The "Check Engine Light" in My Car Keeps Coming On - What Does this Light Mean?
Reader Question: My check engine light came on the other day what should I do? Will it hurt my car if I continue to drive it?
Thanks James
Dear James,
I hear this line at least once a week. The instrument panel on most cars is absolutely cluttered with warning indicator lights and buzzers. These lights are color-coordinated so that different colors indicate the severity of the potential problem. As you start the car, all of the lights should come on, and as the computer verifies each component is working properly, the light is turned off. You should only be concerned with lights that remain on for several minutes after the car has been started. Check engine or service engine soon lights can be tricky to repair, so a little help on your part could really save the mechanic some diagnostic time, and save you some money!
The "Check Engine Light" in My Car Keeps Coming On - What Does this Light Mean?Treat check engine lights-service engine soon lights, and all dash lights like traffic signals. A Red Warning light indicates an immediate danger. Pull over, turn off the car immediately and assess the problem. Symptoms that usually cause red warning lights are engine over-heating, low oil pressure, transmission over-heating, low battery voltage, and brake failure.
Red lights can also indicate a safety issue, so proceed with caution as you maneuver to stop the vehicle. Unfortunately, when the red light is illuminated the problem is at its peek. It can be a matter of seconds before permanent engine damage occurs.
Some common things to look for when a red light comes on are:
* low anti-freeze, engine oil, and transmission fluid levels
* low brake fluid
* missing belts
* faulty alternator that is not charging the battery or a bad battery
To decode check engine lights, you really need a quality repair manual like those provided at ALLDATA. They include troubleshooting procedures, Recall Information and Technical Service Bulletins. Click Here to get your manual today and find out what that check engine light really means.
A Yellow Warning light, (Usually a Service engine soon light) indicates "Proceed with caution." The onboard computer system has indicated a potential problem and is alerting the driver. This computer system resets and re-tests all sensors and indicators each time the car is started. The computer system is capable of correcting some minor abnormalities, but if the light continues to come on after multiple car starts, it is probably sensing something that would imply a visit to the diagnostic mechanic is in order.
Some common things that may cause a yellow light (Service engine soon light) to come on, but will probably require an experienced technician to diagnose are:
* anti-lock brake systems
* safety restraint systems, such as air bags
* emissions components
* computer-related problems, such as faulty sensors
If you are driving your car and a yellow light comes on, ask yourself these questions:
1. Did you notice problems when starting the car? (slower to start than normal..etc.)
2. Have you noticed a decrease in fuel mileage recently?
3. What is the over-all running condition of the car? Is the engine misfiring or not performing like normal? Are there any new noises from under the hood? Turn off the radio and listen closely as you drive the car.
4. Do you notice any odors, such as a rotten egg smell, or see visible smoke from the tail-pipe or from under the hood?
Make sure to note the exact location and wording of the light that has been coming on, because Murphy's Law dictates that the light will suddenly not come on when you take it in to the repair shop.
In some cars, "engine" is the more serious red light, whereas others use "check engine light," which is a yellow caution light. If the mechanic thinks you are seeing a yellow "check engine light," and your car is indicating a red "engine" danger light, this could be a costly mistake for both of you. Why? You could be having a serious over heating problem and the mechanic is assuming you are having a less serious caution light illuminating. The mechanic then might give you the "green light" (no pun intended) to proceed with your out of town road trip with the kids. Yikes!
Start the car, and point to the light to ensure good communication of the problem. Intermittent dash warning lights can be a pain and hard to diagnose! Diagnosing the problem in some cases will require the light to be on while the mechanic performs the diagnostic test. If the light is not on when you bring the car to the shop, you might be wasting your time and the mechanic's.
SIDE NOTE: Keep a "running condition and dash light" log in your car to help the mechanic pin point the root of the problem. I have a customer who keeps such an accurate log of her cars' complaints that sometimes I can diagnose the problem correctly with the help of her log and by taking her along on my initial test drive.
I can do my diagnosis usually without opening the hood to her car. This saves me time and she saves money on a diagnostic charge. This customer can also hold me to my warranty time period, because she had this particular complaint written in her log book.
Friends Link : White Dress Sales 2012 Nintendo DS Games Samsung UN22D5003 Wow Wow Watches
Mercedes Benz Spark Plugs for Proper Engine Start-up
Mercedes Benz is one of the top-selling brands of cars in the whole world today. It is known for its innovations especially when it comes to the safety features of its vehicles. To be able to keep your Mercedes Benz always on its top shape, it must be properly maintained. Of course, we can start with the maintenance of its parts. Take for instance the Mercedes Benz spark plug.
A spark plug or if you're British, you may call it sparkling plug, is an electrical device located in the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. By means of a spark, it ignites compressed aerosol gasoline.
The Mercedes Benz spark plug is supposed to provide three basic items for it to be capable to initiate the combustion process. First, it seals the combustion chamber. Second, it conducts a spark that is generated in the ignition coil into the combustion chamber and provides a gap for that spark to jump across. And third, it conducts the heat it picks up in the combustion process to the cylinder head and into the cooling system.
Mercedes Benz Spark Plugs for Proper Engine Start-upThe Mercedes Benz park plug basically has eight parts. These are the terminal, ribs, insulator, metal case, side electrode or ground electrode, seals, insulator tip, and central electrode.
Electrical performance is the term used for the ability of the spark plug to carry electrical energy and turn fuel into working energy. Also, a sufficient amount of voltage must be supplied by the ignition system to spark across the spark plug's gap.
