aged components. Dents in the piping, corrosion, age spots and missing hardware are also reasons for dual exhaust piping replacement. Compromised dual exhaust pipes may increase backpressure within the piping, which decreases performance and suffocates the engine. Each replacement exhaust system will include installation instructions specific to the vehicle but there are general steps each process requires.

Instructions

Removing Old Dual Exhaust

1

Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable. This black cable is marked with a negative symbol. Also follow this step when working on a motorcycle. Doing so will allow the vehicle computer to reset and recognize the new dual exhaust pipes after completing the install.

2

Lift the vehicle off the ground using jack stands. For four-wheeled vehicles place the parking brake on. Leave adequate room underneath to remove the exhaust components efficiently.

3

Lay the new dual exhaust piping adjacent to your vehicle and compare it to the old exhaust underneath the vehicle for reference to where each new part will go.

4

Spray the flange bolts and exhaust clamps mating the exhaust components together with penetrating oil. This will loosen them and make removal easier.

5

Unbolt the tailpipe from the muffler if applicable with the socket and wrench set. Some vehicles feature a retaining clip that clamps around the Y-pipe and muffler. If this is the case, bend the clip back with a flathead screwdriver.

6

Unplug the exhaust sensor located on the piping between the muffler and catalytic converter if applicable. Sensor locations vary by vehicle.

7

Remove the tailpipe and muffler assembly after unbolting each nut and from its bolt. Locate the exhaust hangers and lift the dual exhaust piping off the hook where necessary. You may also use the hacksaw and cut through the front muffler piping, towards the front of the car, for removal. Refer to the new exhaust installation instructions for specifics.

8

Leave the rubber grommets on the exhaust hangers when removing the exhaust components. If you were instructed to cut the old piping off, spray the newly cut section with oil, which will make sliding the new dual exhaust piping into place easier.

Installing New Exhaust

9

Install the new components from the front of the vehicle towards the rear. Follow the new exhaust instruction manual for directions.

10

Hang the new components on their corresponding hangers and then hand-tighten the necessary flange nuts. Do not torque them to the specification listed in the vehicle owner manual yet.

11

Center the new components before tightening each bolt to the required specification.

12

Reconnect the exhaust sensor and negative battery cable.

13

Start your vehicle and listen for exhaust leaks, which make a hissing noise. You may also strongly smell exhaust underneath the vehicle if it is leaking.