Monthly Archives: January 2013

Z-28 Ignition Problems A No Money Easy Fix

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5.7 L Z-28 Cleaning the Distributor and Not replacing it?

As most anyone driving the GM Z-28 Camaro with the 5.7 L engine knows the GM Distributor is located in front of the engine and when it gets wet it causes a lot of problems and finally a no start condition. I just had 1994 Camaro Z-28 leak water from a pin hole and then the distributor got wet and that was it, it started to run bad, jerking, spitting, barking and then stopped running just as I hit the end of the driveway.

I pressure tested the water system and found a pin hold in a coolant return line on the top right side of the engine, I fixed the leak. I attempted to start it but failed. I knew the ignition got wet and had to do what most don’t like to do and that is, just get into it and get it over with. It took me 5 hours, I’m old and slow and getting slower at something’s, not to mention I ache a lot.

My first thought was darn it the location of the engine distributor was not thought out well when it was designed into the engine and will place a lot of people in a bad spot if it get wet as a lot of them do just like I did.

The Ignition Distributor is on the front of the engine on a 5.7 L engine. It sits behind the front crankshaft harmonic balancer and water pump. These two parts have to be removed to get the distributor off along with a few other parts like the fans, hoses, electrical connectors and coil as well as the AIR Pump and belt. It is not a hard job to do but it is time consuming.

FYI, the Distributor runs off the water pump drive gear and that runs off the cam gear connected by chain to the crank gear. If you do this repair be sure to check the water pump for leaks or noise, a cheap part to replace and can save you from an unnecessary repair.

If the ignition gets wet it will make the car start to run bad, then worst, then not at all. So if you remove the distributor don’t spend hundreds of dollars and buy a new part, this one can be fixed unless up break it taking it apart, here is how.

After you remove all the parts and get the Distributor off the engine and on the bench your ready to fix it all in just a few minutes without buying any parts.

First wipe the outside of the part clean with a rag, if the nipple of the distributor cap is damaged you will need to replace it if not here is how you fix it to run again as if it never got wet. A used distributor can be used off another module if you have one but I think I read a new one is around $30.00 check your local auto part stores.

Now that you have removed the distributor from the engine and it’s on the bench and cleaned.

There are four inverted thorx head screws that has to be removed, I could not find a tool to fit the screw head bolts so I used a 3inch thorx head screw from the hardware store stick that screw you get from the hardware store upside down and with a pair of vice grips hold it then unloosen the four screws from the distributor cap and place them on the side.

Next be gentle and lift the distributor cap off the Control Module and turn it over. Most likely it will be wet with water so I used an air hose to blow dry mine, if you don’t have air use a rag to dry it out, and be sure it is very dry. If it is not wet your control module may be shorted, if that is the case you will need to have it tested before you replace it. Be sure if it is dry to check all the wire connectors for continuity and looseness as well as breaks before buying a new control module. The junk yard I am sorry to say, is full of Z-28s and the parts will likely work if you match the car you’re working on for the parts thus saving you money. If it is wet continue to clean the cap.

Also while the cap is off scrap the tips of each contact, a small flake will drop off, that’s burned carbon build-up on those points.  Cleaning those contact point and rotor tip will make better contact when you restart it. If you observed you will see a seal that is around the housing, if it breaks and mine did. I used some RTV Red, a very fine coat on the gasket both sides to hold it to the part and to stop any water intrusion if leaks water on it, this RTV will not hurt anything and will seal the cap to the distributor control module.

I can’t say this will work on all engines but it work perfect on mine, it cost me a few hours of my time over a few days, I can only work a little at a time. On average I think anyone willing to try and do this repair will be able to do it in a less than 5 hours and save as much as $800.00 or more in parts and labor, you will need one special tool you can get from an auto parts store for around $25.00 it’s called a Harmonic Balance Puller. Good luck and GOD bless all.

 

 

Abdominal Crunch Isolation with Ab Radical

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This is about a product named Ab Radical; it is used for abdominal crunch isolation.

The abdominal is the heart of your standing straight and firm.

Exercising for better health is something that will keep you off the bed and on the track, good abdominal will make you feel better and you will stand straighter when you walk. Good abdominal only takes a few minutes a day and it can be done on the bed, on the floor or just about anywhere you can lie down for a few minutes, even on an air plane when flying.

