Auto repair for dummies book

Remember when you could go to the most popular search engine and just type in the term auto repair manuals and right before your eyes there would be high quality results to browse through (like magic). Well with the latest algorithm ranking update (meant to reduce spam) the results are not what they use to be. I have submitted several requests for someone to look at the results. No changes as of today so I’m posting this.

The number one result for the last several weeks since the update is this page. It is from Haynes auto repair manuals that I have the utmost respect for. Unfortunately this page that now ranks at the top of those search results is of extremely poor quality. It looks like a page from 1996 and there is only two sentences of real content on the whole page. The term automotive repair manuals which would be considered the key words are repeated about five times in two sentences.

This is known in the Webmaster business as “keyword stuffing”. Ironically it is exactly what this last update was supposed to address. But when it comes to searching for an auto repair manual this latest update has made it more difficult to find truly good content on the subject in my opinion. Result number 3 is from Automd.com This is a great site but the page linked in the results is a bunch of how to videos and has nothing to do with auto repair manuals. I could go down the line but you get the idea!

Of course people will say I am biased! This is the auto repair information blog after all and I use to have a page that ranked in the top 20 for three years. That page has now been completely eliminated from the search results. What bothers me the most about having some of my best content removed by a misguided algorithm that has never turned a wrench is the page contained an extremely unique video that could not be found anywhere else on the Internet?

This is because I made it using a screen capture program from scratch. I had purchased a subscription to all data online repair manuals and was showing people how to use it properly. I will include this video below for your convenience as I moved it onto the YouTube service so I could embed it on other important or related pages.

What makes a good auto repair manual?

Repair your car book

Although the Haynes and Chilton books are often the most familiar with the do-it-yourself world in my opinion these books leave a lot to be desired. You may be familiar with the feeling of disappointment when you purchase one of the small manuals at your local parts store and they do not include exactly what you are looking for. If you have ever seen the factory information provided to dealership technicians and compared it to these books it would make you laugh.

The online version that I recommend is from all data services a division of Autozone. It is the information program that I use most often and I am an affiliate for the company so I could be considered biased on the subject yet again. But this does not dilute the fact that the information from the all-data service manuals is ported directly from the factory repair manual that a professional level technician would use. Just because someone is an affiliate for the company doesn’t always mean that their recommendations are skewed because of that affiliation.

“Listen to me know and believe me later”Above all I am a mechanic first and a Webmaster second. I have been turning wrenches for 27 years now and have been ASE certified for more than 25 of those years as a master technician. Although the big search engines would like to discount what I have to say about the subject of auto repair manuals, I still feel that my opinion on this subject provides value to weekend wariors. Here is a link to my G+ Profile where you can see some of my credentials.

In this next video which is centered on a Chevrolet repair manual that is still available online I show you a few tips and tricks on how to use the program to quickly find the information that you need for do-it-yourself auto repair. Underneath the video I will put a link so that you can go directly to the website to try it and buy it. If you want to make sure that I do not get compensated for any purchase you can clear your Internet cookies or do not click the link at all.

If I have not convinced you that you should give the online service manual a try then you can get Haynes and Chilton’s manuals below from Amazon. They are often cheaper there and Amazon offers more model coverage then most parts stores. For more information related to car repair you can visit the start page for this auto repair blog from this link.

Dual zone AC control head

As we enter another car air-conditioning season many drivers are turning on the AC only to be greeted with waves of hot air. When this happens drivers want to feel the cool breeze as quickly and cheaply as possible. That is what this article is about. Do not miss the 2 helpful videos below!

For people that have slow freon leaks it’s not the first time the system stopped working. For these motorists it’s time to recharge air conditioning again. Often it’s a financial situation that stops us from pursuing proper diagnosis and repair.

Other times it’s fear that if we go into a shop they will find large and expensive repairs. Both of these situations are valid concerns that I completely understand. Air-conditioning repairs can easily become an avenue to take advantage of customers!

Look, I know lots of auto repair shop owners that are not only honest but talented. But the reality is it’s not always a bed of roses when you need automotive service. When you have time I wrote a good article about air-conditioning rip-offs that you may find helpful if you plan on taking your vehicle in for repair.

There is a hidden camera video in that article that I will provide here on this page for your convenience. Note that the embedded video is from the today show and there is a 15 second commercial before the real content gets going. If you are thinking about recharging the car air-conditioning yourself I added a video of the procedure at the very bottom!

