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I have been told not to fill gas cans in the back of my car or truck. Why? |
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I want to relate an incident that happened to an individual recently. He was filling a small gas can that was inside the bed of his pickup which has a bed liner in it. The gasoline spontaneously ignited, burning him in the process. The investigation determined that this was caused by static electricity buildup from the plastic bed liner. I have since learned that this is not uncommon, and in fact there are two technical bulletins out on this. One is from Ford Motor Company and the other is from Standard Oil Co. The recommendations on both are that you should never fill a gas can in the bed of a truck with a bed liner in it. Place the container on the ground to fill it, The Ford bulletin also stated that placing a rubber mat under the bed liner would alleviate this problem; however, the friend of mine had already done that and the gasoline still ignited. This leaves the only way to fill gas cans is to place them on the ground. |
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There is smoke coming out of my tailpipe. What could be wrong?
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There are 3 colors of smoke, and they all mean something different. BLACK: There is a fuel problem that is caused by the injector or carburetor. BLUE-GRAY: This is oil, probably indicating internal engine problems. WHITE: This is coolant or water generally caused by a blown head gasket. Have your car checked as soon as possible.
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I have heard that R-134A does not cool nearly as well as CFC-12. Is this true?
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Vehicle manufacturers have designed air conditioning systems for newer vehicles that use R-134A while maintaining reliability and cooling performance. Conversion specifications for air conditioning units using R-134A are also being designed to maintain performance, but this may vary depending on the condition of the unit prior to the conversion, and other factors.
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My Check Engine light is on when I'm driving but my car seems to be running just fine. Should I ignore it and not worry?
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No. A Check Engine light or Service Engine Soon light on when the engine is running is telling you that the computer has found something in the system that is not functioning properly and has put the system into a fail safe mode that allows the motor to run but not at maximum efficiency. The car should be brought to the shop and have the computer scanned for trouble codes and proper repairs made to the affected circuits.
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What can I do to save money on car repairs?
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Maintenance is the number one guard against costly auto repair. Check your car's fluid levels (brakes, power steering, engine oil, transmission, radiator) monthly. If you find low levels anywhere, find out why and attend to as necessary. This, in the long run, could save you from some costly repairs.
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When driving my car sometimes, once or twice in the last month, when I am at a stoplight my brake pedal seems to sink almost all the way to the floor. If I lift my foot and push again the brake pedal stays up and seems ok. Am I just crazy or is something wrong?
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Take relief, you're not crazy! What you have just described is more than likely the early stages of your master cylinder going bad. The dropping of the brake pedal should gradually get worse. I recommend replacement as soon as possible. Remember, if your car doesn't run it's hard to get hurt, but if it doesn't stop injury is imminent.
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When travelling at about 40 mph or faster and I apply my brakes the steering wheel shakes violently. What's wrong?
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There's about a 95% chance that your front brakes are at fault. Have your brakes checked by a certified shop to verify their condition and to make sure there is not an excessive amount of rotor run-out or an out-of-drum condition. Also, if your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system, have it checked and make sure it's working properly.
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Can I test my own antifreeze or do I need to take my car to a radiator shop and have it done?
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Yes, you can test your own antifreeze with an inexpensive tester purchased at any auto parts store. You need to make sure that when you take your sample of antifreeze for testing from the coolant recovery bottle or the radiator that the motor is cool and no pressure is on the cooling system. Or you can take your car to any reputable aut repair facility and they will test it for you for a small fee.
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I am buying a used car. How do I know if the car is good or not?
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Have the vehicle checked out with a reputable mechanic. Most mechanics will do this for a small fee and will tell you whether it is worth the money or not. They will tell you what and where the problems are if there are any. If the seller does not agree to let the car be checked, then you probably do not want to buy it. Buyer beware.
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