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Replacing the steering rack on a vehicle is something that shouldnt have to be done often as they are known to be very durable and can last through well over 85,000 miles of driving. However, the time will come when wear or leaks will occur. This is why having information on steering problems that can happen after a replacement rack is installed can be beneficial to automobile owners.

Steering Stiffness

One type of problem that can occur after replacing a steering rack is that the car will not steer as easily as it did before. This can be caused due to a pressure leak in the piston seal of the steering rack. Steering stiffness can also happen when the steering pump fails to produce enough pressure.

Strange Steering

Some steering problems will cause a vehicle to steer to the left or to the right instead of straight ahead. Problems with steering alignment is often the reason for this type of issue. Another reason for this is when pressure is sent to one particular side of the steering rack due to a spool valve leak.

Steering Suggestions

Before replacing the steering rack on your vehicle, it is suggested to flush all the previous fluid from the steering lines and steering pump. Failing to do so can affect the life of your replacement rack as the old fluid is dirty and can be harmful to the new rack.

The front wheel hub keeps the rim and tire attached to a car with lug nuts. The problem with the front wheel hub is that the rim can become oxidized in place. This can make for an annoying tire change if you run into problems. Getting your wheel off the wheel hub is not very hard to do. You dont have to take your car into a service shop to perform this task. You can do it yourself with little hassle.

Instructions

1

Jack the car up from the front end so the wheel hub is lifted off the ground. Remove the lug nuts from the rim with a tire iron. Keep the lug nuts together so they arent lost.

2

Spray a penetrating lubricant like WD-40 onto the entire wheel hub. Make sure that the lubricant seeps into the cracks under and around the connection from the wheel to the wheel hub.

3

Use a pry bar to remove the wheel from the car. Insert the pry bar into the crack where the wheel meets the hub. Put pressure on the pry bar until you feel the wheel coming loose from the hub.

4

Use the pry bar all around the wheel until it comes free from the wheel hub.

Problems with a Nissan van starting can occur for a variety of reasons but the battery and the fuel levels are the primary reasons it will not start. Many people consult a mechanic when their cars will not start, but you can troubleshoot the issues yourself. Corrosion on the battery terminals, a dead battery, or no gas in the van will probably be the reason your Nissan van will not start.

Instructions

1

Pop the hood to the Nissan van and locate the battery next to the engine.

2

Look the battery connections over for any corrosion. Use a socket wrench to loosen the terminal connections.

3

Clean the terminals with soda and a wire brush and then connect the terminals back onto the battery.

4

Try to restart the car. If the car does not start, jump-start the van with jumper cables and another car.

5

Leave the van running for at least five minutes and then turn the car off. Try to restart the van. If the van does not restart, replace the battery.

6

Add 1 gallon of gas to the van and then try to restart the van. If the van restarts, get a mechanic to repair your fuel gauge.

Cranking means that a vehicles engine will turn over and eventually start. The term comes from the cranking amps that are described on batteries. These numbers will vary by battery and vehicle. If your Jeep is not starting, there are a few potential reasons that you can examine and troubleshoot yourself. Some problems will require a professional in order to do the work correctly.

Instructions

1

Lift the hood of the Jeep. Sometimes, the Jeep will not crank because the battery leads and cables are dirty or corroded. You may notice a creamy green and white coloration on the battery that looks like baking soda. This is actually blocking the battery from sending power to the starter. Remove the cables and polish the battery with the wire brush. Tighten them with the wrench. Try starting the Jeep.

2

Jump-start the jeep with another car and your jumper cables. Remember to place red on red and black on black when you are placing the cables. Turn the key. If the engine is whirring but still not turning over, you may need a new battery.

3

Take the battery out by removing the two nuts on the top of the battery. Your local auto parts store can check the battery and give you a print out stating if you need a new battery. If you need a battery replace it and install it in the Jeep. Try starting the Jeep. If it is not starting you may have another problem.

4

Listen for a whirring sound. If you are getting a whirring sound you may have a grounding problem somewhere on the vehicle. Check the wire leads around the alternator. The alternator is located near the battery on the top left of the engine as you are looking at it from the front bumper. It will have a pulley and a belt around it. If there are no loose wires or frayed wires, then you may have a bad alternator that is not transferring power back to the battery.

5

Listen for a clicking sound. Lack of a whirring sound, along with the presence of clicking sound, means that you have a bad starter solenoid. This will require a professional mechanic to replace.

The Mazda 6 was first introduced in 2002 as a mid-sized sedan. If you are having problems starting your Mazda 6, there are several things that you can do before you take the car to a mechanic. The dials in your Mazda 6 will bounce if the engine is trying to crank. Some common problems are a low charge on the battery and no fuel in the gas tank. You can troubleshoot your Mazda 6 to find out the problem, but a major repair should only be handled by a professional mechanic.

Instructions

1

Turn the Mazda 6s key in the ignition. Listen for the engine to crank. If you dont hear the engine crank, you probably have a dead battery.

2

Open the hood of your Mazda 6 and look over the battery terminals. Use a socket wrench to tighten the terminals if needed.

3

Take the battery terminals off of the battery and pour a little bit of soda onto them. Scrub the areas with a wire brush to take any corrosion off.

4

Use jumper cables and another car to jump-start the Mazda 6. Leave the car running for about 10 minutes to get the battery charged. If you smell something like rotten eggs coming from your battery, you will need to replace it.

5

Add one gallon of gasoline to your Mazda 6 and then try to start the car. If your gas gauge is broken, you could be out of fuel.

Back in the days before check engine light codes could be retrieved by using an OBD scanner, technician had to actually know how to retrieve the codes so that engine problems could be accurately diagnosed. Although technical advances have made it simple to retrieve check engine light codes on current model vehicles, the older cars such as in 1994 Toyota can still be accurately retrieved.

Instructions

1

Remove the rubber covers on the connectors diagnostic connectors. The diagnostic connectors are located in the engine compartment or by the kick panel under the dashboard on the passenger side. Refer to the manufacturers repair manual for the exact position of the diagnostic connector for your particular model 1994 Toyota.

2

Connect either the TE1 and E1, or the T and E1 terminals in the diagnostic connectors by using a jumper wire. Refer to the manufacturers repair manual to ascertain which terminals should be jumped in and the location of the terminals to be jumped within the diagnostic connector on the particular model being diagnosed.

3

Turn the ignition key to the "On" position. Any available codes can be determined by observing the flashing of the check engine light. For example, if the engine code is "41" the check engine light will flash four times and pause followed by one additional flash. If there are any additional codes they will be displayed after a 2.5-second pause.

4

Refer to the 1994 Toyota manufacturers repair manual to decipher any codes that are retrieved.

5

Disconnect the jumper wires and replace the rubber covers on the diagnostic connectors by pushing them back over the end of the diagnostic connector.

The 1995 Dodge Avenger is a mid sized four-door sedan. If your Avenger is stalling and then wont start, there are some things that you should look at before you spend money on an auto mechanic. The battery and the fuel levels are the most common causes of a car not starting. If these two issues are not what is wrong with your car, you will likely need to consult an auto repair shop to diagnose the problem.

Instructions

1

Pop the hood to your Dodge Avenger and look over the battery.

2

Use a socket wrench to tighten the connections from the battery terminals and the connector cables going to your engine.

3

Loosen the connections and then use soda and a wire brush to clean any corrosion off of the connector cables.

4

Jump start the car and leave it running for five minutes. Turn the car off and then try to restart it. If the car does not restart, you will need to replace the battery.

5

Check the fuel levels on the Avenger. Fill the car up with one gallon of gas and then try to restart the car. If the car restarts, have a mechanic repair your gas gauge.

A defroster that wont stay on when activated may lead to an accident due to poor road visibility. This is because it is supposed to prevent fog, frost or ice buildup in your cars window. Determining the cause of a malfunctioning defroster requires initial troubleshooting steps. In most cases, the problem requires a fairly easy fix that you can perform on your own. However, a more serious case is still best attended by a professional.

Instructions

1

Inspect the defrosters fuse to determine if it is causing the problem. As the location of the defroster depends on the cars manufacturer, make and model, consult your owners manual to confirm where you can find the fuse. Once located, use a volt meter to check if the fuse is working or not.

2

Examine the wiring from the fuse box to also ensure that there is proper connection. Make sure that the fuse is tight and secure as a loose one may also be causing the problem. Use an electrical tape in case there are parts of the wiring needing coverage.

If the fuse is causing the problem, simply follow the more specific steps indicated in the owners manual for the replacement. Ideally, this requires pulling out the old one with the fuse puller in your fuse box, then simply attaching a new fuse, which is easily available in auto stores.

After checking the fuse and its components and there seems to be no problem, proceed to the next steps for further troubleshooting.

3

Check the wire that goes directly to the defroster as the tab typically connected to it can get detached in time. Make any fix using a window defroster tab adhesive, if necessary. Such adhesive, usually available in auto shops and super centers, comes in a kit with instructions on how to use it.

4

Examine the defroster grid lines found on the window. Make sure the glass heating the grid feed and the ground wires are properly connected to the glass. To make a do-it-yourself fix for any minor damage, use a window defogger repair kit and follow the instructions indicated in the package.

