Six Common Brake Problems in Motor Vehicles

No matter how good of a driver you think you are, brake problems can almost always surface at any time of the year. This can put you at serious risk when behind the wheel. Keep in mind the six most common brake problems found in motor vehicles.

1. ABS brake warning light comes on. This is an indicator that the vehicle's onboard computer has shut off the ABS braking system. If this happens it means a problem was traced. Your brakes will allow you to stop in this event but you will have no more protection against a break or wheel lock-up. This is more of a minor problem which will enable you to get safely to the auto repair shop.

How To Replace Brake Pads

2. The brake warning light goes on. This can be a simple indicator that your emergency brakes are still engaged. If you see that it is still on, release it. On a more serious note, this could also indicate that your brake lubrication and cooling fluids could be dangerously low. Have your fluids checked and re-filled immediately. If your light does not turn off after this, it could mean that there is a leak in one specific part of your braking system. In this event, contact your auto service provider right away.

Six Common Brake Problems in Motor Vehicles

3. When the brakes lock. This could happen when there is a damaged brake pad, shoe, or perhaps both. It could also be in relation to the disc calipers or wheel bearing functions. In this case you want to get your car towed right away and call for roadside assistance.

4. It is hard to break and your brake pedal will not go down all the way or at all. This problem can be very simple, something could be under your brake pedal. A more complex problem that could cause this is when there is a failed or pinched brake fluid line. Also it could be a failure of the power brake boosting mechanism or both. Again, you want to call for roadside assistance and tow truck if this occurs.

5. The brake pedal feels "mushy" and goes beyond its normal levels. A spongy brake pedal can be the result of too much air in the brake fluid line. A more serious problem could be a break fluid leak or damage to your master brake cylinder. This problem calls for a tow truck as well.

6. The brakes make a squealing noise. This could have many sources. Dirt could be trapped in the wheel. It could also be the result of worn out brake linings, warped or cracked brake shoes, or brake adjusters that are not out of alignment. If you are experiencing a continuous brake squeal it is either because you have wheel bearing damage or your brake pads have far surpassed their replacement point. To prevent permanent brake rotor damage, have this looked at right away.

Six Common Brake Problems in Motor Vehicles
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The Possible Causes of Automotive Air Conditioning Problems

Although many people usually take the air conditioning in their cars for granted, until it stops working correctly, of course, the truth of the matter is that this is a rather important part of your vehicle with many vital components that must be maintained on a regular basis. If you've ever sat down in a car that's been sitting in the sun, you are already well aware of just how necessary a functioning air conditioning system really is.

While the push of a button is all it takes to turn the air conditioner on in your car, there are many different components working in tandem behind the scenes to produce the cool air we've come to rely upon, and any one of these may cause the system to not work properly. Fortunately, the air conditioning in cars made today are usually highly reliable systems with very little problems occurring, however, the most common difficulties are either no cool air or simply not enough cool air flowing from the vents.

No Cold Air

No cold or cool air at all coming from the air conditioner's vents may mean any one of the following problems:

- A blown fuse

- A broken drive belt

- A clog in the expansion valve

- A clogged refrigerant line

- A clogged receiver-drier line

- An existing defect in the expansion valve

- A slow leak in the hoses or seals

- A loose drive belt

Not Enough Cold Air

An insufficient flow of cool air coming from the A/C may signal another set of problems, including:

- A clogged condenser or evaporator

- A loose drive belt

- A low refrigerant charge

- A partially clogged expansion valve

- A partially clogged filter

- A problem with the compressor clutch slipping

- A slow leak somewhere in the system, such as in the hoses or seals

While it is completely normal for some refrigerant to leak from a car's air conditioning system, larger leaks may indicate a bigger problem with the compressor's seal or damage to one of the components.

Caring for Your Car's Air Conditioner

Although most repairs for air conditioning systems in cars will require special tools and equipment that many of us do not own, there are still several things you can do to keep your car's A/C running at its full capacity. Regular maintenance checks, according to the recommendations in your car's owner's manual, are important as the system contains many moving parts and components that must be checked for damage or disrepair.

Many newer makes and models of cars come equipped with filters within the duct portion of the air conditioner that are in place to trap dust and pollen before it reaches the air in the car. Although these may be rather beneficial for those people who suffer from allergies, depending on where you live and the air quality and pollution levels, the filters may fill up quickly and cause a reduction in airflow.

While there may still be enough refrigerant in place to cool the air, the clogged filter will impede the flow, making it too weak to cool down the inside of the vehicle. Directions for changing this filter and where to purchase new ones should also be in the owner's manual.