I just want to recharge my air-conditioning

Glow charge freon

People that are daily commuting and living paycheck to paycheck would often like to try a simple re-charge of the air-conditioning by adding Automotive Refrigerant (Freon) then drive the car and see how long it lasts. This is not a bad strategy but if you are going to add Freon to the system you have to make sure you do not put in to much. This is why the DIY cans have a gauge on them with green and red colors (see the video below). Also why not add some that contains a dye agent. There are  different types of dyes that can be added to the Freon charge.

The two main ones are fluorescent dye and a colored die. If you install the fluorescent type you will also need a pair of glasses and a special UV flashlight so that you able to locate the leaking points. In the case of a colored die no special glasses or flashlights are needed you basically just look for stains of the red dye on air-conditioning components. I will make a few of these leaks tracing freons available below.

Leak sealing freon

If you’re lucky the car air-conditioning system will blow cold air for the rest of the summer. If you are unlucky the Freon leak will be larger and the system may only blow cold air for a couple of days.

If this is the case you can pop the hood with the engine off safety glasses on and inspect all of the air-conditioning lines and components and see if you can find any leaks using the dye you just installed.

Another option would be to install a Freon charge that contains some kind of leak sealer. In my opinion this will not solve the problems in most cases. If you have a small leak on the low side of the air-conditioning system you have a better chance of the air-conditioning stop leak product slowing down the escaping freon. Another thing to mention is you would not want to install more than one or two cans of this stuff because it can cause blockages in the air-conditioning that will make matters worse.

The proper way to fix car air-conditioning

Times are tough for all of us and I feel your pain. But consider having your air-conditioning system properly diagnosed and at least get an estimate of what it would cost to permanently fix the AC. I highly recommend that you get a second and maybe even a third opinion and compare the diagnosis and estimates. As you can see in AC rip-off video below you will most likely get a different opinion and price from each shop that you visit.

I’m going to provide a question box where you can contact an automotive expert and run these different estimates and prices past them. This will provide an expert opinion from someone that doesn’t have any skin in the game. Although it will cost a few dollars you will be receiving an unbiased opinion about the estimates you took the time to gather. The mechanics that have been approved to answer questions at just answers are tested and certified professionals. They also often have access to technical service bulletins and are able to research vehicle specific information.

Here is the video from the today show. This was a hidden camera exclusive where they put different dealerships to the test. It’s about seven minutes long and there is a 15 second ad before the video plays but let me tell you that this is extremely educational for somebody that is suffering with air-conditioning problems and is considering a re-charge of the air-conditioning system.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I built out an entire section on my youfixcars.com website about automotive air-conditioning systems. There are about seven pages of free information that you can access. Getting a basic education about how the system works can often help you avoid rip-offs when you go in for these types of services. For those that have a system that is cooling a little I wrote an article about what to do with ac not blowing cold enough. For more and the latest articles on this website this next link takes you back to the auto repair information blog home page.

72 roadrunner 440-6pack has Poor Fuel Economy!

What are the obtainable fuel economy figures for your car and why is it so important? Obtainable of course means something that is possible or achievable.

When it comes to your car or truck how many miles to the gallon should you expect from it? I am going to show you how to find the specification from the environmental protection agency (EPA).

When people say “my car is getting rotten gas mileage” the first thing they should do is to find out how many miles their vehicle is actually returning per gallon of fuel. Expecting more than 10 MPG from a 1972 roadrunner with a 440 six pack is just not realistic. It’s important to get a measurement for several reasons. One is, why waste money on fuel. Two is excessive fuel consumption can be a sign of car problems.

Empty Fuel Gauge

Figuring out average fuel economy is not difficult and I have written a complete article about how to calculate gas mileage that you can check out. After you find out exactly how many the car is getting then you need to compare this with an obtainable fuel economy specification. The only thing we have to go on is what the EPA stated this specific car should return in average mpg highway and city.

There is a place that you can go and pull up this information. In fact this website is filled with very valuable information for people looking to get the most out of their gas dollar. This next link will open in a new window and takes you to the real fuel economy.gov site. On that page you will be able to select Year, make and model for particular vehicles and find out what the city and highway EPA ratings are.

Why this is important for gas mileage

With gas heading over four dollars a gallon again I am seeing a lot of websites including my competitors started to talk about how to improve fuel economy. By now anybody who searches on these types of information articles has probably seen all of the replace the air filter and pump up your tires information that they can stomach.

