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PM: Auto Clinic Expert Q & A - March 2006
Q: I'm trying to replace the engine in my car with a used one because I can't afford to have the old one rebuilt. I have the new (old) engine in my garage, and it still has all the fuel-injection hoses and stuff. This is probably easy--but how do you take apart the fuel lines? The new engine's hoses just end in a steel fitting, and I can't figure out how to get the ones still in my car apart. It looks like they just plug in.
Previous How-To Central: Auto Stories
| Auto Clinic: Extend Your Car's Battery Life, Is Your Engine Guzzling Oil? and More July 2006: Automotive guru Mike Allen diagnoses a problem that will kill your car's battery, de-bunks the water-powered car myth, helps you gauge whether you engine's burning too much oil and gives advice on what to do with a fuel gauge that's got an unpredictable needle. Plus: selected new service ... (Published in the July, 2006 issue)
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| Saturday Mechanic: Changing Gear Lube You've been more than happy to do much of old 4x4 pickup's maintenance yourself. Now, perusing the lubrication schedule in the owner's manual, you see it's time to change the lube in the manual gearbox. The manual calls for fresh lube in the axles and the transfer case, too. Here's how to do it. (Published in the July, 2006 issue)
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| Saturday Mechanic June 2006: Plastic Bumper Repair The days of repairing your bumper with some el cheapo body filler and spray paint are long gone. The technology of auto body parts has changed, and John Decker guides you to making the right selection of materials and technique to do a professional repair job. (Published in the June, 2006 issue)
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| Auto Clinic June 2006: Fix Permanent Window Spots, Constantly Blown Fuses and More June 2006: Our expert walks you through fixing permanent window spots, contantly blowing fuses, excessive engine vibration, a heater that lets in smog and a pesky problem where the speedometer won't work and the transmission stays in second...while sharing service tip highlights and product recommen... (Published in the June, 2006 issue)
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| Centering New Wheels and Boosting Your Antique's Voltage: Auto Clinic (Published in the May, 2006 issue)
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| Repairing Electrical Wiring It starts as a smell. The unmistakable odor of burning insulation. Shortly thereafter a wisp of smoke curls out from under the dash. Then comes the similarly unmistakable pop of a fuse blowing. At which point your radio cuts out. Or maybe it's the windshield wipers that stop--or the engine itself. N... (Published in the May, 2006 issue)
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| Popular Mechanics: Saturday Mechanic - Troubleshooting Distributorless Ignition Today is the worst day for your Check Engine light to come on. And this time it's not just because a careless gas station attendant failed to tighten the gas cap. (Yes, gentle reader, a loose gas cap can make your engine think there's a leak in the evaporative emissions system.) This time it's Somet... (Published in the April, 2006 issue)
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| Popular Mechanics: Auto Clinic Expert Q & A -- Fuel Injection My car won't start. I can't figure out why. I think it has spark. The fuel pump is making its customary whirring noise when I turn the key. I pulled out the spark plugs, but they don't look wet or even smell of gasoline. Is there some way to check to see if the fuel-injection brain is working withou... (Published in the April, 2006 issue)
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| Auto Diagnosis - What's That Smell? Remember that new-car smell? Actually, new cars haven't had that smell since manufacturers took the solvents out of the glues in the interior in an attempt to save a lot of UAW members' livers. Oh well. But there are plenty of other smells emanating from your car. (Published in the March, 2006 issue)
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| PM: Saturday Mechanic - How To Replace A Fender Pickup truck owners have lots of friends. My pickup is regularly borrowed to move everything from cordwood and college kids to upright pianos and snowblowers. When it was new I always rode shotgun to make sure my truck didn't get banged up, but that grew old once I realized I would always be the mov... (Published in the March, 2006 issue)
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