Friday, December 6, 2013
How to Locate an Exhaust Leak
If your "check engine" light comes on, if your engine ticks or if you smell antifreeze, your vehicle might have an exhaust leak. Whether you do the repairs yourself or take your car to a mechanic, locating the leak helps ensure the repair is made correctly and that you dont overspend. Fortunately, it doesnt take long to locate an exhaust leak.
Instructions
- 1
Let the car cool down. When the engine gets warm, the metal expands, hiding small leaks from view.
2Examine the exhaust system without the engine running to see if any holes or slits are visible. Start at the engine and work your way to the tailpipe. Check each connector because they they are most prone to leakage.
3Check the exhaust manifold. Its possible for the exhaust manifold to become warped and cause a leak. This is more common in older vehicles. A simple hand inspection should tell you if anything feels out of place or if any holes have formed. Check the gasket that connects the manifold to the cylinder head. Its common for that gasket to crack and cause a leak.
4Look for holes in the exhaust pipe, especially where the pipe bends over the rear axle. That portion frequently cracks or leaks. Check rusty spots to see if its just surface rust, or if it goes all the way through the pipe.
5Feel for leaks. Have your helper cover the tailpipe by sticking a piece of metal over it and start the engine. This restricts the flow of exhaust gases and pressurizes the exhaust system. Without touching hot metal, carefully move your hands around the outside of the entire exhaust system to feel for any exhaust fumes coming out of strange places.
6Using a mechanics stethoscope, listen for an exhaust leak. The stethoscope isolates the sound of the engine, making it easier for you to hear escaping exhaust fumes.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
How do I Locate and Repair a Ford F 150 Temperature Sensor
Depending on the year, make and model of your Ford F-150, the vehicle may have a temperature sensor and a sender: If the truck as a gauge, it will have both; if not, it will only have the sensor. The sender may be located in the radiator or near the thermostat housing. It reads and sends the temperature of the water/antifreeze mixture to the gauge. The sensor also sends the temperature of the water/antifreeze mixture to the computer, so that the computer can make adjustments in timing, air and fuel mixture, and other adjustments needed by the truck to run ai its optimum performance levels and get the best fuel mileage.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood of the F-150.
2Inspect the front, center of the engine and locate the rear of the thermostat housing. Find the thermostat housing by following the top radiator hose from the radiator to the block.
3Place your hand on the sensor that is mounted in the intake manifold, just behind the thermostat housing. The sensor has a round plug, which has wires coming from the wiring harness plugged into it. If you remove it, the base will look like a large bolt that screws into the intake manifold.
4Push the plastic harness connector out and lift the wiring harness plug out of the sensor. Using the socket, unscrew the coolant temperature sensor from the intake manifold.
5Wipe a thin layer of anti-seize compound on the threads of the coolant temperature sensor. Screw the sensor into the intake manifold. Plug the wiring harness back in.
