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Fuel Injectors – What Are They?

In recent months I have come along problems with fuel injectors and they seemed to be one of the most overlooked and under-serviced components in the engine, yet their role is so vital.

What are Fuel Injectors?

Fuel injectors spray a fine, atomized fuel in or to the combustion chamber of the engine. This fine spray of fuel combusts when the spark plug is fired in a smooth flame propagation or front which burns the fuel, causing a incredible amount of controlled pressure forcing the piston down the cylinder to the crankshaft.

The diesel injector works in the same principal, except there is no spark plug. The fuel is injected when the piston is arriving to the top of its stroke, the internal heat caused by the compression (or compressed air) ignites the diesel fuel forcing the piston down. It’s a matter of interest because the combustion process is a process of heat accumulation there is a significant KNOCK in a diesel engine; hence this is why diesel engine are more noisy than petrol engines.

What are the Benefits of Fuel Injectors?

Fuel injectors are electronically controlled by computers. It was discovered that unburnt fuel was one of the greatest pollutants so Governments put stipulations on car manufacturers to get emissions down. Fuel injection was the answer. Engineers discovered that using computer hardware and now software can program fuel injectors to inject fuel in a 1000th/second – so divide a second into a thousand and take 6-8 thousands of that to keep the injector spraying fuel (include injector dead time in that equation). This is called milliseconds or injector ON TIME. This can also be represented in injector duty cycle – on time compared the time the injector is not energized in a given cycle.

The real benefits was better fuel economy, more power, less emissions, easier start up, easier transition from cold start to normal operating stage.

Problems & Symptoms of Poor Performance Injector

  • Performance loss;
  • Engine stutter, hesitation and stumbling;
  • Engine misfire;
  • Increase in fuel consumption;
  • Rough idling, engine stalling;
  • Failed emission tests. (Do not mention the VW debacle – that’s another story!) 

The Fix or Solution

Bring your car to MANNY`S MECHANICAL REPAIRS. Part of our service is to inform our customers that fuel injectors should be serviced every 80 000-100 000km and here is the reason:

  • Injectors collect contaminants from the fuel tank or from a bad batch of fuel from the refineries.
  • Injectors can develop carbon build up on the spraying pintles causing a partial blockage. 
  • Injectors can have electromagnetic faults affecting the speed and operation of their performance. 
  • Injectors may have fuel pump delivery problems. 

Here at MANNY`S MECHANICAL REPAIRS we have full diagnostic facilities. We also recommend and perform inline fuel rail injector service, which cleans intake manifold, pistons, injectors and exhaust. we add fuel tank additive at 80 000 to 100 000km.

At 180 000-200 000km we strongly recommend the physical removal of injectors, to be bench tested before ultrasonic bathed and have each individual injector flow & load tested with results recorded, new o rings ,seals fitted.

IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT YOU CANNOT MANAGE IT

On one last note, we strongly recommend replacing fuel filters on every diesel service.. true the cost is higher but we are constantly astounded of the ridiculous amounts of water and rubbish found in diesel fuel filters.

I hope this has helped.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Manny’s Mission – To Serve, To Perform, To Guide.

Manny’s Mechanical Repairs has been growing year after year. There is nothing that can substitute good, hard, consistent work, but it also comes down to values. It`s our code, our ethos or our mission which is: To Serve, To Perform, To Guide.

To Serve

Customers are everything! (Try and run a business without them) At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs, we listen to our customers’ needs and problems, then prioritize the steps required to solve the issues in good bilateral communication. We develop an ongoing relationship. Simply put, it’s an honour to serve customers.

To Perform

You have to be good at what you do. You have to know and master your work. Confidence, ability, skills, diagnostic procedures and the ability to learn and grow – balance this out with excellent equipment and anything is attainable, providing you have the desire to be better. Manny`s Mechanical Repairs are constantly reviewing, how can we be better? How can we strive for better mechanical repair excellence?  Manny`s is focused on developing skills for the future where computers, data transfer, electrical and tuning will become critical.

To Guide

Cars are becoming more and more complex. (So is the world!)

