Fix It

Owning a Mercedes-Benz automobile has its advantages. Mercedes-Benz enjoys a reputation for automotive quality, safety and longevity. But repairing them requires certain specialized tools. Mechanic shops specialize in repair and maintenance of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, but you can find and purchase the specialized tools yourself. Tools for Mercedes-Benz automobiles are varied and divided into function. There are specialized tools for everything from automatic transmissions to wheels and tires.

Automatic Transmission Tools

There are a variety of specialized tools to work on automatic transmissions within Mercedes-Benz automobiles. They include tools as basic as the oil level dipstick for viewing the oil level height to various drive shaft groove nut socket wrenches. Clutch pack compressors help remove the snap ring. A brake band piston loader is a specialized assembly tool for brake pistons. A special axial play parallel rest tool measures axial play--the side-to-side movement--on the gear sets.

General Engine Tools

Specialized tools designed for general engine use are available for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. These include a special slide hammer adapter for removing the precombustion chambers from early- and late-model turbo diesels, and a specialized diesel pin wrench. A special "pencil" type, extra-long glow plug bore reamer removes heavy carbon deposits in glow plugs--a sometimes necessary first step to removing the plugs--for models 1996 to the current year. There is also one for models from 1983 and for nonturbo models from 1967 to 1985.

Electrical Equipment and Tools

Special Mercedes-Benz tools are designed to work on the vehicles electrical systems. These include a wire terminal and connector crimping master kit. The kit includes the basic crimper and five interchangeable magnetic crimping heads, along with a one-handed wire stripper that crimps butt, hex, coaxial, insulated, noninsulated, closed, flag and cord end Mercedes-Benz terminals of varying sizes. A special Mercedes-Benz data scanner reads and resets fault codes and reads live data for road tests. Also available is a bearing and race puller for use on battery terminals, small gears and bearings and relay pliers for easy removal of the Mercedes-Benz Bosch electrical relays, in the smallest, tightest locations.

The 1995 4Runner is manufactured by Toyota. The 1995 models came with onboard alarms. These alarms can go off when changing the battery or making other repairs to the vehicle. If you want to disable the car alarm, you will need to go through the ignition cylinder inside your 4Runner. This task is not very difficult, and you will not need advanced automotive knowledge to complete it.

Instructions

1

Put your key into the 4Runners ignition and turn on the cars electrical system without starting the car.

2

Use a flathead screwdriver or your fingers to pry the dashboard panels off your ignition cylinder.

3

Locate the alarm transmitter in the ignition cylinder. This is a small black box with a switch on it labeled "Valet Switch."

4

Turn the valet switch to the "Off" position and wait until the LED light goes out.

5

Put the dashboard panels back onto the ignition cylinder.

The exhaust manifold connects directly to an engines cylinder ports and routes chemical-laden exhaust gases out toward the tailpipe. The seal between exhaust manifold and cylinder ports must be airtight for safety and emission reasons. You may use sealant along with a gasket.

Function

The exhaust manifold plays an important role in engine performance and longevity. Combustion within the engine cylinders creates waste gases expelled through the exhaust system, which begins at the exhaust manifold. You must maintain an airtight seal between cylinder ports and manifold.

Applying Sealant

Every professionally installed exhaust manifold and cylinder head have a gasket compressed between them. Age and engine heat wear gaskets down, reducing the quality of seal between the two components. Though sealant adds seal protection, new gasket installation does not require it.

Safety

A leaking seal or cracked exhaust manifold allows harmful exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide into the vehicle cabin. Carbon monoxide impairs motor functions and in large doses can cause death.

Over a period of time, car panels will start to rust. Although rust is generally easy to treat, it can damage a cars look and sale value if not treated properly and quickly. It is best to treat the problem as soon as you notice the rust; failure to deal with it quickly will see the problem increase and become a lot harder to deal with.

Instructions

1

Locate the area on the car panel affected with rust. Use the sandpaper and white spirit to remove the rust by rubbing it. White spirit is a cleaning liquid solvent primarily used to remove stains, rust and dirt from objects such as cars and brick.

2

Use the wire brush to scrape away any rust still on the panel.

3

Put some rust solvent on another piece of sandpaper and gently wipe the area where the rust was. This will get rid of any micro bits of rust left.

4

Put tape around the area where the rust was and then spread an even amount of epoxy body filler over the area. Allow it to dry for a few hours. The filler will cover any scratches or small holes that the rust caused and the tape will protect your car from paint. Sand to smooth surface.

5

Cover the area of the panel with primer. When dry, paint the area of the car panel which was affected with a paint matching the car, using the tape as a boundary. Allow the first coat to dry and then apply a second.

6

After the second coat is dry, polish and wax the area to finish off your repaired car panel.

Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964 and it has since remained one of the best-selling sports cars on the market. The Mustang entered its eighth generation in 1999 and remained basically the same until Ford rolled out the ninth generation in 2005. The 2000 Mustang came in convertible and coupe trims with either a 3.8-liter, V-6 engine or a 4.6-liter, V-8 engine. The bolt-torque specs for the intake manifold were the same for coupes and convertibles with the V-6 engine, regardless of the transmission.

