Sunday, May 20, 2012 9:30 AM
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Check springs for rusting or warping
Q1: My Toyota Corolla Altis absorbers in front are spoiled. They are the sport-type.
If I replace them, do I need to change the springs as well?
Fabian Suen
Kuala Lumpur
Whether they are sport or normal absorbers, once they start exhibiting leaks, they should be replaced.
Use a spring tension gauge to determine if you need to replace the springs or not. If the tool is not available, check the springs for warping or rusting.
Be careful when installing an absorber as the spring can cause injury if it slips off. It is recommended that a professional technician make the replacement instead.
Q2: I own a 2002 Ford Escape SUV. A few months ago, I felt the air-conditioner of the 2.0-litre vehicle was not blowing out cold air at idle. This is more obvious at daytime. Upon driving off, the cold air comes on again.
I had the condensor, compressor and alternator replaced but the problem persists.
How can I resolve this issue?
Lim,
Bukit Mertajam
It looks like your car's air-conditioning was not thoroughly cleaned before you replaced the condenser and compressor motor.
It's also possible that too much oil is circulating in the air-conditioning system. A lack of coolant/refrigerant could also be the issue.
Get a reputable air-conditioning service workshop to clean the system properly and ensure the proper amount of coolant and compressor oil is pumped into the system.
Q3: My car is a Nissan Sentra 1.5 DOHC 16-valve automatic and it is nearly 10 years old. The pick-
up/acceleration is getting bad. Is there is any way to make the car peppy again?
Nissan Owner
Kuala Lumpur
That is a common problem for any aging car.
However, there are remedies for you to make the car function like it was once before.
Tune the engine. Replace the spark plug, ignition coil, ignition cable, air cleaner element and change the engine and gear oil periodically.
You may also want to check for worn piston rings through a compression test. Also look for leaking engine valve or a defective cylinder head gasket.
It's also recommended that a workshop uses an endoscope to check the physical condition of the internal parts of the engine.
This will show whether your engine requires overhauling or not.
Finally, make sure the gearbox and drive unit in general are functioning well.