A car engine refusing to start can be any number of issues. A car that wont start in the rain can still be any number of issues, but it gives you a place to start looking.

Spark Plug

The most common reason for a car not starting in the rain is found in the spark plugs. Wire insulation can wear thin and this causes the voltage to arc to the metal of the car engine rather then going into the spark plug. You can check for this visually by opening the hood when its wet outside and trying to start the car. You might be able to see an arc from the spark plug wires.

Distributor Cap

The second most common issue is the distributor cap. Take a good physical examination of your distributor cap for any signs of a cracks. Also remove the distributor cap and check the inside of it for moisture. If you find any, wipe it clean; it wont work while wet.

Other Issues

If a check of the spark plugs and the distribution cap has not solved your problem, then you have a bigger issue. There are dozens of other reasons a car wont start, from battery corrosion to a fuel filter issue keeping gas from reaching the engine. Though few of these other issues will only affect your vehicle during the rain.

If you are having problems starting your Hyundai Elantra after it sits, there could be a couple of issues going on. You might have a dead battery in your car. When the battery sits, it loses its charge. You could also have a leaky fuel tank. If you let the car sit with a leaky fuel tank, the gas in the tank could leak out, leaving your Elantra unable to start. Other issues could be with corrosion on the battery terminals or a bad alternator/starter. You can easily troubleshoot the problem with little knowledge of the subject before you race out and spend money on a mechanic.

Instructions

1

Look around the fuel tank of your Elantra. Note any leaks, or if the ground surrounding the car smells like gas. Have the car towed to a mechanic to patch the fuel tank if you find a problem.

2

Insert your key into the Elantras ignition and then try to start the car. If you hear a clicking sound, have the starter and then alternator looked at by a mechanic. They can hook your car up to specialized equipment and test these components.

3

Open the hood to the car and smell around the battery. If the battery smells like rotten eggs, have the battery replaced.

4

Disconnect the terminals from the battery and clean them with a wire brush and some soda. This will clean any corrosion off of the terminals.

5

Check the wires coming off of the battery terminals for any cracks or breaks. Have terminal wires replace by a mechanic if you find any cracks or breaks. Breaks in the wiring will keep the current from flowing to the motor.

6

Reconnect the battery terminals after you have cleaned them or had the wires replaced. Try to restart the car.

7

Jump-start the car and leave it running for about 5 minutes to charge the battery. Turn the car off and then try to restart it.

8

Replace the battery if the car will not restart.

If you have not operated your 2001 Dodge Ram for a month or longer, you might find that the truck will not start. Long periods without use can cause the trucks fuel and oil to drain out of the engine, or the battery to drain as the alternator has not been recharging it regularly. You can follow a few simple steps to determine why your 2001 Dodge Ram is not starting after sitting idle for one month.

Instructions

1

Check to make sure that your truck is in Park all the way and that the steering is not locked and preventing the key from turning in the ignition. If you have an alarm with a cut-off, make sure the switch is in the "on" position and that the alarm is functioning properly. These oversights can sometimes be the cause of the problem and are simple to check.

2

Turn on your lights and radio. If your lights and radio do not function, the Rams battery has probably been drained of its power. Try to jumpstart the Ram. If a jumpstart does not work, take the battery to an auto garage for testing. If your lights and radio do function, the battery is probably not the problem.

3

Check your fuel level. If the truck cranks when you turn the key but does not start, the problem is likely fuel related. You may have left the truck with little or no gas in the tank, or the gauge may read that there is more fuel than there really is. If you left the truck in a cold climate, water in the gas may have frozen preventing fuel from reaching the engine. Even in warm climates, water in the tank can prevent fuel from firing. Add a container of dry gas or gas line antifreeze to the fuel tank to remove any excess water and try starting the Ram again.

4

Check your fuel pump. Have a helper turn the ignition while you listen to the engine with the hood open. Once the ignition is turned, you should hear a little whining sound which lasts a few seconds. This is the fuel pump bringing gasoline to the engine. If you do not hear this sound, your fuel pump may be faulty.

5

Check your ignition system fuse. A blown ignition fuse is an unlikely cause of the issue, but is worth a look before moving on to bigger things. You can find the fuse in the trucks fuse box.

6

Determine whether the starter is functioning. If you have power but nothing happens when the key turns, the issue may lie with your starter or starter switch. Change the switch and see if that fixes the problem. If not, a new starter may be needed.

7

Contact an automobile mechanic or garage if your truck still will not start. Special equipment may be needed to perform ignition system tests or further analyze the issue.