240 Datsun Z cars

The lineup of Nissan Z cars has a long and proud history. After digging through the history of this legendary Japanese sports car it appears that the first offering in America was the 240 model that was released in late 1969. This was soon to be updated to the Datsun 260Z in 1974.

This car is rare because it had a short running. Just one year later in 1975 the straight six (inline) engine was punched out to 2.8 L, therefore renaming the car the 280-Z. The numbers in the title of the car of course equal the engine size even on the models that are built today.

1975 Datsun B210

1975 was also my first memory of this car as we went to a local Datsun dealership when my dad was in search of a fuel efficient vehicle thanks to the fuel crunch in the mid-70s. We did come home with a new Datsun that day but it was not a Nissan z car. We wound up with a B210 in a strange orangeish yellow color.

At the time foreign cars were few and far between and we were the only family with a Japanese car in the whole development. I remember the day that we brought it home! Our neighbor who was a World War II veteran came running out of his house screaming and yelling. He was a prisoner of war and spent time in a Japanese POW camp. He felt that by us buying a Japanese car that we were betraying our country (He had a point).

From Datsun to Nissan

1979 280ZX Special Edition

In 1979 these Nissan Z cars reached their tenth anniversary and rolled out a special model to celebrate. Not only was it well received as in breaking the all-time sales record for this model, but it was also named the import car of the year (again) by motor trend magazine.

Winning the motor trend car of the year can help propel a car into sales figures the car-maker never expected. It is also some of the best free advertising to this day. So no surprise it was a big deal in 79 and the car really started to gain traction at this point.

1984 Turbo Z

The Japanese automaker realizing the potential of this 2-door sport coupe started work on a complete redesign and a much anticipated re-launch of the next-generation. It was not ready to go until late 83 starting for the model year 1984. This was not only the year I graduated high school but it was the year that the Z would see its biggest engine yet with a 3 L V-6.

84 was also the 50th anniversary of the Datsun/Nissan motor Co. They celebrated by strapping on a turbo and breaking the 200 hp barrier for the first time. They put together a package in 1984 that was an anniversary edition turbocharged Nissan Z car. With a hood scoop offset to the driver side of the hood became the easiest way to identify this car. A look inside would reveal every luxury option that Nissan could throw into a vehicle at the time including leather seats.

What would be next for the Z?

In 1990 Nissan Z Cars were reborn once again with new styling and new engine options. And Yes you guessed it, they earned the car company the still prestigious award of motor trend import car of the year. The Z32 build out ran from 1990 to 1996. A convertible model was offered in 1993 that was very unique looking and provided the company with impressive sales numbers and profit margins.

1995 300ZX Twin Turbo

What I remember most about the Z32 was people started to call this car the “Corvette killer“. Not only did the styling of the vehicle rival the Corvette but the twin turbo 3 L V-6 produced over 300-based horsepower. With the lighter weight of the V-6 and the overall lighter weight of the Z car, these vehicles would run toe to toe with a Corvette of the same model year.

What killed the Z they say was the total cost. Ringing the bell at $50K the sales started to diminish to the point where the company decided to put the Nissan Z cars on hiatus till they could figure out what to do. This brings us to the modern day in with the year 2000 the roll-out and come back of the next-generation Z32 known has the 350Z.

I have written extensively about this car and its more recent counterpart the 370Z over at my auto-facts.org website. So I’m not going to get into great detail about this particular model. If you’re interested in seeing more about it you can follow this next link which opens up a new window to see more about today’s Nissan 370Z.

As for me I always wanted one from the first time I stepped foot in the Datsun dealership in 1975. With the launch of the 350 Z my passion was also reignited. I couldn’t afford a new one so I decided to buy an old one. I wound up with a Z31 1988 300ZX 2+2 in the silver blue color known as Ice mist.

Although the car was a lot of fun it was also a lot of trouble. I have dedicated a whole section on this website to my Nissan 300ZX problems. I also posted pictures of it on Pinterest along with Car stuff and other cool car pictures. If you would like to see more of the most recent articles posted here this next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog homepage.

69 Dodge Charger in Tripple Black

How many times have you seen the Dodge charger in movies? The motivation for my post today is, I saw the film Drive Angry last night. In a nutshell it’s about a poor excuse for a father that escapes from hell (Nicolas Cage) and with the help of a hot girl named Piper (Amber Heard) chases after the people from a cult organization that killed his estranged Daughter and kidnapped his favorite grandchild.

I was definitely entertained by the movie and overall was pleasantly surprised by some interesting twist and turns (no driving pun intended). Not surprising, when the movie title is drive angry, there was plenty of muscle cars and chase scenes. In my opinion the real star of the movie was a black 1969 Dodge charger with a 440 C.I.D. big block. The beautiful music of the 440 was well done (possibly the actual engine) and more realistic than soundtracks that are added to other movies staring Dodge chargers.

Here’s two informational links that will open a new window. This is the IMDB report on the Movie. If you want see it now you can get it 4 ways (Instant, DVD, Blue Ray, Blue Ray 3d) at Amazon. You can watch Drive Angry right now. After the charger was beaten and destroyed, Nicolas Cage jumped in a 1970 454 Chevelle that was also entertaining. It got me to thinking just how many movies and TV shows have featured the Sixty Nine and 70 2-door Mopar muscle car.

I was also thinking about how often this vehicle has been destroyed on the silver screen for my entertainment. You would think by now they would start running very low on this particular model of muscle car. It also makes you wonder about the value of any remaining chargers and how it has been affected. I have seen this car go for well over $100,000 in Barrett Jackson auctions. Even in poor condition this car is still fetching 20 or $30,000 on e-bay.

Movies starring the Dodge charger

70 R/T Charger

One of the first movies I remember seeing the car in was Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry (available below). Then I saw it again in the 80s classic Christine. Although Christine was a 1957 Plymouth fury the good guy drove a 1970 charger blue in color with a black vinyl top and chrome five spoke Craggier wheels. Even though this car was not the star of the movie in my opinion it was the most attractive.

Of course several of the Fast and Furious movies also featured the Mopar muscle car of the 70s. I was not a big fan of the fast and furious movies mainly because a lot of the footage seemed unrealistic and over edited. The soundtrack also did not seem accurate. Here is a video of the actual Vin Diesel autographed car from the movie that shows how the fake blower was mounted to the hood. I understand the magic of Hollywood but to do this to a big block mopar is sacrilegious (my opinion).

