Repair 7

Turning a brake rotor is a process in which a machinist smoothes the surfaces of the rotor that is contacted by the brake pads. Consumers should understand when a brake rotor can and cannot be turned, as well as the advantages of turning the rotors.

When Rotors Cant Be Turned

Brake rotors should only be turned when the rotor can be smoothed but stay within manufacturers specifications. Most brake rotors will have the minimum thickness measurement stamped into the rotor. The information is also available in service manuals. Rotors with deep cracks should be replaced and not turned.

When Rotors Need Turning

Rotors do not need to be turned on a regular basis, but only when the rotor is showing signs of damage. Brake pads that were not replaced in a timely manner may cut deep grooves into the surface of a rotor. The rotor may also wear unevenly, resulting in a wavy surface. Brake rotors may also corrode, leaving the surface rough. All of these problems can be corrected by turning a rotor.

Advantages of Turned Rotors

The primary reason to turn rotors is to save money, as turning a rotor is less expensive than replacing it. Properly turned rotors will have a smooth surface that will improve braking distance, reduce brake noise and vibration, and increase brake pad life.

If you have enjoyed the benefits of a properly working air conditioner in your vehicle, then you will quickly notice if it starts to blow hot air through the vents. Having information on why this occurs could be beneficial to any car owner looking to beat the heat.

Causes

There are several reasons your vehicle may be blowing hot air through the vents, such as a need to recharge refrigerant. There could also be a problem with the air conditioners compressor. Vents will blow hot air if the compressor does not activate when the A/C is turned on.

Compressor

To find out if the air conditioners compressor is causing hot air to come from your vents, you can test it by connecting its clutch wire to a battery. If the compressor fails to turn, it is likely that you will need to have it replaced.

Refrigerant

If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it can be recharged to combat this issue. However, checking for leaks should always be done before taking this action. Also, your air conditioning systems vacuum should have all air removed from it prior to recharging refrigerant.

The brakes in most vehicles, excepting large trucks and the like, are operated hydraulically -- that is, by the pressure of a working fluid. This fluid is carried in lines that run under the body of the car, and these lines are fixed to the car with brake line clips.

What is a Brake Line Clip?

Brake line clips are small metal clips, usually cast or punched out of sheet metal or, increasingly, of plastic. They have a half-circle depression in them to accommodate the relatively small girth of the brake line. There are two holes on either side of this depression. These match with holes in the underside of the car body frame, with small bolts being used to fix the clips and the brake line to the body of the car.

Reason 1: Mechanical Stress

Brake lines are often made of metal, and are semi-flexible. Nonetheless, the bottom of a car is a hostile environment. Brake line clips protect the break line by keeping it from hanging below the bottom of the car, where it could get snagged on debris or terrain. They also protect the line from the undue stress that would be imposed by allowing the line to simply hang below the car, which could pull it loose of its couplings at either end.

Reason 2: Corrosion Protection

By keeping the brake lines up against the bottom of the car, the brake line clips perform a secondary service by keeping them from getting as caked in road salt and water as they otherwise might. This helps prevent undue corrosion.

There is no room in your hydraulic power steering system for air. If you dont bleed your power steering of air, your power steering is almost useless because the system cant compress the air like it would power steering fluid.

Effects

If your steering becomes difficult, or your vehicle makes noise when you steer, there may be air in the power steering system. Making turns or parallel parking will usually make these issues more noticeable.

Causes

Low power steering fluid may be the problem. However, filling the power steering reservoir may only fix the problem temporarily. If there is a leak in the system somewhere, your fluid level will just drop again and the problem will return.

Considerations

If you recently changed any part of the power steering system, such as the pump or pressure hose, you probably want to bleed the system. In most cars, this is an easy process, but you may want to hire a professional.

Exhaust systems have many places where weakness can occur over time. Most exhaust systems take between five and seven years before deterioration begins to cause problems. Have the exhaust system checked at the first sign of noise to prevent costly repairs.

Rust

Rust accumulates in different places within an exhaust system for several reasons. Short trips leave condensation that settles inside the muffler, and because it doesnt have time to get hot enough to evaporate it, rust begins to form.

Donut Gasket

Donut gaskets allow for movement at the end of the exhaust pipe where it connects to the manifold on the engine. Over time, it wears down, causing the movement to increase that results in a rattling sound.

Heat Shields

Car manufacturers weld heat shields in key areas on the exhaust system to prevent heat transfer to the floor of the vehicle. Spot welds that come loose cause the shield to rattle or vibrate. Insert a pry bar between the shield and the exhaust system and gently press against the shield. If it moves, new welds can fix the problem.

The 2001 Malibu cam relatively well-equipped with standard features. The mid-sized sedan came with: air conditioning, keyless entry, power door locks and a passive ignition disabling system. The passive ignition disabling system, known as Passlock, prevented the Malibu from starting without a coded key. When the Passlock system detects a fault in the security system, a "Theft System" light stays lit on the instrument cluster.

Incorrectly Coded Key

The Passlock system on the 2001 Malibu uses a key with a small magnet on it. This magnet passes a sensor inside the ignition tumbler, and the sensor reads the code stored in the magnet. If the codes do not match, due to improper coding or a failing key, the Theft System light stays on and the vehicle will not start.

Failed Ignition Tumbler

Over time, the wires inside the Passlock ignition tumbler can wear out and create a short. If the computer senses a short-to-ground in the wiring of the Passlock system, it triggers a "Security on" code that illuminates the "Theft System" light until you repair the problem.

Failed Instrument Cluster

As your 2001 Malibu ages, water and other debris can cause damage to the circuitry of the instrument cluster. If the instrument cluster shorts out, it is common for the "Theft System" light to illuminate.

Control Module Failure

The 2001 Malibus body control module and powertrain control module work together to determine when the Passlock system is to allow the car to start. When one of these two components fail or are incorrectly programmed, the "Theft System" light illuminates and the Malibu will not start.