Serving the Gainesville and Hawthorne Florida Area
Linda's grandmother crashes!
Power steering, power brakes
"So, anyway, how much to just get it so the doors open? " Linda asked. "Also, can you take off the power steering and the power brakes? See, that's what almost killed Grandma!"
I had to ask her about that one. "What's this about the steering and brakes?" ?
"Yes!" she replied. " Grandma was pulling off the Intertstate exit ramp when her engine died. Since she had power steering and brakes, she couldn't steer or stop. She ran out in the middle of a 6 lane intersection: 5 cars hit her!"
"Wow!" I said. "That's terrible! But you don't have to worry about power steering or brakes. I wish I could have told your Grandmother this: she wouldn't have wrecked!
Power brakes and power steering are only ASSISTS for these systems! Power brakes are like another foot on the pedal every time you touch it. Power steering is like an extra hand helping you pull the wheel. When the engine dies, you lose this extra assist. You must push the pedal much harder to get brakes, but if you put both feet on the brake pedal and push as hard as you can, you WILL STOP!
The same goes for power steering: pull hard enough on the steering wheel and the wheels WILL turn!
I know of a lot of cheapskates driving ragged out cars with the power brake booster disconnected and the belt off the power steering pump. I don't recommend it, but it can be done!
"Gee!" Linda said. "I wish Grandma had known that! She could have just pressed harder and her car would have stopped!
A
ABS: Anti-Lock Brake Systems
ADVANCE: Car ignition timing
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
B
BAD CAR DESIGNS
Bad Drivers: How NOT to drive
BATTERIES: Auto, Car or Truck
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C
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D
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E
ELECTRIC WIRING REPAIR
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F
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G
GAGES AND "IDIOT LIGHTS"
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H
HEADS & HEAD GASKET
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I
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J
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K
L
LEAN "Car runs lean"
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M
MIL Light
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N
NO START: Car Won't Start
O
OIL CHANGES
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OIL LIGHT ON OR GAGE LOW
P
PCV Valve
Q
R
RADIATORS: Car and Truck
RICH: Car runs rich
S
SEALS AND GASKETS
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT
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T
THERMOSTATS
TIMING: IGNITION TIMING
TIMING BELT & TIMING CHAIN
TIRE REPAIR
TRANSMISSIONS: AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSIONS: MANUAL
U
V
VACUUM ADVANCE
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WATER PUMP REPAIR
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