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.

While modern air-conditioning systems use R-134 and other environmentally friendly rigerants, owners of vehicles manufactured before 1994 may have systems that use R-12 rigerant. Though the two rigerants are not compatible with one another, mechanics can adapt an older system for the new rigerant.

Differences

According to the automotive website Pro Car Care, R-12 rigerant is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) that erodes naturally occurring ozone. The substance consists of slightly larger molecules than R-134, and this difference makes a direct replacement of R-12 with the newer R-134 impractical. The automotive website AA 1 Car also points out that no one should mix R-12 with any other rigerant, as doing so can result in serious environmental damage while also presenting a significant safety hazard.

Retrofitting

Vehicle owners cannot directly replace R-12 with R-134 rigerant. However, mechanics can perform a retrofit that replaces air-conditioning components with new lubricants and seals designed to contain R-134.

Warning

While often considered a more environmentally friendly rigerant, R-134 is a greenhouse gas and can still cause environmental problems if allowed to vent directly into the atmosphere, according to the automotive website Garage-Pak. In addition, Pro Car Care notes that either rigerant will instantly freeze skin and other surfaces if allowed to vent.

Working with a battery can be messy and dangerous due to the acid and corrosion that is typically present in a battery. Spilling the acid on your clothes will likely ruin them, while getting it in your eyes is extremely dangerous. Baking soda can effectively neutralize the corrosive nature of battery acid and washing your clothes in a solution of baking soda and water can also minimize the damage from a spill.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the battery from the device it has been in and/or from any terminals.

2

Combine three parts baking soda and one part water to form a paste.

3

Use the paste and one damp cloth to scrub the battery terminals and clean any corrosion from the inside of the battery connectors.

4

Use the second damp cloth to wipe off any excess paste that remains on the battery.

5

Allow the battery to air dry before re-inserting it into a device and/or connecting it to terminals.

Losing your car keys is an annoyance no one wants to deal with. However, losing your keys isnt as annoying as knowing exactly where your keys are: locked in your 2002 Chevy Tahoe with no means of obtaining them. When you lock your keys in a late-model car, its not a good idea to attempt to retrieve them the same way your parents did when you were a child. Sticking a wire hanger into the door frame of your newer-model car could damage your lock mechanism, which means adding the expense of having your vehicle worked on to your already annoying day.

Instructions

1

Call your local police or sheriffs department or a professional locksmith or towing company. All are equipped with the necessary tools to open your Tahoes doors without damaging your locks.

2

Inform the representative on the phone of your vehicles location and ask to have someone sent out right away to retrieve your car keys for you.

3

Provide the tow truck driver/locksmith/law enforcement officer with proof of your identity and ownership of the vehicle. You can do this by presenting your drivers license along with your title, registration or insurance card. If you generally keep your vehicle information in your glove compartment, explain your situation, and you will be permitted to retrieve your information once your doors are unlocked.

4

Pay for any services rendered. Police and sheriffs officers dont charge for helping you break into your own car.

Although the leather seats are durable, they can still be damaged accidentally. A small hole or tear in the leather can grow and become a bigger problem; therefore it is important to repair the damage to maintain the value of the car.

Instructions

1

Cut off any rough areas or loose thread from the edges of the tear or hole. Clean the tear or hole using a cloth and rubbing alcohol. The area above and beneath the tear should be cleaned as well. If the area is losing color, cleaning should be stopped.

2

Cut a piece of leather to a patch one inch larger than the tear or hole.

3

Apply the adhesive around the edges of the tear and then place the leather patch over the top. Allow a few hours to dry and then lightly sand around the edges to smooth edges and remove excess glue.

4

Dye the replacement leather to match the color using a small cloth to apply. Gently rub off any excess dye with a clean cloth.

5

Apply leather conditioner over the patch with a small cloth. This will produce a glossy finish to the repair work.

Transmission problems in cars can cost thousands of dollars to repair. The gears in your transmission provide the mechanism to allow your car to move at different speeds. If your car has lost all the gears in the transmission, you will have a major problem on your hands for several reasons.

