Fix It

A brake light switch, located on a bracket mounted directly in front of the brake pedal arm, controls your 1993 Nissan Quests brake lights. As the pedal arm pushes forward from the force of you stepping on the brakes, it depresses the switch and activates the brake lights. When the switch short circuits, it will either leave the lights always on or always off. In order to get the lights off, and return them to normal functionality, youll need to replace the faulty brake light switch. If you have mechanical aptitude and 25 minutes of time on your hands, you can fix this problem.

Instructions

1

Open the Quests front door. Adjust the drivers seat as far back as it will go in order to provide yourself with sufficient room to access the under-dash area.

2

Shine the work light in the drivers foot well so it illuminates the area at the top of the brake pedal arm. Retract the retaining tab on the brake light wiring pigtail with your thumb while gripping the pigtail with your foinger. Pull the pigtail off the brake light switch.

3

Unbolt the faulty brake light switch from the mounting bracket using a box wrench. Discard the faulty brake light switch.

4

Set the new brake light switch into the bracket. Bolt it in with the box wrench. Plug the wiring pigtail into the new brake light switch by hand.

5

Depress the brake pedal and have your helper verify the brake lights work before driving your Nissan Quest.

The Cadillac DeVille is a top-selling luxury sedan, but like all cars, it may experience some common problems. One such problem is the gearshift getting stuck in "Park" because of a faulty part known as the "Brake Transmission Shift Interlock" or "Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid." This component tells the car that the brake is not engaged and it locks the shifter into place. One fix for the 1993 Cadillac DeVille is to manually manipulate the frozen solenoid to unlock it.

Instructions

1

Start the engine and let the 1993 DeVille warm up. On some GM cars, including the Cadillac line, once the engine has warmed up, the gearshift may be operable. Also, check to ensure the brake pedal is working by pressing down on it. If warming up the car doesnt resolve the problem, go on to the next step.

2

Manually trip the brake shift interlock solenoid. Start the car. Lift the rubber panel cover under the ashtray and open the under-dash compartment door.

3

Shine a flashlight into the under-dash compartment and look for an orange lever tab. Push orange lever tab toward the hood of the DeVille to override the automatic lock manually. Listen for a click that indicates the solenoid has been released.

4

Depress the brake pedal again and attempt to shift the Cadillac into gear.

The Chrysler Concorde was a full-size, four-door sedan with front-wheel drive manufactured from 1993 to 2004. The most common engine in the 1993 model was a six-cylinder 3.3-liter engine with fuel injection. The fuel injectors send fuel to the engine and are part of the fuel rail assembly. The majority of the fuel injector replacement procedure for a 1993 Concorde deals with removing and installing the fuel rail assembly from the engine.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench to prevent the engine from starting during the procedure. Loosen the cap on the fuel tank to relieve the pressure in the fuel tank. Remove the cap for the fuel pressure test port on the fuel rail.

2

Place the open end of the hose on tool C-4799-1 into a container approved for gasoline. Connect tool C-4799-1 to the fuel pressure test port and open the valve on the tool. Allow the fuel to drain into the container to relieve the pressure in the fuel system. Disconnect tool C-4799-1 from the fuel pressure test port and replace the cap on the fuel pressure test port.

3

Detach the air plenum from the throttle body and the air cleaner. Hold the throttle in the open position, and remove the linkages for the cruise control and throttle body from the throttle shaft.

4

Detach the electrical connectors from the exhaust gas recirculation valve and manifold absolute pressure sensor. Disconnect the vacuum hoses from the positive crankcase ventilation valve and the fuel pressure regulator. Remove the brake booster hose and throttle body purge hose from the intake manifold.

5

Detach the electrical connectors from the throttle position sensor and the idle air control motor. Disconnect the mounting screws for the exhaust gas recirculation tube with a socket wrench and remove the tube from the upper intake manifold. Disconnect the mounting bolts for the intake manifold plenum and remove the plenum from the engine.

6

Detach the fuel line from the fuel rail by pushing the quick-disconnect fitting on the fuel line with Special Quick-Connect Fitting Tool 6751. Wrap shop towels around the fuel line and disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail. Disconnect the clamp on the fuel line with a socket wrench and remove the fuel line from its bracket.

