Auto Repair Safety Tips
Doing your own auto repair work can save you money, but
it can also be dirty, dangerous work.
The following tips are provided to help you avoid the
dangers of auto repair so you don't injure yourself or someone else. Most of
these tips are common sense warnings, but there may be some things you are not
aware of that could pose a potential danger.
First and foremost, DO NOT attempt repairs that are
beyond your ability. If you feel unsure about a repair, you should seek out
a competent professional to do the work for you. Better to pay someone who knows
what they are doing than to attempt to fix it yourself and screw it up. Many
systems on vehicles today are very complex. Repairs often require considerable
skill and expertise, not to mention special tools and equipment. A simple
mistake could ruin sensitive (and expensive!) electronic components. So don't
tackle jobs that are beyond your abilities.
Know your physical limits. Do NOT attempt repairs
yourself if you are not physically able to do the work. Replacing certain
components may require heavy lifting (changing or removing tires, pulling a
cylinder head, etc.), crawling under the vehicle, laying or working in an
awkward position, reaching, bending, twisting, pulling, tugging, straining,
jerking and motions you may not be accustomed to making. Use common sense. If
you have a bad back, joint problems or lack the physical strength to do
something, then DIY
auto repair is not for you. Hire someone to do it for you.
Be focused. DO NOT attempt to undertake any
maintenance or repair work on your vehicle if you are tired, not feeling well,
tipsy, intoxicated, on medication or otherwise impaired. Exhaustion, illness,
alcoholic beverages and even some medications may affect your judgment and
perception creating a potential for injury or error. Save the beer for after the
job has been completed.
GENERAL AUTO REPAIR PRECAUTIONS
- Do NOT smoke when working
on any fuel related components (fuel filter, carburetor, fuel injectors,
fuel pump, fuel tank or fuel lines). Better yet, do NOT smoke at all. It is
bad for your health! - Have a fire extinguisher nearby just in case.
The fire extinguisher should have a "B" (liquids & grease fires) and "C"
(electrical fires) rating. - Do NOT smoke or get any sparks near the battery.
Batteries contain hydrogen gas which is very explosive. If jump starting a
battery, make the final jumper connection to the engine or chassis. - NEVER crawl under an improperly supported vehicle.
In other words, never trust a jack alone to hold the vehicle up. Always use
a pair of support stands positioned underneath the vehicle to keep it from
falling on you. Make sure the weight ratings on the support stands is more
than adequate to hold up the vehicle's weight, too. Do not use blocks of
wood, boxes,
wheels or bricks for supports because these may slip or
collapse and allow the vehicle to fall. - Always disconnect one of the battery cables or
remove power fuses for a circuit when doing electrical repair work (as
when replacing a starter, installing a radio, fixing a broken switch or
wiring, etc.). This will prevent accidental shorts that could damage the
wiring or start a fire. This is also a very important precaution to heed
when working under the dash of any vehicle equipped with an air bag.
Crossing the wrong wires might set off the air bag (which could cause injury
and is very expensive to replace). - Watch Out for the Air Bags!. If working on the
steering column or under the instrument panel or dash, always disconnect the
battery and wait at least 15 minutes before proceeding with any disassembly
or wiring tests. Crossing, jumping or shorting wires in the air bag circuit
could cause the air bag(s) to accidentally deploy and possibly injure you.
