Car Repair Skills Everyone Should Have

[CountDeMoney]

I was going to bring up the single, double, and triple chamber mufflers, but whats the use. Hell, cant even get people to read the owners manual.   

lol, Ocean City PD used to wait at the bridge for the motorheads when they rolled in for Cycle Week.  Did the old night stick test on the baffles in the straight pipes:  if the night stick got to a certain point in the pipes YOU SHALL NOT PASS

[Capetan Mihali]

Recently I've had to direct prospective clients to the physical Kelly Blue Books in the library (I hope), to help them get a realistic idea of what their vehicle assets are worth once car loans are taken into account....

[fhdz]

I read the owners manual. Also have a chilton or haynes manual for each vehicle.

Chilton books rock.  And hey, they're at public libraries for those too cheap to fucking buy them.

I love Chilton. Taught myself how to change oil and replace brakes years ago from one.

[fhdz]

Engine breaking on a car is done by down shifting the trans, hence raising the RPM and the loudness depends on your type of exhaust.

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

[Admiral Yi]

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

No, Jake brakes are only found in semis.

[Monoriu]

Recently I've had to direct prospective clients to the physical Kelly Blue Books in the library (I hope), to help them get a realistic idea of what their vehicle assets are worth once car loans are taken into account....

I don't understand. 

[fhdz]

Well, this has been both interesting and productive! Thanks, Languish!

[11B4V]

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

No, Jake brakes are only found in semis.

essentially

[11B4V]

I read the owners manual. Also have a chilton or haynes manual for each vehicle.

Chilton books rock.  And hey, they're at public libraries for those too cheap to fucking buy them.

I love Chilton. Taught myself how to change oil and replace brakes years ago from one.

Thay are very good. In combo with a good youtube how-to.......even better.

[MadImmortalMan]

Dude I learned Java programming on youtube.

But I did also learn to fix my cars and my mom's cars from Chilton.

[fhdz]

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

No, Jake brakes are only found in semis.

essentially

OK, so: those really souped-up cars which are loud while they're slowing down are just loud because of higher RPMs, not because they're engine braking. Is that what I'm to take away from this?

[crazy canuck]

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

No, Jake brakes are only found in semis.

essentially

OK, so: those really souped-up cars which are loud while they're slowing down are just loud because of higher RPMs, not because they're engine braking. Is that what I'm to take away from this?

Those souped up cars are really loud while slowing down because their drivers like to show off.  It is possible for them to gear down without making a lot of noise but that removes the "look at me" factor.

[lustindarkness]

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

No, Jake brakes are only found in semis.

essentially

OK, so: those really souped-up cars which are loud while they're slowing down are just loud because of higher RPMs, not because they're engine braking. Is that what I'm to take away from this?

Engine braking is loud, so if the "ricer" is loud to begin with, I guess it makes it even louder?


BTW, any car can engine brake, manual trans are better for it, but auto trans works too. I have come down a mountain trail without ever touching the brakes, 4 low and low gear all the way down.

[crazy canuck]

BTW, any car can engine brake, manual trans are better for it, but auto trans works too. I have come down a mountain trail without ever touching the brakes, 4 low and low gear all the way down.

There is a confusion of terminology.  Earlier there was a question about signs which ban "engine brakes".  That is really a ban on Jake Brakes.  It is true that gearing down a transmission is a form of engine braking but it is not the type of braking which is banned.

[11B4V]

So to confirm: this is basically what I said, correct? Sports cars with crazy-ass mufflers/fatty exhaust pipes are really loud when they engine-brake.

No, Jake brakes are only found in semis.

essentially

OK, so: those really souped-up cars which are loud while they're slowing down are just loud because of higher RPMs, not because they're engine braking. Is that what I'm to take away from this?

BTW, any car can engine brake, manual trans are better for it, but auto trans works too. I have come down a mountain trail without ever touching the brakes, 4 low and low gear all the way down.

My '84 Dodge has a granny low. Put it in four low and it just creeps along.