Charger 500 with Factory Mags

Of course there was the Quentin Tarantino classic Grind house with Kurt Russell in the sub story of Death proof. Kurt drove a black primer 1969 Dodge Charger that was being pursued by the vanishing point challenger (full of angry women). I can’t remember if the white challenger was a 426 Hemi or 440 but the chase scenes in this movie where extended scenes and very entertaining.

In the film I just saw yesterday (On Demand) Drive Angry, the Charger was in a large percentage of the movie overall as well. It had a black satin finish and this vehicle always looks good in black. In fact it might be the best color for this body style. What do you think is the best color for this car (comment below)? For the Picture Police: the pictures on this page are either old car show photos Taken with a disposable camera 20 years ago or from the wiki page with all rights released.

Are there any Chargers left?

69 General Lee Charger

Of course this vehicle was used in the Dukes of Hazard and many of these cars were destroyed in the making of the movies and television episodes. The 69 and 70 were both used throughout various episodes and movies that starred both the original characters from the television show and of course the latest movie with Johnny Knoxville and Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.

There were a few other television shows that used this car as the automotive star. I ‘m drawing a blank on a couple of the one season-long shows that used it. Can you help me out and leave some comments at the bottom about the TV shows and movies that starred the 69 & 1970 Dodge charger that I Forgot to talk about?

Yes I wanted a Charger. My first car was a 1974 b-body Chrysler. We (Me and my Dad) went to look at a 1970 R/T that was an original numbers matching 440 4speed car with the pistol grip shifter. The owner took us for a crazy test drive and my Dad said no way. He thought the car would kill me. So I wound up with the 74 that had a 318 cubic inch mouse motor. This post was a little off topic as I usually discuss more technical auto repair information here on the auto repair information blog. You can see more stories I have written about Fast Cars on the Auto-facts.org site.

Fuel Cell Diagram

I am a big fan of alternative fueled vehicles overall but I was always most optimistic about fuel cell vehicles. 5 Years ago I thought this was the automotive power plant of the future. Unfortunately it seems that the research and development of these vehicles has slowed to a crawl.

First let’s clear up what type of vehicle I am speaking of. A fuel cell powered vehicle contains a device that converts fuel directly into electricity to power the vehicle. It wasn’t long ago that fuel cells where seen as the solution to the problems of electric cars. We hoped that the technology would have been able to replace the lithium ion batteries currently installed.

In essence being able to remove the most troublesome part of an electric vehicle and replacing it with a renewable source of continuous electric power that would work in harmony with the electric drive systems that are currently installed in vehicles such as the Nissan leaf and Chevrolet volt.

How fuel cells work

Fuel cells do not store electricity they actually convert it as needed from chemical reaction. This power will spin electric motors that move the vehicle. Fuel cells release energy derived from the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. They have high efficiency and depending on the fuel used produce little tailpipe emissions besides water.

Trunk mounted fuel cell

One problem is you need to supply hydrogen to the cell. There are several options for storing hydrogen and feeding it into the fuel cell to produce the chemical reaction that creates the electricity. One of the most common used in the experimental vehicles of today would be compressed or liquid hydrogen. The nice thing about a fuel cell is that it has no moving parts and ultimately requires no maintenance.

The construction of the fuel cell is similar to a battery as a fuel cell has two electrodes (positive and Negative). These are fed fuel and air through channels cut into plates. Between the electrodes is a coat of platinum catalyst which acts as the electrolyte needed to spur the chemical reaction. Hydrogen is pumped into one side of the fuel cell and air is pumped into the other side.

When the hydrogen flows across the catalyst material it turns into free electrons and protons allowing electrical current to flow between the negatively charged electrode and the positively charged electrode. These free electrons become current and are channeled to the electric motor that drives the vehicle. If power is not needed or created in excess it can be stored in a battery.

Slipping popularity of fuel cells

BMW Hydrogen Car

There are a lot of difficulties associated with this fuel cell technology. One of these would be safety concerns with storing compressed hydrogen. Another issue is that it takes some time for the cell to produce enough electricity to power the electric motor.

At this point the vehicles being built often include batteries to store energy and keep the vehicle going until the fuel cell is ready to take over. When I saw the first BMW 7 series luxury vehicle powered by hydrogen about six years ago I thought to myself that this would be the emerging technology of the future.

But the difficulty of mass producing the components has made it cost prohibited. Since gasoline electric hybrids are more widely accepted by consumers car companies have put most of their research and development dollars into this more popular form of alternative fueled vehicle.

Homemade hydrogen generator

Car-makers will research and develop technologies that have the best chance of being accepted by the general public. This makes a lot of sense and I can’t find any fault with that. For me I was always fascinated by hydrogen. I built my own science project type system. I was just blown away that my water and electrolyte mixture could produce combustible hydrogen.

It was like magic. I was totally into it and put a test system on my 2004 Chevy Blazer and entered it into the Fuel Cell HHO games that my local county sponsored. It was a lot of fun and there were a lot of creative people on the scene. As fuel prices pulled back people lost interest in pushing this type of hydrogen system forward.

It also didn’t help that people that got involved in this system where often attacked verbally for trying to think out of the box. But with all of this said I still think that hydrogen is the way to go in the future. You can’t beat powering your vehicle and the only byproduct coming out of the tailpipe being drinking water. I have many more articles on alternative fuels that may interest you. Read more articles about general auto repair from this next link that takes you back to the auto repair information blog. Interested in reading a few articles I wrote about increasing fuel economy on your current automobile? These type of articles always get popular when gas goes over the four dollars a gallon mark.

Recalled Ford f-150

This is a quick article on how to check for ford recalls on any year or model Ford car or truck. It use to be if you really wanted to find out if there was an open recall due on your vehicle one had to stop by a dealership and get the service adviser to plug the V.I.N or vehicle identification number into the Ford oasis system.

VIN numbers are unique 17-digit serial numbers assigned to all mass produced automobiles. Ford oasis stands for On-Line Automotive Service Information System. When you enter a specific vehicle identification number this system provides a printable report about work performed under warranty and any recalls that where already done. More importantly the report includes any recalls that are still open on that vehicle.

I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealer as a service adviser for a short time and found this tool extremely helpful. After writing an article recently on my other website about the Ford cruise control recall which I believe is the largest recall in the company’s history, I found out that there is an alternative for owners to plug in the vehicle identification number themselves online to see if there’s any open recalls on that car or truck.

