Repair 7

A catalytic converter greatly reduces the amount of emissions that your vehicle produces. However, when this part has gone bad it can mean trouble for your vehicle as well as the environment. Certain clues will help you determine whether your catalytic converter is failing.

Driveability

Your ability to drive your vehicle normally will be affected if the catalytic converter is bad. The speed and the power of a vehicle will fall below their normal performance levels. If your vehicle starts to have trouble with stalling, this could be a sign of bad catalytic converter.

Emissions

A rise in vehicle hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions is a sure sign that a catalytic converter has gone bad. An exhaust analyzer, which costs $3,000 to $5,000, can inform you whether the converter is bad by reading the emissions levels as they exit the exhaust pipe.

Exhaust

The color of the smoke coming from your exhaust is another way to determine whether a catalytic converter is bad. Blue smoke indicates that the converter might be contaminated with phosphorus, which is found in motor oil. White smoke usually indicates that coolant is leaking internally.

The control module of a vehicle is basically the computer that does the thinking for an engines control system. It affects the functioning of things ranging from a vehicles charging system to its transmission. This is why when the control module goes bad, the engine suffers functionality issues as well.

Voltage Overload

One of the main things that can cause a control module on a vehicle to go bad is voltage overload. This can occur when a short exists in the circuits of either a solenoid or actuator. Replacing the control module will do no good if these shorts are not dealt with as the replacement control module will experience voltage overload as well.

Water

Another thing that can cause a vehicles control module to go bad is water. Circuits get shorted out and the control modules electrical connections are harmed from the corrosion that builds if water manages to reach the inside of the control module. This is why repairs are usually not even attempted on control modules that come out of flooded vehicles.

Vibration and Stress

Vibration as well as thermal stress has also been known to cause control modules to go bad. This is because they can cause tiny cracks to form in the control modules circuit boards. However, unlike water damage, this type of damage to a control module is repairable.

If you have a television or computer monitor powered by a liquid crystal display (LCD), chances are it contains a backlight. A backlight is a form of illumination that is placed in the back of an electronic device to help produce a visible image. Since television and computer monitors can malfunction, knowing different backlight issues can help you figure out where the problem is occurring.

Screen Brightness

One of the major indications that your backlight has malfunctioned is if your computer screen appears dim or goes completely dark. Press your screens "Menu" button, navigate to the brightness and contrast levels, and adjust them to appropriate working levels to see if that fixes the problem. Another way to detect a malfunctioning backlight is if the screens background is still visible but words and images are faded or hard to see. A dark screen can mean your backlight has burned out, whereas a faded screen indicates the screen is near the end of its working life.

Flickering Screen

A flickering screen indicates that the backlight is about to blow. Like a regular light bulb that flickers before it goes out, the same thing tends to happen with a backlight. Screens can flicker in a variety of ways that include the movement of certain words or images, or a flicker of the whole screen.

Monitor Shutdown

A television or computer monitor that has a bad backlight tends to shut down automatically after only a few minutes of being powered on, or not turn on altogether. This is a safety mechanism of the monitor that prevents it from overheating when attempting to work with a malfunctioning backlight.

Backlight Inverter

The inverter is a small-computerized system that sends power to the backlight. Its a good idea to inspect the cables that run from the inverter to the backlight for tight connections and damage. Because the inverter and backlight are dependent on each other, a malfunctioning inverter could lead to severe problems with your backlight, such as flickering, and dim and blank screens.

Contrast Levels

A computer, television or other LCD screens uses contrast and brightness levels that you can manually adjust to help view the screens images more easily. A good indication that a backlight is malfunctioning or about to burn out is when your monitor doesnt respond to its brightness and contrast controls.

The fuel pump on a motor vehicle pumps the gasoline through the engine to be ignited and create power. The fuel must pass through a fuel filter to ensure that no contaminants reach the engine. The filter traps large particles of dust and debris, stopping them from affecting the engine.

Start Difficulties

The first sign of a malfunctioning fuel pump filter is difficulty starting the car. The filter will start to block the flow of gasoline into the engine. This is mainly caused by blockage or clogging, but can also occur from a break in the filter or a misinstallation. The problem will escalate over time if untreated, and what began as a difficult start that took several attempts will become a complete inability to start the engine. Once the filter hits this point of damage the only fix is to replace it.

Stalling

A significant indicator of a faulty fuel pump filter is the stalling of the engine during use. The stall will most likely occur on an upward or downward slope (depending on the placement in the car) when the fuel is being pushed through the filter rapidly. The stall happens because of an interrupted or inconstant flow of gasoline and feels much like the car does when running out of gasoline. At this point, however, the fuel pump filter may just need a quick repair or cleaning.

Acceleration

The fuel pump filters earliest indicator of problems manifests as stunted acceleration. If the car starts running sluggishly or unresponsively it will mean the fuel pump is either off alignment or in the beginning stages of a clog. There is a good chance at this point that a simple fuel injector cleaner solution may fix this problem and the vehicle will start running efficiently again.

