Monthly Archives: July 2019

Servicing the 2008 Acura TSX

Here are a few items can be done easily

Changing the interior dome light bulbs
Flushing the Automatic Transmission Fluid step by step
Replacing the front break pad.
Replacing the rear break pad
Flush the break fluid common tutorial
Another brake fluid flush.
Fixing the windowshield a very clear video by a Carolinian guy.
Changed engine oil

When does one need to check the power steering fluid?

Recently, I feel a little "squeeze noise" when I turn the steering. I thought that it could be the weather as we are entering deeper into the last fall and it gets pretty dried up. Well, I happen to find out that the power steering reservoir is below the "low" mark. I top it up will Honda specific power steering fluid, and it does the trick.

The take home message is that the level of the fluid matters! And, it will cause squeeze if you don't fill it up to the correct level! Lesson learned.  

Install backup camera for my daughter’s car

I have bought two cameras, and I need to make sure they work
I need to purchase a monitor first.
This dual dash monitor has a better review, but I don't need this.
Here is a good video on how to mount a backup camera.
Here is another one which is very good also. 
A guy is working on his Honda Accord and he makes a good video.
Working on the license tag hole.
Could not get a video on Acura, found one for Lexus instead. Basically, need to drill a hole.
To direct the wire to the front, I need to remove the rear seat. And, this video is on 2008 TL, and this is much better.

Install a car dash camera

Need to purchase the equipment first.

To pair the phone via bluetooth

It turns out that I need to erase the "code" before I can proceed and I found this simple video to accomplish this.

Replace the rear wheel bearing

The symptom is that when the car runs above 30+ mph, I can hear the huge noises coming out from the back, and it gets louder when I speed it up. When I took it to the mechanic, I was told that the wheel bearing is getting bad. And, I got quote of $452.xx. Let’s see whether I can fix it myself.

This is video provides very detail information.
Here I find another video on Honda Accord, which gives more details on the fixing.
I order the part from 1A Auto for under $100.
The key is that we are replacing "the wheel bearing and hub assembly" altogether, otherwise, replacing the "wheel bearing" is almost impossible.

Found a wonderful video, hopefully I will never need this. 

Replace the starter

Recently, this car is getting more frequent slow starting issues. We have it checked at AutoZone and rule out the problem with battery and alternator. The technician even says that the starter is good. But, I have done research on replacing the starter anyway, here they are.

This Asian did a good  video
There is another muted video, but it confirms the problem/symptom we have.
We were able to replace the  starter, honestly, none of the above videos made 100% clear, but somehow we did it.

Unfortunately, once we put everything back and started the car, it report “alternator failure”!!

After re-examining all the steps, I figured it out that there was a socket underneath the manifold was not plugged in properly. After re-securing the plug, we are okay!

Here are the diagram of the wiring for tsx-2008.

another one is non-oe

Well, for the slow start, it can be other choices like the following:

Basic battery testing can be found in this simple video
We found this sophisticated one like here

It could be the fuel pump, I would like to document this.

This guy better diagnosis on this matter.
Of course, there will be a video by Scotty

What is going on with the coolant fan??

It seems never ending but we just found that the driver side coolant fan does NOT turn on. Found this forum site seems to give a good comment like this:

Everyone here is giving you good advice. It's all about the process of elimination. You first need to see if the fans come on when you turn on your AC. If they don't, wire the fans directly to the battery to ensure that they are indeed working. The last thing I'd suggest is checking the relays in your fuse box. There are three grey relays; two for the fans and 1 for the AC. You usually here them clicking once activated but if your AC works you can try swapping that relay around with the other two to see if the fans come on; then you'd know you have a relay issue.

Check the following parts

	
  • Check the fan with 12 volt DC power.
  • If the fan does not turn on, it is easy and just replace the fan.
  • If the fan does turn on, check the fuse
  • If the fuse is okay, check the sensor
  • If the sensor works, then ONLY part left would be the relay
  • Our concern is whether it was us who broke the fan connection when we pulled one out
    Or, was it like this before we work on the starter?

    To diagnose this does not seem too bad, but I do have a few questions like whether two are needed when the engine is still not hot? How about when AC is on?

    Scotty always gives good advice on any car problem.

    You first need to see if the fans come on when you turn on your AC. 
    If they don't, wire the fans directly to the battery to ensure that they are indeed working -- voltage?
    The last thing I'd suggest is checking the relays in your fuse box. There are three grey relays; two for the fans and 1 for the AC. You usually hear them clicking once activated but if your AC works you can try swapping that relay around with the other two to see if the fans come on; then you'd know you have a relay issue.
    

    Believe or not, I may have to replace the alternator!!

    This young folk seems quite handy and smart to replace the alternator.
    

    Miata NC model (third generation of Mazda Mx-5)

    Found a good forum site.
    Fuse panel shown here

    Fixing the front bumper and grill, found a couple of very helpful youtube videos. The key is to remove the front wheels!

    Changing the grill.
    You can find one on eBay for a litter more than 100 bucks.
    A British guy also show video.
    This is better.
    

    Deal the problem with no-start

    This is a good link with fair amount of details
    My son finds this one, which is also good!
    Here is a post on testing the coil, another one here, and, we've got a smart guy who uses the paper click to test the voltage. 
    Check misfire here, and it shall be dealt with before the problem gets worse.
    Check Miata coils.
    After all these research, it turns out that the simplest fix is just to replace the battery. We learned to have differentiate the sounds of "no start" vs. "with crank but no start".
    

    Plaque Psoriasis

    Fundamental fact about this disease: Plague Psoriasis

    A common knowledge-base portal via Wikipedia provides just enough knowledge.
    I like webmd better as it looks closer to scientific oriented write up.
    The Mayo Clinic would provide much thorough and unbiased explanation for the disease.
    

    From Mayo Clinic, Psoriasis triggers

    Psoriasis typically starts or worsens because of a trigger that you may be able to identify and avoid. Factors that may trigger psoriasis include:

    	
  • Infections, such as strep throat or skin infections
  • Injury to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, a bug bite, or a severe sunburn
  • Stress
  • Smoking
  • Heavy alcohol consumption
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Certain medications — including lithium, which is prescribed for bipolar disorder, high blood pressure medications such as beta blockers, antimalarial drugs, and iodides
  • All about autoimmune related issues

    Wikipedia on TNF-alpha, a cancer related protein: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha