Popular questions

Hello, thank you for writing in. The power steering pump is a very common place for the system to leak fluid. The pump can mechanically fail, it can crack, and more commonly the gaskets and seal fail. With that being...

There is nothing that an owner of a 2009 Chevy Traverse, or most GM vehicles from 2007 thru 2011 that are equipped with this design power steering pumps/Rack and Pinions, can do to prevent these failures. Chevrolet has known about...

Yes you can swap out the valve bodies as they will bolt right up, however, the computer will need to be replaced for the transmission controller as it is programmed for a 5 speed and not a 4 speed. The...

Hi, thanks for writing in. The battery only supplies power to accessories when the engine is not running. As the engine starts, the alternator takes over. So, if the CD player was not working while the engine was running, the...

With the mileage that your vehicle has, it is okay to go ahead and do the flush. The flush will do a better job of getting all the dirty fluid out. The reason the flush is not recommended as for...

There could be a knock sensor that is sending a false positive signal to the ECM. If a knock sensor detects engine knock it retards the engine timing to try to stop it. If the knock sensors are working good,...

If the Battery Light is illuminated and the battery passes a load test, then you most likely have a faulty alternator; a charging system test would need to be performed to verify this. On the 2001 540i, the power steering...

Hello. Your brakes can lock up for many reasons. If the wrong brakes were used or if they are contaminated with oil or grease than this will occur. If neither of these are present then there may be a problem...

Differential failure is a likely cause of this symptom. A faulty CV axle or transmission failure are also likely causes. I would recommend having your transmission and differential inspected by a professional to ensure all parts are working correctly.

Hi, if you run tend to run the car all the way down to empty before filling up, the fuel pump will experience more wear and tear. The fuel in the tank helps to keep the pump cool and anything...

The engine computer would need to be scanned to see if the engine is misfiring. That would lead to a possible coil, or spark plug failure. Depending on your car's mileage, there may be a coil and plug issue. I...

The computer will sense the throttle opening when the the accelerator pedal was not pressed and set a check engine code. This caused the computer to close the throttle and not allow it to open until the code is cleared...

It is possible that the idle speed is out of adjustment. Many vehicles from the 1980s have adjustable idle speeds to improve power or fuel economy. I would recommend having the idle speed adjusted to the factory specifications by a...

What exactly was wrong with the "valve cover"? Valve covers are not typically replaced unless the cover is cracked or deformed. On cars, the check engine light can, occasionally, come on, stay awhile and then disappear never to be seen...

Hi there. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide estimates on a steering wheel change since we do not perform this service. Your best bet will be to go to a Mercedes-Benz dealer and have them advise you on the possibility...

You need to check the engine sensors on the front of the engine. They may have gotten damaged by the belt when it broke. The crankshaft/camshaft sensors or wiring is damaged. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from...

Gasoline has a relatively limited shelf life. If gasoline was left in the fuel tank for more than 6 months, to get the car running the tank will possibly have to be thoroughly drained and cleaned. In all events, if...

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...

It sounds like you may have a weak battery, a failing voltage regulator or failing alternator. As you may know, the alternator charges the battery while the engine runs by generating amperage and recharging the battery while the engine turns...

Hello there, thanks for writing in about your 2004 Chevrolet Aveo5. While a revving engine is not a normal operation, there are a few common causes for this type of fault. The most common are a vacuum leak, oxygen sensor,...

Many common faults can cause your 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe's parking brake to get stuck in the "up" position. If the parking break will not apply, the brake cable could have failed, the parking brake lever could be faulty, or there...

Hi. The first thing that comes to mind is the turbo seals. When they leak, pressurized oil enters the intake of the engine. Check your oil level often. Repairing or replacing turbo’s can be very expensive. The other possibility is...

Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. If the brake pedal is easy to use when the engine is running and is stiff when the engine is off, then the brake booster is working fine. The oil is coming from the...

Hi there - thanks for providing a sound sample! Noises are probably the hardest thing to diagnose, even when you can capture a recording like this. I suspect either the brake pad wear warning tab, or the driveshaft center bearing...

This may be a sign of a vacuum leak. High idle speeds or in some cases rough idle, stalling and hissing sounds are common signs of a vacuum leak. When a vacuum leak is present in an engine, this causes...