The customer who continually keeps their car consistently serviced and repaired to standards generally has no problems selling their car and has actually made money on an older car! Here at Manny`s Mechanical Repairs, we advise and quote on future repairs that may be required -this gives the customer a sense of control, so they can budget for future repairs.

To end this blog, there is a saying that goes IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT, THEN YOU CANNOT MANAGE IT!

MANNY`S` MECHANICAL REPAIRS has a system of checking, measuring and relaying your automotive information, then acting on what requires to be done ensuring PEACE OF MIND.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Car Electrical Repairs – Enoggera

We now live in the computer/information age and electrics is in every facet of the car. The electrics is the life blood of the working system and must be monitored at all times.

The heart and soul of the electrics is the battery.

The battery is a pressure pump which pumps electrons to every working area of the car. Relevant information (data) is given to the computer (the brains). The computer then activates various actuators to work different components of the car… Simple right!

Well…er…yeah… When everything is going well… but like with any computer, glitches and faults can happen. Also cars are subjected to extreme amount of heat and vibration.

I get asked the question, `DO YOU HAVE THE LATEST DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT?’ The truth is the latest diagnostic equipment does not fix the problem, it only gives you a reference point. Only a complete understanding of procedures and systematized method is the way to accurately overcome electrical problems.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs Enoggera, we not only spend thousands of dollars on diagnostic scanning equipment and the fastest computer based lab scope to get more accurate data, but we are constantly developing better diagnostic SKILLS, understanding relevant data and developing faster core competencies to solve more complex electrical problems.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Excessive Engine Noise

Excessive engine noise, exhaust smell, car losing power, weird car noises.

A faulty car exhaust system can lead to many problems with car performance – but a rusted out car exhaust muffler like the one pictured can cause drowsiness, loss of consciousness possibly leading to death (this is really serious stuff) especially on cold days or nights.

Manny’s Mechanical Repairs (as part of our comprehensive service) inspect and report any faults with exhaust systems, and repair to ensure safety, performance and good fuel economy.

FAULTY CAR EXHAUST CAN BE A SILENT KILLER

The majority of car owners very rarely drive more than one car. What can happen is the owner can become accustom to different sounds and performance (or lack thereof) when the exhaust becomes faulty. Many times when I question the owner about the exhaust fault they say in return, “I did not notice”. This is why it is critical to constantly have regular car servicing at Manny’s Mechanical Repairs, so you can systematically keep on top of any safety issues ensuring peace of mind in regards to your car.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Car Engine Running Rough – Mechanic Enoggera

Todays vehicle computers rely on correct and accurate data from electronic sensors (inputs).

The critical sensors measure air (air coming into the engine) and load (throttle position) at different conditions… ie going up or down hills, power mode like overtaking or start, stop city driving. This data is fed to the computer. The computer looks up the appropriate tables and then activates the fuel injectors to correspond to the required conditions in milliseconds (outputs). The fuel is delivered from a high pressure fuel pump – through the opening of the injectors which are then rapidly closed. The comparison of when a fuel injector is turned on as to when it is turned off is known as a duty cycle.

The computer also activates the ignition coils which generate high voltage spark to ignite the fuel mixture in the engine. The computer can control the spark timing to be more advanced or retarded according to engine load.


The exhaust gases are also measured by the computer via an oxygen sensor situation in the exhaust. This information fed back to the computer is known as a closed loop system.

This closed loop system working correctly minimises emissions, when an engine light comes on, this means that there is a fault and emissions are above the correct settings – this must be rectified immediately.

At Mannys Mechanical Repairs we are constantly training to keep up with this technology and possible faults that can occur. We spend thousands of dollars in the latest equipment and training.

• We check battery condition – which is vital to computer reference.
• We check alternator charge rate, diode testing for any spikes.
• We perform cylinder balance testing and perform electronic compression tests when required.
• Check fuel trim operations and evaluate the information the fuel trim gives which also leads to oxygen sensor performance testing.
• Perform full electronic scan on engine, transmission, body modules, antilock braking systems.
• Check for any generic OBD2 (on board diagnostics 2) faults.