My average fuel economy

What I don’t see a lot of people talking about is the importance of finding out what your actual miles per gallon is and what to expect if you try to increase this figure by following a bunch of tips. In my opinion the average driver should never expect to get more than what the EPA has established as the highest number which is usually the highway miles per gallon figure. In fact this number is set high enough that it makes a good goal.

There are people out there that are good at thinking outside of the box and are able to blow that number out of the water. But this is not a usual situation. As an example Wayne Gerdes from clean miles per gallon set a Guinness book world record in a 2011 Kia and achieved 64 1/2 miles per gallon with no modifications to the vehicle at all. What he did was apply a technique known as hyper miling in to achieve these numbers.

Although this guy is my hero and what he did was truly amazing these are not results that should be expected by regular drivers. His hyper-mile techniques include limiting the use of brakes and extreme amounts of coasting. For drivers that are looking to get somewhere and drive their vehicle in the city and on the highway these methods just aren’t practical if you want to get to the destination in one piece.

Gimmicks for increasing gas mileage

A lot of my competition and some of the articles that I have been reading since gas prices are heading upwards all gang up on things and products that claim to increase gas mileage. Although I agree that magnets and pills and gizmo’s have never worked for me I like the fact that people are trying to do something about changing what is obtainable fuel economy.

If people don’t experiment and try different things then innovation is dead. What I do think is worth noting is what I said at the beginning of this article. You should not try any device that is meant to enhance fuel economy unless you know Two things. Number one is, what are the current miles per gallon under normal driving conditions today. Two is what can you expect to be normal fuel economy. This is the EPA rating for your specific make and model.

With that information under your belt you can try different techniques and even products if you so desire to push these numbers forward. After you make one change at a time, track the results and compare to both number one and number two mentioned above. Then you decide whether to go in a different direction or continue forward in the same direction.

So although I will not be throwing any fuel pills into my gas tank I have nothing against the guy who invented it and showed the desire to try and improve fuel economy. If it doesn’t work that’s fine but I don’t want to suppress any inventive thinking. I mean who would’ve thought that Wayne could’ve gotten 64 1/2 miles per gallon out of a Kia with no modifications. I sure am glad that it was documented and proven to be genuine by the Guinness Book of World Records otherwise he would have been sent to jail for lying.

Note the Average economy picture above is from my 2009 Cadillac SRX. I am a lead foot driver and fall far short of the estimated 15 MPG city from the EPA. This is another example how the EPA rating can make for a great goal! For more of the latest articles added to this order repair information website this next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog home page.

AC Delco timing belt kit

Why do you need to find a timing belt kit instead of just buying the belt by itself? I’m glad you asked because the very important answers will affect people that are getting the operation performed by professional mechanics as well as people that plan on doing the repairs in the driveway at home.

The first thing to cover is what is the difference between a timing belt and a complete kit. On some vehicles there is a huge difference between the two. This is mainly because on some models the water pump is driven via the timing belt.

Since maintenance is usually recommended somewhere between 60,000 and 100 thousand miles it only makes sense to replace this water pump at the same time as replacing its drive belt. Because we don’t want coolant dripping on the new rubber parts a week later! Some timing belt kits come with a lot of other stuff besides a water pump and belt.

Timing Belt Kit Toyota Camry 1992 through 2001 4Cyl

On the Toyota V6 that can be found in the Camry and 4 runner a complete kit will include new cam seals, thermostat, serpentine belt as well as an idler pulley and tensioner. Both of these items have bearings that can eventually wear out and cause noise or other problems if the bearings seize and destroy the newer belt.

Just like in the case of the water pump while you’re down there it’s just a matter of a few bolts and the items can be renewed at the same time as the belt maintenance. Some timing belt kits also include other items that are known to go bad with specific models. In the case of an AC Delco timing belt kit pictured above, you also get a new hydraulic belt tensioner if one is used on that specific model.

These hydraulic tensioners can have plastic bodies known to leak at high mileage and can drip oil on the new parts. Often when do it yourself driveway mechanics pull the timing cover off and only have the new drive belt in hand they discover issues that require an additional trip to the parts store. This is why I recommend the kit. It almost always has the things you didn’t think of like new cam seals and tensioned springs.

What should a timing belt job cost?

This is a question I can’t answer because it really does depend on the make and model of the vehicle. But what I can tell you is a kit will cost less than if you try to purchase all of the individual components by themselves. This is why I recommend even if you’re taking the vehicle into a dealership or auto repair center find out if timing belt kits are available for your model.

