U-Can-Auto-Repair's posterous http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com Most recent posts at U-Can-Auto-Repair's posterous posterous.com Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:25:52 -0700 Untitled http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/47369718 http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/47369718 http%3A%2F%2Fpinedagreen%2Ees%2Findex002%2D9%2Ehtml

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Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:38:38 -0700 Headlight Bulb Change http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/headlight-bulb-change http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/headlight-bulb-change Good video from Expert Village on how to change a headlight bulb. General only, not car specific.

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Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:34:39 -0700 Automobile Bulb Testing http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-bulb-testing-0 http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-bulb-testing-0

               Testing the wiring in your 

automobile can be a difficult task if you don’t know what to look for. Repairing it can also be hard, depending on where the fault is. I have created a few diagrams, here.

               These are based on a basic series circuit. A lot of people come across dim bulbs on their car, so I showed a few ways to test the circuit. If the bulb is dim, test the load or power drop across the bulb as shown here. You should have battery voltage. The best way to test what battery voltage is to check the battery at the posts. A good test will show 12v; check your automobilemanufactures recommend voltage for your battery. If it goes below a certain voltage it might not be able to recover when being charged.

If you get anything lower than 12v; then there could be a problem. Next you would need to check the power at the bulb has seen here. If you have anything other than 12v; again some more diagnostics will be need on your part. The best way I found to test a circuit is to break it down. This will require some access to wiring harnesses and fuse boxes. Start with the easy points, the fuse, the ground, the bulb. Never assume all those are good. Some cases a visual look at this may miss the problem. If you check a fuse and it looks ok, but still you have no power. Use your meter to check the fuse while it is in the fuse box location. If you find 12v on one side and 0v on the other then the fuse is bad.


When checking a ground point you will need to find the stud and wire of that circuit. These can sometimes be found in your wiring diagram. They are usually black wires, with eye sockets on the end. They can be fitted with a nut or bolt. Make sure the nut or bolt is tight and there is no rust on the location. Any resistance can cause a problem in your automobile circuit. You need a clean ground to complete the circuit. Checking the bulb socket can always be a good point for loss of power. Tangs inside the socket can become loose or bend causing the bulb not to work or be dim. Make sure the bulb is good by check the filament inside of it. Look very close at it, sometimes it make look good, but one point make not be contacting. Try the bulb in a different socket; if it works then you know you have a circuit problem that needs repairing.


Remember to take your time when testing your automobile wiring. If you’re not sure what to check always refer to a wiring diagram. Once you have found the fault, all you will need to do is repair it. If you really fell uncertain, take it to a repair shop. You will fell better when you can fix it.


Written by U-Can-Auto-Repair 

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Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:31:00 -0700 Automobile Bulb Testing http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-bulb-testing http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-bulb-testing

Testing the wiring in your automobile can be a difficult task if you don’t know what to look for. Repairing it can also be hard, depending on where the fault is. I have created a few diagrams, here.

                These are based on a basic series circuit. A lot of people come across dim bulbs on their car, so I showed a few ways to test the circuit. If the bulb is dim, test the load or power drop across the bulb as shown here. You should have battery voltage. The best way to test what battery voltage is to check the battery at the posts. A good test will show 12v; check your automobilemanufactures recommend voltage for your battery. If it goes below a certain voltage it might not be able to recover when being charged.

If you get anything lower than 12v; then there could be a problem. Next you would need to check the power at the bulb has seen here. If you have anything other than 12v; again some more diagnostics will be need on your part. The best way I found to test a circuit is to break it down. This will require some access to wiring harnesses and fuse boxes. Start with the easy points, the fuse, the ground, the bulb. Never assume all those are good. Some cases a visual look at this may miss the problem. If you check a fuse and it looks ok, but still you have no power. Use your meter to check the fuse while it is in the fuse box location. If you find 12v on one side and 0v on the other then the fuse is bad.


When checking a ground point you will need to find the stud and wire of that circuit. These can sometimes be found in your wiring diagram. They are usually black wires, with eye sockets on the end. They can be fitted with a nut or bolt. Make sure the nut or bolt is tight and there is no rust on the location. Any resistance can cause a problem in your automobile circuit. You need a clean ground to complete the circuit. Checking the bulb socket can always be a good point for loss of power. Tangs inside the socket can become loose or bend causing the bulb not to work or be dim. Make sure the bulb is good by check the filament inside of it. Look very close at it, sometimes it make look good, but one point make not be contacting. Try the bulb in a different socket; if it works then you know you have a circuit problem that needs repairing.


Remember to take your time when testing your automobile wiring. If you’re not sure what to check always refer to a wiring diagram. Once you have found the fault, all you will need to do is repair it. If you really fell uncertain, take it to a repair shop. You will fell better when you can fix it. 


Written by U-Can-Auto-Repair 

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Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:58:17 -0700 Need help to Pass a Smog Check! http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/need-help-to-pass-a-smog-check http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/need-help-to-pass-a-smog-check

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Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:50:58 -0700 Has Your Car Reached 100,000 miles? http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/has-your-car-reached-100000-miles http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/has-your-car-reached-100000-miles Found article on Yahoo!, pretty good.
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1521/what-to-do-when-your-car-reaches-100000-miles/

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Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:05:18 -0700 Automobile Wiring Testing http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-wiring-testing http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-wiring-testing

Let’s talk about wiring faults in an automobile. I will start with the basics. I posted a video on how to use a DVOM when repairing. In the video they talked about checking a wire for continuity.  What they mean is if a wire is intact and not open/cut causing a problem.