Torque Basics

In general terms, torque is the amount of force applied to twist or turn an object. It is often given in foot-pounds, with the measurement equaling the pounds of force applied at the end of a lever of a given length. For instance, 100 foot-pounds equals 100 pounds of pressure applied to a foot-long wrench. Larry Carley, the Technical Editor for the website "Underhood Service," recommends that bolts should be cleaned and lightly lubricated with clean motor oil before tightening them because any debris on the bolts or in the bolt fixtures could cause additional friction and thus increase the amount of torque necessary for an ideal fitting. It is extremely difficult to gauge torque by touch. Most mechanics use torque wrenches to ensure that the proper amount of torque is applied, as over-tightening a bolt can be just as bad as not tightening a bolt enough and cause the bolt to snap.

Torque Specs for the Upper Intake Manifold

All bolts in the upper intake manifold of the 2000 V-6 Ford Mustang engine must be tightened in three steps. First, tighten each bolt with 53 inch-pounds of torque. Next, tighten each bolt to 71 inch-pounds of torque. Finally, rotate each bolt an additional 90 degrees.

Torque Specs for the Lower Intake Manifold

The bolts in the lower intake manifold of the 2000 V-6 Ford Mustang engine must be tightened in two steps. First, tighten each bolt to 44 inch-pounds of torque. Second, tighten each bolt to 89 inch-pounds of torque. In addition, "The Motor Repair Manual" for 2000 recommends applying beads of silicon gasket sealant to the gasket of the lower intake manifold.

Volkswagens replacement for the Beetle in the mid-1970s was the Rabbit, a compact hatchback sedan that sported a transverse-mounted water-cooled four-cylinder engine. The Rabbit nameplate was discontinued after 1984, but a small VW using the Golf nameplate continued on. The Golf name was changed back into the Rabbit in 2006. The 2007 Rabbit is similar to earlier Rabbit and Golf models. The exhaust system on the Rabbit routes harmful gases from the engine to the rear of the car. The first step in replacing a rusty or damaged exhaust system is to remove the existing one.

Instructions

1

Drive the car onto a set of automotive ramps and set the parking brake. Shut off the engine and allow it to cool. Chock the rear wheels to prevent unwanted movement.

2

Don a pair of safety goggles and a pair of heavy work gloves. Crawl under the vehicle and locate the exhaust pipe where it routes over the rear axle. Cut completely through the pipe in this area with a hack saw.

3

Locate the rubber isolators that the rear section of exhaust is hanging from. Lift up on the exhaust pipe to the rear of the saw cut and slide the rubber isolators from the hooked ends of the exhaust hangers. Remove the rear section from under the car.

4

Loosen the bolts on the exhaust pipe clamp on the center section of the exhaust pipe with a socket and ratchet wrench. Lift up slightly on the pipe, then slide the rubber isolators on this section of exhaust off of the hooked exhaust hangers. Remove the center section from under the vehicle.

5

Loosen and remove the retaining nuts on the extension pipe of the exhaust at the front of the vehicle at the exhaust manifold. Lower the extension pipe and remove it from the vehicle.

Unlike the first mass-produced cars of a century ago, cars today have advanced control systems that are computer dependent. Being computer dependent, more and more information about how the car is functioning goes to the on-board computer. The vehicle speed sensors are the gatherers of this information.

Vehicle Speed Sensor Description

Cars manufactured today are dependent on on-board computers. The computer receives the information it needs to have a car operate properly from strategically located vehicle speed sensors. Most vehicle speed sensors are of the permanent magnet type. They function similarly to a cam shaft or crankshaft sensor. The installed sensors are either in the transmission case or rear differential assembly. When a speed sensor fails, the cars check engine light comes on and a code goes to the computer and can be read at a service station.

Locating Speed Sensors

This code indicates which sensor has failed and what the problem is. Occasionally, a sensor will fail without sending a code. If the driveability of the car is suspect, say the power steering isnt working and the ABS brakes are stuttering, a mechanic can check the vehicles manual and quickly find if the same speed sensor is controlling both modules.

Speed Sensors Control Many Functions

Modules or functions that use information from vehicle speed sensors include the variable assist power steering unit where the information from a speed sensor regulates the power steering pressure with higher pressure at low speeds and vice versa. This makes things like parallel parking maneuvers easier.

A cars anti-lock braking system (ABS) also uses information from a speed sensor to decide when a wheel has locked up and thus commands the ABS to cut pressure in order for the driver to maintain control of the car. While some cars use separate sensors for the ABS, it is common that the computer uses the information from the wheel sensors to act as a vehicle speed sensor. For example, many newer Ford vehicles use a rear axle mounted speed sensor for ABS and vehicle speed functions that are computer related.

Both traditional and hybrid cars use information from vehicle speed sensors for the speedometer display.

Many new cars have developed suspension systems that use vehicle speed sensor information to control the height of the ride. They adjust the ride down for better control at higher speeds for improved maneuverability.

Automatic transmissions must have the information from a vehicle speed sensor to decide shift strategy.

Additionally, cruise control depends on speed sensor information to know when to engage and when to disengage, as well as when to cruise at a set speed.

All Electronic Engine Control (EEC) systems use some speed sensor information to perform their tasks.