7

Turn the fuel injectors on the fuel rail towards the center of the engine, and detach the electrical connectors from the fuel injectors. Disconnect the mounting bolts for the fuel rail and lift the fuel rail directly up from the engine.

8

Remove the retainer clip for the fuel injector and pull the injector out of the fuel rail. Install new O-rings to the new fuel injector and apply a light coat of engine oil to the upper O-ring. Install the fuel injector onto the fuel rail and attach its retainer clip. Apply a light coat of engine oil to the nozzle end of the fuel injector.

9

Complete the installation of the fuel injectors by performing steps two through six in reverse sequence. Tighten the mounting bolts for the fuel rail to 16 ft. lbs. with a torque wrench. Torque the mounting bolts for the intake manifold plenum to 21 ft. lbs. Connect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench.

Dodge introduced the Caravan in 1983 and still manufactures the vehicle. This minivan was equipped with a 3.3 liter V6 engine that had an output of 158 brake horsepower, which is pretty impressive for a family car. The V6 engine was designed to have two head gaskets, one on each side of the block. The head gaskets must occasionally be replaced because a blown or a leaking head gasket may cause bad engine performance.

Instructions

1

Drain the cooling system and disconnect the negative battery cable. Remove the intake manifold and throttle body. Disconnect the coil wires, sending unit wire, heater hoses and by-pass hose. Remove the closed ventilation system, evaporation control system and cylinder head covers.

2

Remove the exhaust manifolds. Remove the rocker arm and shaft assemblies. Remove the push rods and identify each one of them to ensure re-installation in the original locations. Remove the nine head bolts from each cylinder head, and remove the cylinder heads.

3

Inspect the surface of the cylinder head. Remove the old head gasket. Before cleaning, check for leaks, damage and cracks. Clean the cylinder head and oil passages. Check the cylinder head for flatness. Inspect all surfaces with a straightedge if you suspect leakage. If out of flatness exceeds 0.00075 inches, either replace the head or lightly machine the head surface.

4

Clean all debris, coolant and dirt from the engine block cylinder head bolt holes. Failure to remove all foreign material may result in improperly tightened fasteners, damaged threads or damage to components. Install the new head gasket. To re-install all parts, follow the same operation in reverse.

The 1993 Mercedes Benz lets you know when you need to have your engine looked at by a mechanic by illuminating the "Check Engine" light on your control panel. The cause of this light can be diagnosed using an OBD II scanner tool that reads trouble codes, telling you exactly what is wrong with your car. After the codes have been read and the problem repaired, you will want to clear the check engine light to turn it off. This can be done at home with no special tools required and just a few minutes of your time.

Instructions

1

Put the key into the ignition and turn the car on but dont start the engine. Notice the display on the instrument panel between the tachometer and the speedometer.

2

Press the button on the lower left side of the steering wheel. The display will tell you why the light is on.

3

Look for the button next to the one you just pushed and press it. This will verify the reason for the check engine light.

4

Find the reset button on the instrument panel. This is located on the left side of the panel. Press and hold it until you see the instructions telling you to hold it for 3 seconds to reset it. Let go of the reset button.

5

Press the reset button one more time and hold it until the display indicates that the check engine light has been reset. Release the button. The check engine light should now be off.

The thermostat in your 1993 Oldsmobile is a devise that regulates the engine temperature. It opens automatically and circulates antifreeze (engine coolant) into the engine block when the temperature rises. And conversely, remains closed when the engine temperature is normal. This device is located between your engines radiator and the engine, and is mounted onto the block. Fairly inexpensive and simple to replace, it is a very important part of the engines cooling system and should be replaced at the first signs of engine overheating to prevent major damage.

Instructions

1

Place a recycling container under the radiator drain plug to capture the antifreeze. Remove the drain fill cap by hand to relieve the pressure. Loosen the drain plug to release a small amount of antifreeze from the radiator. Take out only enough to clear out the upper radiator hose that attaches to the thermostat.

