The 10 Commandments of Auto Repair

Funny, but good rules of thumb to safely work on your car.
By Matthew Wright, About.com

1-Thou shalt not place any essential portion of thy anatomy beneath a car that is not properly supported with jack stands or blocks.
2-Thou shalt not work on any part of the starting or charging system without first disconnecting the battery.
3-Thou shalt suffer no flame or spark near the battery or the fuel system.
4-Thou shalt forsake the open end of the wrench, and whenever possible to use always the box end upon thy nuts and thy bolts.
5-Thou shalt always securely block the wheels of the car before starting work, lest thee run thyself over with thine own car.
6-Thou shalt never lose thy temper or thy patience. Remember: "Act in haste and you will repent at your leisure."
7-Thou shalt always exercise extreme care when opening thy radiator, lest thee parboil thyself or some innocent bystander.
8-Thou shalt clean up any and all of the fluids that thy auto may emit, lest they ignite or poison thy pet, thy child, thy soil or thy groundwater.
9-Thou shalt always place thy car's transmission in Park or Neutral before commencing work.
10-Thou shalt never forget the laws of ASSUME, K.I.S.S., and Murphy, and never blame another person for thine own errors.

Whistle or Whine Noise from Oil Pressure Relief Valve

Some customers may notice a whistle or whine noise at idle. Upon inspection, this noise will be isolated to the AFM (Active Fuel Management) relief valve in the oil pan.
This noise should not occur unless the oil pan contains an AFM relief valve. Currently, all 2005-2006 GTO replacement engines, and some 2006 production engines, contain an AFM relief valve. However, 2005 production engines did not contain one. As a result, this noise should not be experienced on a 2005 GTO unless the engine has been replaced with an engine that contains an AFM relief valve. This AFM relief valve is not needed for the 2005-2006 GTO because it is not equipped with AFM.

Recommendation/Instructions:
If this noise is experienced, remove the AFM relief valve, insert plug part number 11561583 (M14 x 1.5) in the hole, torque it to 21 lb/ft (28 Nm), and re-evaluate the noise.
When replacing an engine that does not have an AFM relief valve, this potential noise can be prevented by installing the old oil pan onto the new engine.

Source: GM Preliminary Information Bulletin #PIP4421B - (Jun 27, 2008)

Vehicle cranks but does not start and the 15 amp fuel pump fuse is open.

Models:
2006-2008 Chevrolet Impala
2006-2007 Monte Carlo

Condition/Concern:Vehicle cranks but does not start and the 15 amp fuel pump fuse is open.

Recommendation/Instructions:Inspect the wire harness under the back seat for chaffing. The effected wire is circuit 120, a gray wire, between connectors C200 and C405. If wire chaffing is found reroute the harness away from the area of chaffing and repair any damaged circuits.

Source: GM Preliminary Information Bulletin #PIC4909 - (Jun 27, 2008)

Manufacturer's Information for the Car-Savvy Do-it-Yourselfer.

Historically, automotive Do-it-Yourselfers have always used printed repair manuals. Now they have an alternative. Mitchell1 has developed an extensive online repair information resource designed to better serve the millions of automotive Do-It-Yourselfers and auto enthusiasts.

YEAR COVERAGE: 1983 to 2011

VEHICLE COVERAGE: With few exceptions, this product includes all Domestic and Import Cars, Light Trucks, Vans, Mini Vans, and SUVs imported, manufactured and sold in the United States during the past 2 decades.

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Comprehensive Automotive Manufacturers' Service and Repair Information.

  • Factory Mechanical Repair Procedures

  • Factory Diagnostics & Troubleshooting

  • Complete Detailed Wiring Diagrams

  • Electrical Component Location Tables

  • Exploded View Illustrations

  • Complete Vacuum Diagrams

  • Factory Specifications

  • Factory Recommended Scheduled Services

  • Inspections

  • System Fluid Capacities

  • Accessories & Equipment

  • Brakes

  • Electrical

  • Engines

  • Engine Performance

  • Suspension

  • Transaxles & Transmissions

Pricing:

All pricing is in US dollars for a single-vehicle subscription:

1 Month (31-Days) : Just $ 16.99
1 Year (Best Value!) : Just $ 29.99
4 Year (Best Value) : Just $ 39.99

IMPORTANT
Also included are Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) issued by the manufacturer to inform their dealers of the latest concerns regarding specific vehicle problems. In most cases a TSB will include detailed troubleshooting and repair procedures, special tools and required parts for dealing with these unique issues:





Earn commissions on all subscription sales

Interested Affiliates - Mitchell1, a division of Snap-on Tools, is offering companies the opportunity to earn commissions on Internet sales of eAutoRepair. By becoming a partner Affiliate, your company will earn commissions on all subscription sales resulting from your leads. Add-on sales also earn commissions.
Visit: http://www.eautorepair.net/marketing/html/affiliates.asp