I am a Marine, during the Marine Corp training I went from a 112 lb thin boy to a 136 strong buffed man. The exercise program is unbeatable if you can do it for the first 30 days, your on your way to a great body filled with energy. One of the best things for me was the exercising program. Everyone by the end of the first month was showing extra muscle. I did a lot of push ups and sit ups just like everyone else, we were a team. I have held on to that training and as often as I could, I would do push ups and crunches.

One of the hardest things I had to do is abdominal crunches, they are boring and hard if done wrong, but if done right you will get stronger better abs and for me less back pain. Strong abs helps me stand straight and walk more firm. In order to get that 6 pack most men want, it takes time and a little effort and getting that abdominal crunch done correctly is not hard to do if you have some help.

I have been using the “Ab Radical” because it works and this is one very good product for abdominal isolation. I do my crunches in the morning while my wife cooks and I normally do 50 crunches at one time. I can feel the abs start to burn and then I stop usually around 50 and sometimes a little more. The product has a wide belt made of stretch fabric and wraps around my back and gives me back support as well as the tummy, it will fit a person from size I think as small as 22 inches up to around 48 maybe 50 inches. It’s got two handles that come across my shoulders with a belt across the lower neck at the shoulders area; this helps me stay straight and gives my neck a little support. I do six inch crunches with my knees bent, I breath in my nose and out my mouth as I come up to crunch off the floor about 3 to 4 inches, just enough to feel my abdominal get hard.  You can really feel the burn if you do it right and at 57 I feel pretty good. It folds up to a four inch box; I carry one with me when I travel by car or on a plane.

The product was designed to help a person with weak abdominal do abdominal crunches. It works by helping them lift the shoulders as they crunch. The abdominal crunch should not be from the floor all way to the knees; but only a few inch lift off the floor is needed to make that abdominal crunch. The product is not expensive and sold by Edison Nation on line and it is called Ab Radical I think around $14.95 I give it a 10 for the abdominal crunch.

The good part is you can carry it with you where ever you go and the storage space is very little, a woman purse, a glove box or on your side in a small carrying case.

If you really want those abdominal to start showing I suggest you get the Ab Radical. This will help anyone who wants to strengthen the abdominal without all the straining.

I am not an exercise expert but I can testify this little abdominal exerciser really work and it is easy to use.

Pass it on and get one if you like it.

lemonprotection.com

Car issues that may force you into Small Claim Court.

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Going to small claims court is not a fun experience, especially when the other side is more prepared for trial than you are. How do you get prepared for trial? Here is a story of a person who was in an accident because the bolts that hold a part on broke. The part that was held on has a Recall on it from the NHTSA department. The bolts that hold that Recall part on, is what broke and caused an accident. The customer did not cause the accident but his repairs were dropped anyway because he was blamed for the accident not by law but by the dealership he trusted.

I recently had a Small Claim appearance for a customer who had purchased a new truck back in 2003 and took good care of it on regular bases.  The story I will tell you is about an accident he has because of a defective part that has a Recall on it. My customer had to file a Small Claim complaint to get satisfied. By the way the Small Claims Court can be used for car repairs, body damage even Diminished Value or actually anything between two or more people.

Back in 2010 he had an accident and totaled out the truck. First I will tell you about the accident. I will tell you about the process you will need to take in order to prepare for court in hope to get the results you want. When you actually go to court in front of a Judge to explain why you are there you need to be prepared, I will give you detail instruction later in the story.

When I met my customer he stated he was having problem and did not know where or who to turn to, he was not from America and only liver here for a short time and his English is very broken.  I ask what happened and if he had an attorney. He said no and he did not know much about what to do. He did as his Insurance Company told him to do. His passenger was hurt and the Insurance Company took care of him. But the owner is still without a truck or transportation and needs help.

He contacted three Personal Injury attorneys and sent them all his paper work and they all stated he waited too long to do anything and he was not hurt. He was advised to file for damages in Small Claims Court and so he did that, and did it just in time. It is my understanding you have one year to file your claim.

My customer found me at my web site lemonprotection.com. He called me and asks me to do an inspection and attempt to determine the cause of the accident so I accepted the job. I ask exactly what happened when he was driving, what speed he was going, what lane he was in, was the truck making any noise, did he feel anything unusual vibration. These are question you need to be able to answer in court if it is based on an accident filing.

