So Fix it

Car problems can be frustrating, especially when youre trying to get somewhere important. Before calling a professional mechanic to take a look at your Honda that wont start, try a few tips to solve the problem.

Reasons

There are several reasons why your Honda engine might turn over, but not turn on. It might be a problem with the fueling system or the ignition system. Either not enough gas is getting to the engine or the engine is not combusting fuel.

Location

First, confirm that you have sufficient gasoline in the tank. If you do, then go to the fuel tank at the back of the vehicle. Crawl underneath the vehicle and check the fuel tank for holes. Follow the fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine. Look for corrosion along the fuel line which might indicate a fuel leak. Check components that are often in need of maintenance, such as the fuel filter, fuel pump, spark plug and starter.

Troubleshooting

Put at least two gallons of gas in your fuel tank and immediately try to start your vehicle. This should cover the possibility of an empty fuel tank. Your fuel filter, fuel pump and spark plugs are easily replaceable; replace these components. If you have some automotive knowledge, you might be able to check and replace the camshaft mounted near the top of the engine as well. Also, check your catalytic converter, located underneath the vehicle, to make sure it is not warped or damaged. Consult a professional mechanic if the problem continues.

The car alarm on your 1997 Honda CR-V can be very annoying if you are trying to replace your battery or make a repair to the vehicle. You can disable the car alarm in your 1997 Honda CR-V by taking the negative lead off of your battery. This takes the electrical power away from the alarm and leaves it dead. Once the valet switch is enabled, the car alarm will be disabled, allowing you to make your repair.

Instructions

1

Pop the hood to your Honda CR-V.

2

Locate the battery under the hood. This is to the right of the engine.

3

Determine which of the leads is the negative lead. The negative lead will have a "-" sign next to it.

4

Loosen the terminal with a socket wrench.

5

Pull the negative lead off of the battery to disable the car alarm.

The oxygen sensor is an important part of the exhaust system. By sending periodic electrical impulses at different voltages, it informs the cars computer whether or not it burns fuel at its peak efficiency. When the exhaust has lots of unburned fuel in it, the oxygen sensor sends signals around .8 to .9 volts. When too much oxygen is getting pumped through and not enough fuel, the signals are .1 to .3 volts. The perfect air/fuel mixture is around 0.45 volts, and the CR-Vs computer strives to maintain that.

Instructions

1

Place a jack under the front of the frame of your Honda CR-V and lift it. Slide jack stands under the frame and lower the SUV onto the jack stands.

2

Lie on a mechanics dolly and roll yourself under the SUV. Find the muffler. It looks like an oval cylinder with piping running in one end and out the other toward the back of the car, where your exhaust gets expelled from the CR-V.

3

Follow the piping with your eyes from the muffler leading toward the front of the SUV to the catalytic converter. It is a circular cylinder attached to the underside of the car with two bands clamped around it, and it has piping running in one end and out the other. If you have difficulty, the diagram for the catalytic converters and oxygen sensors on 2 Car Pros can help.

4

Find the two sensors bolted into the drivers side of the catalytic converter. The one near the front of the SUV is the primary oxygen sensor, which measures the air/fuel mixture before the exhaust runs through the catalytic converter. The one located closer to the rear is the secondary oxygen sensor, which measures the oxygen content of the exhaust after it has gone through the catalytic converter. Be aware that the Honda CR-V has two oxygen sensors and either can cause error codes.

Most Harley-Davidsons are powered by technologically primitive engines. Critics call them "de-engineered." The basic nature of the machines is part of their charm for an aging customer base. The V-Rod is Harleys modern motorcycle intended to appeal to both younger and traditional customers. The V-Rod was designed to look more traditional than it actually is, so Harley designed its "air box" to look like a gas tank. Older bikers often assume it is the gas tank. The air filter is inside this air box; once you understand what to open and how, changing this filter should take less than five minutes.

Instructions

1

Stand on the right side of the motorcycle and lift the right side of the seat. After a gentle tug, the seat will pivot up.

2

Turn the retaining ring on the back of the outer air box cover 1/4 turn counterclockwise. The outer air box cover is styled to look like a conventional Harley gas tank. Lift the outer air box cover off the bike and set it aside.

3

Disconnect the intake air temperature sensor at the rear of the inner air box cover by pulling the two halves of the connector apart. The sensor is clearly visible on recent V-Rods. Early V-Rods located this sensor on the engine, and if it is there, you do not need to disconnect it.

4

Unfasten the eight clips that secure the top of the inner air box, using a flathead screwdriver. There is one clip in front of the box, one in back and three on each side of the inner air box.

5

Unscrew the wing nut that holds the air filter in place. Remove the old filter by pulling up, and either reinstall the original after servicing or install a new filter. Drop the new or serviced filter back on the mounting stud and retighten the wing nut.

6

Resecure the inner air box top to the mounting clips. Reconnect the air temperature sensor.

7

Push the outer air box cover back in place. Push down the seat.