Popular questions

The car's ability to crank over does not depend on whether or not it has gas in the tank. Since the dash lights light up, this suggests you have power so we can rule out the fact that there is...

Hello...it is wonderful to hear from a Tercel owner!! I owned a 1985 Tercel for 25 years!!! One day, on the freeway, the rust on the front sub-frame finally caused the car to basically "crack" where the control arm is...

Yes, per the manufacturer's specifications, 5W30 grade is the recommended oil for this motor.

Hi there. In most cases, bluish white smoke is caused by damaged piston rings, or damaged cylinder head valve guides and is referred to as oil blow back. I am not a believer in "stop smoke" products, as they typically...

Hi. It sounds like you are having problems with you automatic sliding side door. The door has a bundle of wires that run along the bottom. Over time, these wires break and cause electrical issues with your vehicle. Issues range...

This suggests you may have intermittently firing ignition coils which may be causing occasional misfires causing the rough idle you describe. This is somewhat common as the ignition coils begin to wear out and begin to sporadically. Ignition coils are...

You should have the engine checked for overheating as this may be reason cooling fan stays on. You should check coolant level to see if it is low and if it is low then check for coolant leaks. If not...

For the starting issue the drive authorization system should be looked at. Low battery voltage or a component failure can cause the starter to not turn over. The other items are maintenance items and can be taken care by a...

It sounds like the Idle Air Control valve is gunked up. It may be possible to clean it, or it might have to be replaced. A YourMechanic professional can help to diagnose the stalling issue and replace the idle air...

Hello, and thank you for writing in. When dealing with these issues there needs to be a general inspection done of the drive shaft, transfer case, differentials, and axles. Look for any obvious signs of damage, fluid leaking, or parts...

I would recommend having the check engine light codes read by a qualified professional to determine what the cause of this issue is. When the check engine light in your vehicle comes on, trouble codes are then stored in your...

The most likely cause is a dirty throttle body. The throttle body controls the amount of air the engine is getting. Your engine is drive by wire meaning there are sensors in the accelerator pedal, and a motor controlling the...

Your car is overheating and you mention adding coolant a couple times, but it is unclear if a coolant leak is a "cause" or an "effect" of overheating in your case. That is, if you have a coolant leak, eventually...

That might be a stepper motor failure. The gauge pointer is electronically controlled by a stepper motor. The stepper motors are soldered to the instrument panel circuit board and can be unsoldered and replaced. You can do it yourself, hire...

The air bag readiness Warning Light is located on the instrument panel. This light illuminates when there is an issue with the air bag system. Since the air bags are an extremely important safety in your vehicle, you should schedule...

I'd recommend getting a Tundra if you want a pickup truck, but if you want speed get a Mach One. You mentioned that it has 9,000 miles on it, you'll want to make sure it is not 9,000 miles at...

Hi Michael. Thanks for contacting us today. Anytime you add a "load" to an engine by placing it in gear, minor glitches tend to be accelerated. For example, dirty fuel injectors, mass air flow sensor, EGR valve or even a...

If your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock braking, you have to either bleed the ABS pump and valving (per Factory Service Manual instructions) or use a bi-directional scan tool to remotely actuate the ABS system during brake bleeding. Otherwise, in...

It sounds as though you have done an almost complete tune-up of the vehicle. However, there may be a few components left to check. A clogged fuel filter can restrict fuel volume causing a lean condition, and set random...

Double check the coolant level to make sure that after you have the heater turned on your coolant did not get low. If it is full then you need to replace the water pump and the thermostat. The water pump...

Hello. If adjusting the e-brake helped then the issue is usually in the e-brake shoes. It is common for the hold down hardware for the brakes to wear out allowing the brakes to shift. When this occurs they will rub...

This may be a sign of a vacuum leak. A vacuum leak can be one of the most frustrating and difficult problems to diagnose. High idle speed is a common sign and stalling is another. Confirmation of an engine vacuum...

Hi Daniel. Thanks for submitting your question today. You are correct - that estimate is outrageous. However, it's on PAR with typical Mercedes-Benz, BMW or other European OEM dealership repair costs. In support of the dealer, the fuel system on...

Check the simplest things first. There is the possibility that the microchip in your key is defective. So called chip keys do fail and one failure mode is you car won't start. Perhaps you have a known good duplicate key...

Your Accord features a number of different seat controls that will help you find the perfect (and safest) seating position behind the steering wheel. These include: Forward and Back: Slide the largest bar forward or backward to move the...