This works for all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury publicly issued recall notices. So without further delay this is where you can check for ford recalls. That text link will take you to Ford’s main website in the exact spot where there is an open box to install your 17 digit vehicle identification number. At this point I am unclear if this is as accurate as the oasis system mentioned above. So I would consider this a quick check that can be done for convenience.

If the results return no open ford recalls I would still double check with the dealership when you have time. You can just approach a service writer with your vehicle registration which should have the same number on it and he will plug it in for you and run the official Ford oasis report on the automobile. If this report also says that there are no open recalls you can rest assure that nothing needs to be done to your vehicle. Sidebar: All three vehicles pictured on this page had open recalls on them.

Why check for ford recalls

Recalled Ford Truck

The article that I wrote on my other website which I’ve linked to from above discusses what is believed to be Ford’s largest recall in the history of their company. It is for a problem with the cruise control knock off switch that is mounted in the brake master cylinder. This switch has been reported to leak brake fluid causing a short.

This electrical short can start a fire that can engulf the engine compartment. What brought this situation to the attention of authorities was in more than one case the vehicle was parked in the house garage at the time. The fire spread to these homes and did severe damage.

Recalled Lincoln Town Car

In most cases a company will only issue a recall of that is related to safety. When I worked for General Motors there was several recalls for seat belt repairs. When I worked for ford I found several recalls that related to vehicle braking systems. Therefore checking for open recalls on your Ford vehicle should be considered an important thing to do.

Often when a vehicle has been sold and repurchased several times the factory will have no way to contact the current owner. If you buy this vehicle private sale or from a used car lot you will have to check for ford recalls yourself. This is another reason why you will find new recalls talked about or discussed on television stations or automotive news outlets. This is an effort to get the word out that repairs need to be done.

On a related note there are several recalls on Ford trucks. I wrote a page that discusses several of these recalls and what is involved in the repairs. Also on that page is an interesting story about the 7.3 L super duty that is capable of putting on record-breaking amounts of mileage. When the vehicle is around for 350,000 miles checking for ford recalls is even more important. For more articles from the mind of Master tech Mark this next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog home page.

Iridium Spark Plug

Can increased spark plug maintenance intervals put people out of work? We live in a changing world and sometimes we don’t realize what a big impact seemingly small changes have in our lives. When I got into the auto repair business there was plenty of work to go around. This has changed drastically over the last 2 decades. Maintenance intervals have increased and the car doesn’t need as much attention as it use to.

Today I’m going to talk about spark plug maintenance in particular but you could also add to the list of things that changed the automotive maintenance business, synthetic engine oil, extended life anti-freeze, new transmission technology requiring less fluid and filter changes and direct ignition systems that did away with the distributor cap and rotor.

But let’s talk about spark plugs. When you get right down to it a spark plug provides an electrical lightning bolt that ignites the air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber on command. Voltage surges supplied from the coil travel down spark plug wires to the correct plug. The voltage jumps across two specific points, being from the electrode to the ground strap.

Spark-Plug Diagram

This miniature thunder and lightning system will still need maintenance over time but nothing like it use to be. In fact if you replace your vehicle every 3 to 5 years you might miss a scheduled spark plug maintenance altogether. So how can this be and what did they do to change the maintenance interval so drastically.

It all boils down to the materials that the electrode is made of. This has the largest overall effect on the longevity, power and efficiency of the plug. The construction and shape of the tip of the electrode are also important. The electrodes of the standard spark-plug that was common in the 80s were made with copper and nickel alloy.

They did a good job of conducting electricity and providing an excellent spark but they would wear down over time. This is where the idea came to use platinum electrodes on spark plugs as it did a good job of conducting electricity but lasted much longer. When platinum spark-plugs came on the scene they would last till about 5 years or 60,000 miles as compared to 35,000 miles of a standard copper nickel alloy electrode plug. When that happened we began to see customers less often at the shop.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Iridium spark plugs came on the scene and provided even longer electrode life then platinum tipped plugs. Iridium is a precious silver white metal and one of the densest materials found on Earth. It is common for these types of spark plugs to have maintenance requirements at 100,000 miles or 10 years whichever comes first.

Long-lasting spark plugs mean people need me less

platinum spark plug

There is no question that the car is a different animal than it was just a few years ago. Although I could cite many other examples the spark-plug maintenance interval makes my point. What made me write about this today? My ex-girlfriend stopped by and asked if her car needed a tune-up.

I looked in her owner’s manual and it said that her 2003 Toyota Corolla had iridium spark plugs installed and that maintenance was not required for 10 years 100,000 miles. A nice little side job went rolling down the street with the news. When I got into the auto repair business it was replacing spark plugs that kept a lot of shops going. The customer was conditioned to think that replacing the spark plugs better known as a tune-up could solve a lot of common problems.

Therefore when a driver took a vehicle in for service if the shop told them a tune-up was required, not only was it believable but it was probable. The recommended maintenance interval from the vehicle manufacturers back in the 80s was to replace them every 3 years or 35,000 miles now it’s 10 years 100,000 miles. In the long run this will most likely mean that less auto repair shops will be required going forward as maintenance intervals increase.

In my town alone, five auto repair shops have closed up in the last year. Two of them where major franchises that had strong advertising budgets. The world changes and so does the auto repair business and I guess there’s not much we can do about it. Want to put more mechanics out of work? Here is a video showing how to replace spark plugs yourself. Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom or you can return to the homepage from this next link to read more articles on the auto repair information blog.

Actron 9580 snapshot scan tool

I get a few questions about using snapshot mode on automotive scanners. It is one of the features I use often when the diagnosis is getting complicated. It’s one of my favorite features of the tool because it can also be useful in pinpointing intermittent car problems that can be difficult to find using other reliable methods.

Let’s say you have an intermittent problem that is caused by a loose or corroded electrical connection to an automotive sensor. The problem turns on the check engine light or causes an issue when the vehicle hits a bump or slams a pothole in the road. The automotive scanner with a snapshot mode can provide data for diagnosis.

Information from the data stream can be reviewed right before and after the vehicle hits the bump or pothole. I have written some reviews of automotive scanners in several price ranges and a few of them are capable of taking these diagnostic snapshots of the data stream. When it comes to Diy auto mechanics it seems that this feature is underutilized.

The automotive computer is your friend

Car Computer

When you get right down to it the primary purpose of OBD II is to make the diagnosis of many automotive problems less complicated. Note that OBD II was deployed on vehicles beginning with the model year 1996 and is still used on present day automobiles. This latest generation of on-board computers also brings a uniform diagnostic platform across all vehicles whether they are foreign or domestic.