The art of tuning is done within the computer. But at Mannys Mechanical we have the skill and the equipment to analyse and check that your vehicle is running to optimum performance.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

 

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Yes! We Can Still Service Your New Car and Still Not Lose Your Warranty!

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There has been much confusion on whether servicing new cars other than by Dealerships may possibly cause loss of warranty.

The following extracts (highlighted) stated by the ACCC prove this to be incorrect.

Each new vehicle has a log book supplied, which details what requires to be done at each service interval. Providing these maintenance requirements are carried out in accordance to the logbook by a professional repairer within the set time, then the car manufacturer has no choice but to honour their warranty.

There is a fallacy out there that car dealerships are superior. Perhaps this theory would have carried some weight, until I went to a couple of major car dealership liquidation auctions.

I was appalled to see the run down condition of the equipment, also that the electronic scanning equipment was hardly touched. What makes things worse is the ridiculous, over-the-top charges these Dealerships were charging and for what?

The problem Dealerships have – as do Franchise workshops – is their huge overheads and fees, so therefore they must pass that on to the customer. What this causes is the business core value is on making profit regardless.

As a customer you should ask yourself…

1/ Is my car being serviced by a professional?

2/ Do I know who is servicing my car?

3/ Is my Mechanic a qualified A Grade Mechanic?

4/ Can I actually talk to the person who has worked on my car or will I get some smooth talking service advisor who gives me a headache?

5/ Can my Mechanic advise me on future problems?

6/ DOES MY MECHANIC CARE ABOUT ME AND MY CAR?

7/ Does my mechanic have excellent diagnostic skills and equipment with up-to0date relevant information?

Here at Mannys Mechanical Repairs we focus on the customer’s needs and solving their automotive problems.

We constantly develop and sustain more skills and equipment to match the technology demands of todays’ sophisticated cars.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Manny’s Mechanical Repairs Can Service Your New Car or Vehicle Under Warranty

In this newsletter from the ACCC, it dismisses some of the myths around new car warranties and non-dealer mechanics.

Car need a service? 

It’s time to service your car. Where do you turn? Someone has told you that if you don’t return to either the business where you bought the car or an authorised agent of that business, your warranty will be void. Is that true? Can you get your car serviced by someone other than the business or an authorised agent of the business that sold the car without voiding the warranty? The short answer is ‘yes’. 

New and used vehicle servicing in relation to general servicing, motor vehicle dealers are entitled to insist that any servicing performed on cars they sell is carried out by qualified staff, according to the manufacturer’s specifications, and using genuine or appropriate quality parts where required. Provided these conditions are met, regardless of where you choose to get your car serviced, your warranty will remain intact.

Qualified staff is a party or parties, other than an ‘authorised dealer’, who is capable of performing car servicing.

Genuine or appropriate quality parts 

The issue here is not who manufactured the part/s, it is whether the part/s are fit or appropriate for the purpose intended. If a part is non-genuine, but is interchangeable with the genuine part, it could be seen as being fit or appropriate for the purpose and would therefore not void the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Thus, provided consumers do research and ensure that wherever they take a vehicle for servicing, the staff are qualified and all other provisions above are met, the warranty will be safely intact for the warranty period. 

You should expect your new car to run smoothly for some time without requiring any repairs. If, however, your new car has a manufacturing fault, then under your statutory warranty, you should expect the problem to be fixed by the supplier or manufacturer free of charge

Dealers are not permitted to limit their obligations under the warranty and refund provisions of the TPA or fair trading legislation, or make any representations to this effect, e.g. that the warranty is void if the vehicle is not serviced by the dealer or its agent. 

Click here to view the ACCC Newsletter

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Buying or Selling a Car – The Correct Procedure

The process of buying and selling a car can be a very stressful time, especially when you do not have a clue. But there are correct procedures and steps to take when you know how.

Step 1. When selling a car your first step is to get a safety certificate/roadworthy. And this is where 80% of problems occur.

A safety certificate inspection is a focussed inspection at a set time and place by a qualified examiner at a qualified examiner site.

“Never, ever, ever assume!!” a car service is an inspection or that a safety inspection is a mere formality, or just a write out, or a mere 5 minute wait. The vehicle is professionally inspected in accordance to the Queensland Department of Transport standards and car braking efficiency is recorded.

