DIY automatic transmission fluid checking
1. Park the car on a level spot, leaving the shifter set at the PARK setting.
2. Open the hood, and pull out the http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/simple.html#engineoilcheck dipstick. Consult the manual for the exact location.
3. Wipe the dipstick with a clean and lint free cloth, and then carefully return the dipstick to its proper place.
4. Pull out the dipstick again and examine the fluid. If it is black or brown (normal transmission fluid is either clear and transparent or reddish), it recommended to change the fluid immediately, but best consult your manual first as some car models do not require the change of automatic transmission fluid. Also, the markers should be at the HOT level when the engine is still hot, and at the COLD marker when the engine is not being used or has just been run.
Screechin’ Annoyance
Like all auto’s there comes a time when you will get to hear a squeal that is not only annoying but quite alarming for the inexperienced. If it isn’t from the brakes, then it most probably is from the several belts that are in the engine compartment that may have managed to come loose. Don’t get alarmed for this is normal due to the heat and thermal expansion where metals expand as they heat up, the bolt and mounts may have been made of different metals and they have a tendency of loosening up at different rates. First thing to do is to pop the hood and take a look as the car is running on idle, no sound? Turn the A/C on and then listen again if it recurs. There are most often than not, three fan belts in a car engine (not so for American and European Cars for they tend to have one very long belt which connects everything else to the engine), one for the A/C, another for the Alternator and one for the Power Steering. All may have adjusters as they call that you can adjust to either loosen or tighten the squealing belt.
Let the engine cool if you spot one that is loose and loosen the mounting bolt as well as the pulley if there is one, tighten the adjuster first then the pulley bolt then the mounting bracket bolts to finish up. Start the engine and listen if the sound is still there, if indeed it is then there might be a bearing in one of the pulleys(even the alternator and AC compressor have bearing inside of them) may be signaling imminent failure so take it in for replacement. Your car has belts to transmit power from the engine to the other vital systems of the vehicle which are designed to fail or break without endangering the engine itself which would understandably be more expensive to replace than a sub-system such as the A/C, Steering or Alternator. Get your car checked up by a professional regularly so you avoid such instances for they can be easily seen by mechanics and service personnel. Drive Safe and Buckle Up…. Hands off that MOBILE.
Toyota Original Parts
Many argue that there is a conspiracy between car makers and their parts makers that prevents all of us from getting cheaper deals on the market. Though there are a lot of car parts makers around selling OEM-parts, not all of them are same with originals. What we mean is that thought they look same on the outside, it might be a total difference on the inside. Buying original parts from the dealer is the safest way to get original parts for D.I.Y. enthusiasts.
Knowing how to do something at home is a good thing but doing it properly is also as important. Getting the right tools and parts maybe the best thing you can do to save on labor. Truly dealers charge a lot for service but put yourself in their shoes and have to buy all those car lifts, specialized tools and equipment and the building to house them all and you’d get the picture. This goes for all brands and makes of cars for if you’d just ask, dealers and auto makers do sell original parts for people like you and me who like to get dirty.
Tags: DIY Car Care, OEM, Parts, Replacement, Specifications
Want to see the Decliners?
Image source: www.fuelzilla.com
It seems like the automotive industry is deteriorating over time. Reports of sales falls are usual nowadays, particularly in the United States where the economy has slowed down. Autoweek.com reports that March auto sales have left down by 12.0 percent to 1.36 million vehicles.
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. is among the decliners in this unfavorable situation with a 10.3 percent drop in sales last month. The plunge has prompted Toyota officials to revise its 2008 sales forecast. While Toyota performed poorly with its trucks and SUVs, it did well with its cars such as Camry and Prius that registered good sales.
If we’ll try to look at the bright side of things, we could see that Toyota is just slightly affected here. First, its cars are export. Second, its truck and SUV problems are also problems of the rest of automakers. So I guess there’s really not much to worry about. They could for all time make up for the lost with a new marketing approach, anyhow.
Toyota Scion
Toyota’s Scion as a 21st century chariot of the soul. It is an affordable car, also a expression of the hip, unique and young person who Toyota hopes driving it. A marketing campaign “me time” with an underground vibe is intended to show how much their chosen car reflects their personality.
Air Induction Tube Leaks
An air induction tube is a hose that is assembled to the engine. This hose filters the air in the engine because unfiltered air can cause major damages to the engine, such as power loss. So it is very important that there are no leaks of any kind. However, a hose replacement at Toyota is quite expensive, especially if you are the budget type who at least just wants a temporary fix to last until you can afford the permanent fix. A wrecking yard is a good suggestion here, but if the budget can not afford it, just grab a duct tape and cover the hole. It is just that simple, of course it won’t last.
Bumper Dents (Part 2)
Do take note not to burn the paint. Later on, the dent will go off out on its own. If that does not happen, you can do it yourself by applying pressure at the opposite side to pop it on your own. Bumpers that are made out of plastic material have that kind of “memory”, just when you press a reset button on a game you are playing. When you apply heat on you plastic-material bumper, it will always go back to the way it was molded figure. Once it has returned to its normal shape, bolt it back to your car. It is just that easy.
Bumper Dents (Part 1)
A dent in your Toyota’s bumper is an awful sight to see. So if you are that person who wants those nasty dents removed by yourself, here’s how you should do it. Check if your bumper is made of plastic. If it is made of plastic, see if it is cracked. If there are no cracks at all, all you have to do is unbolt it. If you have an electric fire or a portable gas fire, position it towards the bumper with the dent for approximately thirty centimeters. Just put it that way for five minutes.
Dashboard Illumination
Not all lights will work forever, even candle melts and you have to light a new stick to provide illumination in a dark room. Light bulbs will wear out, even in cars, and these lights were provided, in the first place, to give support when checking out dark areas of your car. One of these dark areas in your car would have to be in the dashboard where the air flows which is called airflow control area. These light bulbs are usually attached to sockets, and they can be easily removed by pulling them off. To pull them off, you have to remove this plastic wrapped around the dash.
Power Window Failure of Doom (Part 2)
