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Basic Engine
Components |
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Timing Belt |
With usage,
timing belt
gradually
becomes worn and
hardened, until
it finally gets
cracked and
damaged. If any
teeth in timing
belt are missing
or broken,
engine could not
only stop
suddenly but
valve mechanism
(particularly in
Diesel engines)
could be
damaged, which
could result in
major engine
damage.
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Valve Clearance |
For efficient
engine
operation,
valves should
make air-tight
contact with
their valve
seats when they
close. During
use, valves and
cams gradually
become worn,
causing changes
in valve
clearance, which
in turn causes
deterioration in
performance of
engine and
increase in
tappet noise
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Drive Belts |
Drive Belts
transfer engine
power from
crankshaft
pulley to drive
other auxillary
parts of engine.
With usage,
drive belts get
worn and
hardened, then
begin to crack
and tend to
slip, thereby
affecting the
performance of
auxillary parts.
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Engine Oil |
Engine Oil
reduces wear and
friction in
pistons,
bearings and
other moving
parts. It helps
seal high
temperature,
high pressure
gas in
combustion
chambers and
also transfers
heat from high
temperatures
areas to oil
pan. It also
prevents
corrosion of
metal parts and
cushions moving
parts. In
accomplishing
these many
functions, oil
loses its
effectiveness
(viscosity) with
usage, thereby
affecting engine
performance.
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Engine Oil Filter |
While engine oil
is being used,
carbon resulting
from engine
combustion and
metal particles
enter the oil,
making it dirty.
When such
impurities
accumulate, they
cause
accelerated wear
and scoring of
moving parts.
For this reason,
a filter is
included in oil
line to catch
and remove these
impurities from
oil. Such
impurities
accumulate in
filter, causing
filter's
filtration
capacity to
drop, thereby
reducing life of
engine's moving
parts.
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Cooling and Heater
System |
Radiator hoses
and heater hoses
through which
engine coolant
flows, are made
of rubber which
gradually
hardens and
cracks making it
possible for
coolant to leak.
If coolant level
drops, engine
could overheat
and result in
seizure.
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Engine Coolant |
Engine Coolant
undergoes
reduction in its
capacity due to
heat and
chemical changes
over time, there
by affecting
engine cooling
system.
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Exhaust Pipes and
Mountings |
Exhaust pipes
and muffler are
corroded
gradually from
inside due to
action of
moisture and
sulphides in
exhaust gases.
Damage can also
occur due to
stones and other
objects flying
up from the road
while driving.
This could
result in
deterioration of
exhaust system,
thereby causing
Noise and Air
Pollution.
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Vacuum Pump Oil
Hoses Diesel Engine) |
With usage,
vacuum pump
rubber hoses
gradually harden
leading to
development of
cracks and
possible oil
leakage,
resulting in
poor braking
efficiency.
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Ignition System
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Spark Plugs
(Gasoline Engine) |
Spark Plug
generates
electric spark
to ignite
air/fuel mixture
and is exposed
to high
temperatures and
high pressures.
With usage,
spark plug
electrodes
experience
gradual erosion
and widening of
gap between
them, making
spark generation
difficult.
Further,
combustion
deposits on
insulator tip
and electrodes
tend to short
the current.
Thus resulting
in poor
combustion and
leading to poor
fuel economy.
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Battery |
Battery supplies
electricity to
ignition system,
starting system,
lights and other
electrical
equipment.
Battery will
discharge
completely if
more electricity
is used than
that supplied by
alternator or if
too much
electricity is
used when engine
is stopped. The
amount of
battery
electrolyte
gradually
diminishes as
battery is
charged and
discharged and
due to
evaporation,
affecting
starting of
vehicle. Hence
it is necessary
to periodically
check the
battery
electrolyte
level and
specific
gravity.
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Fuel and Emission
Control System |
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Fuel Filter |
Fuel (Gasoline
or Diesel) in
fuel tank can
contain a
considerable
amount of dirt
or moisture
which could
cause clogging,
wear of seizure
of precision
part, thereby
resulting in
engine
malfunction,Fuel
filter separates
impurities from
fuel and if
impurities
accumulate in
fuel filter,
performance of
filter will
drop.
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Water Sedimenter
(Diesel Engine) |
When fuel passes
through water
sedimenter,
water content in
fuel, if any,
gets collected
at the bottom of
water sedimenter
due to higher
specific gravity
of water than
fuel. If the
amount of water
in sedimenter
exceeds its
capacity then
moisture in fuel
will flow
through
injection pump
and injection
nozzles, causing
accelerated wear
or seizure of
those parts,
thereby
resulting in
engine
malfunction.
Hence, water
must be removed
periodically.
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Air Cleaner Filter |
Air filter traps
dust and dirt
particles in
intake air with
its filter, thus
preventing them
from entering
engine
cylinders. If
filter gets
clogged, air
flow will be
restricted thus
diminishing
engine
performance.
