C S Car Science 101

1
C S (Car Science) 101

• Jim Covert

2
Motivation

• How many of us own automobiles?
• How new are our cars?
• Do we still have warranty?
• How often have we claimed warranty?
• Most students are NOT rich (yet).
• I have spent a small fortune fixing my car!
• SAVE

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Easy saving items

• Change your own oil
• Learn how to run the OBD readout on your car.
• Buy a service manual for your car.
• Chiltons, and OEM books are great. Anyone who
  can follow directions, can fix their own car.

Check Engine
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Change your own oil

• How many have done this?
• Was it hard?
• Was it messy?
• Would you do it again?
• How much money can you save?

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How to change your own oil

• Drive car to store to buy oil filter
• Most will need 6 qts. of oil
• Get a good high quality name filter. (OEM, Fram,
  QS, Mobil)
• By correct wrench for plug oil wrench.
• Drive car home and let sit for 15-20 minutes.
• (Drink beer while your waiting)

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Jack car up!
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Go under car

• Place drain pan under car.
• Locate pan edge below drain plug.
• Put wrench on drain plug
• Remember
• Righty-tighty
• Lefty-loosen
• Use a cheater bar if you need help loosening

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Remove Drain plug

• Make sure you are out of the way
• Make sure to have towels oil dry to clean up
  emergency spills
• Always Remember
• Righty-tighty
• Lefty-loosen
• Use a cheater bar if you need help loosening

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Find the filter

• Filter can be under car
• Filter can be diagonal
• Filter can be horizontal
• When looking from above the filter can be in
  front, to the side, under or behind engine.

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Remove the filter

• Muscle it off
• Use filter wrench
• Always Remember
• Righty-tighty
• Lefty-loosen

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½ Way Point

• Put drain plug back in
• Remove oil pan from under car
• Empty oil in old filter into oil pan

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Filter Prep

• If your filter has the diagonal or down
  orientation, pre-fill with oil
• Above step not necessary with side mounted filter
• Lubricate filter gasket
• Screw filter back onto receptacle. Tighten hand
  tight, then give another ¼ turn.

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Finish the Job!

• Remove everything from under the car
• Remove car from jackstands and allow it to sit
  level.
• Fill car with oil.

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Finish the Job!

• Start car.
• Turn off car, check oil level.
• Start car again and check for leaks.
• Clean up!
• Bring old oil to local recycling plant.

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Pricing

• US
• Oil Filter 4
• Oil 2.00x6 12
• Confidence in a job well done Priceless
• Max savings/change is 11.00/change

• THEM
• Typically ranges from 16.00-25.00
• Use crap oil (sometimes recycled)
• No confidence in a job well done. (Joe Schmoe
  has touched your car)

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Interact with your cars computer

• How many people have seen their Check Engine
  light illuminate?
• All modern fuel injection cars have computers
• Computer is commonly referred to OBD (On Board
  Diagnostics)
• OBD is responsible for Check Engine light.

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Motivation

• Check engine is not very valuable when it stays
  illuminated.
• Most manuals say, take your car to the dealer
• They dont state how easy it is to find out what
  your car is trying to tell you.
• One can use the information as a guide for DIY,
  or as screw protection from a repair shop
• We will learn how to test Fords EEC-IV computer
• To run Chrysler visit http//www.misterfixit.com/m
  oparcod.htm
• To run GM visit http//www.gnttype.org/maint/malf.
  html

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Car Computers in General

• A car computer does not always let the driver
  know there is a problem.
• Some problems will remain within the computer,
  but will not cause the check engine light to
  illuminate.
• Only the most serious problems cause the check
  engine light to illuminate

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Quick Note on GM

• GM cars can be forced to give up their computer
  code blinks by jumpering the following pins (B
  A) with a staple, or paperclip. GM computer
  connectors are normally located in the cabin
  under the steering wheel, under a panel titled
  computer access.

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Fords EEC-IV computer

• Ford computer can also be jumpered for codes
• Diagnostic block in engine compartment
• Will be labeled as EEC Test

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Testing Procedure

• Drive car for 15 minutes before testing
• Find a paperclip and unwind
• Determine which procedure you want to run
• KOEO (Key Off Engine Off)
• KOER (Key Off Engine Running)

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KOEO Test

• Jumper the STI pin and the Signal Return pin.

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KOEO Test

• Turn the ignition to "Run", but do not crank the
  starter. The KOEO test will begin. During this
  test, these things will happen 
• EEC will exercise its valves and actuators and
  take readings from its sensors
• The EEC will flash the Check Engine light to
  indicate any KOEO on-demand codes it has found at
  the moment of the test. All codes are presented
  in sequence twice.

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KOEO Test

• During this test, these things will happen 
• The EEC will flash the Check Engine light once to
  give a separator code.
• The EEC will flash the Check Engine light to
  indicate any continuous codes stored in
  non-volatile memory during operation prior to the
  test.

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KOER Test

• Set up as mentioned in KOEO, but first start the
  car and run it at 2000 rpm for a couple of
  minutes.
• Shut down, and then jumper the pins.
• Immediately restart the car.

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KOER Test

• The KOER test will begin. During this test these
  things will happen 
• You will get the engine ID code on the Check
  Engine light
• The EEC will try to get its sensors to go to the
  extremes of their ranges. The car will run very
  poorly at times during this portion of the test.
  It lasts for 6 to 20 seconds.
• The motor will smooth out and idle. You will see
  a single flash of the Check Engine light.

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KOER Test

• During the KOER test these things will happen 
• After this flash, you have 10 seconds to turn the
  wheel both ways, hit the brake, and snap the
  throttle wide open, enough to get the engine
  above 2000 RPM, release the throttle, and let the
  engine return to idle. This is called the "goose
  test".  If you have an automatic, you should also
  turn the overdrive on and off during this phase
  of the test.
• The EEC will flash the Check Engine light to
  indicate any KOER on-demand codes it has found at
  the moment of the test. All codes are presented
  in sequence twice. (If you didn't run the goose
  test right, it will flash 77 and you will need to
  repeat the goose test.)

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Optional Cylinder Balance Test

• After KOER testing is finished, Lightly tap the
  throttle (no need to go to WOT) and release it.
• The system will cut the injector to each
  cylinder, looking for an expected drop in RPM. No
  drop means a problem with that cylinder.
• A code of 1-6 identifies a cylinder found to be
  weak. A code of 9 means all OK, 77 means run the
  test again.

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Aftermath

• One can now look up the 2 or 3 digit error codes
  in the shop manual
• We can start troubleshooting systems and parts.
• If need be, we can also take our vehicles to the
  dealer and have some clue what the problem is!

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Cost Savings Measures
Check Engine

• US
• We have a general idea what is wrong with our
  car!
• We can begin replacing defective parts by
  ourselves.
• We are less likely to be taken by a repair shop
  since we know what we are talking about
• Savings can exceed hundreds of dollars

• THEM
• Charge for diagnosis
• Take uninformed individuals for a ride
• Charge to tell you what your computer says is
  wrong.
• Exaggerate repair costs.

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Concluding remarks

• The procedures outlined above are not difficult.
• The above procedures allow you to be in touch
  with your automobile
• One should know how to be car literate.
• Feel free to ask me any questions regarding car
  maintenance!