Omid's DIY web log: January 2011

Windows 7 preview pane only shows icons instead of thumbnails

Issue: Windows 7 thumbnails disappeared

Solution: Start -> Computer -> Right Click -> Properties -> Advanced system settings in left panel -> Click the first button named "Settings" in right panel, and check Show thumbnails instead of icons.

Labels: preview pane, Windows 7

1999 Hyundai Elantra Hand/Parking Brake Adjustment

Following replacement of brake shoes or when the handbreak is not tight even after counting 8 clicks on the pull.

Locate screws on the sides of the center console and remove them all. There are 6. 2 in the front, 2 in the middle, 2 in the back.

Carefully pry the shift lever cover away from the center console. Carefully detach the center console from the front console and pull out the center console. This is a bit tricky.

After center console was removed

The left and right parking cables attached to the handbreak

Parking cable tension adjustment nuts

Raise the back of the vehicle to clear the tires off the floor. Release the parking break and make sure both tires rotate freely and you don't hear the shoes rubbing against the drum.

Apply/pullup the handbreak until you hear 1 "click". Loosen the top nut and tighten the bottom nut by turning it clockwise. As you tighten check the rotation of the back wheels. Stop tightening as soon as you hear the shoes rubbing against the drums. Tighten the top nut. Apply handbreak and make sure it feels tight within 8 "clicks".

1999 Hyundai Elantra Brake Flush/Bleed

audio device missing on control panel windows xp

Issue:
missing audio device on windows xp control panel. May have been a collateral damage caused by earlier attempts to remove traces of the Symantec corporate antivirus edition. In any case no audio on internet applications.

Solution:
1) Check out the service tag on the dell desktop. Lookup for audio drivers for that service tag on Dell's website. Locate audio driver (Soundmax) and download. Run the executable file (in this case R104155.exe).
2) Locate the sndvol.exe file. A good samaritan had a the sndvol32.zip file available for download on a web forum. Download file and place in the windows 32 folder.

Labels: audio device, sndvol32

1999 Hyundai Elantra Rear Drum Brake Maintenance

Good brake cleaner except I wish there was more of it in a can!

High temperature grease for the different brake metal-to-metal points of contact

Drum brake spring set from Autozone

Grease used on the hub and around the wheel bearings

8mm bolt used to separate the drum from the hub

Removing the hub with a breaker bar and large socket

View of the rear passenger side drum break with the old shoes and springs in place

Pull back the boot on the wheel cylinder and check for leaking brake fluid. If present the wheel cylinder has to be replaced.

The first dissassembly step is to remove/unhook the adjustor spring

Remove adjustor pawl (pictured)

Remove the front/leading shoe hold down spring. If you can pull the front shoe away from the adjustor screw assembly then you don't have to wrestle with the removal of the lower and upper return springs. By pulling away the front shoe and releasing the screw assembly you reduce the tension in those springs enough to get them off easily with a pair of long nose pliers.

Applying high temperature grease to points on the wheel plate where the brake shoes will be rubbing against.

Parking brake connection to the rear brake shoe

Applying high temp grease to the threaded part of the adjustor screw assembly

Once you have installed the new rear shoe and put in the hold down spring for it, if you can get the lower and upper return springs prepositioned onto the rear and leading shoes, then by simply pulling the leading shoe and sliding the leading half of the adjustor screw back onto the other half you will spare yourself the painful process of getting the springs back on.