One of the things that’s included in this standardized diagnostic protocol is the snapshot feature. Some mechanics call this feature freeze frame mode instead of snapshot but it is basically the same thing. My definition of it is the computer’s ability to record data from all of the sensors and actuators at a time when the system turns on the check engine light or sets a pending fault.

General Motors has taken this one step further and expanded the capability to include failure reports which does the same thing as the snapshot or freeze-frame but also includes any faults stored in the memory. Not just those related to the emission control system. This is helpful because a failure report can include information from the transmission control module responsible for transmission shifting and operation as well as the body computer that is responsible for ABS braking systems, traction control and airbag information on many vehicles.

The basic advantage of using snapshot mode on automotive scanners is the ability to look at the existing conditions when the code was set. This is especially valuable for diagnosing intermittent problems as I mentioned above. Whenever codes are set a record of all related activities is stored in the main computer’s memory. This record allows the mechanic to look at the action of the sensors and the actuators at the time the code was triggered. This can often help identify or pinpoint the cars problem.

I love automotive scanners

Auto Scanner Kit

When I started this article about using snapshot mode on automotive scanners I realized that it sounds more complicated than it actually is. The automobile scanners that are available today provide excellent documentation usually in the form of a CD that ships with the tool. It does a good job of walking you through the different features that the tool is capable of including the freeze-frame or snapshot mode.

A wide variety of car Scan tools are available today. The strength of the included documentation will vary depending on the make and model. I have seen people complain about the directions included with some off brands. When you boil it down the scan tool is a microprocessor designed to communicate with the vehicle’s computer. It is connected to the OBD II diagnostic connector that is usually located just left of the steering column.

The scan tool can access trouble codes, run tests and if it is capable of reading the data stream it can show you the activity of the different sensors in the system. Most people buy these scan tools and just use them for pulling trouble codes and maybe resetting the check engine light. If you spend the money on one these scan tools why not take the time and learn how to get the most out of it! For more recent articles this next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog homepage.

Cadillac SRX Tires

There are lots of places to go to get answers to automobile tire questions. If you have just read that last sentence I’m hoping that I will get a chance to provide some information to you. As a certified master technician I know a lot about the subject. God I love writing about tires. The way the rubber smells when there freshly manufactured, the little nubs on the treads ( Sorry).

I also recently replaced the original equipment tires on my 2009 Cadillac SRX. Not only are the tires expensive but the vehicle only had about 27,000 miles. The whole ordeal was unexpected and expensive. On my vehicle the rear tires are a different size than the front ones. This prevents rotating them on a regular basis (thanks Cadillac). Due to weight distribution and the steering action of the front axle, tire rotation can actually reduce the overall wear therefore extending the life of the tread.

People often ask me including (very cheap) family members when should I replace tires. Usually the question is asked because deep down inside the driver knows that the time is either now or close at hand. For me I lean toward the side of caution and say go ahead and replace them when in doubt. The only contact the vehicle has with the road is through the tires. Add to this the fact that they are made from rubber and even the highest quality tire is going to wear out and need to be replaced at some point.

Checking tires for replacement

When fielding automobile tire questions sometimes I am asked about external damage. To provide a good answer I need to examine it closely. Sidewall damage is common and this could be considered the weakest part. Sidewalls are thinner and are not designed to take the beating that the tread surface does. A deep chunk in the sidewall will usually indicate that replacement is necessary. Especially if the chunk can be peeled back and fiber cords seen.

When I would perform end of car lease inspections the leasing company required that 4/32 of tread be remaining for the tire to be considered good. So for me as a rule of thumb anything less than that would indicate that replacement should be performed. If you are in an area of the country that has a lot of rain, ice or snow then you might want to replace them even earlier.

Tire sidewall

It is the job of the tread to channel away moisture, ice and snow to provide direct contact with the road surface. Tires have tread wear indicators molded into them. These are also called wear bars. When these wear bars show across the width of the tire it is considered worn beyond its limits or ability to do an effective job of channeling away water, ice and snow.

Besides the tread depth you should also check for bulges caused by impact breaks in the reinforcement cords as well as nails that might have been picked up from the road surface without your knowledge. Check them all then roll the car forward a couple of inches and look again.

Things to consider about replacement tires

One of the most important things to consider is your geographic location. This along with the roads that you drive on and their overall condition are sometimes overlooked. Different brands and models will provide different levels of traction, performance and longevity. Speaking with an expert from the tire store is recommended as a starting point. This will often be a person from your area who already knows what conditions you are faced with.

Cadillac tires

With that said you should always do your own research as well just in case the tire store representative is motivated to put you into a certain kind of tire. In my younger days when I worked at one of these specialized locations we were often provided with bonuses for moving a certain brand or model. A good place to go for a second opinion would be the tire rack.

Note that I am motivated to push you in that direction as I am an affiliate of that company. But you can still go there and not buy anything to receive additional assistance. What I like about the website is that it provides a lot of consumer survey results and reviews on different models and brands. I found them to be accurate when looking for replacement tires for my own vehicle.

That is actually why I decided to become an affiliate because of the level of quality of the overall service. To review if you think you need tires you probably do. A good place to go to get your automobile tire questions answered is the Tire Rack. I wrote an article in August that covers a few more options for getting tires. For more information and articles posted to this website this next link will take you to the homepage for the auto repair information blog.

Big Block Working Engine Model

It’s no accident that I became a mechanic in the auto repair business. It all started with my first big block model engine project. My father bought me this kit when I was about 8 years old. He wanted me to learn how things worked. He thought that it would be an important life skill to be able to fix things including my own car when I was older.

My Mother tells people a different story. She says he pushed me into being a mechanic so he could get his cars fixed for free. Not sure if my Mom was right but it did work out that way. In fact I not only fix the cars of the entire family for parts cost only but I also replaced the engine in my Dads 26 foot boat. So it worked out well for him.

The same exact 1/4 scale big block model engines kit that dad bought me is still available today. I wrote a detailed review for the model engine kit by Revell for the you fix cars website if you’re interested in something like that. Note that it can be challenging to put together and is recommended for humans over the age of 12.

It’s a working model that you can see inside! The see through V8 Engine features moving pistons and connecting rods. A hand crank moves the crankshaft, rods and pistons. A timing chain moves the camshaft, rocker arms and valves. The kit includes a rubber like fan belt and vinyl ignition wires. This model engine kit is a superb educational tool on the inner workings and construction of a V-8 engine.

