Friday, June 6, 2014
What Are the Different Types of Shock
Shock is a medical condition that often occurs due to some sort of trauma. According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, shock, also known as circulatory collapse, sets in when the blood pressure in a persons arteries is too low to supply adequate blood to his organs and tissues. In a state of shock, a persons skin becomes cold and sweaty and his pulse becomes weak. Breathing becomes irregular, the mouth becomes dry and pupils dilate.
Septic Shock
Septic shock results from microorganisms entering the bloodstream. Anything that introduces bacteria into the blood stream can cause septic shock. This condition causes immune chemicals to be released into your bloodstream to fight the infection and triggers widespread inflammation, leading to blood clots and leaky vessels, according to a description of the condition by National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The condition deprives the body of blood flow and damages the bodys organs. An extreme form of this reaction results in septic shock and could cause death. People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and kidney or liver disease face a higher than average risk of septic shock.(see erence 1)
Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylactic shock is caused by a severe allergy reaction. This results from an anaphylaxis reaction that could set in within minutes or seconds of your exposure to something you are allergic to, such as milk or peanuts, as MayoClinic.com explains. A flood of chemicals is released by your immune system during an anaphylaxis reaction. This could cause you to go into shock as your blood pressure drops and your airways become too narrow to allow normal breathing. (see erence 2)
Cardiogenic Shock
When the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body, the result could be a cardiogenic shock. Damage to the heart muscle from a severe heart attack is the most common form of cardiogenic shock, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Not everyone who has a heart attack goes into cardiogenic shock as a result though. Only about seven percent of people who experience heart attack go into cardiogenic shock. (see erence 3)
Friday, January 10, 2014
What Are the Causes of Timing Chain Failures
A timing chain, or belt, is an integral part of an automobiles engine that controls the opening and closing of the valves in the engine. If the chain breaks, serious damage to the engine could result. Proper maintenance is important to prevent this from happening.
Tension
A timing chain can break with either too much or not enough tension. If the chain does not have enough tension, it can develop slack. This can result in the chain "slapping," leading to premature fatigue. A chain with too much tension can also fail, as it is placed under excessive stress. Tension increases friction and heat in the chain, which can result in failure.
Engine Seizure
Engine seizure can be caused by an engine overheating or running out of oil, causing pistons to seize inside the cylinders. If an engine seizes while running at high speeds, the sudden stop can cause a timing chain to break.
Age
The age and number of miles driven on a timing chain are major contributors to failure. The more miles you have on your vehicle, the higher the odds your timing chain will fail, as the chain will become weak and break. Most car manufacturers suggest you have the chain replaced every 60,000 miles.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
The Fog Lights Are on All the Time in a Toyota Tundra
Fog lights provided additional visibility when driving through heavy fog or rain. The Toyota Tundras fog lights are mounted on the lower edge of the front bumper cover. They are controlled by the fog light switch located on the steering column.
On/Off
Inspect the turn signal stalk to find the fog light switch. It is affixed to the edge of the stalk. Turn the fog light switch forward to turn on the fog lights or turn it backward to turn them off. As long as there isnt a problem with your Tundra, using the switch should operate the fog lights.
Faulty Switch
If turning the fog light switch back does not turn off the fog lights, there could be a problem with the fog light switch. Because the the switch is integrated with the turn signal stalk and headlight switch, the entire combination unit will likely have to be replaced. This requires disassembling the steering column to access the switchs mount.
Electrical Wiring
Ideally, you will test the switch prior to replacing it. An automotive voltmeter or similar tool can do this. If there is no problem with the switch, search for a short in the electrical wiring. This process can be tedious, but once the short is located, the wiring can be repaired, restoring the fog lights operation.
Friday, October 25, 2013
What Are Typical 134A Manifold Gauge Pressures
A vehicles air conditioning system is an important component in hot weather. The 134A refrigerant, and its resulting manifold pressure, provide a way to maintain the coolest air for the vehicles occupants.
Function
Run through a cars air conditioning system, 134A refrigerant acts as the cooling conductor for the air. Periodically, the refrigerant can become low, resulting in warmer air through the system and into the vehicle.
Features
While recharging the system with refrigerant, the 134A manifold gauge pressure should be monitored so the proper amount of refrigerant is used. Two different pressure gauges can be used, either low or high. For a low pressure gauge, a reading of 25 pounds per square inch (psi)to 40 psi is optimum. On the other hand, a high pressure gauge should read between 225 psi and 250 psi.
Considerations
If the refrigerant becomes low after a few months of circulation, there may be a leak in the system. AA1 Car recommends having the leak repaired before trying to recharge the system again.
