Posts Tagged ‘repairs’

How to Fix a Pop-Up Sink

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

The stopper in your pop-up sink is a simple mechanical Fix a Pop-Up Sinkdevice that is composed of various moving parts that usually needs constant adjustments. Having a pop-up sink at home is quite a convenience to the user and many homeowners are already coping with the malfunctions that come with continuous use. Deal with the common malfunctions of the device by learning how to fix a pop-up sink.

Faulty Connections

There are only few malfunctions of pop-up sinks and one of the most common is faulty connection. This means that the stopper doesn’t open or close properly and to fix a pop-up sink, you need to do some adjustments on its working parts. The working parts of the pop-up sink are composed of three sections – a vertical rod that connects to the control knob, one more vertical rod that is flat and full of holes known as clevis, and a horizontal rod that is connected to the pivot rod within the drain then to the stopper known as lift rod. Adjust these working parts repeatedly specifically the clevis and lift rod until the stopper open or close properly.

Clogging

The common causes of clogging in your pop-up sink are loose hair and other debris. To fix a pop-up sink with this kind of problem, you need to remove the stopper from its place in order to free the drain from any clogs. Do this by twisting or lifting the stopper from the sink or dismantling the pivot rod beneath the sink. Once the stopper is out, clean the drain completely using a stiff wire wrapped with cloth or a long brush. When the drain is already clean, you also need to clean the stopper before putting it back on its proper place.

Leaks

There are two types of leaks that might happen in your pop-up sink. One type is that the water is trickling or dripping from the working parts underneath the sink means that there is a leak in the pivot ball. To fix a pop-up sink with this type of leak, you need to retighten the retaining ball that secures the pivot ball in its place. If this method is not effective, then you have to take out the nut and then place a new washer in the pivot ball to stop the leak.

Another type of leak is that the water trickles down on the outside part of the drain. This is a more serious leak problem and must be fixed immediately. This type of leak means that the putty seal underneath the flange may be broken due to the constant thudding of the stopper against the flange. To fix a pop-up sink with this type of leak, you need to loosen a lock nut beneath the sink that will allow you lift up the flange just a little bit thus giving you enough working space to renew the putty seal.

Commonly, when your pop-up sink is showing this type of leak it means that a portion of the drain is already corroded. And since corrosion is already happening, it is a distinct sign that the drain in your sink will totally fail before long. To correctly fix a pop-up sink with this type of leak, you need to replace the whole assembly of the drain.

Playstation 3 Error Codes

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

An advanced and popular video game console designed and manufactured byPlaystation 3 Error Codes Sony Entertainment Corp., the PlayStation 3 offers gamers a unique gaming experience. Even if this famous gaming device has advance software and parts, owners still encounter troubles with the console. In order to learn more about this device, let us take a look at the different PlayStation 3 error codes.

Error Codes

One of the most common errors that users encounter when they play games using PS3 is the error 0710102. It is also known as the DNS error, which means that when players encounter this error, there is not available DNS server. Another trouble that people can encounter when the play using this device is the 8001050B error. This error occurs when the owner inserts a Blu Ray disc. When the error occurs, there is problem with playing hard drive games. To resolve these problems, you can turn the device off and remove the hard drive.

If you encounter the 80010510 error, it means that there is trouble playing hard drive games in the console. On the other hand, the 8002b241 error means that there is problem with the audio of the DVI. When the error 80029023 occurs, then there is trouble with exchanging key information while the 80029024 error means that there is problem finding an IP address.

The player cannot install downloaded games if the 80029564 occurs. The system is having trouble updating the XMB firmware when the 8002F997 appears. The user cannot save the game when the error 8003051E occurs. If you are having problem saving the system settings, the 80031150 appears.

Another error that is commonly encountered by players is the 80130203. This error means that the device is having problems connecting to the network. When the connection to the network has been dropped, you will encounter the 80710092 error. If the device is having troubles connecting to the router, the 80710102 will appear on the screen. To solve the trouble, you need to reboot and reconfigure the router.

If the system fails to connect to the server, you experience the 80710541 error. Finally, the 80710B23 error means that the network of the gaming console is busy to respond.

