Popular questions

Question
Steering wheel clicking
Hi, this comes up often on this vehicle. The most common cause of it is the plastic steering column cover. They warp and hit the steering wheel and cause this noise. A mechanic will typically remove the covers to see...
Question
Suzuki Grand Vitara with P0717 code.
Hi there: In most cases the wheel sensor or the electrical harness attached to the sensor is the source of this error code. You might want to replace both, reset the ECU and see if the code goes away. If...
Question
Floorboards wet from coolant leak.
There are a few things that could cause a wet floor. A clogged evaporator drain if you are lucky and a leaking heater core if you are not so lucky. To address the leaking coolant, I would have a technician,...
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Vehicle making grinding noise when turning right
This is typical of a hub bearing that needs to be replaced. The noise varies when turning in one direction because pressure is being put on the worn bearing during that turn. In extreme cases the hub and tire will...
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Dodge Stratus 2002, Car won't start and No clicking sound
Hello. If there is no sound or any other response when trying to start your vehicle then it is usually a failing battery, a bad connection at the battery, or possibly a failed starter. There are other things it can...
Question
How do I use the sunshade?
The sunshade covers the moon roof, to keep excess light and glare from entering your vehicle. When you open the moon roof, the sunshade will automatically open as well. However, at any point you can manually open or close the...
Question
How does the air bag system work?
Your car’s air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) is designed to deploy the air bags during certain types of impacts. They will not activate in all accidents, even if they seem like they’re severe enough. Here’s what you need to...
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Battery light on
Hello. The battery light turning on when the engine is running indicates that system voltage is low. Everything required to run the engine, and everything in the car, will drain the battery. Most likely, it is the alternator, but the...
Question
What does the Charging System warning light mean?
The Charging System warning light is located on the instrument panel, and is connected to the battery. When the battery is not charging properly, the light will illuminate. Tip Like all warning lights, the Charging System warning light briefly illuminates...
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Difficulty putting gas in the tank
Yes, I can guarantee that is a venting valve because that's how it works. When you refill the car, it is supposed to open up and vent. All the air that's coming when you put the gas in the tank,...
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Car leaking gas and oil
Fluid and oil leaks unfortunately will only get worse over time. The main fluids that could be leaking from the rear could be a serious concern for the brake fluid or fuel. Either of these fluids leaking could be potentially...
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Crackling, grinding noise coming from the front.
As you are guessing, yes, the noise could be due to wear or a failure in the transmission or differential. A trained mechanic will sometimes be able to "source" the noise simply on inspection, once he or she hears it....
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I was driving on the highway and I lost power and the car cut off. The car will not start back up and it has gas in it has coming through the gas line.
Hi there. Check the ignition system and see if the spark plugs are sparking. If the spark plugs are not sparking, then check for power to the ignition coil. If there is no power to the ignition coil, then check...
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Battery runs down in two days if the engine is not running. The alternator has 14 volts.
Hi there. It seems that there is a parasitic load on your vehicle's battery when the vehicle is sitting and not running. Check the battery for a voltage and see if the charge is 12.6 volts. If the battery is...
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My car ran fine. It does use up a lot of oil but because of oil piston rings( i beleive thats term?) and i will replace this.
It sounds like you may have some won piston rings that may be creating enough of a compression leak to cause the motor to no longer run efficiently. As you may already know, the compression rings help to create a...
Question
Kia Rio infrequently and at different temps/speeds, sputters and has engine hesitation; Several parts already replaced but still has problem
In order to diagnose this problem, a mechanic would need to duplicate the problem happening. The most common problem would be the fuel pump is losing pressure, or one of the sensors (like the throttle position sensor) is intermittently causing...
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Starting problem: I turn the key on and everything on the dashboard comes on, all the lights work, but the truck wont start?
Hello. Try checking underneath the steering column where there should be two torque headed screws that connect the shift lever to the cable. These tend to get loose or even fall out sometimes. There are also bushings in the shifter...
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Exhaust making noise.
You may need a new exhaust manifold that got warped or cracked. The pipes that connect to the manifold are known to rust out and break the manifold bolts.
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My friend went over a curb, how damaging is this to the car?
Running into or on curbs can never be a good thing. If you feel that the wheel or suspension was damaged in any way then I would recommend you having it inspected by a mechanic to ensure your safety.
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Rear lights not working.
Looking at the wiring diagram for your vehicle, I see that none of these circuits share a common ground. They do however, all receive power from the totally integrated control module (TIPM). This module is basically a smart fuse box....
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Check Hybrid System light on
Hi, there is a recall for Prius' of that year. Typically when this happens the car is not able to be driven so it sounds like your issue is different. A certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, would be...
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Crank seal leaking
Hello! I suggest getting a second opinion of the source of the leak, because a crank seal will not leak a fluid other than oil. The leak may be from a transmission seal, which is located almost "face to face"...
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Engine oil pressure warning light on
The engine oil pressure light is the to warn the driver when there is not enough oil pressure. This light usually comes on when the oil is far below the needed pressure to properly lubricate the engine. The oil level...
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Strange clunking/knocking noise coming from the front of the driver's side.
The tire wear represents misalignment, notably too much negative camber if the wear is on the inside edge of the tire. Such wear can be caused by worn ball joint but that would have to be evaluated. There are on...