Not Moving

You car will not move if you have lost all of the gears in your transmission. Your transmission is responsible for all of the forward gears along with reverse, park and drive. At best, your car will have died in some semblance of neutral and you will be able to push the car. At worst, your entire drive train will be completely frozen, preventing you from moving the car without physically dragging it or completely removing the transmission from underneath the vehicle.

Repairs

Replacing a transmission is universally expensive, regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive. Rebuilding a transmission is also expensive, though often slightly less than buying a completely new one. Expect to spend upwards of $1,000, and prepare to spend $2,000 or $3,000 on repairs before the car will operate again.

Time

If you have lost all the gears in your transmission, prepare to take the bus for a few weeks while your car is in the shop. Transmission replacements and rebuilds are not quick processes. Depending on your location, the availability of parts for your vehicle and and how much money you want to spend, expect your car to be out of commission for at least a week and possibly longer.

Studs stuck in place by rust and paint often refuse to move with hand tools. Any movement is often the stud breaking off below a nut threaded onto the stud. Removing a stud from its housing with drill bits serves two purposes. The first is to heat the stud while drilling, which breaks the bond between the stud and the threaded part. The second is that if the stud wont break free with the heat from the drill bit, the bit will remove the material from the stud until nothing remains in the hole. Using the correct drill bits will often reverse the stud from the part without extraction tools.

Instructions

1

Align the tip of a center punch with the center of the stud. Strike the punch with a hammer. Move the center punch. Repeat the procedure until you have a depression on the center of the stud.

2

Secure the smallest drill bit from a left-handed drill-bit set into a drill motor. Coat the drill bit with cutting fluid.

3

Set the tip of the drill bit on the center-punch depression. Pump the trigger of the drill to drill a hole through the center of the stud.

4

Increase the size of the drill bit in the drill motor. Coat the drill bit with cutting fluid. Pour cutting fluid down the drilled hole in the stud. Drill through the stud with the larger drill bit, using the previous hole as a guide.

5

Swap drill bits until the stud works free of the threaded hole or you can see the threads of the hole sticking through the remaining metal of the stud.

In a correctly functioning vehicle, the battery provides temporary power to start the engine and run accessories like the lights and radio when the engine is switched off. The alternator, on the other hand, provides electricity to power all of the cars functions while the engine is running and also recharges the battery. If the alternator fails the battery will die, since it is not getting recharged. The only permanent solution to this problem is to get a new alternator but you can recharge the battery in the mean time.

Instructions

1

Jump start your car. If your battery is dead, you can provide a temporary charge to the battery using jumper cables. Connect the cables to a running vehicle and then to your battery. Leave the cables attached for several minutes and have the driver of the working vehicle press down on the accelerator while their vehicle is in park. This will provide a surge of electricity to your battery. Start your car and disconnect the cables.

2

Connect your battery to a portable car battery charger. Make sure the charger is fully charged then attach the red clip to the positive terminal of your battery and the black clip to the negative terminal. The amount of time it will take for the battery to fully recharge will vary depending on the strength of your charger. A ten amp charger will usually take 45 minutes to recharge. Consult your chargers manual for specific recharge times.

3

Connect your battery to a wall charger. If you do not have a portable charger you can connect it to a charger that plugs into an outlet. You can use an extension chord if it is not raining to charge your battery while it is still in the car or remove the battery. Pull the battery out and take it to where your charger is. Make sure it is sitting on a level surface while it charges. Connect the black clamp to the negative terminal and the red clamp to the positive terminal. The LED light on the charger will turn green when the battery is fully charged.

4

Make your own trickle charger. If you do not have a wall charger you can make a trickle charger using a 12V appliance or cell phone charging chord. Simply cut off the connector on the end then seperate the two wires that make up the cable and pull them apart. Strip the ends of the wires. Use a multimeter to determine which wire has the negative charge. Attach a black alligator clip to it. Attach a red alligator clip to the other wire. Clamp the clips onto the battery and plug it it. A 12V charger will take about 12 hours to recharge a dead battery.