All 4X4 owners learn to take care of their diesel engine and give timely maintenance.
If your 4×4 has a diesel engine, the ideal is that you learn to protect and Give you the proper order to extend its life and improve its functioning maintenances.
It is important that you renew the filters, since in a diesel engine they play a critical role, since the smallest impurity, which is mostly dirt, can severely damage the engine. For this reason, it is very important to replace the diesel and air filters between the 30,000 and 50,000 km traveled; Taking into account that these filters are not expensive, so it becomes even easier to replace them.
Do not forget to purge the air and water, using all the resources you have, in order to eliminate accumulated water from the system. In case you want to bleed the air, it will be much easier, since, generally, the vehicles have a manual pump that is located near the diesel filter.
Another point to keep in mind is the fact that we must never start idle, because in this type of engines, diesel is the only element that lubricates the injection pump, so that the starting at vacuum can irreparably damage this important element.
The third important element of the diesel engines is the spark plugs, so you should check their operation. Make sure they are working perfectly and replace them preventively. Preferably, do it with every 50,000 km of route, if it is earlier, much better. Do not forget to make the change of this piece for original elements and good quality, because if you do the opposite, the change will be more expensive.
Remember that you should never accelerate in the cold, as the turbo diesel will not have enough oil and could melt on the spot, which would mean extra expense for you.
If you follow these tips, you will get not only extend the life of your diesel engine, but you can have optimum performance and comfortable and can travel smoothly in your 4×4.
Squeaks, squeaks, hard pedals, too loose pedals. Learn to identify the warning signs that your brakes are sending
Do not wait until sparks emit and hear a hell of a noise when applying the car’s brakes, because besides that could cause a major damage, brakes in poor condition put at risk your safety and that of other drivers.
If your brakes are trying to tell you something, you should pay attention. If you suspect that the brakes have any problems, they should be inspected immediately.
Although annual brake inspection is a good way to ensure the safety of brake system, drivers should not ignore the signs of when they need care.
Warning signs that the brakes need inspection:
Because the brakes are a normal wear part in any vehicle, over time they will need to be replaced. Among the factors that can affect brake wear are driving habits, operating conditions, type of vehicle and the quality of the brake lining material.
Be sure to prevent the brakes from reaching such a wear point that they come into contact with the pedal metal, as this may mean costly replacement of the rotor or drum.
Ask: When explaining the problems of the car with the head of workshop service, discuss all the details that these are minimum, and feel completely free to ask questions. If you do not understand the answers, ask them to explain them clearly and in detail.
Leave a phone number: This is very important and helps the workshop to contact you and explain the diagnosis of the vehicle; ask what time they expect to call you.
Check the budget: Remember that before any repair work is done, the shop must give you a written estimate, specifying the cost of parts and labor. Read it, and if you have questions or doubts, express them at once. Do not sign a blank work order.
If you authorized verbally: If you give your permission by phone to make any repairs, the shop foreman should record the time and date and name and telephone number of the person giving the authorization.
The invoice
At the end of the repairs that have been made, an invoice must be issued which must include the name of the shop, the address and the license number, as well as a detailed list of the work done and the spare parts used.
The guarantee
A mechanical workshop is not required to provide guarantees for repair work, although there are some that do guarantee certain repairs. If this is the case, the warranty must be in writing and must include:
For many drivers, the brakes of a vehicle are simply a lever and a pedal actuated when they want to or must stop. They know that beyond what they see there is a real system that has been perfected over time thanks to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of modern man.
Since the early twentieth century, when one pedal braking the vehicle as a whole and was the driver who had to use all his strength to stop it, until today, when a vehicle brakes thanks to devices and sensors of the highest technology, Brake system has been the fundamental axis of the advances that are presented in the world of cars.
Principles of operation of the brakes of a car
Through physics, many of the processes that describe the braking system of a vehicle can be explained.
The basic operating principle on the brakes of a car is friction, which is that when a body comes into contact with the other in different directions a force called friction that opposes the movement of the body appears. This force depends on two major factors: the area of contact between bodies and the force applied between them.
In a vehicle, the contact area appears between the braking elements of the car (contact area between discs and pads, and in some cases between bands and bells), in addition to the contact area between the tires and the surface on which it circulates the vehicle.
Correct inflation pressure means that the tread makes perfect contact with the asphalt, ensuring that all braking forces are transmitted and the vehicle stops more quickly.
Do you think that with the force that you do with the foot when braking is enough to contain the movement of your car at the speed that you go?