Thermal Performance, on the other hand is the term used for the temperature that the spark plug is firing. It must be must be kept low enough to prevent pre-ignition, but high enough to prevent fouling.
The spark plug's firing end can be affected by the internal environment of the combustion chamber. Proper operation of the combustion chamber can be indicated by a light brownish discoloration of the tip of the spark plug while a malfunction may be indicated by other conditions.
A Mercedes Benz spark plug can either be hot or cold. The hot type has a larger surface exposed to the combustion gasses. It dissipates heat quickly and its firing end heats up quickly. The cold type, on the other hand, has a smaller surface exposed to the combustion gasses, dissipates heat slowly and has a firing end that heats up slowly. Whether a spark plug is hot or cold is known as the heat range of the spark plug.
The spark plug's heat range has many factors that can affect it. Some of these are the types of materials used, the length of the insulator and the surface area of the plug that is exposed within the combustion chamber.
What are the most common problems when it comes to your Mercedes Benz spark plugs? First is detonation, which is practically the spark plug's worst enemy. A light detonation can be indicated by a small black or gray spots on the core nose of the spark plug while a severe detonation can be indicated by insulators that are cracked or chipped. The spark plug is damaged by both the elevated temperatures and the accompanying shock wave, or concussion. Second is pre-ignition which is defined as ignition of the air/fuel mixture before the pre-set ignition timing mark. Common indications are melted center, ground electrodes or a melted insulator. One of its causes can be a spark plug that's too hot. This can severely damage not only the spark plug itself but also intake valves and brake pistons. Pre-ignition also causes detonation. Third is fouling, which commonly occurs when the spark plug tip temperature is insufficient to burn off carbon, fuel, oil or other deposits. Fouling can either be wet or dry. Common indicators are soft, black, sooty, dry-looking deposits for dry fouling and black oily coating for wet fouling. Fourth is misfire. A spark plug is said to have misfired when enough voltage has not been delivered to light off all fuel present in the combustion chamber at the proper moment of the power stroke. A spark plug can deliver a weak spark for a variety of reasons namely defective coil, too much compression with incorrect plug gap, dry fouled or wet fouled spark plugs and insufficient ignition timing.
Thanks To : Buy Tissot watches sale TAG Heuer WAJ2111.BA0870,CAH1010.BA0860, WAV5112.B Day Clutches Handbags
Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over - Tech in Trunk?
If the car's starter clicks and the engine does not turn over, this could be caused by several things. The most common cause of clicking when the car is being started is a low battery. Most people would assume that the starter is bad if it only clicks, but low-voltage can cause the starter to make this sound.
The battery is the heart of the starting and electrical system. If the battery has been drained or has a weak cell, this can cause the starter to only click. Many times the battery could just been drained due to a door left slightly open, making the dome light stay on. Other times a vanity light or a phone charger could be left on. During my time as a master auto technician, I've had a trustworthy co-worker close me up in the trunk so I could make sure the trunk light went off when the trunk was closed!
In order to test the battery it must have a good charge. If the battery is not charged completely the tester will indicate that it needs to be charged before testing can proceed. The first step when checking the starter and electrical system is to make sure the battery is in good condition. Most parts stores will check batteries for free. Once it's determined the battery is good the rest of the system can then be checked. Loose or corroded connections can also cause a clicking and for the car not to start.
Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over - Tech in Trunk?Starter
The starter solenoid on many Ford vehicle's is on the inner fender well, on most other vehicles the starter solenoid will be mounted on the starter. The clicking that is heard many times is the solenoid. But low-voltage either from a drained battery, bad battery or poor connections can cause this. Most of the time if the vehicle can be jump-started the starter is okay. This would also indicate that the connections to the starter are good.
Alternator
Once the vehicle is running the alternator output can be checked. If the alternator is not charging the battery, it will be drained during the process of starting the car and driving. When the alternator is checked, the voltage and amperage output can be measured. Also the diode pattern will be checked to make sure the alternator won't drain the battery when the engine is turned off. In the past do-it-yourselfers could disconnect the battery while the vehicle is running to check the alternator, if the car kept running the alternator was good. Doing this on computerized vehicles can be harmful. If the battery is disconnected while a computerized vehicle is running the alternator output can increase sharply allowing excess voltage to spike the computer.
Battery
When purchasing a replacement battery the cold cranking amps required for the vehicle should be checked. It's best to purchase a battery with more cold cranking amps than the minimum required. Also when purchasing a battery you should consider if you want maintenance free or not. If the battery is hard to access or has a cover then a maintenance free battery is preferred. For instance on some Chrysler Sebrings and Chevrolet Corvettes the battery is located behind an inner fender and on a Chevrolet SSR. the battery is located underneath the bed where the spare tire would normally go. If installing the battery yourself be sure to notice which side is positive and negative in case you were sold the incorrect battery.
Terminals
The terminals should be free of corrosion and should tighten up well. Sometimes especially on import vehicles the battery terminals will be very thin and can have hairline cracks causing a poor connection. Avoid forcing the battery terminals on by tapping them. The battery casing can be damaged causing a leak, if the battery acid seeps out it can cause fast corrosion. If the battery terminal bolts will not tighten, then replacing the terminals is recommended. When the connections are tight you should not be able to twist them by hand.
My Links : Buy Desk Clock Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill Boy Bike summer infant best view digital video baby monitor
