Wednesday 25 November 2015

How to Use Ball Joint Press?

The suspension system of a car, which must be kept in top condition, is comprised of two parts: shock absorbers and ball joints. Shock absorbers absorb the bumps in the road. When they wear out, the car bounces excessively. The ball joints keep the car driving in a straight line. If they are worn out, the car will begin to wander while driving and could cause you to lose control. In addition, worn ball joints can cause excessive wear on the tires . It is when replacing ball joints that the use of a ball joint press comes in very handy. Here's how to use a ball joint press.
Lift up the front end of the vehicle using a car jack.
Remove the front wheels.
Detach the brake caliper.
Slide off the rotor. You will need to detach the tie-rod end and the lower strut bolts. This will allow enough movement to move the steering knuckle.
Remove the upper control arm by removing the cotter pin that keeps it in place. You are now ready to remove the ball joint using the ball joint press.
Place the ball joint press over the ball joint on the control arm. The long threaded shaft of the press should be facing upward.
Place the deep cup of the ball joint press, which is designed to contain the ball joint, over the top of the ball joint.
Tighten the threaded shaft on the ball joint press with a ratchet and socket. This will pop the ball joint out of the control arm. You're now ready to put in the new ball joint.
Mount the deep cup of the ball joint press on the new ball joint.
Tighten the threaded shaft and put the new ball joint into place.
Check that the joints are going in straight after every few turns of the press .

Wednesday 18 November 2015

How to check your car's engine oil?

How to check your car's engine oil?
-----A one-minute investment can keep your car healthy and running smoothly.


Think of motor oil as the life’s blood of your car’s engine. Checking it on a regular basis is a key part of keeping your engine running well and getting the most miles out of it. The oil lubricates the engine’s internal moving parts, keeping them from wearing too quickly. It also helps keep the engine clean, by preventing dirt buildup, and helps keep it from overheating.

Checking the oil level is a quick, easy job that we recommend you do at every other gas fill-up. All you’ll need is a rag or paper towel, and your car’s owner’s manual if you have questions.

1.Engine oil, check!
First, make sure the car is parked on level ground and, with most cars, the engine is cold, so you don’t burn yourself on a hot engine part. With some cars, the automaker recommends that the oil be checked after the engine has been warmed up. With the engine off, open the car’s hood and find the dipstick. Pull the dipstick out from the engine and wipe any oil off from its end. Then insert the dipstick back into its tube and push it all the way back in.

Pull it back out, and this time look at both sides of the dipstick to see where the oil is on the end. Every dipstick has some way of indicating the proper oil level, whether it be two two pinholes, the letters L and H (low and high), the words MIN and MAX, or simply an area of crosshatching. Refer to the owner’s manual, if necessary. If the top of the oil “streak” is between the two marks or within the crosshatched area, the level is fine.

But if the oil is below the minimum mark, you need to add oil as described below.

Also, check the oil’s color. If it’s brown or black, that’s fine. But if it has a light, milky appearance, this could mean coolant is leaking into the engine. Look closely for any metal particles, too, as this could mean there is internal engine damage. If you see either of these conditions, get the car to a mechanic for further diagnosis. If you suspect a coolant leak, have the car towed.

If everything’s okay, wipe off the dipstick again and insert it back into its tube, making sure it’s fully seated. Close the hood and you’re done.

2.How to add oil
Use the grade of oil recommended in the owner’s manual. It will usually have a designation such as 5W 30 or 10W 40. You can buy it by the quart at any service station or auto-parts store, as well as in many supermarkets and discount retailers.

To add oil, remove the oil filler cap, usually located on top of the engine. Since over-filling with oil is bad for the engine, you should add oil a little at a time. Start by adding about half a quart. Using a funnel helps avoid spills. Wait a minute or so and check the dipstick again. If the level is still below or near the minimum mark, add the rest of the quart. Unless your engine is leaking or burning oil (or if you haven’t checked it in awhile) you will rarely need to add more than a quart. However, if a second quart is needed, add that in slowly as well, checking as you go.

Screw the oil filler cap back on securely, and you’re done.

Wednesday 11 November 2015

How to use Fuel Line Disconnect Tools and Work With Late-Model Quick-Disconnect Fuel Lines?

Before disconnecting the fuel line, you should follow the approved Holden technique of depressurising the fuel system.

Depressurisation Overview:


Remove fuel pump relay from underbonnet relay centre (located on drivers side of engine bay)

Crank engine and let run until it stops

Crank a further two to three times.

This will take out any pressure in the fuel line and stop you from possibly getting a face full of petrol when you disconnect the coupling

This is the proper tool set:


You get multiple sizes, but you only need one.

So. Step one is to get the appropriate size clip.


Then you want to put the tool over the solid part of the fuel line.

You want the smaller part of the tool to be able to go under the collar of the connector.
There are 4 prongs inside the connector, which is what you're disengaging when you use the clip. To disengage them, push the tool into the connector and wiggle the hose until you feel the clips disengage.

You may need to push the fuel hose towards the connector while pushing the connector in, depends on the firmness of the clips.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?


A good time to rotate your tires is when you get the oil changed, assuming you do that at least once a year and more often if you drive, say, more than 10,000 miles annually.

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that the tires be rotated on the same schedule as oil changes. In most cases that means every 7,500 miles or six months, though some have stretched the oil-change interval to 10,000 miles, such as on many Fords, Volkswagens and Toyotas. BMW allows up to 15,000 miles between oil changes, but that is too long to wait to rotate the tires.

Unless you drive fewer than about 7,500 miles per year, you should probably rotate tires every six months or so.

The tires mounted on the drive wheels of any vehicle perform extra duty because they apply the power to the pavement. On front-wheel-drive vehicles that is amplified by the weight of the engine and transmission, and because the front tires do most of the work in turns. Rotating the tires between front and rear a couple of times a year spreads out the burden so they wear evenly. Automakers that offer all-wheel-drive cars also recommend rotating tires. Subaru, for example, says to do it every 7,500 miles or 7.5 months, whichever comes first.

There are exceptions to these examples, particularly with performance models that may have different schedules for tire rotation. We suggest you follow the recommended schedule outlined in your owner's manual, but rotate the tires (and change the oil) at least once a year.