In order to be able to stop a vehicle with only the foot it is necessary that there are elements that amplify the force. To do this uses the booster or booster, which multiplies the force you make when you operate the pedal. In this way, the driver will try to make the least effort when braking.
The mechanical advantages of which a vehicle is used to multiply its braking force are: the lever effect and the hydraulic force. The first is that “having a fulcrum, the greater distance the body is to move, the less force I have to move.” The hydraulic force, on the other hand, “is that when you force yourself in an area, the resultant of it will be proportional to the area where it will be applied.”
Brake classes
Basically, there are two types of brake for vehicles: the bell or drum and the disc.
Bell brakes are usually located on the rear tires of a vehicle; they have a simpler manufacturing and allow easily incorporate the emergency braking mechanism, comprising pedal and cables. It is a system that does not allow rapid heat dissipation and the probability that they overheat is very high, reducing their effectiveness of braking. It is composed of shoes, springs, cylinders and bands. In the mid-30s the hydraulic system was incorporated into this type of brakes, and then gave way to the disc brakes, which have more effective braking and that is why they are located in the front wheels of the car are the Which stop the vehicle.
Disc brakes are usually located on the front wheels or the 4 wheels of the vehicle (depending on the manufacturer and the cost of the vehicle) and operate by hydraulic pressure that allows the movement of some moving mechanisms inside a few cylinders and then press the pads against the disc face. The latter are responsible for generating the friction needed to stop the vehicle.
Over time, the development of the engineering of the cars has provided technological advances that allow a constant improvement in the brake system of the same. Are hydraulic brakes (operating pressure of the brake fluid); air brakes (operated by air pressure and is used in heavy vehicles); the ABS device (a braking system of latest technology, using sensors on the wheels, emit signals that allow brake a vehicle without tires or steering lock), systems of electronic distribution of braking (EBD), Which determine how much force to apply on each wheel or axle of the vehicle to stop it at a minimum distance without losing control. They work in conjunction with ABS brakes to dramatically increase braking power, among other functions.
Take care of your brakes
As you can see, the braking system is fundamental for the correct functioning of your vehicle. Therefore, it is important that you take special care for them and take into account:
They form electric sparks that generate explosions in the mixture of air and gasoline, which produces the force required to move the car.
For more than a century and a half, the spark plugs of internal combustion have become as indispensable devices in the operation of gasoline engines, and although at first glance it seems that this statement is an exaggeration, especially for its small size are they only responsible for supplying the electric spark ignition high voltage inside the combustion chamber of such engines.
How exactly do internal combustion spark plugs work?
We could say that the spark plugs of internal combustion are the final links in the ignition system of the engine, so they receive a high voltage from the ignition coil, turning it into electrical energy, the same which is then transformed into a continuous electric discharge Which generates light and heat, called an electric arc.
This electric arc or high-voltage spark ignites the air-fuel mixture in the fuel chamber of the engine cylinder, causing a controlled explosion that pushes the piston to the bottom of the cylinder, which ultimately generates the force required to move the vehicle.
Therefore, the spark plugs of gasoline engines are the triggers in the combustion process, and its proper functioning depends in turn issues related to good mechanical performance, as the optimal consumption, motorized power, low emissions and The smoothness of driving.
In the market there is a wide range of spark plugs that vary according to their physical characteristics, number of electrodes, thermal ranges, etc.
However, regardless of the differences that will be among them, all plugs are generally composed of a steel body (in contact with the engine block using the thread), which ends in a central electrode is usually copper, nickel or Platinum and which is separated from the body through an insulator (usually of ceramic material).
Connected to the plug body are other electrode that maintains a small distance with the center electrode (some special plugs may have more than one electrode thereof even four), being in these two where the spark occurs.
The timing belt controls the timing of the engine valves so that a malfunction can seriously affect the car.
The timing belt is a fundamental part of any vehicle since it is the one that ensures the basic functions within the engine: synchronization. Therefore, when the belt undergoes wear, breaks, becomes entangled or has a similar breakdown, it is essential to go to the mechanic for immediate inspection.
It should be noted that depending on the make and model of your car ‘, you can have two types of timing belt: the rubber and the chain. The first being the one that accuses more wear over time and, in general, after the 80 thousand kilometers is recommended to change, unlike the chain that usually lasts much longer.
After seeing this, we will indicate the most common problems faced by timing belts and what is the solution for you to put into practice:
It is most likely that the belt will wear out or there is an obstruction, so it is advisable to open the engine cover and check its condition. If so, it will be necessary to change it.
