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GoinsAutoRepair.Com
Auto Care Tips
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Is it Time
for a Tune-Up Yet?:
 It's been a couple of years since you
had the car tuned up but it still seems to be running fine.
Leave well enough alone, right?
WRONG!
On most vehicles today, malfunctions may
be camouflaged by computers whose function is to keep the
engine running as efficiently as possible as long as
possible. When they no longer can compensate for
mechanical discrepancies, they may just fail. The vehicle is
disabled. Periodic diagnostic checks and maintenance can
prevent this sometimes disastrous situation.
Symptoms of engine trouble on most
vehicles today are subtle. It's not easy to tell if your car
needs a tune-up because the symptoms are masked by
computerized controls. Preventive diagnosis, done
periodically, can keep your vehicle running trouble-free for
years. Short of that, if you do detect a change in your
vehicle's performance, make a note of it and report it to your
technician for further diagnosis and corrective measures.
Hard Starting
This is the most common form of car trouble. It's
usually due to some unperformed maintenance
If the starter cranks the
engine, the electrical system probably is ok.
The culprit could be a starting sensor (on fuel
injected models) or the choke mechanism (on engines
with carburetors). Frequently, starting failure
can be traced to an electronic component or a computer
controlling the ignition system.
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Knocking
This noise generally is heard when the engine is under
load, such as when accelerating or climbing a hill.
While it often may be caused by a tankful of inferior
gas, ignition knock frequently is a sign your engine
needs attention. It also can be caused by a build-up
of carbon inside the engine
Late model cars are equipped
with a knock sensor which "hears" the
sound and makes corrective adjustments. But it cannot
compensate for a severe malfunction, a condition which
can affect engine performance, even damage the engine.
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Stalling
This can be caused by incorrect idle speed
adjustments, a malfunctioning sensor or switch, dirty
fuel system parts, worn spark plugs or other engine
deficiencies
Does it stall when:
- Hot?
- Cold?
- With air conditioning on?
To make diagnosis easier, make
note of when it happens and advise your technician.
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Power Loss
How long since the fuel, filter was changed? A
dirty filter is a common cause of power loss. As noted
under "poor gas mileage", there can be many
causes of this condition, most of which can be located
with a diagnostic procedure.
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Poor Gas
Mileage
By keeping a regular check of gas mileage (miles
driven divided by gallons used) you can tell if your
engine is losing efficiency. Increased gas consumption
may be accompanied by other symptoms listed in this
website.
NOTE
Poor gas mileage also may be due
to:
- Under inflated tires
- Engine running too cold
- Transmission malfunction
- Dragging brakes
- Misaligned wheels
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Dieseling
This also is known as "after-run' The engine
keeps chugging and coughing for several seconds or
more after the ignition is shut off. Causes can range
from inferior gas to excessive idle speed.
Carbon in the combustion chamber
also may cause dieseling.
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Exhaust Odor
The smell of rotten eggs comes from the catalytic
converter part of your car's emissions control system.
The odor can be due to an engine problem or it can be
a sign your car's catalytic converter is
malfunctioning.
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Rough Running
A malfunction in either the fuel or ignition system
can cause an engine to run rough. It also can be due
to an internal engine condition, such as a bad valve
or piston.
Does it occur when idling? When
accelerating? At all speeds? Your best bet Have a
qualified technician perform diagnostic and tune-up
services as needed.
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| A first class tune-up includes a thorough diagnostic
check by a qualified technician
source
of information taken from doityourself.com |
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