| Do it yourself car repair and troubleshooting car | | | | The next step would be to test what turns on |
| problems needs to be handled in a very scientific | | | | the cooling fan motor. In most cases, they will be |
| way, as opposed to just guessing. | | | | a temperature switch and a fan relay that |
| In most cases, when I guess or even take an | | | | complete the circuit to the electric motor. Both |
| educated guess, I pay the price. Even though my | | | | the temperature switch and relay can be tested. |
| educated guess comes with 24 years of hands | | | | As you can see from the above examples, when |
| on experience it is wrong nearly 50% of the time. | | | | you are troubleshooting car problems. There may |
| This means I have just increased my diagnosis | | | | be multiple answers to what is causing the |
| time, and wound up replacing a part that was not | | | | problem. Just guessing, and throwing parts at the |
| required. | | | | vehicle may cost you more than if you took the |
| This brings me back to the proper troubleshooting | | | | car into a repair center and had somebody else |
| of car problems. Get a good auto repair manual | | | | do the work. |
| and perform all the step-by-step diagnosis that | | | | The reason that we work on our own car and |
| the troubleshooting manual provides. When you | | | | perform do-it-yourself auto repairs is to save |
| feel like you have found the problem take the | | | | money, down time on the vehicle and learn |
| extra step and test the individual component. | | | | something about the troubleshooting of car |
| For example, let's say you are diagnosing and | | | | problems in the process. Using the above example |
| overheating condition. Your educated guess says | | | | again, let's say that your vehicle overheating |
| that you should replace the thermostat. Why not | | | | problem was a poor connection to the |
| go the extra step and actually test, the operation | | | | temperature switch that operates to cooling fan |
| of the thermostat by throwing it in some boiling | | | | motor, which I've seen many times. If you |
| water and observing if it opens? If the | | | | replaced the cooling fan motor and the |
| thermostat does open while it is soaking in the | | | | thermostat, you have just spent about $300 in |
| boiling water you now know that this was not | | | | parts and a full day's work on things that did not |
| your overheating problem. Using the same | | | | need to be replaced. Your overheating problem |
| example, you may feel that the electric fan | | | | could have been solved for free with no parts by |
| motor needs to be replaced. Again, let's take the | | | | repairing the loose connection. |
| extra step and test the operation of the electric | | | | Don't forget why we are repairing our own car in |
| fan motor. Applying 12 V to the power side of | | | | the first place. We want to learn something new |
| the fan motor and grounding the negative side | | | | about our car and save money in the process. |
| can test the cooling fan operation. If the fan | | | | Make sure to stay on track and fully diagnose |
| motor kicks on and runs, you know that this is | | | | your vehicle and do not replace parts until they |
| not the problem with your overheating. | | | | are thoroughly tested. |