4 replies to this topic

[Mark Carver]

With todays car and all of their electronic environmental controls. I've been told, when getting gas. DO NOT top the tank off. And I don't!. Why? Because it can spill out into these controls and fowl them up. Well -

 

I bought a used car (got a good deal) from someone that sure enough was topping it off. I knew that the cars computer was putting out P1401 and P0442 codes, which is related to the Evap System. What made it worse, was when I tried to put gas into the car, the gas nozzle clicked off. Hmmmm? After reviewing some DIY on YouTube, today I jacked the car up and inspected the system. The hose going from the fuel filler neck to the Vapor Canister was solid. Hard as a rock. I removed the hose at the canister end and little tiny carbon charcoal pellets came pouring out. I pulled the canister from the car and tested as per this video -

 

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And sure enough it tested bad. So off to the salvage yard, hopefully this Saturday to test some used ones onsite and pick one up. One place near me has a couple for $50 which sure does beat the dealer price on a new one.

 

So if top off your tank, don't. Tell your relatives don't. 

[NewMarketSean]

When the pump clicks off, I usually count to ten, continue to fill and when it clicks off again, I'm done.

[Mark Carver]

Any recommendations on how to repair/remove light scratches on an auto paint.

[NewMarketSean]

Try a rubbing compound first, see if that does it. If it’s made a valley in the paint, not much you can do.

[RShack]

What you should use depends on whether or not the car has clearcoat.   

 

If it does not, if the top layer is color, then rubbing compound is what you want.  You only want rubbing compound if the top layer is colored paint and is dead, and you want to remove it, liberating fresh paint underneath.  Be careful with pressure, or you can go through the good paint before you know it.  It's not tricky, just be careful.

 

But if it's got clearcoat, then you want to use polishing compound instead.  It's less abrasive and can take out small scratches in clearcoat.  If polishing compound doesn't do the job, you can always go up to rubbing compound if needed... but it doesn't work the other way if you've gone through the clearcoat.   

 

I can't think of the last time new cars didn't have clearcoat.