Do you have a tip for our C4's?

>>>-Give model and year it pertains to.
>>>-Make sure it is factual, and not harmful.
>>>-Let us know if its your experience or done by somebody else.
>>>-Is it a money saving tip?
>>>-Time saving?
>>>-Easier for the less mechanically inclined?


Write a tip in this thread, keep it simple, no matter what part of the car it is, or done at home to help the car.




Example:
LTx's--- important to turn the key to the *ON* position for a second to let the fuel pump run, and pressure up the lines.... before turning the key to the *START* position and actually start the engine...
Lots of times the fuel pump can be heard, but if not, rest easy knowing you gave it that extra second to "pressure up"!
(This is very similar to diesel vehicles turning the key for the glow plugs to heat.)
(this applies to other makes/models EFI)

LTx's love a completely pressurized system before starting...the injectors love it especially.
"Dry Start Failure" conditions can apply to the fuel system over time.

And....
This tip is applicable for all EFI vehicles, and will only take a second.


Tip #2
Got some little nicks, chips, or tears on your vinyl or plastic?
Get some *FABRIC PAINT*.
(commonly used on t-shirts)
These paints come in a large variety of colors, so matching basic colors you need is pretty easy, and custom colors can be mixed by the user.
Not only does it fill in color, it can "mend" minor problems.
Can also be used on leather (carefully and cautiously)
A small bottle is cheap, and has a pointy applicator.
Can be used on lots of surfaces.
I have used it on my guitar amps for years, and used it several times on my interior (black).
My buddy did a quick "hide the scratch" on his front bumper right before a car show (he hit a plastic milk crate that flew out the back of a truck on the way)
It was not something for permanent, but good enough for last minute....the car show was in a Bennigans parking lot....with strip mall....and it had a hobby shop .


TIP #3
For hard to reach spark plugs, and engines with headers.
Get a new (el-cheap-0) 5/8 spark plug socket and cut it.
But the socket that has the end for a ratchet or a wrench (usually 3/4 wrench).
First---remove insert made to hold spark plug located inside the well.
Using an old spark plug, eye-ball the depth the spark plug, using a cut-off wheel (or hack-saw) cut the "extra" length of socket wall...making sure you leave a little extra vs. cutting too much.
Insert the old spark plug again, eye-ball the depth again....this time eye-ball the end that the ratchet and the wrench fits on and trim it down as done above.
This particular end (ratchet end), can be done two ways.
1>>cut down enough that only a wrench will now fit
or
2>>cut down a little where a wrench and a ratchet is still operable.
(I have three different lenghts with different cuts)

Where headers are used, a 1/16th of an inch can be critical when changing that one particular, hard-to-get-to, PITA, spark plug.

Even though the new and now re-sized spark plug sockets are slightly weaker, if a person does not over-torque (gorilla tight) the spark plug, it will come off very easy just using a 3/4 wrench on the socket vs. the ratchet....more beer can be drank, and less blood will flow!!!




Write what you got..............








Jim


Edited.
Strats-N-Vettes2010-03-03 16:53:34

here is the most useful tip i can think of-- i'll sit and drink the beer and watch you change the pita spark plugs.

seriously, speaking of spark plugs. on my 90 they all look very easy to get at. drivers side takes about 15 min. to change versus an hour on passenger side. easy to get out but very hard to get back in as you cant see the hole or like in my case, big hands. don't like using the socket as it is very easy to start it cross threading and not feeling it. answer is to take about a 2" piece of 1/4" gas line and put the plug into that and the insert in the head. gives you a handle to start the plug and you can tell if it is threading right. then after it starts just pull it off and use socket to tighten. BTW.. another tip is especially on aluminum heads, warm the engine up before removing plugs. less chance of damaging anything..
eddie208902010-03-04 08:06:28

[QUOTE=eddie20890] here is the most useful tip i can think of-- i'll sit and drink the beer and watch you change the pita spark plugs.

seriously, speaking of spark plugs. on my 90 they all look very easy to get at. drivers side takes about 15 min. to change versus an hour on passenger side. easy to get out but very hard to get back in as you cant see the hole or like in my case, big hands. don't like using the socket as it is very easy to start it cross threading and not feeling it. answer is to take about a 2" piece of 1/4" gas line and put the plug into that and the insert in the head. gives you a handle to start the plug and you can tell if it is threading right. then after it starts just pull it off and use socket to tighten. BTW.. another tip is especially on aluminum heads, warm the engine up before removing plugs. less chance of damaging anything..
[/QUOTE]

An old spark plug wire cut the length of a dollar bill works well too....
I have been using the fuel line deal for 30 years (showing my age...LOL)


Warming the engine and the fuel line is good tips.



>>>>Always use tape on U-joints when removing drive shaft....whether you are replacing the U-joints or not.

Yes, I have been on the losing side of that tip...lol







Jim

I've got a tip about an easier way to change the battery...when my laptop gets back (the tutorial is bookmarked on the laptop)...I will post it....even comes with pictures...LOL

...another tip about changing a battery in a C4 ... is to put in a red Optima, which is smaller and slides right in, and it's a great battery, too.  

I did it yesterday...I forgot to mention...there is a roll of wires behind the side panel that will get in your way...LOL

Like I said; I dont have the link(has pics) at the moment, but I will...

I have my laptop now.

This is the bookmark of a battery swap on the C4.

I have done it, its simple. and even this article can be short-cut to save time.

CLICK HERE



Jim

Jim...

Another tip for changing spark plugs on engines with aluminum heads is to use anti-seize on the threads of the plugs. You don't want the threads ripping out when you go to change the plugs the next time. 

I just tried to open the link also, without luck.