Additional Tips and Other Important Information

One of the basic steps that you need to do when you encounter any of the error is to reboot the system. If you cannot restart the gaming console, you can unplug it and plug it back after several minutes. Check there are loose cables and remove the hard disk. Replace the hard disk and see if the problem persists.

Windshield Repair Kits

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

When your windshield have some stone chips and small breaks, Windshield Repair Kitsyou don’t need to totally replace it. With the help of windshield repair kits, you can do some repairs on your windshield and make it look as good as new. Here’s the method on how to use windshield repair kits to fix your damaged windshield.

Repair Method

Clean the area of the windshield that has the stone chip and use a razor blade to remove those little pieces of loose glass. You can use a glass cleaner to completely clean the damage area before you start using the windshield repair kit.

Every windshield repair kit has a suction cup tool and you need to position this tool where the damaged area is. The center of the suction cup tool that is threaded should be directly over the stone chip area of the windshield. Push the suction cups to secure the four arms in the proper place.

Once the suction cup tool is positioned firmly in place, you can now twist the repair tube into the center of the tool. Screw the repair tube tightly using only your hand and you do not have to use any tools to screw in the repair tube.

The success of repairing your windshield is relative to the correct alignment of the tool to the stone chip area. Double checking the position of the threaded repair tube is vitally necessary and you can do the checking by looking from the inside of your car. The rubberized end of the repair tube should be positioned directly over the stone chip of the windshield.

Open the tube that contains the resin and squeeze it into the repair tube. The amount of resin needed for the repair should not be too much or too little. Two to four drops of resin into the repair tube is quite enough. Locate the plunger in the windshield repair kit and insert it immediately into the repair tube then tighten it by pushing it down. The pressure from the plunger will push the resin into the stone chip area. Tighten and retighten the plunger to let the air bubbles escape from the resin.

Give the repair resin about one or two minutes to really penetrate into the stone chip then completely remove from the windshield the suction cup tool. Take the clear finishing film from the windshield repair kit and immediately place a portion of the film over the repair area. Press the resin carefully going to the film’s edges using a razor blade. The purpose of doing this is to evenly spread the resin and make it as thin as possible under the clear film. You can put a little adhesive tape to ensure that the clear film won’t move and mess up your repair work.

Let the resin get dry completely under the clear film for about ten minutes or more before taking out the clear film from the windshield. If there are some excess resin on the windshield, you can remove it by using the razor blade. You know that you have done a perfect repair job on your windshield when you can’t see any traces of the stone chip anymore.

Auto Electrical Repair

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

If you own a car, some knowledge of how to repair auto electrical problems Auto Electrical RepairAuto Electrical Repairwill be beneficial. Below are some common electrical issues with cars and how to resolve them.

Fixing Electrical Headlight Shortages

Required Tools and Materials

Electric headlight
Volt / ohm meter
Wire crimping tool
Wire brush (small)
Wire cutters
Headlight bulbs (must be of model and year of the car)
Service manual
Wire connectors (multiple gauges)

Step 1

Check in the car service manual to find out the position and color of the wire. Look out for signs of corrosion; this may cause a short. When you see the broken wire, assess its gauge. You should also check if it is a ground or hot wire.

Step 2

Utilize the volt / ohm meter to look for an open circuit. This will register on the meter. Before you repair auto electrical problems, make an assessment of the severity of the damage.

Step 3

Slice the wire on its ends. Throw away the broken wire. Select a wire connector that is fit for wire. Set the wire on the connector’s endpoints. Get the wire crimpers and tuck the two ends. This process should be repeated for other broken wires in the circuit.

Step 4

Inspect the ground wire with the volt / ohm meter (usually this wire is black). The wire is damaged if there is no battery reading. Repeat the process earlier to find and fix damaged ground wires.

Step 5

To repair auto electrical problems involving headlights, you need to find the fuse box and headlight fuse. For the fuse, you need to set the black probe on the ground part. The red probe should be on the hot side. If the reading is 12 volts, it’s all right. If not, the fuse is defective. Replace it.

Step 6

Test the bulbs by turning on the headlights. Try both in high beam and normal. Replace the bulb if either one isn’t working. If neither one is working, inspect the light socket. If there’s corrosion, clean it with a wire brush. Try the light bulbs again.