 I suggest watching the video cause it will give you the basic idea what happens when you check a wire for continuity. Meter beeps or has a visual symbol showing continuity of a wire. First I must say never use this method when check the resistance of continuity of an automobile airbag circuit, you can set off the airbags if you do. If repair of the airbags is needed disconnect the battery for at least two minutes, and disconnect the airbags from the circuit. If you feel uncomfortable take it in, don’t risk injury here to save a few bucks.

There a few things to keep in mind when repairing a wire of a circuit that you may believe to have a problem. Just because there is a beep/continuity on a wire does not make it ok. A wire can still be holding on by a strand showing it is good, but it might not be enough to carry a load/power. Always check the wire to a ground point a make sure it shows no continuity. There should never be a ground point on a power wire; this will cause a fuse to blow. When checking a wire in an automobile circuit the best thing to do is place your meter probe from where the wire starts and a probe on its end point. You may not always be able to reach these, so break down a wire with connectors. Take connectors out of the circuit and probe from one connector to another. Always back probe a connector never front probe. You can damage pins causing more problems. The connector should have numbers on which pin is which, but they are very small to read. Go by wire color from your wiring diagram.

 I will draw up some different ways to test circuits and there most common faults. Bent pins, open female pins, pinched wires, cut harness, melted harness and improper testing are some reasons for automobile wiring faults. Most of the time you will find a fuse that has blown, so you put one in. It may work, but what if it blows out later or if right when you out a new one in? You are going to need to find the cause of this. You could take it in to a shop. But most places may not be has skilled in wiring testing, or have the right equipment. You could take it to a dealer, but it may cost you a pretty penny. Once you find out what is was you could have fixed it yourself. Try a fix it yourself first. Do not go and destroy your automobile while doing this. Take your time and look at thing closely.

A good DVOM, wiring diagram and some time could save you some money on your automobile wiring repairs. I will post some drawings of how to test circuit and there different problems. It will be easier to explain and easier for you to see how to test for faults.

Created by U-Can-Auto-Repair

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Sat, 11 Sep 2010 01:28:42 -0700 Car Battery Care and Maintenance http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/car-battery-care-and-maintenance http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/car-battery-care-and-maintenance I have seen more people cause damage to their car when the do not jump start them correctly. Yes there is a correct way.

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Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:48:13 -0700 Scan Tool with ABS code reading. http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/scan-tool-with-abs-code-reading http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/scan-tool-with-abs-code-reading Great video about the Equus 3160 Scan Tool with ABS functions......I like this scan tool.
It is not to pricey either....see here

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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:08:12 -0700 Nice article on hand tools for those around the house jobs! http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/nice-article-on-hand-tools-for-those-around-t http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/nice-article-on-hand-tools-for-those-around-t Found this on Yahoo!, nice article on DIY suggested hand tools.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/422/tools-everyone-should-own/

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Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:51:16 -0700 How to use a DVOM http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/how-to-use-a-dvom http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/how-to-use-a-dvom Nice video from ifitjams on YouTube on DVOM usage.
 

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Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:39:30 -0700 Automobile Electrics http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-electrics http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/automobile-electrics

So, I think we have some basic idea’s down when repairing your automobile. Let’s talk car electrics. I will break this down in several different post, cause this may take awhile.

           An automobile’s electrics can be very easy to understand if you take it in steps. By steps I mean understand how electrics on a car flow, how components work, and reading a good wiring diagram. On most of today’s car a good battery is always need before testing any components circuitry to find the problem. A good volt/ohm meter or DVOM ( digital volt ohm meter) is a must here. Do not use test lights if your first starting out. You can cause more damage to a circuit because of the load a bulb may place on the circuit, especially if it is a airbag circuit. A battery must have a good charge of 12 volts to get good readings. A low or under charged battery can give you false readings when testing a automobile circuit.
    Get a wiring diagram for your automobile. This is going to save you from a lot of pain and aggravation. You can usually find a good factory diagram some where on the Internet, if not a good basic repair manual will have some kind of diagram. You might have to look a bit more for connectors and plugs with a basic repair manual than a factory diagram. Look at how the circuit work before you start testing and probing. Ground points and power points are always good places to start. If a automobile circuit is not getting the proper power or ground this can can a lot of issues. Look for the easy points to reach first, it might be just that simple.
    Then again it might not be. If all the power and grounds are reading as per manufactures specification, then look for connectors in the circuit. See where a wire is going and where it’s coming from. In most causes you will find that a bent male pin of an open ended female pin is not connecting properly. The best way to test this is to pin drag the pins. We will go into circuit testing and fixing later. There is going to be a lot of post about automobile electrics later.
    Remember to get a good DVOM and wiring diagram. Start looking at the easy points first, powers and grounds. You may find that the simplest thing caused your car to fail. Take your time  where repairing your automobile electrics, better to be careful here and not cause more damage.

Written by U-Can-Auto-Repair

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Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:03:36 -0700 Tire Low Light http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/tire-low-light http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/tire-low-light
Found this on Yahoo today! Nice article about new mandate for cars.

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1498/do-you-know-what-this-symbol-means

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Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:51:58 -0700 How to change a tire. http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/how-to-change-a-tire http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/how-to-change-a-tire Um....yea....."I'm" posting this cause some people just don't know how to change a tire. It's ok, now you will. Thanks Howdini.

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Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:06:48 -0700 Nice Vid on proper tire care from YouTube http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/nice-vid-on-proper-tire-care-from-youtube http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/nice-vid-on-proper-tire-care-from-youtube

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Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:29:46 -0700 First post using Posterous http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/first-post-using-posterous http://u-can-auto-repair.posterous.com/first-post-using-posterous First post using Posterous. Posting from email....nice and easy.

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