Big block engine models

427 Ford Wedge motor

I decided to put together a collection of my favorite engines of all time. I bought a 427 Ford Wedge model after first seeing it at a friend’s house on display. A local hobby shop retail store had it for $32 but I found it on Amazon for about $15. It is very detailed and one of the easier models I have assembled. One thing I really liked about it was there is no painting required. I always hated painting models when I was younger and still don’t care for it much today.

The big block engine model goes together pretty quick but I did have to file down a few rough edges but nothing major. Also worth mentioning, a few of the chrome parts where slightly nicked up but again nothing that anyone else can see but me. Other than that it was easy to assemble with no problems at all.

This is what I would consider a beginner skill level model kit. I do not think that advanced model builders would be too interested in this project. For me I am putting together a display of all of my favorite and historic engine models. My mechanic friends are going to love it when they come over to visit. The 427 Ford big block model (available below) was not too involved and this was perfect. It took me about a week working here and there. Not only was it cheap and fun to put together it is also a nicely detailed piece for my display.

The Hemi engine models

My first Dodge Charger

Would any quality display of engine models be complete without the 426 hemi dodge big block? This happens to be my favorite engine of all time. My first car was a Dodge charger. My father made me get a small block car because he thought I would get killed in a big block car. But a kid at my school had a Hemi charger with the historic 426 big block. He took me for a death ride that I would never forget.

Riding in this Charger was like being on a roller coaster ride! It plastered you back in the seat like you where launching from the deck of an aircraft carrier. His Hemi charger could pull the front wheels of the ground when slicks where mounted up on the rear axle. So to preserve the memory I added the hemi to my collection of 1/4 scale engine models.

I got the Lindberg Super Stock Dodge Hemi die cast model kit. It is a quality replica of a drag racing engine from the 60′s. They say it is duplicated from factory parts to maintain historical accuracy. I can tell you it is a detailed replica that is already painted and ready to assemble plus it has die cast parts and the stand is included. To me this big block engine model was also a near beginner skill level and it went together quickly.

Here are links to some of the 1/4 scale big block engine models I have built and displayed.

 

For more of the latest articles posted to the auto repair information blog this next link will take you back to the home page from this post about big block model engines.

Car Auction People

People who follow my websites have probably seen my articles on how to buy auction cars. I have written several posts on this subject primarily on Auto-Facts.org Since that location now has hundreds of pages of content the really good articles about the car auctions subject have gotten buried in the massive amounts of automotive information available there.

Friends and longtime followers are familiar with my history in the auto repair business but might forget when it comes to auctions I not only attend events, purchased automobiles but also my prior work experience as a management level employee for some of the larger companies.

Since I am familiar with all angles of the process and like to talk about the subject I decided to share some important tips on how to buy auction cars with visitors to the auto repair information blog. One of the most exciting things about auction day to me when I was buying cars was the very real chance to get a genuine bargain.

Auction car buyer beware

In most cases there are some high quality automobiles available. Unfortunately these can be mixed in with units that are not so desirable. Because of this situation it is recommended to have the vehicle checked out by a mechanic. When you buy cars online send an inspector out to evaluate the automobile before shipping takes place.

There are a bunch of different companies that provide this service and the prices will vary. One company I am affiliated with is Alliance Inspection Management, LLC. They provide a full report in writing which is nice to have when it comes time to resell the automobile.  Auction houses realize that the quality level of their inventory fluctuates.

Auction Cars

Most reputable companies will stand behind units sold under a green flag. Some will provide extra services to certify the vehicle’s true condition before money changes hands. As an example the company I worked for offered a frame certification for vehicles purchased through the auction. This was a guarantee that no frame damage was present. If it was discovered later a full refund would be available up till 90 days after the sale.

The frame inspection certification was around $75 and well worth the money. A vehicle that is involved in a heavy accident will in some cases suffer from frame damage. This reduces the value of the vehicle immensely. Often frame damage vehicles are impossible to sell.

Another interesting tip on how to buy auction cars would be to find out more about the seller. When the car originates from a rental agency or a lease company these can often be the vehicles with not only the best physical condition but the best overall condition. Lease companies and rental companies have guidelines for maintenance and care. This protects the value of the vehicle when they go to sell it.

If you are searching around a new car dealerships used-car inventory, pick out a few vehicles you like and ask them to run a vehicle history report. You’ll be surprised how often dealerships will supplement their trade in inventory with vehicles from the local car auction. The used-car managers at these dealerships understand that some of the best quality vehicles are lease returns and retired rental cars.

On the other hand if the automobile originated from a place that sells cars this can be an indication that the vehicle was either hard or impossible to sell on their own lot. It doesn’t automatically mean that it’s a bad automobile but it does mean that extra caution should be applied. As an example I was the service director at a high-end used-car lot.

Almost all of vehicles originated from the auction. The owner of the dealership had a policy that if of vehicles sat on the lot for more than 90 days he would take it back to the sale and try to flip it for a small profit. He would use the money to buy a different automobile so that his inventory stayed fresh.

One of the best tips I can provide on how to buy auction cars is to take someone with hands on experience along with you the first couple of times you go. The first time you buy at auction is also the most dangerous. After you go a few times you’ll look back on the first trip and laugh. Hey, have you learned something about going to auctions? Share some tricks and treats with site visitors in the comment section below!

1987 Chevy Turbo Sprint

This past weekend I went to a local car show and saw a weird 80s car that an ex-girlfriend of mine owned. It was a 1987 Chevrolet turbo Sprint. This was her first new car and was one of only two years that you could buy an intercooled three cylinder engine in the 1600 pound car.

In 1987 intercooled turbochargers were brand-new to the car market and General Motors was installing them on the legendary Buick Grand National. Although regular turbochargers had been around and available on older GM cars the intercooled version was new automotive technology to us. It allowed for higher boost pressures and overall better performance due to intercooling.

When she let me drive the car I realized that this roller skate was something special. I wasn’t sure how special until a guy at work said my girlfriend’s car is faster than your girlfriend’s car. To a mechanic in the auto repair business this is a glove slap to the face. So I said oh yeah, how would you like to put your money where your mouth is. He said I’ll meet you at Atco Raceway for the Friday night Street night event and we’ll see whose girlfriend has the faster ride.

Weird 80s car drag races

We met at the track on the next Friday night. It was the weird 80s car drag race of the century (to us anyway). It was my girlfriends stock 1987 Chevrolet turbo Sprint against his girlfriends 83 Toyota Celica that was heavily modified (Weber down drafts and headers). I remember putting on my helmet and getting in the little red turbo Sprint. My head seemed giant with the helmet on and it filled the cabin. Luckily I’m short and my helmet just cleared the headliner.

