Car-aches?

Engine Will Not Crank / Start
The electrical system of your car has several different voltage and amperage demand systems. The engine starter circuit is designed to carry 12 volts at high current (amperage). This is why a battery cable is larger in diameter compared to other wires in the electrical system. When the ignition key is activated the starter will turn the engine over, if not we have listed below some of the most popular causes for non starter operation.


Troubleshooting Procedure


A. Test Electrical System Voltage. The best way to test for electrical system voltage is use a voltage meter. Attach the voltmeter leads to the positive and negative terminals of the battery. To check a battery surface voltage remove the positive terminal protective cover. Connect the +positive side meter lead (red) to the positive side battery terminal. Connect the - negative (black) side meter lead to the negative battery terminal. With the vehicle not running and the car sitting over night the battery voltage should be between 12.4 and 12.6 volts. To test the system without a volt meter activate the headlights, if they illuminate brightly the electrical system probably has sufficient voltage. If the headlights are dim or not working the battery charge is low or the battery has failed and needs replacing.


B. Check Battery Cable Terminals:
The starter circuit of your car is a basic electrical circuit and is subject to corrosion and its effects.
The first sign that corrosion is effecting the start is when you activate the ignition key to the start position the whole electrical system of the car shuts down.
Once the connection has cooled the circuit will reconnect and car electrical will return. Inspect the battery terminals for corrosion but use caution. These deposits are corrosive, and are by-products of a normal battery charge and discharge function. While wearing protective goggles and clothing, use a garden hose to rinse the battery and surrounding area completely. This will dilute the acid to a non-corrosive state. You can also sprinkle baking soda to help neutralize the battery acid. Use a wire brush on the battery terminals to clean thoroughly and reassemble, recheck charging system as needed. If the corrosion is excessive the battery cables will need to be replaced, battery acid migrates down the cable strands and deteriorates the cable internally.


C. Starter Voltage/Amperage Draw Test. Turn the headlights on and observe, then activate the ignition key to crank the engine over. If the headlights stay bright the electrical circuit is not connected, therefore no voltage drop. A popular reason for this is the winding inside the starter has shorted or the starter armature brushes have worn out and replacement is recommended. If headlights dim way down it means your battery is weak and needs either replacement or recharge. As a rule of thumb, a typical car battery will last three to four years before replacement is needed.


D. Check Neutral Safety Switch/Clutch Safety Switch. A neutral or clutch safety switch is used to disengage the electrical circuit from the ignition key to the starter motor as a safety device. Automatic transmission vehicle gear selector needs to be either in park or neutral before the engine will crank. If the gear selector is in any other gear sections the engine will not crank over. A standard transmission vehicle clutch peddle needs to be fully depressed before the engine will crank over. To test this circuit a automotive test light is needed. Attach one end of the test light to engine ground and the other end at the starter trigger terminal of the starter solenoid. The test light should illuminate when the ignition switch is activated (crank engine over). If the test light illuminates the starter motor/solenoid has failed and needs to be replaced. If the test light does not illuminate suspect a neutral safety switch or clutch safety switch. A wiring diagram is needed to trace power from the ignition switch through the safety switch and down to the starter solenoid. Replace failed components as needed and recheck system.






















E. Testing Anti Theft Device. Some cars have a anti theft system that will not allow the starter to operate. If this system malfunctions the car will not crank over even after the alarm has been disabled. To test this system observe the "security" light on the dash or instrument cluster. If this light flashes while the key is being activated the security system is in failsafe mode. If you have a aftermarket alarm system in your car and you think it may be suspect locate the main system interrupted relay and bypass main control circuit . If car cranks over the alarm system has failed and replacement is needed.

F. Check for Internal Engine Damage. If your engine has had a major malfunction it will not turn over. To check for this condition install a socket wrench on the front crankshaft bolt, then try to rotate. The engine will turn with a certain degree of difficulty but it should rotate a full 360 degrees. If the engine doesn't turn disassembly is required, repair as needed and reassemble.

special thanks to 2carpros.com

bAsket-mOvErS

Lay-up



Lay-up: Approaching from the right (technique reverses from the left), the shooter grasps the ball in both hands as his/her right foot hits the floor, keeping the body between the ball and defender.

Come down hard on the left foot, and thrust sharply upward with the right knee, carrying the ball in both hands as high as possible with the right hand behind the ball, wrist cocked and facing the basket, and the left hand in front, wrist away from the basket.

This last step is a shorter step that enables the shooter to convert his forward motion into vertical jumping thrust. At the top of the high jump, with both arms above your head erect, eyes fixed on a spot high above and to the right of the basket, allow the left hand to fall away. Your right arm, wrist, and fingers extend to place the ball against the sighted point in a motion similar to that of trying to grasp the rim from a running start without the ball.

Jump Shot

Shot: This shot is the most used, today. When preceded by a fake, a quick accurate jump shot is virtually impossible to block. In fact, the fake is essential to its effectiveness. Unless he/she is considerably taller, to defend the jump shooter, the defender must be able to synchronize his/her own jump perfectly with that of the shooter. This is a difficult task by even the simplest of fakes.

Therefore, once the technique of set shooting has been perfected, it becomes easy to expand one’s arsenal of shots to include the many varied jump shots.

Takeoff can either be from a stationary position, facing any direction, or from a position on the move after dribbling, pivoting, or receiving a pass.

The position of the legs once in the air is a matter of preference. It all depends on what is comfortable for the individual. I have seen some great shooters tuck their legs, others leave them extended and spread and some extend them, but keep them together. It is my opinion that all this depends upon balance, distance from basket, and the defensive pressure. The individual style, the following technique is essentially the same for all jump shots. Begins the crouch, the jump shooter carries the ball in both hands to position near the shoulder of the shooting side.

If player is moving, the crouch occurs on count two of a two-count stop and is initiated by the foot opposite the shooting hand. If he is stationary, the crouch is with both legs and weight evenly distributed on balls of both feet. The elbows are held slightly forward and not necessarily under the ball. The hands are positioned with the off-hand leading and the shooting hand trailing. Spread the fingers comfortably wide as for a one-handed set shot. While sighting the target and as the legs unflex at the start of the jump, the shooter raises the ball with both hands to a shooting position slightly forward and either straight above, or above and to the shooting side of the head.

Taller players tend to prefer a more overhead position than short players. Just prior to reaching the apex of the jump, the shooter with palm of the shooting hand facing the basket, the shooter cocks the wrist so that the palm faces up and forward and his off-hand rides high and in front. Considerable concentration is necessary to ensure continuous sighting as the shooter’s hands and forearms cross his line of sight.

Slam Dunk

Slam dunk is a basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was coined by Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn. Prior to that, it was known as a dunk shot.

The slam dunk is one of the highest percentage shots one can attempt in basketball as well as one of the most crowd-pleasing plays. Other terms for slam dunk include "jam", "stuff", "flush", "cram" or "throw down." Slam dunks are also performed as entertainment outside of the game, especially during Slam dunk contests. Perhaps the most popular such contest is the NBA Slam Dunk Contest held during the annual NBA All-Star Weekend. The first slam dunk contest was held during an American Basketball Association All Star Game.