Fix It

Car air conditioner systems have multiple parts and if any of them malfunction your air conditioner may stop working properly. If you find your cars air conditioning system is not producing the cool air it used to, there are a number of simple ways to investigate the cause of the problem. Most air conditioner malfunctions occur due to a lack of rigerant, sometimes caused by leaks in the air conditioning unit.

Instructions

Check the Refrigerant Level

1

Turn off your car, then open the hood and locate your air conditioning unit. Air conditioning units are located at various places depending on the type of car you own. If you have trouble finding it, consult your car manual. The unit will have a compartment for the rigerant and a fan system.

2

Connect the AC pressure gauge to the side port of the air conditioning unit. Turn on the car and allow the engine to run for a few minutes.

3

Depress the accelerator. If the AC pressure gauges meter dips down when you accelerate, there is not enough rigerant in the vehicle.

Check for Leaks

4

Visually inspect the air conditioning unit with your car running. Check to see if the compressor is cycling and if the fan belt seems work.

5

Inject a small amount of auto-safe florescent dye into the air conditioning unit. This florescent dye is available at most auto parts stores and allows you to see any leaks or damage in the air conditioner unit. Follow the directions for insertion on the can.

6

Visually inspect the air conditioner unit for any holes or leaks in the pipes, tubes or compressors. The florescent dye will cover any holes or cracks, making them easy to spot.

7

Fix cracks or holes before adding more rigerant to prevent pollution and damage to your vehicle.

A sure sign of air conditioning problems is a lack of cool air coming out of the vents in your van or other vehicle. The problem might be with the compressor or motor, but it might just be a leak. The leak might not be your only issue, but it must be addressed before fixing any other components of the air conditioning system.

Instructions

1

Look in your vehicles owners manual to determine what type of rigerant your van uses.

2

Set the rigerant leak-detector to the appropriate setting. The setting varies based on the type of rigerant your vehicle uses. It is typically labeled CFC, HCFC or HFC, and must be set correctly to locate the source of the leaks.

3

Move the rigerant leak-detectors sensor along the air conditioning hoses and other components, looking for the indicators of a leak. The indicators vary in different rigerant leak-detectors, but are often represented by a buzzer or other sound.

4

Pay special attention to connection points. Move the sensor across all sides of the hoses and other components.

5

Mark each leak with masking tape. This allows the mechanic addressing the leaks to easily locate it.

The Yahama V-Star 1100 is a cruiser-style motorcycle produced by Yamaha. As part of the routine maintenance of the motorcycle, users should check their engine oil level often, as operating the bike with too little oil can cause serious damage to the engine. The Yamaha V-Star 1100 does not have a dip-stick. Instead, it has a small window, or sight glass, located on the left side of the engine. This allows owners to check the oil level quickly, without the need for a rag to clean the dipstick.

Instructions

1

Turn off the Yamaha V-Star 1100s engine, then put the kickstand down to secure the motorcycle in an upright position.

2

Locate the small, round, glass window, on the bottom of the left side of the motorcycle.

3

Locate the two hash marks on the glass, one near the top of the glass, and one near the bottom. The top hash mark indicates the maximum amount of oil that should be in the engine, and the bottom mark indicates the minimum amount of oil that should be in the engine.

4

Bring the bike to a vertical position, to ensure an accurate reading. While the motorcycle is straight up, look at the glass and determine where the oil falls in relation to the two marks. The oil level should be between the two hash marks. If the oil level is below the minimum line, add oil before starting the engine again, and if it is above the maximum line, you should remove oil prior to starting the engine. Add oil a little at a time, and check the glass each time, to avoid over-filling.

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.

An automotive recall occurs when a manufacturer discovers a defect in one of their cars. The manufacturer usually mails a recall notice to the owners of the vehicle to alert them, and the owner can then take the car to a dealership for free repair. However, if you have moved recently or purchased a used car, you may not have received those notices.

Instructions

1

Visit the Carfax website listed in the Resources section and enter your Pontiacs VIN number to see if there are any open recalls for that car.

2

Check your repair records to see if recall work was performed.

3

Take the car to a Pontiac dealership. The dealership will have a complete list of recalls for that vehicle, and will be able to assess the car to determine if the vehicles recall repairs were ever done.