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Idle Speed, Fast
Idle Speed and Idle
Mixture |
Engine's idle
speed, fast idle
speed and idle
mixture,
influence fuel
consumption,
transmission
shift shock,
emission and
engine
performance.
With lapse of
time these
parameters
change and thus
need periodical
adjustments.
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Diesel Smoke |
By inspecting
exhaust smoke, fuel
combustion
conditions can be
ascertained to a
certain extent
thereby ensuring
emission norms and
engine troubles can
also be detected
before they become
serious. |
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Fuel Tank Cap, Fuel
Lines and
Connections |
To arrest
possible leakage
of fuel or fuel
vapor,
periodical
inspection of
fuel tank, fuel
lines and
connections is
required.
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Charcoal Canister
(Gasoline Engine) |
To arrest
leakage of
evaporated
gasoline vapor
or other related
problems,
periodical
inspection of
charcoal
canister is
required.
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Clutch Pedal |
If clutch pedal
height and pedal
free play are
not correct, it
is difficult to
move vehicle and
transmission
cannot be
shifted
smoothly. Once
clutch starts
slipping, clutch
disc starts to
wear rapidly.
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Chassis and Body |
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Brake Pedal &
Parking Brake |
Brake pedal
height must be
at a specified
height and also
have a proper
degree of free
play, to ensure
effective
braking.
Insufficient
parking brake
lever travel
causes rear
brake shoes to
drag on brake
drum, creating
excessive heat
and poor fuel
consumption.
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Brake Linings and
Drums |
With usage,
brake linings
and brake drum
gradually wear
due to friction
force generated
between them. If
brakes are used
after linings
have been worn
to the limit or
beyond,
effectiveness of
brakes is
reduced or other
troubles could
occur.
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Brake pads and discs |
Contact surface
of brake disc
and brake pad
get worn due to
friction,
resulting in
reduction in
effectiveness of
brakes. In case
of excessive
wear, there is
danger that face
plate of brake
pad could make
direct contact
with brake disc,
causing pad wear
indicator to
squeal and get
damaged.
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Brake and Clutch
Fluid |
If brake or
clutch fluid is
leaking, brakes
or clutch will
fail to operate
properly.
Therefore, it is
necessary to
check fluid
level in brake
and clutch
master cylinder
reservoirs
periodically.
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Brake Pipes and
Hoses |
If brake fluid
is leaking from
a pipe or hose,
fluid pressure
will not be
transmitted to
wheel
cylinders/disc
brake cylinders,
resulting in an
extremely
dangerous
situation where
brakes loose
their
effectiveness.
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Power Steering Fluid |
If power
steering fluid
level becomes
low, or if fluid
leaks inadequate
fluid pressure
will be
generated,
causing steering
operation to be
heavy and
generation of
abnormal noise.
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Steering Wheel &
Linkage |
If steering system
is used for a long
period joints in
steering
linkage,gears in
gear housing and
bearings etc.become
worn,possibly making
it difficult for
steering and vehicle
handling
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Ball Joints and Dust
Covers |
Ball Joints are
lubricated with
grease and
fitted with dust
covers to
prevent grease
from leaking and
to keep water
and mud from
entering. If
there is a large
amount of
looseness in
ball joints, it
could generate
abnormal noise
and cause
instability
during driving.
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Transmission and
Differential Oil |
With usage,
Manual
/Automatic
Transmission
Fluid /
Differential Oil
gradually
deteriorate and
if there is
leakage, it
could cause
bearings, gears,
etc to seize.
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Wheel Bearing Grease |
Wheel bearings
are lubricated
with grease,
which helps
wheel to turn
smoothly. With
usage, this
grease gradually
deteriorates
which could
cause wheel
bearings to
generate
abnormal noises
as well as
preventing
wheels from
rotating
smoothly.
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Front and Rear
Suspension |
Front and rear
suspensions
consist of
springs, Shock
absorbers, arms,
rods, etc, which
support vehicle
body on axles.
Maintenance of
suspension
systems
influences wheel
alignment of
vehicle.If
suspension
sytems are not
operating
properly riding
comfort, control
and stability
will suffer.
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Tires and Inflation
Pressure |
Tire performance
and overall life
are greatly
affected by
inflation
pressure.
Over-inflation
causes a rough
ride, excessive
center tread
wear and can
cause slipping.
Under Inflation
causes excessive
thread edge
wear, high
rolling
resistance and
excessive heat
build up which
can result in
tire failure a
high speeds.
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All Lights, Horn,
Wipers and Washers |
In order to
drive safely and
comfortable
during day, at
night and when
it is raining,
lights, horns,
wipers and
washers are
provided on
vehicles. If any
of these are not
operating
properly, it can
make driving
difficult.
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Air Conditioning/
Cooler Refrigerant |
If there is not
enough
refrigerant,
effectiveness of
AC will decrease
and there is
also a danger of
compressor
seizure.
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