Repairing and Replacing Fuses and Circuit Breakers

A simple rule to keep in mind is this: all electrical parts in the car need voltage to work. For you to be able to repair auto electrical problems, you need the voltmeter or 12 v indicator light.

Find the component that isn’t working. Find its power source and connect it to the voltage source. If there’s no voltage reading, the problem is either the fuse or the circuit breaker.

Note: you can replace the fuse and the car might start. However you still need to check the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker is damaged, the auto will malfunction again. To test the circuit breaker, bypass it by using a jumper wire. If the other components work, then the circuit breaker needs to be replaced.

Sometimes the cost of maintaining a car becomes prohibitive because people don’t know how to repair auto electrical problems. Why pay a mechanic to do the inspection when you can do it yourself?

How to Repair Xbox 360 E71 Error

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Like all gaming platforms, the Xbox 360 is beset with a number of problems Repair Xbox 360 E71 Errorand errors that may disturb the gaming experience of the console’s users. One of such errors that Xbox 360 users commonly encounter is error E71 and it is signified by a blinking red light in the lower-right quadrant of the console’s main button. Error E71 is typically caused by the failure of the unit to update itself via the Xbox Live service. When confronted by this error, don’t worry. Learning how to repair Xbox 360 E71 error is easy as the error is a far cry from the dreaded red ring of death since it is in no way caused by more serious problems such as overheating and hardware failure. This is why it is important that every Xbox 360 user knows how to repair Xbox 360 E71 error since it is one of the easiest Xbox 360 errors to solve.

When learning how to repair Xbox 360 E71 error for the first time, know that reformatting one’s Xbox 360 hard drive is the most straightforward way to address the problem. Before proceeding with reformatting the hard drive, please remember that the process will make all the data saved in the hard drive will be lost and won’t be recovered anymore. Make sure then that the hard drive has no indispensable data before formatting it.

To format the hard drive, boot up your console and make sure that there is no disc loaded in its tray. In the dashboard, go to the system section and select the memory tab which will let you view the console’s storage devices. Format the unit’s hard disk by selecting it and pressing the Y button on the controller. Choose “Format” in the options. Keep in mind not to turn off the console while the process is taking place as doing so may cause serious damage to the unit.

If one is learning how to repair Xbox 360 E71 error, then one must learn how to restore one’s Xbox 360 into its factory settings. Restoring the Xbox 360 to its factory settings may be necessary if formatting the console’s hard disk did not solve the E71 error. To do this, go to the system information window in the console settings menu. While there, press the following buttons in this sequence: left trigger, right trigger, X button, Y button, left bumper, right bumper, Y button, up in the directional button, left in the directional button, and up again.

If the above steps detailing how to repair Xbox 360 E71 error were not able to solve the problem then consider taking the unit to a Microsoft service center as a last resort. Sure, you won’t be able to satiate your gaming needs for some time but you can be sure that your console will work as it should when you get it back.

Since the E71 error is one of the most common problems encountered by Xbox 360 users, learning how to repair Xbox 360 E71 error is a worthwhile exercise for any owner of the console as it lets users to solve the otherwise simple error quickly and easily.

How to Repair the PlayStation 3 Yellow Light of Death

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

One of the latest additions to the video game consoles released by Sony Computer Entertainment, Repair the PlayStation 3 Yellow Light of DeathPlayStation 3 (also known as PS3) was initially released in Japan on 11 November 2006. This game console was released by Sony to compete with other game consoles available in the commercial market such as the Xbox 360 from Microsoft. One of the common problems experienced by users of PS3 is the yellow light of death. To avoid spending money to pay for professionals to fix the problem, below are the steps that you can follow if you want to know how to repair the PlayStation 3 yellow light of death.

Procedures

The materials that you need to repair the problem include a clean cloth, thermal compound grease, #4 Philips screwdriver, #00 Philips screwdriver, #1 Philips screwdriver,T10 Torx screwdriver and a heat gun. To fix the problem, the first step is to unplug the device. Remove all the cables and accessories connected to the game console. Place the console on the cloth. Lift off the door of the hard drive at the side of the device. Get the #1 screwdriver and unscrew the blue screw. Remove the drive carefully and place it on a cloth.