We pushed the cars up to the line because they ran faster cooled down and skipped the traditional burnout. The front-wheel-drive turbo Sprint had tremendous torque steer and burnouts were not as much fun as you would think. We lined up and the lights fell. I had a good reaction time. My girlfriend’s turbo Sprint whooped his girlfriends Toyota Celica by 2 car lengths.

The three cylinder turbo pulled us down the track with a quarter-mile time of 16.50 at 87 mph. To me this was amazing and as fast as my seventies Dodge muscle car. At the time I had a 74 Dodge charger with a 360 police interceptor that I installed and pulled from a wrecked police car at a local junkyard. The charger (lead sled) never did better than a 16.50 quarter-mile (sad but true).

About the intercooled three cylinder engine

In 1987 I was a dealership mechanic working at a Pontiac dealer. We had some interesting vehicles like the 87 Pontiac Lemans and where recovering from the launch of the Pontiac fiero we did not have anything with a three cylinder intercooled turbo. We did have the turbo sunbird that was an intercooled 1.8 L engine with an aluminum cylinder head. The turbo sunbird was pretty quick and the mechanics nicknamed it the screaming chicken.

3 cylinder engine

When I popped the hood on my girlfriends 1987 turbo Sprint the automobile technology made me laugh because is was all miniature. The motor was so tiny and had a very short valve cover held down with only 4 10mm screws. The air scoop that proudly displayed the word “intercooler” had a fully functional fresh air inlet at the front of the hood. This allowed it to pull in cooler outside air. We didn’t care about fuel economy at the time but this car got around 35 miles per gallon.

I was a strong believer that all engines should have an even number of cylinders so that they can have opposing cylinders (smooth operation). The three cylinder engine did run rough but they were able to compensate for this rough running engine by using a counter balance shaft and extra thick engine mounts to isolate it from the rest of the car.

When you grabbed the steering wheel the engine didn’t feel any rougher than any other car of its time. But if you popped the hood with the engine running you could see it jumping around. Although this may not have been the strangest car of the 80s I believe that the turbo Sprint was at least in the top five of weird 80s cars that were available during the Madonna decade.

What was your favorite weird 80s car? Leave a comment below and please include some details about it. For more of the most recent posts this next link will take you back to the homepage for the auto repair information blog.

Broken power seat switch

Some vehicles are susceptible to broken power seat switches. My neighbor has a late 90s Ford pickup that has had the control switch for the power seats replaced several times. Although he would like to blame his wife I think it is actually a poor design.

The power control master switch sticks way out from the base of the seat. It’s positioned in such a way that when you swing your feet in (depending on the length of your legs and the size of your feet) the Master control is kind of in the way.

Add to this the fact that the automotive parts themselves are made from cheap plastic and they will not survive a collision with a person’s foot. Just below I have included some popular power seat switches. Replacing this part on most models is relatively easy and often only requires a screw driver. Keep in mind Luxury German cars have complex systems that make it much harder to diagnose and repair. In some cases you might want to have the step by step instructions from a factory service manual.

In my neighbor’s situation its just a matter of removing the trim panel that snaps into place and then removing the two Phillips head screws that secure the master power seat switch to the bottom part of the seat frame. This operation makes for a great Diy auto repair and that’s why I decided to provide an article for encouragement.

Vehicle manufacturers are installing powered seat options even on economy cars these days. It’s a nifty little option that can help sell vehicles without increasing manufacturing costs by much. Just a decade ago only the most luxurious vehicles came with this option. For experienced car buyers this option adds value. It can help push the prospect over the edge and make them purchase the automobile.

Memory power seats are better

Although economy cars may be coming with the power seat option more often it is still unusual for them to include a memory function. To me this is a big deal and adds a lot of value to this option. I’m sure we’re all familiar with having our driver’s seat in the perfect position.

Then we take it in for a car wash or oil change and when we get back into the vehicle the seat just doesn’t feel right. Often getting the seat back to the exact position it was in before the repairs can be difficult and take a little while. The feeling we get when we’re driving in this situation is slightly uncomfortable which can get annoying over time.

power seat switch with memory

I have finally purchased a vehicle with a memory power seat option and a simple push of a button returns the seat to the exact position it was in before the car wash took place. The memory seat option allows for automatic positioning of the seats. Sometimes even the passenger side will have memory but most often it’s just the driver’s side. This feature allows different drivers to have different seat positions automatically.

It can also allow one driver to set the seat for several different driving situations. When you’re on a long trip and using the cruise control the tendency is to move the seat further back for increased comfort in the leg area. Often pushing the gas pedal to the floor from this position can be difficult. This is where the multiple memory seat position can be priceless. You can basically have a cruising and a performance driving position.

The latest luxury cars don’t require you to even hit the power seat switches. Some key-less entry systems use the remote key fob that is programmed to move the seat to its memory position every time the unlock button is triggered to open the driver side door. Some of these memory power seat functions even adjust the rear view and side view mirrors at the same time. This provides the ultimate pushbutton setup.

As power seat options evolve it looks like the next wave in luxury seating will be adaptive or active power seat systems. This is where the seat moves automatically with no driver input. Active seating can stimulate the back and surrounding muscles with continuous yet virtually in detectable motion. This type of power seating is designed to prevent driver fatigue. On these type of systems power seat switches are included for a built-in massage function that can also help with fatigue on long trips.

Automotive technology is an amazing ever evolving science. The good thing is, as it continues to evolve the older systems find their way on the least expensive automobiles. For more of the latest articles posted here this next link will take you back to the homepage for the auto repair information blog.

Automobile mechanic wrenching

There are lots of nicknames for mechanics. Maybe the best known one of all time would be grease monkey. Be sure to leave a comment at the end of this article about your favorite nicknames for car mechanics. What got me thinking about this subject was watching a rerun of the Battle Star Galactica series.

I heard a good reference towards the mechanics that worked on the spacecraft. The mechanics are called knuckle draggers amongst themselves and the crew. The interesting thing was these futuristic fantasy sci-fi mechanics wore the nickname with pride. They were proud to be covered with dirt and work hard.

They hung out with other spacecraft mechanics and didn’t associate much with the officers, pilots or the general public because these people often misunderstood them. I found it interesting because whether you’re working on spacecraft, automobiles, heavy machinery or military vehicles mechanics pretty much have the same mindset.