2

Disconnect the upper radiator hose using a flat-head screwdriver where it connects to the thermostat cover by loosening the screw-tight hose clamp. The opposite end that connects to the radiator can remain attached during the replacement repair. Move it aside and wedge it in the radiator fan area to allow for better clearance to the thermostat.

3

Remove the two mounting bolts on either side of the thermostat housing cover using a socket wrench. Take off the housing cover and break the seal using the screwdriver. Carefully lift out the old thermostat.

4

Stuff a small towel or sock into the housing opening to prevent debris from entering the engine. Scrape off the old gasket using a razor or paint scraper.

5

Remove the sock and apply a small amount of gasket adhesive to the new gasket place it directly onto the thermostat opening. Be sure that the bolt holes are aligned so that the gasket and new thermostat will seat properly. Insert the new thermostat with the spring side down (into the engine).

6

Put the thermostat housing on and secure in place with the mounting bolts, and tighten them using the socket wrench. Attach the radiator hose and secure it in place with the screw-tight hose clamp.

7

Replace the removed antifreeze with a 45/55 mixture of new antifreeze and water. Pour it directly into the radiator, filling it to the top, and then replace the radiator cap.

8

Start the engine, allow it to run for several minutes then turn the engine off. Re-check the antifreeze level and add more as necessary to top it off.

A broken CV joint can propel your Subaru right off the road. Its a part well worth the time and effort to replace. A 1993 Subaru Legacy has CV axles in the front and rear of the vehicle, depending on the model. The most efficient way to replace a CV joint is to replace the entire CV axle with a new or re-manufactured axle. The front CV axles are more difficult to replace due to the more complicated front steering and suspension assembly, but most aspiring do-it-yourselfers should be up to the task.

Instructions

Preparing to Remove the Axle

1

Park the car on a level surface and set the emergency brake. Make sure the Subaru is parked in third gear or higher if it has a manual transmission. Slightly loosen the lug nuts. Do not jack up the vehicle.

2

Remove any covers over the axle nut (also called the spindle nut, it is located at the center of the wheel on the end of the axle). Pry or beat out any indentations in the slotted portion of the axle, using a straight screwdriver. Spray penetrating oil on the nut if any rust is present. Then, using the breaker bar and a six-point socket of the correct size, break the axle nut free, but do not remove it.

3

Jack up the vehicle and lower it onto a jack stand. Make sure the vehicle is safely supported--you are going to have to crawl underneath it. Remove the wheel and the axle nut.

4

Unbolt the sway bar bracket from the lower control arm. Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut from the lower ball joint. Separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle with a ball joint separator. Remove the lower control arm the rest of the way by unbolting it at the two points immediately above where the sway bar bracket was attached.

5

Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut from the tie rod where it attaches to the steering knuckle. Use the tie rod separator to remove the tie rod from the steering knuckle; then push the detached end of the tie rod out of the way.

6

Crawl underneath the vehicle and locate the retaining pin that passes through the axle where it joins the transmission or front differential. Using a hammer and a small punch or a Phillips-head screwdriver, pound out the retaining pin.

Removing and Reinstalling the Axle

7

Remove the CV axle from the end at the transmission. Use a flat screwdriver or another suitable prying tool to separate the axle from the transmission or front differential.

8

Remove the axle from the steering knuckle using the axle puller.

9

Slide the new axle through the steering knuckle, and install the new axle nut. Tighten it by hand for now.

10

Align the axle retention pin holes on the new CV axle and the transmission end. Slide the new axle into place at the transmission end and install a new retention pin.

Finishing the Job

11

Re-install the lower control arm, tie rod and sway bar bracket. Using the torque wrench, tighten the nuts on the lower control arm to 113 Nm, according to the 1993 Subaru Legacy repair manual published by Chilton Library.

12

Tighten down the castellated nuts on the tie rod and ball joint, and install new cotter pins.

13

Torque down the new axle nut--the torque figure for this nut is 186 Nm, as also specified by the 1993 Subaru Legacy repair manual. Using a hammer and screwdriver or punch, score the outside of the axle nut at the keyed portion on the axle.

14

Put the wheel back in place and tighten down the lug nuts. Raise the vehicle, remove the jack stand, and gently lower your Subaru to the ground. Re-tighten the lug nuts.