Challenger Maintenance

Before the advent of the starter motor, engines were started by various methods including wind-up springs, gunpowder cylinders, and human-powered techniques such as a removable crank handle which engaged the front of the crankshaft, pulling on an airplane propeller, or pulling a cord that was wound around an open-face pulley. Among these methods, the hand-crank method was most commonly used to start engines, but it was inconvenient, difficult, and dangerous. The Ford Model T relied on hand...

Alternators were first introduced as standard equipment on a production car by Chrysler for the Valiant model in 1960- several years ahead of Ford and General Motors. They replaced direct current generators (dynamos) because they were lighter, cheaper, more rugged and could provide a useful charge at idle speed. The present-day charging system hasn't changed much since 1960. It consists of the alternator, regulator (which is usually mounted inside the alternator) and the interconnecting...

Early cars did not have batteries, as their electrical systems were very limited. A bell was used instead of an electric horn, headlights were gas-powered and the engine was started with a crank. Car batteries became widely used, around 1920, as cars became equipped with electric starters. The sealed battery, which did not require refilling, was invented in 1971. The Hudson Motor Car Company was the first to use a standardized battery in 1918 when they started using Battery Council...

noise in rear end

The biggest enemy of your Challenger’s body is salt (sodium chloride). It can severely detract the appearance of your car and result in costly body work. Unfortunately, if you live in the northern part of the U.S., and your car is a daily driver in the winter, road salt is unavoidable. Parts most at risk from salt damage include the exhaust system, muffler, coil springs, subframe and hydraulic brake system. When saltwater and metal react, a process called electro-chemical corrosion occurs....

The oxygen sensor, also known as a lambda sensor, was developed in the late 1960s by Dr. Gunter Bauman for the Robert Bosch company. This sensor was made using ceramic coated zirconia and platinum. However, in order to make the O2 sensor more efficient and capable of mass production NTK, in 1990, developed planar oxygen sensors for use in the Honda Civic and Accord. All cars that were manufactured post-1980 feature oxygen sensors. They make modern electronic fuel injection and emission...

Let's debunk the following 9 tire safety myths. Having TPMS means I do not have to check my air pressure unless the warning light comes on. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is designed to provide a warning of low tire pressure in order to avoid tire failure. It will not monitor and sustain the recommended air pressure. In fact, the TPMS warning light is not required to come on until the air pressure is 25% below the vehicle’s recommended air pressure. This means that you still...

A spark plug is a device for delivering electric current from an ignition system to the cylinders of an engine to ignite a compressed fuel/air mixture. A spark plug has a metal threaded shell, electrically isolated from a central electrode by a porcelain insulator. The central electrode, which may contain a resistor, is connected by a heavily insulated wire to the output terminal of an ignition coil, coil pack or magneto. The plug has an electrode than is well insulated from heat and cross...

The switch is in headlight mode(not auto) and the dash display also changes.

The average life of a tire is determined by the conditions a tire is exposed to throughout its life - not measured in calendar years. Temperature changes, sun exposure, storage conditions, usage, and maintenance schedules all contribute to the rate at which a tire ages. It is impossible to determine a tire’s exact life expectancy, because there is no way to account for the level of influence any one of these factors may have on a tire. However, you can defer to the vehicle and tire...

WD-40 is truly a versatile product. It was created in 1953, by three technicians, at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company who were searching for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. Its name comes from the project that was to find a “water displacement” compound. They were successful with the 40th formulation, thus Water Displacement #40, or WD-40 was born. Initially it was purchased, in bulk, by the Corvair Company to protect its Atlas missile parts....

If your Challenger has a compact spare tire, it can be negatively impacted by lots of conditions, from heat, exposure to UV rays, and even time. It is recommended that you check your spare every time you have your tires rotated, approximately every 6,000-8,000 miles. When inspecting your spare, check for: proper air pressure signs of aging damage excessive wear Spare tires age like any other tire. Even if your spare tire never sees any use, it is still affected by the passage of time. As...

The information found on a tire sidewall contains important information about the tire size, load capacity, weather ratings, and even government ratings for treadwear, traction and temperature. For illustration purposes, we will look at a 245/45ZR-20 tire (typical size for a Challenger R/T). Section Width The 245 indicates that the tire is 245 millimeters across from the widest point of its outer sidewall to the widest point of its inner sidewall when mounted and measured on a specified...

Brembo brakes can be found on high-end European brands, such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Dodge high-performance vehicles. It is worthwhile to learn how Brembo became the leader in the design, development and production of original equipment, racing and aftermarket brake components and systems. The company was established in 1961 in Bergamo, Italy. Responding to its growing international success and demand for its products, it established Brembo North...

Synthetic oil is better than conventional oil when it comes to its form and function. Conventional oil could never stand up to synthetic when it comes to longevity and ability to handle extremely high temperatures. That’s why you see full synthetic oils in all race cars. Conventional and synthetic oils begin in the ground. But that’s where the similarities end. Synthetic oil is not only refined but also distilled, purified and broken down into its basic molecules. This process not only...