If your PS3 is not covered by a warranty, then you can remove the sticker on the space where the hard drive was placed. Remove the rubber foot and place in a small bag with the blue screw. Open the top of the device and take out the ribbon cables attached to first generation PS3s. Remove the Blu-ray drive together with the data cables and power cord. Unscrew the WiFi antenna screws as well as the antenna.

Remove the device’s top case and the protective casing. Remove the fan and the cables attached to the battery as well as the hard drive bay. Separate the circuit board from the heat sink and place these on a clean cloth.

Adjust the device’s temperature between 300 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit using the heat gun. Heat the GPU and CPU chips for six minutes. When the circuit board has cooled down, apply thermal compound to the chips. Reverse the disassembly process. Plug the device and check if the problem was fixed.

Additional Tips and Other Important Information

To avoid causing further damages in the device, it is best to work in a well-lit and clean environment. Always check the warranty of the game console before you fix it by yourself. If the device is still covered by the warranty, do not open the device and the best thing to do is to bring it to any Sony Computer Entertainment service center.

How to Repair Deep Scratches on Your Car

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Deep scratches can make your car look bad, no matter how expensive itRepair Deep Scratches on Your Car may be. It is good to bring it to an auto-repair shop. However, this can be a costly thing to do considering the amount of work involved. So why spend that kind of money if you can repair it at home. With the right information and appropriate materials available, anyone can easily learn how to repair deep scratches on your car.

Materials Needed

Fixing this kind of problem is moderately easy. However, you must first have a few materials to be able to do this job. Prepare an old newspaper, a paint spray and a piece of clean cloth. Additionally, you must also have a car determinant. Once you have these things, you can start with this particular task right away.

Steps

A deep scratch is very difficult to fix at home. However, you can make it less visible for others to see, especially if you are not to have it fixed yet. Clean the scratched area using a piece of cloth and car determinant. Be sure to remove all the dust and wax. After cleaning the surface of the scratch, get the newspaper and then cut it in a shape enough to cover the surrounding areas of the scratch.

Check the vehicle identification number of your vehicle. In that all-important document, you can find the exact color of the body paint that was used in your car. Painting the scratch with a wrong color can actually make your car look worse. After buying the right color of spray paint, use it slowly but surely. Spray the paint into the scratch using one motion only.

After covering the scratch with the right kind of paint, it will become less visible. Leave it untouched and allow the paint to dry completely for about 10 to 12 hours. Remove the newspaper.

Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information

Never use just any kind of paint. Be sure that the one you will buy is specifically designed for use in cars and other vehicles. Aside from this, remember to use only the same color of paint. Using something of the same color but with a different shade can only make your car look bad.

In case of super deep scratches, it is best to bring your car to an auto repair shop in order to achieve a more desirable result. As an alternative to newspaper, you can also use a plastic cover.

How to Repair an Antique Wall Phone

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

You can still repair an antique wall phone when it is broken due to some missing parts. Repair an Antique Wall PhoneThere are two ways to do the repairs. One is to use the exact replacement parts and two is to use the modern replacement parts.

Exact Replacement Parts

Finding the exact replacement parts at online vendors and antique dealers is a good idea. The following elements must first be identified before buying the replacement parts to repair an antique wall phone.

1. The exact missing part of the antique wall phone.
2. The dependent parts of the missing part – for example – when a receiver is missing, a cord may also be needed.
3. Identify the manufacturer of the antique wall phone – it is usually written on a decal or metal plate.
4. Identify the antique wall phone model.

You may have some hard time looking for the original parts to replace the missing parts since antique collectors and dealers are always skeptical to disassemble antique phones and retail the individual parts. Disassembling of antique phones could only happen if they are already beyond the possibility to be repaired.

Modern Replacement Parts

Using modern replacement parts is an easier way to repair an antique wall phone since the price is cheaper and there are lots of choices available. You can look for modern replacement parts on various online vendors. Once repaired, an antique wall phone will make a great display piece in your residence.

However, there is an inherent drawback in using modern parts to repair an antique wall phone. The total value of the antique wall phone may lessen compared when it has the exact original parts. But this is really unavoidable and it is better to have an antique wall phone that works than have an unusable one.

