Misc. Car Problems

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Misc. Car Problems

Whether you are having trouble with your brakes, steering or gears, it is abundantly clear that cars can aquire a number of aggravating problems. Learn about power steering, engine detonation, signs your car is experiencing poor gas mileage and more in this helpful section on miscellaneous car troubles.

Bleeding The Brakes

The term "bleeding the brakes" is in reference to the process in which a small valve is opened at the wheel cylinder to allow controlled amounts of brake fluid to escape the car. It is done to release air that sometimes becomes trapped within the lines.

Car Keyless Entry

Many auto services offer various keyless entry systems for your vehicle. Some cars come equipped with power locks which can open your doors at the click of a button, while others have doors which require a passcode.

Carburetor Icing

Carburetor Icing in automobiles can be an annoying problem; however, it usually is not a big issue as the inlet manifold and parts of the carburetor often have warm water circulating in them from the water cooling system. Air cooled engines may be more proned to icing, although overall it is not a major problem in cars.

Changing A Car Tire

Being stuck with a flat tire is certainly not a pleasant experience; though changing a tire on your own is a task which requires only a few essential tools and steps. You can learn more about tire changing on a number of self-help websits, such as Ehow.com.

Constant Velocity Joints

Constant Velocity Joints, also known as homokinetic or CV joints, allow for a rotating shaft to transmit power through a variable angle at a constant and rotational speed without any increase in friction or play. They are primarily used in front wheel and all wheel drive cars.

Dead Batteries

If your car battery has died, you will need to either replace it, take it to an auto repair service or jump start the car. Some automobile owners even decide to build their own car batteries entirely from spare parts.

Engine Detonation

Detonation occurs only when the remaining unburned mixture of fuel and air is heated and pressurized by the advancing flame front for a certain length of time. It is caused by an instantaneous ignition of the remaining fuel-air mixture in the form of an explosion.

Engine Overheating

Seeing as an internal combustion engine runs entirely on heat, it is well advised to closely monitor just how hot your car is getting. Even with today's modern efficient engines, there is still a good bit of heat waste. A "normal" temperature for an engine is about 195 to 200 degrees F.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valves

An exhaust gast recirculation valve, or EGR valve, within the circuit regulates and times the gas flow within your engine. Some engine designs work to regulate the exhaust by trapping it in the cylinder and not fully expelling it during an exhuast stroke.

Jumper Cables

Along with a spare tire, jumper cables are an essential item to keep in your car. These cables are used to jump start your vehicle when your car has a dead battery. A second battery, often in another vehicle, is temporarily connected to your battery through the jumper cable in order to give the initial charge required to start the engine.

Jump Starting a Car

If your car has a dead battery and you can't get to an auto repair service, you will most likely be needing to jump start the vehicle. All you need to jump start a car is jumper cables and another engine. It may also be helpful to print out instructions for jump starting a car and keeping them in the trunk.

Master Cylinders

Your car's master cylinder works as a hydraulic control device which converts physical pressure into hydraulic pressure. The most common use of the master cylinder is in brake and clutch systems. The device used in a clutch system is known as the slave cylinder, while in brake systems use calipers and wheel cylinders.

Poor Gas Mileage

Hundreds of factors can contribute to your car having poor gas mileage; although one of the main causes is a dirty air filter. Other causes incude low tire pressure, bad driving habits, transmission torque converter clutch failure, transmission slipping, stuck choke plate and leaking injectors.

Power Steering

Power steering helps to reduce the steering effort on cars by using an external power source to assist in turning the wheels. As the speed of the engine increases, the pressure in the hydraulic fluid also increases, hence a relief valve is incorporated into the system to allow excess pressure to be bled away.

Rack And Pinion Steering

A rack and pinion serves to convert the rotational motion of the gears in your car to a linear motion. The circular gear known as the pinion engages its teeth on the flat bar known as the rack.

Rough Idling

Rough idling can be caused by a number of things, including valve adjustment, incorrect ignition timing, vacuum leaks, bad ignition wires, incorrect idle speed and a cold start injector which is always on. The best place to start examining the car is with the spark plugs, plug wires, ignition timing, and idle speed.

Timing Chains

Also known as the timing belt or cam belt, the timing chain works to control the timing of your engine's valves. Some engines use timing gears, and the term "timing belt" is used to generally refer to any flat belt with integral teeth.

Timing Gears

Accurate timing of when valves open and close affects not only your engine's performance, but also the fuel economy and emissions. It is an essential part of proper maintenance of your vehicle. Valve timing helps to determine how much air and fuel is being drawn into each cylinder, as well as how efficiently this mixture is being used.