Often us knuckle draggers have an analytic thought process accompanied with a  high degree of mechanical aptitude and hand eye coordination. We fix the things that other people drive and want to know what happens after the key is turned. The interesting thing about car mechanics is not only do they have nicknames provided by the outside world, they also assign nicknames for mechanics inside the business.

Mechanics call each other what?

It’s true that the public will have its popular nicknames for mechanics like grease monkey or motor head but there are some other good names shared between mechanics. One that comes to mind is gravy lapper. The term gravy lapper is used to describe a mechanic that is only interested in easy to perform maintenance services that pay well. This is most often when the mechanics are paid on a flat rate basis and compete for the next job. Flat rate basically translates into the employee is paid by the job instead of by the hour.

It can be a double edge sword as they make money and lose money depending on the situation. Gravy would be a term applied to jobs that have a high likelihood of being performed under the flat rate time providing a juicy profit with less physical effort. The Gravy Lapper will usually try to dodge bigger jobs such as engine replacements or prolonged complicated electrical diagnosis that might pay only straight time slowing profits down.

Often the gravy Lapper needs some support from upper management in the form of a service manager or work dispatcher. I have worked with mechanics that have painted the service manager’s house or performed free services on the dispatcher’s family vehicles to assure a steady flow of gravy. The next nickname for a mechanic would be used to describe someone for lack of a better term might be thought of as crazy or unusual. No matter what business you’re in you may find some off-the-wall people (it makes life interesting). When they are a crazy mechanic they might be referred to as a wing-nut by other wrenches.

Me the truck mechanic

Well there is another nickname for mechanics. People in the auto repair business often say they have been turning wrenches for 26 years. They may also say they have spun a wrench. This is a somewhat neutral term because its meaning is determined by the words in front of or behind it. People in the business might say he is a good wrench. General Motors liked it so much they coined the phrase.

They didn’t come up with it on their own, they heard it thrown about the shop to describe good mechanics. People at General Motors dealers due to a training film put out in the good wrench line of in house training movies might refer to a careless mechanic as a slip wrench. Johnny slip wrench or Billy slip wrench whatever their first name was followed by the term slip wrench can be used in a derogatory manner.

As a mechanic that has turned a wrench for more than 25 years I have met all kinds of good people in this business. Some of my best friends still do it for a living and some have left it for greener pastures. In my opinion it takes a special person to walk up to a disassembled engine pile and not only put it together but have it running like a clock when it’s completed.

You can visit this next link for more stories about the auto repair business both good and bad. Or you can visit the auto repair information blog home page for more of the most recent automotive related articles and posts.

crankshaft position sensor

As an example let’s say the crankshaft position Sensor has failed on your vehicle and it wouldn’t start. Parts and labor including towing would be covered under the base factory warranty. But what if external damage is what caused the problem to the car part.

External damage is considered an accident and not covered under the base warranty. Example: The factory will not be responsible if the automobile fell into a sinkhole and this broke the crank sensor. It would be considered an accident. This means that it is really up to the dealership to determine what has caused the part to fail and whether it will be covered under warranty.

Although many dealerships are honest about this I have worked for a few that were not. I have seen service advisers more interested in how much money that particular customer has spent at the dealership in prior visits and use this to decide what failure code would be entered in the claim.

The vehicle manufacturer has to trust the dealership to some extent because they cannot follow up on every single car problem from each individual customer. This trust does have its limits though. When a warranty problem is submitted to a car maker for reimbursement it contains several codes that help the manufacturer streamline the processing. This is somewhat like what goes on in a medical field.

What is factory warranty coverage

My factory warranty coverage

A warranty is an agreement by the auto manufacturer to have its authorized dealers repair and/or replace certain car parts if they become defective. This agreement normally lasts until the vehicle has been driven a certain number of miles or a certain length of time (whichever comes first).

Just a few years ago the base warranty was most commonly 3 years 36,000 miles. But increased competition and the different car-makers fighting for customers has increased the base warranty time on many models to five years and 50,000 miles or even 10 years and 100,000 miles. As a side effect this has made the extended car warranty harder to sell and cheaper to obtain.

In order for the manufacturer to honor the warranty or to cover the cost of parts and labor the failure must occur within the time and miles of the promised warranty. Often this is not cut and dry because manufacturers provide several levels of warranty coverage. The two most popular at the time of this writing would be the bumper-to-bumper warranty and the power train warranty.

Power train warranties usually last longer but cover less items whereas bumper-to-bumper coverage will last for shorter periods of time but cover many more items. To further complicate matters sometimes on these warranties the owners might be responsible for a partial payment known as a deductible. Then the manufacturer will kick in any money above this agreed-upon deductible this is not publicized on the commercials and ads like the length of coverage.

Things not covered under factory warranty

Cadillac warranty manual

This is where it gets tricky because a standard car warranty provided by the vehicle manufacturer will not cover many malfunctions. Some of the popular ways out would be to say that the failure is caused by an accident, misuse, poor maintenance or abuse or modifications made to the vehicle by the owner that voids the warranty.

What is covered and what is not covered is outlined in your vehicle’s owner manual. You should always read this section of the manual to refresh your memory before you take your vehicle in for what you believe will be a covered warranty service.

Ultimately whether it is covered or not will be up to the dealership that performs the diagnosis and determines not only what the failure is but the cause of that failure. A failed component due to no fault of the driver or owner should be covered under warranty. But the dealer will have to make that decision.

Is your car problem covered under warranty? You can run it by a dealership mechanic at Just Answer below to see what they think. For more of the latest posts this next link takes you back to the auto repair information blog homepage from this article about automotive problems covered under warranty.

09 Cadillac Tires

What does a mechanic due about getting tires for his own vehicle? I had to buy 2 tires for my own personal vehicle which is a rear wheel drive 2009 Cadillac SRX. This is one of those situations where I am forced to have someone else in the auto repair business work on my vehicle. This can be difficult for a mechanic.

As they say doctors make the worst patients and I would think that car mechanics make the worst auto service customers. I was completely shell-shocked when I discovered exactly how expensive the H speed rated tires were on the SRX. The tire size not being exactly a common one 255/60/17 is also different than the front 235/65/17.

This means that tires cannot be rotated and will actually wear out faster than on a vehicle where they are able to be rotated. Although I wish this article could be about rear wheel drive and how often tires wear out, this story is actually about the things you should be looking out for and the horrible experience I had when I tried to obtain some estimates for getting 2 tires replaced.