He stated he was running around 65/70 mph in the car pool lane, he stated the truck started to vibrate the front dropped down and he hit the wall and that was it. He stated the Air Bags did not go off when he hit the wall. I ask how the road condition was, were you going straight or was the road curved. He said the road was straight and flat with good condition, what lane was you in when this happened? Here are more questions you need to know and be able to answer as well.

The police came and had the vehicle towed, later it was moved to the dealership for inspection as recommended by his insurance company. The dealership inspected the truck and said the lower ball joint did not come apart as the NHTSA Recall was issued for. He was told the dealership does not have to fix the truck. He responded you have a Recall on that part and they stated the recall is not the part that broke, but the bolts that hold that part on are what broke. How dumb does that sound? The Recall NHTSA # is for the lower ball joint but it was his fault for the accident because the bolts broke instead of the ball joint it is holding.

His insurance refused to fix the truck based on their finding saying it was his fault that caused the accident.

I was ask to do an inspection and attempt to determine what happened and if possible what caused the accident. I went to the client home and photo the truck from every direction. I paid close attention to the impact area and the steering and suspension parts based on his explanation.

Upon inspection I found the lower control arm bolts have broken off leaving one extended ½ an inch indicating loose bolts and the bolt head popped off leaving the stud.

The inside steering knuckle at the backing plate held the truck up as it spun around and the hit the wall.  When the right front wheel folding under it caused the truck to spin around and hit the wall with the right front of the truck. This spin around impact caused the right front tire to get punctured and blow out but there was no wheel damage.

The right rear was also damaged from the truck after impact to the right front area, the truck continued to bounce back and around causing the rear right side impact. The truck was traveling North bound and hit the right front corner and appeared to be traveling from the South bound direction. This was caused by the lower control arm bolts breaking off and the wheel folding under as it did.

It was our turn to stand before the Honorable Judge. The other side presented their evidence attacking the owners because he did not use the dealership for maintenance and repairs. I was called in to tell what I witnessed. I first had to prove I am an ASE Certified professional and also proved I have an Appraisal certificate and that I did.

I then proceeded to explain how I did my inspection and I had photos to prove it. I explained how the accident happened and was very clear in every detail.

The Judge asks me how about the tire the other side stated that blow out and caused the accident because it was bald. I said your Honor that cannot happen; he was on flat dry straight road. The tire blows out at the point of impact by the bumper gouging the tire causing tire blowout, he was not in rain or in a curve. The Judge ask me about all the tires being slick, I ask to see opposing counsel photo they had and explained the tires have some tread on them but not slick as the other side is stating. I also explained the 3/8 steel bolts don’t sheer off from an impact and the other side Technician stated he has seen hundreds of bolts at that place sheer off because of impact. I told the Judge that is not true and he knows that because the other parts related are not damaged as he attempted to say.

Going to court and here is what you will need;

1)     Information on vehicle

2)     Date of accident or issue

3)     Place of accident

4)     Illustration or photos

5)     Witness if any or Notarized statement from witness if not present

6)     Expert witness if you have one

7)     Report of expert witness if written

8)     What is your complaint

9)     Do you have photos if no get some, if yes bring them, they must be clear and blown up 8/10 if possible to show the damage you are complain about

10)      Get someone you can trust and is certified to inspect your vehicle and is willing to go to court with you. Be sure they witnessed your problem so they can explain the issue you are there for.

11)      Proof of all evidence is your key, you must be able to paint a very clear picture and have documents to prove it, receipts dates and times, phone record and recording. Photos work well in accident damages or repairs. Notes, letters e-mils are all very important.

12)      Explain you story in a very slow step by step review of the event.

13)      When the other side speaking do not over speak that person it will make a difference, it shows animosity, you will get a chance to speak.

14)      Always be polite to a Judge and be respectful as well as dress proper with clean shaven and heir combed, this all make a difference.

15)      The more information your mechanic has about your car and the problems or accident information he has the better he can help describe his finding for court.

You only have one chance and you need to do the best you can. The truth is the one that paints the best picture will likely win, the judge and jury like photo and videos, this gives them something to use to help them decide for you. Good luck and get prepared.

Any question e-mail to lemonprotection@yahoo.com or go to our web site

Lemonprotection.com   and see names of law firms my over 3,500 clients have used for their Lemon Law cases.

NOTE: We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice, this information I am giving is information I have acquired over the years of doing lemon law inspection and going to trial as an expert.

If you need an expert to go with your to court call me. If you need an attorney go to my web site for the list of attorneys over 3500 people have used and been satisfied with.

lemonprotection.com