Popular questions

If the engine is running as poorly as you describe, it will actually be cheaper to pay the diagnostic fee so that the correct repair can be made rather than to continue to waste fuel. Obviously, a poorly running engine...

Hello, and thank you for writing in. There are a tremendous amount of reasons a vehicle will make excess noise while accelerating. If you think it sounds mechanical, metal on metal, then you may want to look into the transmission....

Look around the reservoir, the reservoir cap, and the hoses to the reservoir and see were the leak is coming from. The leak could be a loose hose clamp, cracked hose, or a cracked reservoir. If you need further assistance...

Your car comes with either a remote keyless entry (RKE) key fob, or a standard ignition key. The standard ignition key looks like any normal auto or home key, and operates the same way. To unlock your vehicle, insert the...

An oil filter is a long, rectangular paper element that is folded into numerous pleats. The two ends of the pleated element are sealed together and the filter placed around a perforated metal tube inside a filter can. The perforated...

Hello. If your car is throwing over 20 codes, then I would stop driving the vehicle and have it serviced as soon as possible. That many codes at once is a potential indicator of a serious issue, even if the...

Hello, thanks for writing in about your Mazda 6. If you are looking for a total cost to rebuild the whole transmission it can come out to be close to $2000. This will depend on your local labor rates. It...

Hi there. Check the glow plug circuits and the timer circuit to the glow plugs. The block heater should be plugged in during cold weather if the vehicle is left outside. The glow plugs are to heat up the cylinders...

Many common faults will cause your 1997 Ford F-150 to have a transmission leak and a speedometer that does not function. Transmission leaks can occur in various areas but the most common are the pan gasket, output seal, sensor seals,...

It sounds like either your door lock cylinder or the linkage inside the door has come apart or failed. The linkages inside your door are connected by pieces of plastic essentially. It is possible that one of these connections has...

Hello. The most common coolant leak that suddenly occurs on this engine is a water pump malfunction. It will start leaking coolant and it will appear to come from near the rear of the engine. It is also possible that...

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...

Your coolant overflow reservoir usually bubbles when the engine has a restriction that causes the flow of coolant to be reduced. This can lead to or be a cause of the engine to overheat. I would recommend getting a coolant...

Hi there - the dealer may be refusing to "certify" if because they can't be certain how it was maintained. This may or may not be a problem. A rental vehicle, especially a "working" vehicle like a Transit van, may...

Passengers should never, under any circumstances, be in the cargo area of your car when the vehicle is in motion. The cargo area does not have sufficient safety features for passengers, and it is an illegal place for a passenger...

Hello. The TPMS sensor is located in the tire. It is installed directly in the wheel and includes the valve stem as part of the unit. Keep in mind however, that in order to access the TPMS sensor, the tire...

Hello. There are 2 devices in the front wiring of your vehicle called "Signal Acquisition Modules." One is for the left side of the front, the other is for the right. They act as an electrical "router" and power distribution...

Hello. Creaking is usually due to the brake pad hardware kit being worn. The hardware kit keeps pressure on the brake pads during braking and dampens vibrations. I always recommend replacing the hardware kit when replacing the brake pads since...

Is it really cold outside? If it gets cold enough there is the possibility that the fluid could be frozen in the lines of your washer nozzles. If this is the case, you will need to get the car somewhere...

It sounds like you've covered the basics. Did the transmission shop check the fluids in the transmission and differentials? Very dirty fluid may contain metal shavings that cause the drivetrain to bind under load. It is not unusual to find...

Hi there. If the window went down and will not come back up, then either the window motor has failed or the switch is bad. Most of the time the problem is in the window motor itself. It is much...

In one word, yes. Anytime that you get into a vehicle, check and adjust your mirrors as needed before you enter any roadway. This ensures that you can see clearly to the rear of your vehicle. We're talking about your...