Honda Civic timing belt kit

Since the auto repair center or dealership makes an average profit of cost +30 on parts meaning that they will mark up the parts at least 30% they can be motivated to buy the individual components separately and mark up each one. If they buy a complete kit there will only be one 30% markup charge.

This can be a problem at certain dealerships because they will only use factory issued auto parts. Many car manufacturers do not offer a complete kit for retail sale like AC Delco does. The best way for consumers to handle this maintenance service would be to purchase the timing belt kits yourself and bring them to the repair center just paying labor charges for the repair.

Unfortunately many auto repair centers have policies about bringing in and installing outside or aftermarket parts. Some shops would compare this to bringing your own steak to a steakhouse to be cooked. But it is worth a try and at least find out if one is available and use this as a negotiating tool when it comes to discussing the bottom line costs of the repairs.

Why do I need to replace the timing belt?

94 through 2001 Mazda Miata have timing belts

This is a sour subject with me because I don’t believe that any car should have a rubber belt connecting the crankshaft with the camshafts. And that is exactly what the timing belt does. It keeps the crankshaft in time with the cam shaft so that the valves open at the proper time. Asian car companies like Mazda, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan use the belt on many models where as Domestic vehicles use it less but still do.

Back in the old days they always used a chain for this mechanical connection between the crankshaft and the camshaft. In fact many cars today use a chain instead of a belt. Some jaded mechanics like me believe that a rubber belt was installed to ensure a return visit to the dealership for recommended maintenance. The important thing to remember is if the vehicle is equipped with a timing belt that it will need to be replaced as a maintenance service.

Things that are made of rubber get weak and deteriorate over time, this is just a fact. Whether it’s a serpentine drive belt rotating the alternator or the rubber tires on the car, these things will need to be maintained and replaced over time. The factory is pretty good at determining how far these belts will go.

It is for this reason that I recommend you check your owner’s manual and follow the maintenance guidelines for the timing belt, regardless of the cost. On some engines when these things break they can do a lot of damage. I have an older article few have read with additional information about timing belts. For more of the latest articles posted to this website this next link will take you back to the auto repair information blog home page.

2007 Audi Q7 SUV

A friend of mine needs transportation for a new job but doesn’t have a whole lot of money to spend. His desire for an upscale clean car in his price range keeps leading him towards buying high mileage cars. We have gone to see several of his top picks and all of them have been well over 100,000 miles.

In this particular case I have been trying to push my friend into a different category of vehicles without any luck. At this point He has Audi Q7 tastes, but a 96 Ford Taurus budget. It is his money so I will go look at the vehicles he has picked out. So far I have noticed a trend that I wanted to bring to everybody’s attention.

When you’re buying high mileage used cars getting the vehicle thoroughly checked out by a professional mechanic is very important. No one can tell you if it’s a good deal or not unless a thorough inspection is performed and an accurate condition assigned to the vehicle.

Lots of high mile cars to choose from

The first thing I started to find odd about the vehicles that we went to look at was the mileage. They were if not exactly at 100,000 they were very close. When I performed a couple of inspections I noticed that all of the original equipment parts were on the vehicles. No major services or maintenance had been performed yet.

100k service requirements

On many vehicles including my own there are 2 major maintenance services due at 50k and 100,000 miles. On the right is a picture from my owner’s manual of a few things that are due at that mileage.

The picture is low quality (sorry) but the point I was trying to make is every box is checked on three pages under the 100k column. I called the Cadillac dealer and asked them how much this service would be for my 2009 SRX. They said using the recommended motor oil and other synthetic fluids it would be $1000.

On some high-end German vehicles a 100,000 mile service can cost over $2500. So as we look at these vehicles I got the feeling that the original owners drove the vehicle until the expensive service was due. At that point they decided to take that money and apply it to a new vehicle instead of properly servicing the old one. This leaves an upscale shiny vehicle that has not had its 100,000 mile service on a used car lot or in somebody’s driveway for sale.

When we went to look at one car there was 120,000 miles on the vehicle and both the 100,000 mile and 50,000 mile service were skipped. Only oil changes had been done for 120,000 miles. The Owner told us the car was well maintained and in his mind it was. But in reality it was not! So if you are going to buy high mileage used cars be aware that a large expensive service might be past-due.

Proper used car maintenance

maintenance warning note

People have written entire books about this subject so I don’t want to go too deep but something else I wanted to mention was properly done maintenance. On the vehicle mentioned above only oil changes were done since the vehicle was new. Unfortunately each oil change was done poorly.

