Do You Stop And Logically Isolate And Test Or Just Start Swapping Parts?

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
Honestly, I have to wonder at times about the thought process or in many cases the lack of thought and research that I see going on.I don,t know about the guys you might know, but it seems all too common for guys I know to find something amiss, or out of adjustment and they immediately just start buying random but potentially related parts, and in many cases swapping them out until the problem goes away,or they get frustrated and decide to ask for help after the first few parts swaps did not resolve the issue at hand.
if some system or subsystem in your car is in need of repairs or adjustment the first step should be in pulling trouble codes off the car,
I get local guys stopping by who are frustrated and clueless,
the vast majority lack experience, tools, knowledge and a decent place to work......
almost all of us start out that way!
it helps to have membership in a local muscle car or corvette club,
where you at least have some chance to ask more knowledgeable members
(and ideally help them on their project cars so you gain knowledge,
and make contacts to get parts and machine work done)
(1) rule one,
if your not sure, what your doing,
STOP, ask questions, and verify the answers

(2) if you don,t have the correct tools ,
buy them or farm out the job to knowledgable and skilled help.

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/c4-c5-corvette-trouble-codes.2697/

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=10451&p=43633&hilit=camaro+sensors#p43633

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...too-common-questions-can-be-found-here.12892/

if the car your working on is equipped with that feature, and you darn sure need to have a
SHOP MANUAL for the car you own your working on.
and owning and knowing how to use at least a few basic diagnostic tools, and thinking logically sure helps
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/code-scanners-software.3096/page-2#post-85478

and it certainly helps to do a bit of research on the internet and post detailed questions, and pictures, here on this web site!.

there is almost nothing that you or a knowledgeable friend or two, and you, can,t repair on the muscle cars and corvettes many of us own.
yes it takes knowledge and some time, effort and cash flow and having a few knowledgeable friends won,t hurt either

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/under-car-safety.26/


http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/garage-security.297/page-2#post-55963

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-fire-extinguisher-handy.81/page-2#post-42551

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hings-thru-and-verify-each-possibility.11219/

if the cars not running correctly,
or won,t start
or the brakes don,t work or the car overheats etc.
there's a logical process of inspection,
isolate and testing.
don,t get overwhelmed, it's just not that difficult if
you do the research, before diving blindly off the dock.

Ive seen guys by a new fuel pump, when the issue was the fuel tank was simply empty

Ive seen guys who swore they needed a new engine because they "BLEW up mine"
fixed after replacing a couple of loose rocker arms and did a tune-up

Ive seen guys ask for help replacing brakes ,
when simply bleeding the brakes and replacing brake fluid, and connecting a few missing vacuum hoses, solved the issue

Ive seen a guy buy a new water pump and radiator... the issue was a plastic trash bag,
sucked up off the road by a corvette,
covering the front of the radiator , that was not easy to see until the car was on a lift.

Ive seen guys convinced they blew up a auto transmission,
that simply replacing a modulator valve corrected.

Ive seen a guy purchase a complete professionally done brake job that cost over $600
only to find that his only real issue was a badly cracked vacuum hose on the brake booster



 
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I get calls frequently, that start out with the guy on the phone telling me,
some info, like I just replaced parts (X,Y,Z) and it did not solve my issues with
(starting, stalling, rough idle, how it runs, cooling, the brakes, transmission shifting, or the lack of power at (X) rpm etc,
the guys are frustrated as they spent time and cash but the issues is not resolved!
the "PROBLEM" is most people won't take the time or effort to diagnose a problem by logically isolating and testing each component before the parts are replaced,
and yeah its basically a two step problem, that having a SHOP MANUAL, for your particular year corvette ,
and a few basic tools like a FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE,MULTI METER, AND TIMING LIGHT, COMPRESSION TESTER,
and a CODE READER MAKE FAR EASIER, ISOLATE AND TEST ARE THE BASICS OF ANY REPAIR PROCESS>
you first have to understand how each component functions and how to test its functioning correctly.
it helps a great deal if you know the basics and have access to the tools required to test.
it helps a great deal if you understand how the various sub systems like ignition,
timing and terms like AMPS. VOLTS,RESISTANCE, and fuel delivery work, terms LIKE PRESSURE, VOLUME, and the basic 4 cycle engines design parameters.
theres not a single problem on a C4 CORVETTE, that can't be diagnosed with a shop manual, fuel pressure gauge, multi meter, exhaust back pressure gauge/vacuum gauge and an accurate infrared temp gun, timing light, compression/leak down tester, basic mechanics tools, a set of jack stands and a floor jack.
and a logical isolate and test mentality, if you have access to the internet to ask questions about related tests, PROVIDED you ask the correct questions and test to find the related answers,
yeah, having experience helps and tools like code scanners, degree wheels, dial indicators , a dial caliper, feeler gauges certainly help,
but you can solve problems by simply understanding how components are supposed to work, and how they can be tested to verify they are defective or not!
before you start spending cash, verify the problems source and yeah,
it helps if you have a knowledgeable mentor and some decent tools and a place to work.
and yeah, you could easily spend several thousand dollars on unneeded parts, or labor costs,
at the local dealership ignoring this advice! knowing how your car is supposed to work and how to test the individual components may take time and effort but it will save you a great deal of cash and wasted time .
and yeah, I'm all too well aware many guys find it far easier to spend cash rather than read links and think,
but you might be amazed at how much you could learn reading links and sub links

related info
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/c4-c5-corvette-trouble-codes.2697/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oven-facts-if-your-in-doubt.13051/#post-88488

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/#post-48779

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...too-common-questions-can-be-found-here.12892/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/leakdown-compression-test.881/#post-56489

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ard-starting-tpi-crossfire-or-lt1-vette.1401/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/c4-and-camaro-sensor-and-relay-switch-locations-and-info.728/#post-93194

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/optispark-ignition-info.628/#post-75647

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/under-car-safety.26/

 
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That's all that are working now at most repair shops, parts replacers as no one/ school teaches the basics.

Most so called mechanics can't even tell you what it takes for an ICE to run.
 
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