The problem: The fan on the BMW 540i is only indirectly connected to the motor, and the viscous coupling is a separate unit in the middle of the fan. The fan is plastic and fan failures have been...
If you buy good tools, you’ll likely have many years of faithful service from them. But what if you can’t (or won’t) get good tools? You may choose to fabricate your own for different reasons such as: You’re starting out with DIY repairs and you don’t have an unlimited budget You’re not sure...
The power plug for my Valentine 1 radar detector (which should be the same for an Escort) was missing the locking tab but I dealt with it for a while as it still worked. Eventually the plug itself just failed to supply power so I had to either replace the entire line by buying a replacement from...
Saab indicates a 60k mile replacement interval for the serpentine belt. Often times you can just look at the belt’s ribbed side to see if there are cracks or any missing portions: it’s a sign that it needs to be replaced. Even if it looks great and I’ve confirmed it’s been used over 60k miles I...
In the process of fixing up my Volvo V50, multiple large orders were placed to obtain the parts I needed. Most of these replacements were ordered through FCP Euro for their lifetime warranty. However, a few items were purchased elsewhere on the internet. Not only did FCP Euro have the cheapest...
Have you ever wanted to know how your engine was doing, how long it was going to hold out or what may be leading to a decline in performance? These are the questions we ask before every endurance race we enter. A race weekend is a significant undertaking and we don’t want to go into one without...
Have an hour to spare this weekend? Then check your valve clearances. Yes, it seems ever so complicated and something that can only be done by a highly skilled professional, but that is just not the case. As it pertains to many classic diesel or gasoline Mercedes-Benz, the job is very straight...
Mercedes Belt Replacement and Tensioning It is often very easy to neglect what we can’t see. “Out of site, out of mind,” but don’t let that be your motto for success, especially if you own a classic car. While newer cars can go many more miles without looking under the hood, it is a good idea, to...
Changing your own engine oil is the perfect Saturday Morning DIY project that every owner should perform on their own vehicle. When you perform your own service you get the satisfaction of knowing the job is done correctly and you used the correct quality of parts on your vehicle. Today's...
Mercedes 450SL Brake Booster Removal Stopping what you start, is a great thing to be able to do, especially when it pertains to your car. In this article we will cover the removal of the power brake booster from our 1975 Mercedes 450SL. While removing a brake booster is not a very complicated...