Grandam won't crank, security light flashing

If your Grandam won't crank, this could be due to a number of reasons including a bad battery or starter motor. There is also another reason. If you don't hear any clicks when you try to start the car, check the indication lights above your speedometer. If the key is in the ON position and you see the security light flashing, the car thinks it is being stolen. To reset this, turn the key in the ON position and wait ten minutes. After ten minutes have elapsed, the security light will no longer flash and the car should start as normal.

Garbage disposer creates humming sound

If you turn on your garbage disposer and notice that it doesn't actually run but instead generates a humming sound, the main rotating mechanism may be jammed. At the center bottom of the unit, there should be a slot to insert an allen wrench. Attach a wrench and gently turn the unit back and forth. If you're lucky, you will dislodge the object causing the seized motor. Also, check the manual of your unit for further instructions.

Troubleshoot Wake-on-LAN

If you are having difficulties getting Wake-on-LAN to work, verify the following.

• Make sure your device you are trying to wake supports Wake-on-LAN
• Check if you need to enabled Wake-on-LAN on your device (typically, this is done through the device driver properties of this device)
• Make sure the device you want to wake and the device sending the magic packet is on the same subnet
• Make sure you are sending a properly formatted magic packet

Sluggish vehicle performance?

If you have sluggish performance with your vehicle, you may need to clean your fuel system. I came across the Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner while at Costco. A gentleman walked up, picked up a case and said to me "this stuff works." He mentioned he used to work in the automotive industry. I am very reluctant when it comes to products like this. I decided to google it. What I found was very interesting. This item has amazing reviews at Amazon. Here is Chevron's page on this product. The fuel system cleaner has the following subset of features:

• Helps restore fuel efficiency
• Helps restore lost power and drivability
• Protects fuel gauge from malfunctioning by coating all metal surfaces.
• Helps prevent engine knocks and pings
• Cleans chambers, intake valves, ports, and injectors

I will definitely give this a try and report back. Costco sells this item as a case of 6 bottles for $17.

Mower is difficult to start or stops after running

If you experience difficulty starting a mower or if your mower stops after running, you could be experiencing the symptoms of a dirty carburetor. The carburetor is responsible for blending the right mixture of air and fuel. If the carburetor is dirty, the correct mixture is not dispensed. Fortunately, the carburetor is very easy to remove and clean. The carburetor looks like an upside down bell. Simply remove it using a socket ranch. Clean it and put it back together.

OBD-II Trouble Code: P0401 Insufficient EGR Flow on a 2003 GrandAm

EGR stands for exhaust gas recirculation. If you look at the EGR valve, you will see that the inlet is connected to a metal hose connected to your exhaust pipe. The outlet is connected to a small hole on your engine. Apparently, allowing exhaust back into the engine improves efficiency. This is probably because there is unburnt fuel in the exhaust. If your Check Engine light illuminates and you read a P0401 OBD code, the system is telling you that the exhaust flow back into your engine is restricted. This can be due to a faulty EGR valve or the path of the flow is blocked.

1. Test the EGR valve. Remove it and apply voltage across the pins with a 9-volt battery. You should hear the solenoid click. If not, the EGR value need to be replaced. More information on which pins to connect for the test can be found here. In most cases, the EGR valve is still functional.
2. The intake into the engine tends to clog. Remove the rubber air duct connected to the engine. This should give you access to intake hole. This intake hole is in direct contact with the outlet of the EGR valve. A clogged intake hole will be obvious as indicated by the carbon buildup. Spray some carburetor cleaner on the buildup and wait a couple of hours. The carbon buildup will dissolve. Wipe clean and reconnect everything.

If you have solved the problem, you don't have to reset the Check Engine light. After driving the vehicle a couple of times, the light should deactivate automatically.