Popular questions

Yes, I would use a higher-quality filter because if you do use a higher-quality filter with that synthetic oil, you can change your oil every 7,000 or 10,000 miles instead every 5,000 miles or 3,000 miles. I would use a...

If the headlight circuit uses a ballast, or other control circuitry, the output of the circuit should be tested. If power to the bulb is verified, and is within the Factory Service Manual specification, then the bulb is defective. If...

A scanner has to be applied to look at long and short term fuel trim, the waveform output of the oxygen sensors and other key engine operating parameters. Hesitation is definitely due to a fuel or ignition system fault and...

The blue smoke is due to oil leaking into the combustion chambers. The cause can vary from fairly easy to fix worn out valve stem oil seals to more costly faults such as leaking piston rings or head gasket failures....

My guess is that you have a bad transmission mount or motor mount. You probably noticed this more when the engine is cold because the idle is higher. A trained professional, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to...

Hello. If oil is entering the combustion chamber it will coat the spark plug and cause a misfire. Oil can do this if there is a failure in a valve stem seal or if there is a piston ring failure....

Hi there - your instincts are good! I suspect a failing crankshaft position sensor as well. When they fail, there is often no Check Engine indicator. Checking for spark at the plugs during a "no start" event would be helpful...

Hello, and thank you for writing in. A low transmission fluid level means there is a leak somewhere in the system that needs to be addressed. With automatic transmissions, the coolant levels make the entire operation functional. With low fluid...

It would appear that the vehicle has several problems that will need to be addressed separately. The radio staying on is probably caused by a switch that is not turning off all the way. This may also be related to...

A P0229 is a fault in the throttle position sensor: the sensor that tells the computer how far you are stepping on the accelerator. On the Passat, it is part of the throttle body. The Throttle body has redundant sensors...

Your vehicle is equipped with a blower motor resistor block. It is a modular, replaceable assembly and the part is different for Galants with and without A/C systems. If your blower motor is not functioning, failure of the resistor block...

Hello there. The ABS on most vehicles requires a scanner with ABS testing capabilities. You will need to have the system scanned and codes received and diagnosed in order to learn what is the problem. If you want to have...

Hi there. That is definitely one of the signs that the CVT transmission is having issues. However, without a proper inspection it would be difficult to determine if the transmission assembly is in need of replacement or if there are...

Based on your question I believe that you are having an issue with the serpentine belt tensioner on your truck. The serpentine belt is on the front of the engine and drives all the accessories attached to the engine. This...

Vibration may be caused by many different things such as faulty spark plugs, poor fuel pressure or misfires. Other things such as a faulty idle air control valve may cause the engine idle to drop below the normal idling RPM...

Hi there. It is possible that the transmission is not your problem. If the vehicle is hard to accelerate, it could be cause by a fuel system, ignition system or drive train component failure. Due to the fact there are...

What you're probably hearing is a CV joint. The CV joint is a ball and groove affair that allows the power to be transmitted through the axle even when the car is steering. They usually start to fail around 200...

Hi there. This sounds like the engine timing is off. Check the camshaft sensor and crankshaft sensor to see they are working. The computer has the engine in limp mode to keep the rpm's from going up. If the timing...

Rough idle is typically fuel and/or ignition system related assuming that there are no mechanical problems with an engine such as uneven or low cylinder compression. The problem is diagnosed, in part, using a real time scanner which reports a...

Hello there. In order to help you with diagnosing this issue, we need to know your vehicle's year, make and model; as different vehicles have warning lights that are triggered by individual component failures. Thanks.

Have the computer checked for codes to see if the EGR system is malfunctioning. The ECM is not a common failure, and the failure may be caused by the EGR system or the engine having a misfire in one or...

The glow plug wire harness is not the entirety of the circuit. The circuit fault represented by P0380 could arise in the wiring to the harness that you replaced, including the ground connection. To determine the integrity of the remaining...

You can use an infrared thermometer to measure rotor temperature from side to side and that might give an indication that a caliper is perhaps not retracting. Calipers should be discarded based on mileage and/or years in service. A prudent...

The knocking noise is usually an indication of an internal failure of some kind. This may be related to many different things, however the reduced engine power mode usually indicates that the computer has detected something wrong and is attempting...