Please Email your tips or tricks to Bobtempest@aol.com
How do you get rid of the musty smell?
The
A/C may be suffering from a buildup of fungus in the evaporator housing (a
portion of the plastic heater box hidden deep in the dash). While professional
treatments work best, you may have luck with a simple home remedy-glass cleaner
containing ammonia. With the A/C system running in A/C mode at the highest
blower setting, spray or squirt the glass cleaner into the air inlet for about
30 seconds (this is the louvered opening in front of the windshield). As soon
as you finish applying the glass cleaner, shut the system down for about a
half-hour. In stubborn cases, try a second or third application a day or so
later.
How can I paint my brake calipers?
While
the calipers are off the car I constructed a suitable stand that allowed me to
support the caliper while still attached to the car. I cleaned the calipers
with brake cleaner and blew them dry with compressed air and let them set on
the stand (inside the wheel well, brake cable still attached but not stressed.)
I used generous amounts of newspaper and tape to mask the inside wheel well
area and anything else that I didn't want paint on. When I was satisfied that I
wasn't about to contaminate anything nor "glue" anything with the
paint I started with a couple of light coats of white VHT engine paint. Use
light coats to lessen paint drying time. If you position the calipers just
right you can get around the whole assembly without having to reposition it.
After the "base" coats were dry I followed by my color choice (Cast
Iron Paint). A couple of coats of this over the white base produced a very
uniform and bright color. I let the whole thing dry for about 2 hours before
reassembly on the car. This was about a year or so ago. It still looks good and
is very distinctive. I have not noticed any "sticking" or
"binding" due to the paint.
How can I prolong the life of the A/C Compressor?
Run your Air conditioner for a few
minutes every week to keep the compressor seals and gaskets lubricated, so that
in the summer you will have cold air and not have to spend lots of money on
expensive repairs.
Tom
Wright writes:
Ed Hill
recently introduced me to Zaino car care products. Great web site for the
interested and the visual effects of the car care products are amazing. www.zainobros.com
I use Zaino
on my Buick GN and you are right. It is "the" polish of the Grand
National people across the country. It loves the dark colors but works on any
color. I have never used anything better.
I already had a link under the links
page, but you are right we need it under the tips page. Jeff Ryals and Jimmie
Middleton, I believe uses Zaino products.
Bob Hinson