So Fix it

Failed ignition timing means the timing setting for a car engine was inspected and is outside the guidelines for pollution control. The timing must be adjusted to pass a future inspection.

Significance

Smog technicians check vehicle timing and evaluate the settings. Timing adjustments, if necessary, are easy for mechanics to do and should not require more than a few minutes of labor in most cases. Timing specifications are located under the hood, on the timing belt cover or in owners manuals.

Considerations

Consumers should caully select a mechanic to adjust timing settings, as dishonest opportunists have a reputation of exploiting failed ignition timing for financial gain. Second opinions are recommended, particularly if more than a simple adjustment is required.

Effects

Engine timing ers to the rate at which spark plugs fire. The plugs burn a certain amount of fuel, and the fuel is broken down and emitted through the exhaust system. Larger amounts of carbon monoxide are created when the timing is inefficient, a circumstance that is detrimental to the environment.

Power steering hoses carry fluid to and from the steering gear to operate the power steering system, and the pump supplies the necessary pressure for operation of the power steering rack or gearbox.

Power Steering Hose

Multiple power steering hoses are in a typical power steering unit. The cost of the parts required to repair the hose ranges from $60 to $100 in a common domestic car, like the Ford Taurus, according to RepairPal in Nov. 2010, and between $15 and $225 for a new foreign car like the Mercedes-Benz CLS550.

Power Steering Pump

The cost of parts for a power steering pump repair in a common domestic car ranges from $120 to $151, and from $210 to $640 in a foreign luxury car; although prices for pumps in auto parts stores can exceed $1000.

Labor

Labor to repair a power steering hose ranges from $100 to $125 for a common domestic car and from $180 to $230 in a luxury foreign car. Power steering pump labor costs range from $120 to $150 for a common domestic car and from $220 to $280 in a luxury foreign car.

Catalytic converters use exhaust heat trapped in a matrix of ceramic plate and precious metals to change exhaust gases chemical composition to a more benign form. Quick-moving gases might sometimes lack the opportunity to catalyze fully, which may require two or more converters.

Converter Function

Converters contain a honeycomb-like ceramic matrix with thousands of tiny passages. Exhaust flows through these passages, combining with the platinum, rhodium, palladium and cesium on the passage walls to add or subtract nitrogen or oxygen atoms. This gain or loss converts the toxic molecules in the exhaust into more benign forms.

Emissions Requirements

Different countries and unions have different emissions requirements and require different catalytic converters. The European Union disallows the use of nickel in converters but permits copper (which the United States does not). Most large car manufacturers offer several variations on the same chassis to market all over the world. Using more than one converter allows the manufacturer to meet local emissions standards while using the same basic chassis worldwide.

Modularity

Not all car manufacturers produce their own catalytic converters; many converters are outsourced from specialty catalytic converter manufacturers. Because most cars come with a number of different engine options, manufacturers may need to mix and match different converters to meet emissions requirements for a particular engine-chassis combination.

The intake manifold is sealed to the cylinder heads of an engine to prevent coolant leaks from occurring. If coolant escapes, it can run all over the engine and other parts, which can lead to other vehicle problems. Its beneficial to have information regarding why engine manifold gaskets go bad.

Causes

Leaks are often the reason that engine manifold gaskets go bad. Corrosion can wear the gaskets metal over time, which causes the manifold gaskets to lose their leak-free seal. A metal epoxy applied with extreme heat can repair the gasket and allow it to seal efficiently once again.

Types

There are several types of vehicles with engines that are known for having manifold gaskets that are prone to go bad. General Motors makes several of these engines, including V8 engines such as the 5.0L and 5.7L.

Time Frame

Manifold gaskets can last in good working order on a vehicle for many thousands of miles before they go bad. Some vehicle engines are equipped with plastic manifold gaskets that may not last as long. Plastic gaskets can perform well to around 70,000 miles before they go bad and need replacing.

An automotive horn is an important safety component used to alert drivers and pedestrians. The horn system in most vehicles is comprised of three primary parts: the horn, the switch and the horn relay.

Purpose

When the horn switch in the steering wheel is activated, the switch sends a signal to the horn relay. The horn relay then sends an electrical current to the horn, producing its sound. The horn relay allows a smaller charge to run through the switch.

Horn Relay Location

Often, the most difficult part of troubleshooting a horn relay is finding it. The horn relay may be located inside the fuse box under the hood, integrated into a larger electrical box or is a separate unit. If the horn relay is not easily located, follow the wiring back from the horn to find the relay or refer to a vehicle-specific shop manual.

Troubleshooting the Horn Relay

When a horn suddenly stops working, the first thing to check is the horn fuse. If the fuse is fine, the horn should be tested. You can do this by running a small jumper wire from the battery to the horn. If the horn sounds, the relay is most likely defective. If the horn does not sound, it needs to be replaced.

Because most vehicles rely on a combustion for their power, the carburetor plays a truly critical role. In managing the blending of air and fuel, carburetors may need spacers to perform better and to maximize that mixing process.

Significance

The principle function of your carburetor is to mix air and fuel, thus aiding in the combustion process. Sometimes, the mixture streams velocity can be decreased, leading to a less efficient and less dynamic performance. The installation of carburetor spacers may help in re-establishing or enhancing that velocity.

Identification

Carburetor spacers are often constructed of wooden materials--such as plywood-- and then coated with a resin-like seal. They are placed in between the carburetor and the intake manifold plenum. In creating this space between the two, the spacers may aid in liberalizing the flow of the mixture stream, thus increasing its velocity.

Considerations

Because spacers contribute to an increased distance between the carburetor and the manifold unit, the signal of the carburetor may be compromised or weakened at the expense of the greater velocity. In order to remedy this, you maybe able to install stronger jets This is especially the case if you are using a four-holed spacer model as opposed to the open design.

When dealing with a failed engine, it is not always possible for a person to purchase a brand new replacement. Buying a rebuilt engine is often a cheaper option.

Buick

Rebuilt engines can vary depending on the year of a vehicle. For example, a rebuilt engine for a 1996 Buick Roadmaster can be purchased for around $1700, while a rebuilt engine for a 1993 Roadmaster can be bought for around $300 less.

Chevrolet

Some rebuilt engine prices decrease drastically from newer to older models. For example, a rebuilt engine for a 2004 Chevrolet Impala can cost nearly $1800. A rebuilt engine for a 1964 version of this same vehicle can be purchased for a little over $1000.

Ford

In some cases, differences in the year of a vehicle will have little to no effect on the cost of a rebuilt engine. For example, a rebuilt engine for a 1995 Ford Mustang can be purchased for around $1400. Although a 1980 Ford Mustang is a much older version, the cost to buy a rebuilt engine for it is around the same price.

One of the most important components of a well-functioning engine is the fuel system. Modern cars tend to be fuel injected, rather than using carburetors, but not all fuel injection system are created equal. Multi-point injectors are more complicated than single-point systems, but they lead to an engine with better fuel economy and cleaner emissions.

Getting Fuel to Your Engine

In general, pure fuel combusts poorly --- for peak performance, the engine must mix the fuel with a precisely metered quantity of air. Early engines used a mechanical device known as a venturi. Air flowing over the venturi draws fuel into the airstream, delivering a fuel-air mixture to the cylinders. These devices, known as carburetors, suffer from inherent inefficiencies, leading to uncombusted fuel and high emissions. As a result, fuel injectors emerged --- small devices that inject a predetermined amount of fuel, rather than relying on air pressure to do the job.

Single vs. Multi-point

Some fuel injectors, like carburetors, mix in fuel at a single point in the throttle body. This makes it easier to upgrade engine designs for use with injection rather than carburetion, but there is a lack of improved fuel efficiency. Multi-point injection (MPI) systems inject fuel at each cylinder, allowing much greater control over how much fuel the engine burns. In MPI systems, the injection generally takes place directly inside the cylinders intake valve.

Types of MPI Systems

Depending on how the injection is handled, MPI systems fall into several types. Simultaneous MPI engines inject fuel into all the cylinders at the exact same time; this is similar to single-point injection system, in that the fuel delivered to any given cylinder at any given time is the same in both cases. Batch MPI systems inject fuel into groups of cylinders. In a piston engine, cylinders are at different points of their combustion cycle at different times, so a batch system can be used to inject fuel to cylinders in a similar part of the cycle. Sequential MPI systems are more complicated, and time the injection of fuel so that it enters each cylinder exactly when its needed.

Advantages of MPI

Compared to single-point injection or carburetion, MPI engines have better fuel economy and lower emissions. This is because the engine can meter the amount of fuel needed for each cylinder. If too much fuel is added, there are leftover hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide is formed from the combustion; if too little fuel is added, the mixture can explode early, leading to engine "knock." Multi-point injection, in combination with other technologies, can also improve fuel efficiency by allowing the engine to selectively disable certain cylinders during cruising operations when the engines full power isnt needed.

A high-pitched squeal when you start your car is more than just an ear-piercing annoyance. It is a sign that there is something wrong that needs to be fixed right away.

Belts

If your car squeals at start-up, the culprit is most likely the belt system. Most newer cars use a single, serpentine belt; older models may have as many as three belts. Look closely at the belt to see if it is worn, torn or otherwise compromised. Replace damaged belts immediately.

Tensioner

If the belt seems to be in good shape then the problem may be with the tensioner. The tensioner controls the belts tighteness on the pulley system. If the belt is loose it can shimmy back and forth on the alternator, water pump, A/C unit or drive pulley. This movement may cause excessive and premature wear.

Slipage

Squealing may be due to a cold or dew-covered belt. This is most common if a car is parked outdoors overnight. A cold or wet belt may slip for the first few seconds until the rubber has warmed up.