In most cases you would expect to receive chassis lubrication during an oil change service. Looking at the owner’s receipts he was supposed to get them as part of the service. But they were not done and there was no grease or very little in the different front end parts. Without proper chassis lubrication you could wind up having a bunch of worn out expensive to replace parts at the 100,000 mile mark, even if the cars not that old.

So far we haven’t found the right vehicle but our search continues. I asked my friend to stop by my other website and learn a little more about buying used cars. Until then if you are looking at buying high mileage used cars find a way to get it checked out by a professional mechanic. If you know someone that is looking at one of these cars share this article with them using the social buttons below. For more of the latest articles on the auto repair information blog this next link will take you back to the homepage from this article about buying high mileage cars.

Get a Free Extended Auto Warranty Quote for High Mileage Used Cars before You Buy!

Permatex Spray-n-Seal

When people ask me if stop leak products work, my answer is probably not but it ultimately depends on the situation. Overall I do not believe in miracle fluids. Even though I’m a nonbeliever there is some scientific stuff in these fluids that could work in the right situation.

Something I feel works a little better than something you can pour on the inside to stop a leak is something that you could spray on the outside to stop this leak. But remember whenever you have a choice between replacing a leaking gasket or using a stop leak solution of any kind the replacement of the gasket or seal is always going to be the better longer lasting auto repair.

The first time I used spray and seal from Permatex (available below along with a few other popular stop leak products) was for an oil leak on my 2004 Chevy Blazer. I have discussed this particular leak in depth and you can read that article on my page about Chevrolet oil leaks. To make a long story short the leak was at the front timing cover where it met the oil pan.

I used the Permatex spray and seal to help save my driveway until I had time to perform this major repair on my blazer. Being familiar with this type product I knew that the most important part about it being successful was cleaning the surface. Obviously nothing will stick to engine oil. The more of it you can remove the better of a chance you have that the spray and seal will work. In my case the timing cover leak was completely sealed (short term) however it did start to leak about three months down the road.

The science of stop leak products

rubber engine seals

As far as engine, transmission and power steering stop leak products often the main ingredient is some kind of petroleum distillate. The idea is that this chemical will soften a hardened rubber seal. Say what you will about these miracle fluids but the theory behind the operation in my opinion is a sound one, it’s the results we have to question.

As a rubber seal begins to dry out it also shrinks and pulls away from the sealing surface. The idea behind the petroleum distillate additives is to soften the rubber seal and help it re-expand back to its original dimensions. This can theoretically work but there is a few underlying problems with this.

If the engine oil seal for example is very old there is a chance that the petroleum distillate will soften the seal but will also disintegrate it. In this scenario it can actually make the fluid leak worse. On the other hand let me give you an example where the stop leak system worked for me. I had a Four Winns boat with a 4.3 L Chevrolet engine installed. On its eighth birthday it began leaking power steering fluid from the front pump shaft seal. The leak started out as a very small one.

But when it comes to the power steering system on the Merc cruiser it also has a small reservoir so it does not hold a lot of fluid. I knew that replacing the power steering pump was coming down the road but I decided to try and slow this down by installing the Lucas brand power steering stop leak. Now keep in mind that my situation was ideal to use this product. The leaking shaft seal was not that old and was only leaking slightly. I got about another two years out of that power steering pump before I had to replace it.

Timing cover leaks

Although I can cite a few cases where I did see some type of miracle fluid perform as advertised I have many more stories where it did not work at all. When I worked for an auction company they loved using miracle fluids of any kind. If an engine had a smoking condition they asked me to dump in some stop smoke. If a transmission was slipping or leaking they would ask me to throw in some transmission in a bottle.

If you have broken metal parts inside the transmission there is no fluid that I know of that you can add that is going to fix the problem. This is why I always stress that if you want to try a stop leak type product go ahead. But don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work or makes the situation worse. Although most people understand there is no harm in trying if you know the likely results.

Oil and fluid leaks on old cars

In my opinion the older the vehicle the less chance you have of a miracle fluid providing any assistance. This is one of those Catch-22′s where a stop leak product will work better on a new vehicle that is not leaking at all. Sure Older cars from the 80s and 90s where job security for mechanics like me. The auto manufacturers can be slow at adapting to problems with gaskets O-rings and sealing surfaces.

