Popular questions

Hello there, a few different things can cause an intermittent no start condition. The most likely causes are the battery, fuel pump, starter, ignition switch, battery cable or a wiring fault. You have replaced a few of these components, but...

Most importantly, you need to understand, that when the engine overheats and the coolant level gets low, the sensor that relays the temperature to the gauge is reading the temperature of the air in the engine. The sensor normally reads...

Proper battery maintenance will ensure long battery life. A functioning battery is necessary to keep your vehicle running. But batteries can also be dangerous. Whenever you perform battery maintenance, make sure you take all of the necessary safety precautions. To...

The first step is to check the fluid level and condition. If the transmission is full, and the fluid is not brown or black, we can proceed. The next step would be to try and eliminate an electrical issue that...

The SRS system should have faults read out but based on your description, the seat mat sensor in the passenger is most likely the cause. The seat occupancy sensor is used in both determining air bag deployment and seatbelt pyrotechnic...

If you are having an acceleration problem then you should first have the computer diagnosed to see if the throttle position sensor is not stuck at idle position. The throttle is electronically controlled and will not allow acceleration if there...

Hello - there are a couple of possibilities for this behavior, all of them a safety concern. A tire with separating tread can behave in this fashion - an air bubble can form inside the tire which causes low speed...

Hello. Bumpy roads can cause the ABS system to have trouble working correctly. Bumpy roads cause changes in the speed of the wheels which is the main input for the ABS system. If computer is not reading correctly then the...

If your front suspension suddenly fell to the ground then something broke on the suspension. You either have a coil spring or possibly a ball joint that needs to be replaced. The vehicle would need to be put in the...

Hi Amie. Thanks for contacting us today. A rattling noise like you have described is often caused by a loose bracket, belt or pulley. On the driver side, a power steering pulley could be the source of this noise, while...

The reason paint on new cars chips more easily today than it did in the past is because the paint is more environmentally friendly. Traditionally, the majority of car paints were lead-based, but today paints are water-based, which increases the...

What you describe sounds like a charging system failure. If the alternator isn't working, the car can run on the battery for a period of time, until the battery voltage gets below a certain point, usually around 10.5 volts. After...

Hi there. If the vehicle has sat for an extended period of time, it is likely that multiple components; internal and external have 'frozen' or have lost lubricity and are literally stuck. The clutch and transmission specifically can be negatively...

Hello. I would usually start by scanning the computer for codes. This would tell me if the computer is seeing anything out of the ordinary. If there are no codes, then I monitor the output of the sensors as the...

Phones use a trivial amount of power so there is certainly no need to start the vehicle. If your vehicle is equipped with 12 volt outlets and/or a cigarette lighter plug receptacle, those sources may be "always on" and thus...

Hello, thank you for writing in. You will want to do a full inspection of the steering and suspension components. The CV joints can get damaged from sudden impacts such as you described. The axles, hubs, and steering components can...

A timing belt that appears to be slipping its way off its gear, or coming off track, is an indication that the timing belt is loose. When the timing belt starts to slide off its gears, it can rub against...

Hello. It sounds like you have an intermittent problem. If the A/C compressor or A/C pressure switch is working intermittently, this may cause the A/C to work intermittently as well. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come and...

Hi there. This is typically caused by a loose exhaust heat shield. Over time these will come loose and cause this to occur. In most cases the heat shiled can be welded to keep it from making noise. In other...

As long as any new electrical gremlins that pop up are not related to the same passenger airbag circuit, I would doubt that this repair would cause new electrical issues. Ford has had this specific issue come up in...

It is very possible that your engine could be burning oil. This could explain why it's running bad as the engine would be getting too much "fuel". This will cause the engine to run roughly as the air/fuel ratio is...

The diagnostic fee is needed to test the failed system or component. There are times that in the process of diagnosis the problem is found and able to be repaired at the same time without additional charge. The diagnosis fee...

Sent billing question to CS about pricing shock absorbers and having them installed.

Hi there. Thanks for writing in about your 2003 Lexus SC430. Another brake component that may cause the brakes to stick are the front and rear calipers. The calipers are what presses the brake pads against the rotors. If the...