Step 2. After obtaining the safety certificate, a blue sheet will also be given. This has the details of the examination and pass and is to be attached to the rear window of the car with the for sale sign.

Signs like “Interested?” are illegal.

A car can only be sold two ways. a) With a safety certificate b) Unregistered.

A registered vehicle cannot change hands/owners even as a gift unless a current safety certificate is issued with the vehicle.

Step 3. After the vehicle has been sold, an immediate bill of sale is to be drawn up. The time and date of the sale is to be written down with all details of the actual sale from both parties – buyer and seller (bill of sale forms can be downloaded).

Step 4. The next form to be filled is the transfer of registration form (this too can be downloaded from the Queensland Transport website) where identification is produced, generally driver’s licence. This too is to be filled by both the buyer and the seller, accompanied with the safety certificate and bill of sale… and that’s it.

Where the process gets complicated is when these steps are not followed – especially when a sale has somehow been made and the roadworthy inspection is done a the last moment, only to fail, requiring repair and cost that has not been budgeted for.

This comes down to not following a process or poor advice.

I hope this has helped.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Never Ignore Air Bag Warning Lights

Recent developments in the Japanese sector of the car industry has seen a world-wide recall on air bags on many makes. The problem has been revealed that in the event of an accident, the air bags do not deploy correctly and also send metal fragments into the face of the driver or passenger. In other words, it’s like having a shot gun pointed at you ready to go off when you have an accident.

This is really serious stuff! There is a reluctance in many car owners who come in for a service – with an air bag light on – to get it fixed! I have had many occasions where a customer has come in to get a roadworthy with an air bag light on, only to be told the vehicle has failed roadworthy standards immediately. Let me repeat that… an air bag light on   immediately makes your vehicle un-roadworthy! Here is why…

In the case of a serious accident, the insurance company will want to know what caused the accident. 1/environment, 2/human error or 3/ mechanical factors. If the occupants are injured or killed and it was found the air bag did not deploy, which may have saved their lives, the insurance company may deem that this vehicle was faulty at the time of the accident. This could alter the payout, but more importantly, the unnecessary loss of life!

One only has to look at the recent 2011 floods to see how the insurance companies will do anything to weasel their way out of paying insurance claims through technical crap.

We as mechanics have a duty of care to inform our customers of the conditions and faults of their cars. We strongly advise customers keep their cars well maintained and in a roadworthy condition at all times and for customers to get on the internet and constantly check for recalls.

I hope this has helped.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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How Car Brakes Work & Service @ Mannys

The brake system is perhaps one of the most important components to your safety, apart from the steering system. The brakes must be checked and maintained constantly to ensure correct operation and efficiency.

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The brake system composes of a brake calliper (clamp) and a round disc rotor, hence the name disc brakes. When you push on the brake pedal (with your foot) fluid is pushed from the brake master cylinder (which is generally situated in the engine bay) down a metal tube down to a rubber line then to a brake caliper. An internal piston is pushed on to brake pads which then clamp on either side of the disc rotor, consequently stopping the car.

When a vehicle comes in for a service, the items we check are scored. Disc rotors, worn out brake pads, and moisture content in the brake fluid. Brake fluid is hydroscopic which means it tends to attract moisture – excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause catastrophic brake fade, resulting in poor braking performance and rapid deterioration of internal brake seals. This is why periodic services are critical! Because most brakes are now self-adjusting it is nearly impossible to detect the wear rate on your brakes until you hear the dreaded grind and that is a clear indication that brakes should have been replaced a long time ago.

The problem when most people drive only one car is that they get use to the condition and the characteristic of the cars braking performance or poor performance and this is where it becomes dangerous. I have seen cases where customers got so use to the grinding noises that the brake pads have actually fallen out of the caliper, causing the caliper piston to pop out, resulting in loss of hydraulics and nearly complete loss of braking.

Here at Manny’s Mechanical Repairs we offer and perform complete brake inspection, repair and machining. We constantly check brake condition and brake fluid moisture content in every service and we conduct complete brake repairs to cars and light trucks.

– Manny

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.