Use of modern replacement parts that are made from plastic may have a different appearance than the original parts since they are shaped from a different kind of plastic. A trained eye can really see the difference and oddness of the whole antique wall phone. Using model replacement parts that are made from metal to repair an antique wall phone are much better because they are usually painted black or polished brass.

Repair of the Magneto

Repairing or replacing the magneto is considered to be the hardest part. Enough knowledge and skill is needed to repair an antique wall phone with a damaged magneto. It is best to just look for an antique wall phone specialist in your place to repair the damaged magneto or more harm will be done if you do the repairs yourself.

How to Repair Venetian Blinds

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Window blinds are special covering designed to prevent Repair Venetian Blindsdirect sunlight from entering the house, building or any kind of establishment. Materials that are commonly used for this type of window covering are metal, plastic or wood. In addition, blinds are also used in houses and business establishments to help protect against bad weather and theft. In order to enjoy the best performance out of this window covering, it is good to learn how to repair venetian blinds.

Materials Needed

This moderately challenging task is easier to do if you are equipped with all the right materials. For this, you need a utility knife or scissors, a large table or any flat working surface as well as replacement slats. Aside from these items, prepare a ladder tape, a ladder string and replacement lift cords. Once you have these items, it is easier to accomplish this kind of task.

Steps

Remove the blind from its place. Adjust the wand or tilt cord to put the slats in open position. Unclip the brackets. Put it on top of the large table. Take the end caps off as well as the bottom rail cover. This will expose the clips or knots, which allows you to loosen the ends of the ladder tape and lift cord. If you want to replace the ladders, uninstall them and then put on the replacements. If not, simply remove the lift-cord ends from the rail.

Pull up the lift cords and then remove damaged slats. After that, install the new ladders and put the lift cords back in place. Secure the cover as well as the end caps. When the lift cords or ladders are to be replaced, the cords must be pulled all the way up to the head box. If you wish to change the ladders, disconnect them from the head box, specifically from the tilt tube. Slowly slide the slats right into the new ladders. Connect the ladders to the bottom rail and the tilt tube.

Thread the lift cords alternately through the slats, particularly between the ladder rungs. Attach them to the bottom rail securely. In case you want to change the lift cord, pull its two ends up from the head box, the pulleys and all the way out. To attach the new lift cords, feed its two ends into the head box. Put one end into the first pulley all the way to the head box to the second pulley. Both cords must be fed through the slats all the way down to the bottom part of the rail. Secure by installing the end caps and cover back in place. Put the blind back to its original place.

How to Repair Xbox 360 E68 Error

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

One of the features that Xbox 360 has is its capability to display the codes of the error Repair Xbox 360 E68 Errorthat it has just encountered. With this feature, users can quickly point out the problems that their console has encountered. One of such errors that the console commonly displays in the event of an error is the E68 code. This code has plagued many Xbox 360 users and most of the time it appeared just right after the console was purchased. The E68 code is basically an error signifying to the user that the hard drive of the unit has failed. Other than the code and the message advising the user to contact Microsoft, the E68 error may be signified by a blinking red light on the unit’s main button.

Luckily, the error is easy to solve and it will be worthwhile for Xbox 360 users to learn how to repair the Xbox 360 E68 error by themselves.

The first thing to know when learning how to repair Xbox 360 E68 error for the first time is that there are times when the error just comes up for no reason at all. This is why after encountering the error message, one should reboot the console and see if the message still comes up. Rebooting once or twice may make the error message to go away.

If the error still persists then its time to isolate other factors that may be causing the problem. When learning how to repair Xbox 360 E68 error for the first time, know that some peripherals may be the ones that are the source of the error. This is why one should detach the console’s hard drive first. After detaching it, boot the console and connect it to the Internet. Try to update the console’s firmware with the Xbox Live service.

Knowing how to repair Xbox 360 E68 error is knowing which peripherals must be detached from the system when troubleshooting. Detach the accessories of the unit such as the memory cards and any other peripherals that may be the cause of the E68 error. Boot the console and see if the error message still comes up.

If after all of the steps how to repair Xbox 360 E68 error detailed above are done and the error is still there, then it is time to call Microsoft and send over one’s console to their service center.

Knowing these steps concerning how to repair Xbox 360 E68 error will allow one to address the problem easily and come up with the necessary solution if ever the error comes up.