If chirps are heard at start-up, the belt may have reached the end of its service life. This often happens in automobiles with high mileage. This will also require changing the belt.
One thing to keep in mind is that older carts have rubberized timing belts, whose biggest problem is that they are prone to fracturing at high temperatures and when they are in contact with engine oil. For this it is advisable to change the belt or in any case to reduce the contact with the oil.
This has its source in the fact that the timing belt was intended to synchronize the operation of valves and pistons and when it does not, you can feel tremors. It will have to be calibrated.
Some tips for the next time you start to smoke hood can diagnose whether there are problems with the cooling system.
We know what happened to you, at the most inopportune moment, perhaps at a junction or in the middle of the road. Start to feel a cold wind and the heater stops working, light alarm lights engine temperature and steam starts to come out in front of you. Will it be the engine?
There are a thousand and one reasons for problems to occur, but this time we will focus on those produced by a failure in the cooling system of the car, which can be diagnosed by following these simple steps:
Finally, go to a mechanic you trust if after the reviews, you cannot find a satisfactory solution. Luck!
The car is a good investment, but the responsibility to take care of time-consuming one. For most Americans, serviceability limited to carrying it to a specialized center for inspection. What most do not know, it is that they can save money making certain inspections alone.
Oil is the most important liquid inside the engine of a car and is responsible for the lubrication of the engine parts. If the engine runs out of oil is broken and you will be forced to pay a lot of money for repairs, which is not recommended today.
How to check if there is enough oil?
Oil color
You will be able to realize the color using the dipstick. Oil color can indicate if you need to change. The oil is typically golden clean and clear, while the dirty oil is thick and black or brown. The machine can work with this oil but its quality will not be the same as the quality of fresh oil.
When it shows that oil dipstick is below normal until it’s time to pour the filling. After this process, you have to look under the engine to see if you escaped oil. This should not happen unless there is a crack in the engine. But if dipstick shows that there is a maximum amount of oil and if the color is clear, then you should not worry.
Checking the oil will take at least five minutes but if we compare the situation to that in which you go to a dedicated machine, it’s nothing. Check the oil at least once or twice a week to avoid some costly repairs later.
Step 1: Select brand
There are many great brands on the market, but most consumers guarantee for Delphi, Exide and Johnson. These are the main companies supplying almost every manufacturer that uses batteries to order. If you need a new battery for the car, it is a good idea to analyze these brands first. These companies are selling batteries to major merchants like Firestone and Goodyear, but have their own shops.
Step 2: Check prices
Prices will vary depending on battery size and strength they provide, but prices are usually standardized. You can check online auction sites where you have the chance to find cheaper varieties of car batteries. Make sure you have a warranty for any car battery purchased. You can order online or get batteries at Sears or Kmart discounted at. It’s a good idea to buy battery from Firestone or specialized stores, because they have a greater movement of goods and you will have a good chance to get a newer car battery, which did not sit long on the shelf. Make sure you check the date on the battery. It is stamped with the production date on the case. Make sure you check a battery that is within 6 months of manufacture. There are websites that will compare the costs of different brands of batteries for you.
Step 3: Check the size
There are 3 or 4 main battery sizes used in almost any car model. You will find that size 75 is used on all models manufactured by General Motors. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury prefer to use standardized size 65. Size is 35 for most imports from Honda or Nissan, while size 34 is used by Chrysler. Check your battery’s size guides producers present at any merchant or user check that you received with your car. A wrong size battery will not fit in the car.
Step 4: Power storage
There are different terms that are used to assess the ability of the battery. Retaining capacity is the battery power needed to operate the machine at the lowest possible voltage value. Most batteries will have an excellent retention capacity assessment and they can put into operation the car, usually even when the generator is switched off. CR rating is usually written on the side of the battery. Another important requirement for cold weather is amps that represent battery’s ability to start at low temperatures. Choose a slightly larger amount of amperes, to make sure the best possible operation of your battery.
During the summer the cars also suffer the consequences of the high temperatures, the cooling system being one of those working at top speed to prevent engine overheating and other possible damages.
One of the parts that are most often related to radiator problems is the hose, which circulates the antifreeze liquid. Things you need is a new hose, antifreeze, water, screwdriver, knife and a bucket.
Instructions:
It is recommended to change the hose every four years or every 60,000 miles. If you are changing yourself hose, buy the part exactly for your car, since it requires a size and a specific form. If your car requires a new reserve tank, this is a signal that has warmed up and a hose change is suggested. If the vehicle needs a new radiator cap, check the hose carefully because a defective cap can put extra pressure and wear the hose.