In 2001, Toyota Camrys were manufactured with multiple engine options. In base form, the Camry came equipped with the 2.2-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine which offered buyers excellent fuel economy at a reasonable price. In upgraded form, the Camry came equipped with a more powerful 3.0-liter DOHC V6 that provided more power with slightly increased price tag. The camshafts in each engine are monitored by a camshaft position sensor that records the position of the camshafts in relation to the crankshaft. The positional information is used by the PCM to alter ignition timing and ensure that the engine runs smoothly. A faulty camshaft sensor can cause symptoms such as stalling, sputtering, and lack of power. Checking the resistance on camshaft sensor terminals and comparing that to a specified value is the proper way to determine the whether the camshaft sensor is operating properly.

Instructions

2.2-Liter Engine

1

Open the hood and locate the camshaft position sensor. It is bolted to the lower-right side of the valve cover assembly, on the front side of the engine block. Its a small black sensor with a two-wire connector attached to it.

2

Disconnect the sensors electrical connector by depressing the locking tab on the connector and pulling it away from the sensor.

3

Measure the resistance across the camshaft sensors pin terminals with a digital multimeter.

4

Compare the resistance value on the digital multimeter to the specified value. The specified resistance value for the 2.2-liter engine is 835 to 1,400 Ohms when cold and 1,060 to 1645 Ohms when hot. If the sensors resistance value is outside these parameters then the sensor must be replaced.

3.0-Liter Engine

5

Open the hood and locate both camshaft position sensors; in the V6 engine there are twoone in each cylinder head. The sensor itself is located on the back rear corner of each cylinder head. It is black, just like the sensor for the 2.2-liter engine and has the same two-wire connector attached to it.

6

Disconnect the electrical connectors on each sensor by depressing the locking tab and pulling the sensor connector off of the sensors connector flange.

7

Measure the resistance across each sensors two pin terminals and record that value on a piece of paper.

8

Compare the resistance value against the specified values for the sensors. If the sensor is made by DENSO, the resistance should fall between 835 to 1,400 Ohms when cold and 1,060 to 1645 Ohms when hot. If the sensor is made by Wabash, the resistance should fall between 1,690 to 2,560 Ohms when cold and 2,145 to 3,010 Ohms when hot. The sensor should have a stamping mark on the inside of the plastic connecting flange indicating which company manufactured it. If the sensor falls outside of these specified values then it is faulty.

Since Karl Benz patented the automobile in 1886, it has undergone some drastic changes, such as: electric starter motor, fuel injection, electronic ignition and computerized engine management. One of the electronic advancements in modern automobiles was the neutral safety switch, This switch acts as a safety device by preventing the vehicle from starting in gear. When the neutral safety switch fails, it can cause more problems than you may think.

Mechanics

The neutral safety switch uses both electronic and mechanical mechanisms to perform its main function, which is to sense the position of the gear shifter and only allow an electrical current to pass through to the starter motor if the gear shifter is in "Neutral" or "Park."

Additional Functions

On some vehicles, the neutral safety switch performs multiple tasks. The most common secondary function is as the reverse light switch, meaning it also engages the reverse lights when you place the gear shifter in reverse.

Failure

As with any electromechanical component on your vehicle, the neutral safety switch can fail over time. If this sensor cannot correctly read the shifter being in Park or Neutral, it will not allow the car to start, leaving you stranded where you are.

The fuel delivery system is a vital part of your vehicles operation. Within this system, the fuel filter is a component that allows your vehicle to run smoothly. Fuel filters remove any particles from the fuel, such as dirt or rust, that may cause damage to the fuel injector, carburetor or engine. There are a few simple things that you can check if you suspect that your fuel filter is bad and needs replacement.

Instructions

1

Turn the engine off before trying to determine if the fuel filter is bad on your vehicle. You may have to work beneath the car, so allow plenty of space in a safe area for working.

2

Locate the fuel filter. Read the vehicles owners manual to determine if the fuel filter is under the hood or underneath the car. Some fuel filters are connected to the fuel delivery system, whereas some are along the the fuel line beneath the vehicle.

3

Inspect the area around the fuel filter for any obvious damage or problems. If no damage is seen, remove the fuel filter from the fueling system. In most cases, a wrench or similar tool is needed to loosen the bolts that secure the filter. If the filter is underneath the car, you may need additional tools to release the fuel filter.

4

Look at the filter closely. Note that it has a hole on both sides. Remove anything that may obstruct fuel from passing through the holes.

5

Blow through the filter. If the air passes through easily, the filter is still good. If there is a lot of resistance or you have difficulty blowing through it, the filter may be old and clogged and may need to be replaced.

6

Replace the fuel filter and tighten the bolts that secure it in the fueling system. Call a professional mechanic if you are still unsure about the quality or effectiveness of your fuel filter.