Ask Joe Mechanic - Common Electrical Problems

As vehicles become increasingly more complicated, making simple electrical repairs has

Example of a vehicle's fuse box.

almost become a thing of the past. It used to be that people changed their own alternators and starters, now it is almost a task to even find them. And, with all the interconnecting computers in a vehicle, an innocent mistake can end up costing hundreds, even thousands of dollars to repair.  

I recommend that anyone who does not have some mechanical ability does not touch electrical repairs.  As, some of the worst situations I have seen created, were done by people who thought they knew what they were doing.

If you choose to do so, simple things like light bulb replacement generally is not too complicated, most owners’ manuals will tell you how to change taillight bulbs, etc. Headlight designs are becoming increasingly complicated with High-intensity Zenon bulbs and such. One caution whenever changing a halogen headlight or fog light bulb is to not touch the glass part of the bulb as the oils from your skin can cause premature bulb failure.

Another common repair, which is quite simple, is replacing a blown fuse. If something is not working on your car, find the location of your fuse box in your owner’s manual. There will be a diagram, usually on the fuse box cover, which identifies what fuse controls what function. If you pull out that fuse and it looks like it has a break in the filament or looks burned, it is blown out. Replace it with the identical amp fuse, they are often color-coded and are marked 10, 15, 20 etc. If a fuse blows out a second time, it means you have a more serious problem in that circuit and you need to get it checked by a professional technician. NEVER wrap a fuse with tin foil, stick a coin in the fuse’s place or put a jumper wire in the fuse box! I saw a person wrap a fuse with tin foil and he melted the entire wiring harness from front of the car to the back. With todays’ systems, you can easily fry an expensive computer or even worse, set fire to your vehicle.

On older cars, it is still easy to change a starter or alternator, but one caution if you plan to do this yourself, always disconnect the battery first to prevent arcing and fire.

Other than these few items, I recommend leaving electrical repairs to the professionals as it can prove to be less costly.

Ask Joe Mechanic: Winter Driving Tips

As we soon approach the time (hopefully not too soon) that we will begin to experience winter weather, one needs to brush up on their winter driving. We already covered getting your car prepared for winter, but it is also important to prepare yourself for everything that winter can throw at you.

The first thing to do is preparation. Now is the time to get all the things ready that you should have in your vehicle just in case you have a problem this winter. If you live in an area where winter can strike early and hard, such as around Hazleton as I have experienced, all of these items can prove of great importance, and in extreme cases, could mean the difference between life and death! 

A winter survival kit should include; a snow shovel (collapsible ones are handy and do not take up much space), a scraper/ snow brush, tire chains if you travel in an area that gets a lot of snow, a flashlight with extra batteries, a bag of cat litter, sand or salt in case you get stuck, jumper cables, flares or an emergency triangle, and a bright colored cloth to signal for help. Your should also have a tight sealing container in which you pack candles, matches or lighter, bottled water and snacks such as energy bars. And, some of the most important things, mittens or insulated gloves and a ski mask, a sleeping bag or blankets, first aid supplies, and any prescription medications for at least 2 days including diabetic supplies and a fully charged cell phone. 

I know this list sounds extensive and maybe a bit extreme, but it is much better to be over prepared than to get stranded and possibly not see help for a couple days such a man from Pine Grove a few years ago who was on his way home from work on RT 501 just a few miles north a Myerstown who got stuck and his car sat completely buried on the roadway in a drift for three days until he was rescued.

When you experience bad weather, it now becomes important to use common sense. As soon as roads become slick, slow down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If someone insists on following you too closely, pull over when safe and let them pass. One important fallacy that many fall victim to is that I have a 4WD so I do not have to worry. Yes, 4WD definitely gives you more traction and gets you moving better, but, most 4wd’s are heavier vehicles and that extra weight will actually increase braking distances on slick roads. Also, on ice, 4WD actually can be more tricky while under power and stopping. Giving extra room not only allows you more chance to stop, but if the vehicle in front of you or an oncoming vehicle has problems, you have more time and space to take evasive action.

If you find yourself in a skid, there are a number of things to remember and to consider depending on the situation. If the rear wheels are skidding, take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction that the car is sliding. If the front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas, shift into neutral and allow the car to slow itself and then start to apply light braking and steer in the direction you want to go. Even an expert can sometimes have trouble recovering from a skid. Snow tires can aid you in snow, but they will not make much difference on ice
unless they are studded.

Should your car break down or you become stuck, there are some very important things to remember. If you are able, try to get your car safely off the road surface. Put out flares or the warning triangle to make yourself visible to other drivers. If you are stuck, you can then try to shovel yourself out, use some of your abrasive material for traction and see if you can rock yourself free. If you are unable to free yourself, make a call for help, but do not over use your phone to retain its charge. You can run your engine for heat about ten minutes every hour, but leave a window open slightly for ventilation and always keep snow clear of your exhaust to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Use your blankets or sleeping bag to keep warn and ration yourself on your snacks and water so that you do not exhaust your supply. Also, remember that you can eat snow for your thirst, but not too much at once as this can lower body temperature. And, make sure its not yellow!

Remember, some prior preparation, and use of common sense may prevent a very dangerous situation from developing.
 
What tips can you offer for winter driving preparedness that weren't already covered?

Ask Joe Mechanic: Dashboard Warning Lights (Part II)

As I stated last week, this is a continuation of the subject of dashboard warning lights. Before I start on the subject of check engine lights, I want to cover the SRS or air bag warning light.  This warning light can be either red or yellow depending on the manufacturer.  When it is lit, it does not mean you need to stop your car immediately. What it means is there is a malfunction in the air bag system and if you are in an accident,most likely, the air bags will not deploy.