Getting tires at the dealership

Cadillac tires I got Online

I wouldn’t say that I love my local dealership but I would rather go there then the other places in town. I did get a Cadillac recall done there and felt that the mechanics were competent. I have also seen the General Motors dealerships advertising that they now have competitive tire pricing. The estimate for replacing two rear tires on the SRX provided was $800.

This did not seem exactly competitive to me as indicated on the TV commercials. But I suppose they use the word competitive because it is open to interpretation. Say what you will but the ad made me consider going to the dealer for tires for the first time in my car owning lifetime.

I knew that I could purchase the tires themselves online for about $200 apiece so this meant that there was $400 of labor and mark up figured into the dealership’s estimate. There is no doubt that the car dealer or tire shop deserves to make money on the job. But double over cost seemed a little steep so I decided to look around a little further.

Getting tires at a tire store

There are three different tire chain stores in my town. I visited all three and the experience was very similar in each location. The first place I went to didn’t carry and would not order the same brand of tires that were currently installed on my vehicle. But they said that this was good news because if I bought three I would get one for free.

I received a written estimate for three tires installed and the total was $900. The problem was the brand of tire was a Chinese knockoff that I would never let them install on my fine automobile. When I looked at the estimate I noticed a lot of extra charges which is the main reason that I am writing this article about getting tires.

Wheel Balance Machine

There are things you’ll have to pay for at a tire store such as a tire disposal fee and mounting and balancing. But there are things that are optional and are often thrown right into the estimate. All three locations included the optional services in the estimates. The first up-sell option was a lifetime wheel alignment program.

My vehicle was getting rear tires and did not need an alignment but it was included in the estimate and was expensive because it was the lifetime alignment option. Another thing that they threw in was a deluxe Road hazard warranty. One of the things that made me shake my head was the addition of $20 worth of shop supplies.

I have written about unfair shop supply charges in other articles and invite your comments about the subject. Next to the shop fees in the estimate was an * that led to an explanation of the additional charges. Here are the exact words. “This charge represents costs and profits to the motor vehicle repair facility for miscellaneous shop supplies or waste disposal”.

I think that the key word to focus on would be profits. This is just yet another profit center to push up the price. Also remember that this shop supply was on top of the state-mandated tire disposal fees. To make a long story short $900 for 4 cheap tires I wouldn’t even take the time to throw in the trash did not seem like a good option.

I purchased the name brand tires that came on the car from the factory, online from the tire rack which I happen to be affiliated with. I then took these tires to a repair center and had them mounted and balanced. The labor was $26 a tire so I saved a grand total of $200 over the cheapest estimate. Special Offers: Save on quality tires with these manufacturer’s promotions available from Tire Rack.

Getting tires online might not be right for everyone but it is good to at least get a price so you can compare it with the estimates you get from your local tire repair centers. Always go over your estimate with a fine tooth comb and understand each line of charges before you approve the repairs. The next link takes you back to the homepage for more of the latest articles to the auto repair information blog.

New Fuel Tank

Although fuel tank problems are not very common, I have seen issues that needed to be addressed from time to time. Since it’s not a common automotive problem it is also not written about on the Internet very often.

Some of the problems with fuel tanks that we will talk about in this short article have to do with the overall construction of it. These over-sized liquid storage containers are more complicated than most people realize. We will also talk about a vehicle not taking fuel . This is where the fuel tank doesn’t accept the gas fast enough and the pump nozzle turns off while trying to fill it.

Sometimes we think that we will never have to worry about our fuel tanks at all. And in most cases you are correct this is one car part that is engineered well for safety and performance. However as I write this article ford is getting the word out to there customers that it has issued a recall on about a decade’s worth of F150s. Ford is going to replace the fuel tank retaining straps on these trucks because of heavy rusting.

They do not want gas tanks to start hitting the road surface during accidents. Although at this time I have not heard of any incidents of this happening. You can call your local dealer and provide them with your vehicle identification number to see if your truck is included in the gas tank strap recalls.

Sometimes gas tank problems are self-inflicted. As an example when I was a young man, I had a stereo system installed in my 79 Trans Am. the Car audio shop mounted an amplifier in the trunk. After I filled up the fuel tank a couple of times I noticed an overpowering gas smell in the car (not good for smoker). Upon further inspection I found that the stereo shop drilled holes to mount the amplifier right through the fuel tank. This is a good reason to learn how to install car audio and car alarms yourself.

Things to know about fuel tanks

The gas in the tank must survive very cold temperatures and then very hot temperatures as well. To contain vapors and allow for expansion and contraction of the petroleum fluid modern tanks have a separate air chamber that resembles a dome at the top. Also shape and mounting position of the fuel tank only allows for liquid to be installed in 90% of the compartment leaving 10% open for expansion and movement.

Most automotive fuel tanks have slosh baffles or surge plates to prevent gas from splashing around on the inside of the tank they also helps slow down the movement of it. Another advantage of these baffles is they can help funnel fuel to the pump when the tank is low and prevent the fuel pump from sucking dry.

Fuel tank vent

The fuel filler tube looks different depending on the year make and model. All the ones that I have seen have a built-in restriction that prevents the full entry of the larger diesel fuel nozzle. The filler tube itself is mounted well above the gas tank and is usually short in length to prevent kinking. The filler tube is one of the leading causes of a tank to refuse to take gas.

If the tube is damaged or crushed gasoline will not flow quick enough into the tank and the safety on the gas station pumps will kick off. Another reason for a tank not to take fuel would be problems with the venting system. Although car-makers are not allowed to vent fuel vapor into the atmosphere they still vent it to a holding tank. As liquid rushes into the tank pressure can build up during the process. Most modern tanks have a vent system of some kind and when this malfunctions it can make it hard to put gas in the tank.

Check my fuel tank for what

An occasional inspection should be performed and an immediate inspection performed if problems are suspected. They should be inspected for leaks, road damage; metal units should be checked for corrosion and rust, defective or damaged seams. Also the mounting hardware should be checked for tightness and damage.

As I mentioned above on my Trans Am the gas tank was drilled into. Holes in plastic and metal tanks can sometimes be repaired by using special tank repair kits. I do not recommend this personally. When I tried it on my Trans Am it didn’t work. Also you really want to maintain the integrity of the original design.

My last recommendation about gas tanks is if you have to remove one always drain it before you begin removal. It is really harder to pull one that has fuel in it. It can also be dangerous. Give this page a bookmark just in case you run into some problems down the road. Or share this article with a friend that is having fuel tank problems. For more interesting articles this next link will take you back to the home page for the auto repair information blog.