Air Bag wiring is often color-coded YELLOW. - Never disconnect or unplug any electrical connector
while the engine is running or the key is in the "on" position (unless
you are specifically instructed to do so as part of a diagnostic procedure
in a shop manual). Unplugging connectors while current is flowing through
them creates a voltage spike that can damage sensitive and expensive
electronic components. - Do not wear loose clothing, jewelry, rings,
neckties, scarves or bulky gloves when working on your vehicle. If you have
long hair, tie it back or cover it. These items may become entangled in
pulleys or moving parts causing serious injury, dismemberment or death! - Watch out for moving parts such as
drive
belts, pulleys, fan and other moving parts when working
under the hood if the engine is running. DO NOT lean over a mechanical
cooling fan while revving the engine. - Watch out for hot stuff. If the engine is
running or the vehicle has been driven within the past half hour or so, the
engine, radiator, exhaust manifolds, catalytic converter, muffler and pipes
will be hot. - NEVER open the
radiator
cap on a hot engine. Always allow the engine to cool
for at least an hour before attempting to open the cap. Even then, use
extreme caution. Place a rag over the cap, then loosen it slowly to the
first detent or stop. At this point any residual pressure and steam should
be released. Wait until all pressure has escaped before removing the cap the
rest of the way. - Avoid electrical shocks when working around the
ignition system. The normal battery voltage in passenger car and
light
truck electrical systems is only 12 volts and will not
harm you. But the ignition system bumps the primary voltage up to 25,000 to
40,000 volts which can give you a nasty shock if you touch a spark plug
wire, the ignition coil or distributor cap while the engine is running. On
hybrid
vehicles, the hybrid battery may contain up to 300 or more
volts, which can kill or injure you. Do not touch any ORANGE high voltage
cables unless the hybrid battery has first been disconnected. Also, wear
Class 0 rated rubber gloves that can withstand up to 1000 volts. - Wear eye protection when working under the
vehicle (to keep dirt and debris from falling into your eyes), when pounding
or grinding on anything (to keep metal chips out of your eyes), when jump
starting the battery (to keep acid out of your eyes should the battery
explode), when working on air conditioning components (to keep refrigerant
out of your eyes), and/or when doing anything that might pose a risk to your
sight. - Wear ear protection when using loud pneumatic
tools or when hammering, pounding, grinding, sawing, drilling, etc.
Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss. - Wear breathing protection (an OSHA-approved
mask, not just a cheap dust mask) when spray painting or using other
chemicals that give off aromatic hydrocarbons. A dust mask is recommended
when grinding, sanding or sand blasting. DO NOT use an air hose to blow
brake dust off brake components. Brake dust may contain asbestos or other
fibers that can cause lung disease if inhaled. Use a liquid cleaner to
remove
brake
dust. When using aerosol products that contain VOCs or
solvents (spray paint, throttle cleaner, brake cleaner, etc.), use in a
well-ventilated area, avoid breathing the fumes and wear proper breathing
protection. The best place to use such products is outdoors, or in a large
garage with the door open, or with a ventilation fan that exchanges the
firty inside air for fresh outside air. - Do not open any brake lines or replace any
components in a vehicle equipped with an "integral" ABS system (one where
the master cylinder is combined with the ABS modulator, pump and pressure
accumulator) without first depressurizing the system. This can usually be
done by depressing the brake pedal 24 to 40 times while the key is off. - Use caution when opening any fuel lines on a
fuel injected vehicle. The pressure in some systems may be as high as 80 to
90 psi when the engine is running. So do not open any fuel line while the
engine is running unless your fire insurance and life insurance are both
paid up. Residual fuel pressure can remain in the lines for many hours after
the engine has been shut off. To minimize fuel spray, wrap a rag around the
hose or line before loosening it, or relieve pressure in the line using a
procedure approved by the vehicle manufacturer (refer to a shop manual for
details).
WARNING: On diesel engines, the fuel pressure
inside the fuel lines between the injection pump and fuel injectors is
extremely high when the engine is running (500 to 5000 psi or higher
depending on engine speed and type of injection system!). Never start a
diesel engine with a fuel line or injector disconnected. - Minimize distractions while working on your
vehicle. This includes small children, pets, friends, spouses, in-laws or
others who may distract you from your work. This will go a long ways towards
reducing the risk of injury and making a mistake. - Tell someone if you are going to be working on
your vehicle outdoors or if you are going to be working underneath your
vehicle. Hopefully, they will know how to dial 911 should the need arise. - Avoid shock hazards with extension cords &
electrical tools. If you are working outdoors and using power tools,
make sure the extension cord you are using is rated for outdoor use, that
the extension cord and tools are properly grounded (a "ground fault
interrupt" outlet is recommended), and that the cord has the proper amp
rating for the tools you are using. DO NOT use an adapter plug to convert a
three-prong grounded plug into a two prong plug.
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