Even air conditioning systems without this special filter in place can experience reduced airflow because of trapped dirt, pollen, and moisture that may eventually turn to mold, further aggravating allergies.

If there is a musty odor coming from the A/C vents just after turning the system on, this may indicate the presence of mold which could be blocking the system's evaporator. The air might feel cool, but the flow won't be strong enough to cool off the entire car. A mechanic will be able to remove the parts necessary to clean, such as those leading to the evaporator, with certain chemicals needed to dissolve the build-up.

Even if you live in a cold climate and don't need to use your car's air conditioner very often, many mechanics recommend running the system for at least ten minutes per month to keep the moving parts within the compressor properly lubricated. The compressor is also used in many types of cars when the defroster is used, so you may not have to actually run the air conditioner at all.

Preventive Maintenance Tips to Check and Troubleshoot the Repair of Document Scanner Problems

Maintenance and care of equipment is essential to prevent costly repairs and to save unnecessary service calls. In most cases, malfunctions are resolved by operator checks and corrective action. Your wallet will thank you, when the operator has properly checked to determine why devices are not functioning and avoids calling for service to repair or replace a working device.

Before operating the unit, read the manual that was included in the box or download it from the manufacturer website. Otherwise, you may risk damaging the device or voiding the warranty.

PMCS - Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services

Cleaning is the most important step to keep your device working properly. Clean dirty brake rollers, feed rollers, pads, glass, shading plates with a manufacturer cleaning kit or isopropyl alcohol, a lint free cloth, and Q-tips. Also make sure that the paper path is clean and free of debris.

Depending on the condition of documents and environment, the equipment may require a periodic disassembly to fully clean debris, paper clips, staples, dust, etc. that may have worked its way into the insides of the mechanism. The debris can cause a motor to stop running and rollers and belts to jam. Use a shop-vac to vacuum whatever dirt or foreign objects that have worked their way inside the main and side covers. Generally, it is not recommended to blow the scanner out using a compressed can of air. The reason is that the compressed air leaves film on the glass, does not remove the dirt (just blows it around), may break seals and cold air could damage a hot sensor.

CDD (Charge-coupled device) Cameras and CIS (Contact Image Sensor Assembly) Reader

Upon disassembly, the cameras units on devices with CCD cameras should be cleaned. Care should be taken not to damage the cameras as they are usually quite expensive. Canon products are equipped with CIS reader assemblies with a LED light source and the reader assemblies should not be removed or disassembled to avoid damage.

Consumable Replacement

Separator pads and pick rollers should be replaced when worn or according to manufacturer schedule. Shading plates and glass should be inspected and replaced as required. Fluorescent lamps usually require replacement between 500 to 1000 hours of use according to manufacturer guide recommendations. Canon uses a LED light source that usually does not require periodic replacement.

The Scanner System

Systems include not only the scanning devices, but also the computer and operating system as well as the software. There is a tendency to think that problems are mechanical. This is not always the case. In order to resolve the troubles, users may require technical competency. A+ skills and practices should be employed to troubleshoot the system before a service call. The technician is hired to fix the hardware. It is not his job to diagnose computer systems. This is your job or the job your IT department.

Hardware Feed Issues and Poor Scan Quality

Feed issues and poor scan quality are usually corrected through cleaning and replacing worn consumables. Brake and pick rollers should be checked to ensue that they are properly installed. The paper path should also be inspected and any foreign objects removed.

Scanning Software

Common are issues with drivers not found or installed. Re-install the software or make sure that the driver is recognized. Outdated firmware may also cause the equipment to not operate properly. Install the latest firmware. But note installation of incorrect firmware in some cases could permanently damage the main control board. Also, recheck the scan settings to assure that they are set properly.

PC Computer and Operating System

You must assign each SCSI device a separate SCSI ID to avoid an ID conflict. USB and fire wire devices need proper privileges and security rights when connected to a network. The best method to check for problems with the operating system is to swap the computer with another that you know to be working properly.

Troubleshooting and Repair

You can find minor parts that you can fix without too much technical knowledge. For instance check for broken parts and the tension of springs and flat springs. A parts manual can help you identify a problem. Some companies provide diagnostic software. The Canon quma tool provides diagnostic checks of motors, sensors, solenoids and other essential parts.

If you do not have the technical ability, you can buy a service agreement for your scanner. The warranty covers the maintenance and repairs rather than risking a breakdown and costly time and material repairs. Another option is depot repair where you send the equipment to the repair facility which is less costly than on-site services. Some manufacturers only provide a 90 day warranty and the purchase of an extended warranty is recommended.