The reason that many car makers choose to make this a red light, is just as in the case of the fasten seat belt light, it is a safety system and by making it a red light, it covers them for liability if the air bag does not activate. If the light is lit and you choose to ignore it and are involved in an accident and the air bags do not deploy, it absolves the manufacturer of any responsibility. This is a light you should take care of as soon as possible so that all the safety systems of your vehicle will function as intended. Often times, the problem will lie in either a sensor or the contact ring in the steering column. Many of these repairs are not overly expensive or are covered by the manufacturers warranty.

The check engine light is probably the most misunderstood and most complicated warning indicator on a vehicle. This light and its related computers monitor many of the operating systems of a vehicle. This light will monitor the fuel, ignition, emissions, engine computer, and turbocharger or supercharger if so equipped. Because it monitors so many systems, it also interlinks with many other features such as the ABS, cruise control, traction control, and others. This also means that items unrelated to the engine can trigger the light to come on, and also means that something very minor can be the cause of the light. I will always ask people who tell me their light just came on, did you just get gas?

One of the most common triggers for a check engine light is a loose gas cap. Because the emissions system monitors fuel system integrity, a loose gas cap will not allow the fuel system to maintain proper pressure or vacuum and the light will light.

If your check engine light comes on, use a good dose of common sense.  Check the simple, obvious things like your gas cap. Check for visible signs of problems such as other warning lights, smoke from the engine compartment or exhaust; these things would indicate a serious problem and you should not drive your car. If you hear a strange noise from your engine or experience a major change in your car’s performance such as bucking or missing, you most likely have a more serious problem and should not drive it. Otherwise, it is probably okay for you to call your dealer or garage and get it in ASAP to have it checked.

There are also places such as AutoZone who will scan a check engine light for free and tell you what the fault code means. If in doubt though, exercising on the side of caution is your smartest approach.

Recent recalls:

133,081 Vehicles

2006-2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrids

& 2006-2008 Lexus RX400H Hybrids

Overheating power module can cause vehicle to enter limp-home mode and may cause stalling.

101,584 Vehicles

2006-2011 Lexus GS 350,

IS 350 & IS 350C

With 2GR-FSE engine, loose bolts in VVT gear housing can cause engine failure.

7,767 vehicles 2014 Volvo S60,

S80, XC60 & XC70

With keyless ignition, central electronic module defect causes windshield wipers to operate continuously and certain lighting systems to not operate.

If you own one of these vehicles, contact your dealer for further instructions on what to do.

Ask Joe Mechanic: Dashboard Indicator Lights (Part I)

This week, I want to cover the subject of dashboard indicator lights, more affectionately known as “idiot lights”. Many

people misunderstand what they mean, and by doing so, do serious damage to their

vehicle and cost themselves a lot of money.

I want to propose to you an analogy that I have gone by, and is a fairly realistic way to look at this subject. Compare your

dashboard lights to a traffic light. A green light, or no lights on means go. A yellow traffic light means caution, the light is

changing, a yellow warning light means something in your vehicle is changing or starting to malfunction. A red light means

stop, and so does a red warning light on your dash.

I will now explain some of the most common red indicators and what kind of problem they may mean to you. There are

always other possibilities, but these will be some of the most common problems.

The first light, arguably the most important, is the oil pressure light and a related light that your vehicle may have, an oil level indicator light. These lights both mean a problem with the engine lubrication system. The problem may be as simple as being low on oil, but that can also mean that you have an oil leak or your engine is burning oil. It can also mean a much more serious problem such as the oil pump pickup screen is blocked with sludge or that the oil pump has failed. No matter what, if your oil light comes on, get off the road safely and shut your engine off. Do not try to drive to the nearest service station or try to get home, that will probably be way too far and permanent damage has already been done!

Another very important light is the battery or alternator light. This light indicates a problem with the charging system. This

could be caused by a loose, worn or broken alternator belt, which can also cause other problems such as overheating or lose of power steering. It can also indicate an alternator malfunction. In either case, do not drive the car, get safely off the road and call for help.

A temperature light coming on is an indication that your engine is overheating.  You may also have a coolant level indicator which would tell you that you need to add antifreeze. If you temperature light comes on, it can also be caused by a loose, worn or broken belt. There also may be a bad thermostat or bad water pump. At any rate, do not drive an overheating vehicle, doing so will very likely cause a blown head gasket or other permanent engine damage.

Some vehicles come equipped with an automatic transmission warning light which indicates a problem in the transmission. This is usually a shifting problem, and can be caused by a low fluid level or a mechanical of electrical malfunction in the transmission control system.

The brake and ABS lights can indicate many things. It can be showing something as simple as low brake fluid or the

emergency brake stuck on. It can also mean on of the wheel sensors is not sending a signal to the ABS computer or it can be a failure in the computer itself. At any rate, if the light is on, the antilock brake system most likely will not function which means you will lose ABS assist.

Many newer cars have other warning lights or indicators such as tire pressure monitor systems that are designed to make

your vehicle safer.

The most important thing to remember is, IF THE LIGHT IS RED, STOP! If you are not sure what an indicator means, check your owners manual.

Most recent safety recalls:

9,345 2014 Kia Sorento FWD and

20,300 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe FWD

With 2.4L engine for RF axle shaft fracture.

239,000 2006-2010 Hyundai Sonata

& 2006-2011 Hyundai Azera

in northern states for corrosion of the rear crossmember.

370,000 2005-2011 Ford Crown Victoria,

Mercury Grand Marquis, and

Lincoln Town Car

in northern states for steering shaft corrosion.

If you own one of these vehicles, contact your dealer for further instructions on what to do.