1979 Pontiac Trans Am

The best car I ever owned was a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. I have a picture of the anniversary edition to the right. Although this was my favorite car it made a mess out of my parent’s driveway. The oil pan and valve covers were sealed with very thin cork gaskets.

Most stop leak products containing petroleum distillates won’t help a cork gasket leak. You can get rubberized replacement gaskets from aftermarket companies. I still hear about the driveway from my parents despite cleaning it with Oil eater (available above).

As far as the more modern automobiles from 2000 and newer, oil leaks are just not as common today as they where years ago. This is because the manufacturers have improved not only the gaskets but the sealing surfaces that they push against to seal in fluids. This is largely in part to better casting procedures and computerized manufacturing equipment that is capable of much straighter and longer surfaces. This does not mean that you will never have an oil leak on this type of vehicle.

As I mentioned before you can take a look at my blazer article linked from above. But to make a long story short what happened was they changed the stamped metal timing cover to a plastic part that warped from heat and leaked oil heavy. If you would like to read more of my insightful automotive articles this next link will take you back to the automotive repair blog home page.  If I could talk you into learning more about my favorite car of all time this next link will take you to a story about my 1979 Pontiac Trans Am.

Noise canceling protection

For me after 26 years of doing it I have developed some aches and pains that may have been avoided if I paid more attention to my physical condition. Now that I am older and continue to do the job I have to be smarter about the way I do it. This means actually thinking through the mechanical operation I’m about to perform and incorporate a plan to take care of my body at the same time.

This could be something like standing on a rubberized mat or in the case of leaning over into an engine compartment sometimes getting a step stool will put me at a better angle so my aching back will be able to stay in the position required for maybe even several hours. My two biggest problems at this point in my professional career would be chronic back pain and damaged hearing. I have written extensively about my hearing issue on the you fix cars website where I discuss how easy it is to wear ear protection.

Car mechanics save your back

Many auto repairs require some kind of lifting. If you do it smart you can do it for a lot longer than if you are not careful. Knowing the proper way to lift and carry heavy objects is important for any job that includes physical labor. My big mistake was not using some kind of Back Protection Belt much sooner in my career.

Back support belt

I use one all the time now! Another important point to make about lifting things is always lift and work within your strength ability. Sometimes mechanics have a lot of internal pride they have to deal with. Sometimes there is so much pride that they refuse to ask a coworker to assist in the lift.

As an example our young transmission guy who is in outstanding physical condition for a mechanic, lifts the transmission on and off the specialized rolling jack by himself. Although it’s impressive to show someone watching these incredible feats of strength, he would probably be a transmission guy a lot longer if he asked someone to grab the tail shaft housing of the transmission and give him a hand.

How to lift with the legs

Some things you learn about lifting heavy auto parts along the way are that a few tricks go a real long way. Things like learning to keep your elbows and back as straight as possible is a good way to avoid injury. When you wear a back brace or lift protection device it helps you do exactly that.

You always hear people say “lift with your legs”. They should take the next step and explain exactly how to do that. Oh then I guess I should explain it. First put on the back protection device. The method I use is to bend your knees until your hands reach the best place to get a strong grip on whatever you’re lifting. Unless your arms are real long you will be standing almost directly over the object. Then straighten your legs to do the lifting

If you’re grabbing a cardboard box make sure it’s in good condition and not saturated with any fluids. You don’t want to grab the box and have what’s inside fall through the bottom and hit you in the foot. Also a good tip is to keep whatever you’re carrying close to your body as this will put more of the weight on your leg muscles as opposed to the back.

How long can car mechanics work

Me

Well for me after turning wrenches professionally for almost 27 years I feel like I will probably not make it much longer. Maybe another five years if I’m lucky. I have worked with guys especially in the union shops that put in 35 years to retire with full pay and benefits. I use to work with a World War II veteran that was in his late 70s and still employed as a full-time mechanic.

So if you ask how long can a car mechanic work there is no straightforward answer. The more he takes care of himself the longer he will last in my opinion. There are exceptions to every rule and I happen to know one. A close friend and mechanic got cancer and died at a very early age despite his tremendously strong physical condition. And again just to clear up my point of this article is that a mechanics physical condition is important to his overall health and happiness in the business.

All jobs have pluses and minuses. For sure being a professional mechanic is not right for everybody. In fact I hope my young family members pick something else to do for a living. If you would like to see more about being a car technician visit my page on learning car repair. For more on this subject right here on this website I have information about the auto repair business. Or you could return to the homepage for the auto repair information blog.

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.