Popular questions

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Car makes scraping sound and rattles
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2001 BMW 740iL. It sounds like you have more than one problem here, and the scraping noise can be something dragging or rubbing and can only be checked and diagnosed in person....
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Car turns off for a second or two while at a stop
This may be caused by many different things, however what is most common given this kind of symptom may be a dirty or failing idle air control valve. This is a unit that monitors air intake as it is mixed...
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I have a 2006 Mazda 3 and the front bumper is damaged, how much would it cost to replace, paint, and install a new one? 2006 Mazda 3
Hello - unfortunately, this is not a service YourMechanic offers at this time. This task is best handled by a collision repair estimator at a reputable paint and body shop. S/he is trained to evaluate visible and not-so-visible damage, and...
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How do I use the trip meters?
The trip meters show you how many miles you have driven over a certain period. This can help you determine how many miles you drive a month, or how much distance you have covered during your current trip. Your car...
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Vehicle starts sometimes, but dies and won't restart.
To clarify, the year (1978) of the Chevy Suburban in question you are asking about refers to some EFI terms that a vehicle of this year would not have otherwise come with from the factory. The answer below assumes this...
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Oil light on, coolant light on, buzzer, odometer quit working
Hello. I would have the engine oil pressure checked immediately. Having the correct oil level isn't enough if the engine is unable to maintain sufficient oil pressure. It's possible the coolant level and oil pressure sensors are faulty, hence the...
Question
Car overheating and losing power
Were you having any problems before having the plugs wires and spark plugs changed the first time? I have seen instances where not all of the spark plugs were changed because the back 3 plugs can be difficult to reach....
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My car won’t start. The lights and radio comes on but it won’t turn over
Depending on whether or not the vehicle will turn over will determine what the next step should be. If the engine does not turn over, I would recommend checking all connections related to the battery and check to be sure...
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I think my daughters AWD is not working on her 2005 BMW X5. How much does something like that cost to fix?
Hi there: If your daughter's BMW X5 has an illuminated ABS, Trac Control or AWD light on the dashboard, it's likely that a problem exists with the AWD that is causing the traction issues on your slanted and icy driveway....
Question
How do you use Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control with the in-dash navigation system?
If you have a built-in navigation system and your car also has Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control, you’ll find that operating the system is a little bit different from either the manual climate control or the non-navigation based Dual Zone...
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Oil leaking from engine (not enough to leave driveway spots but still a leak) white/grayish smoke on startup only. No smoke while
External leaks could be from any of the oil seals on your engine and the cost to repair would depend on exactly where the leaks are located and how many seals need to be replaced. Certain seals are inaccessible unless...
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Got my oil changed this morning and now my oil light is on and the cold/hot gauge is passed the h.
Hello. It sounds like the engine was not filled all the way. A lack of engine oil or a low engine oil level will cause the oil pressure to drop and can cause the engine to overheat as well. I...
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Tapping noise when under a load.
Hi there. The sound that you provided for the tapping noise sounds as if your engine is dieseling when operating. This is a noise that occurs when the engine is either running too hot or has too much carbon on...
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Car starting at 1000 RPM, having brake issues
It sounds like you might have a vacuum leak at your brake booster, or maybe the booster itself is bad. The booster uses engine vacuum to assist the brake pedal so when it fails, you can get a vacuum leak,...
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Car still won't pick up speed the spark plugs were bad but not sure if the coil packs could be bad to but I don't have a way of kn
Hi there. Anytime you have a check engine light on the dashboard, it's because the computer detected an error picked up by one of the sensors on your car. By having a professional mechanic come to your location and complete...
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Coolant is boiling
You need to check to see if the thermostat is opening properly and if the cooling fan came on. The upper and lower hose should be hot if it is open. If this is your first time running the car...
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Car stalls when warm
This may be a sign of a faulty ignition coil. Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted repeatedly. The insulation develops small fractures that open when heated and close...
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Getting horrible gas mileage.
When you say you are getting horrible gas mileage, you do not specify how bad. If another shop says it is running ok then it may be OK. If you are getting a drop of more than 2 to 3...
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Remote car starter not working
If your vehicle has an aftermarket alarm that has an immobilizer that no longer functions; the alarm system will have to be removed and factory wiring repaired in order to start your vehicle. I suggest having a qualified mechanic help...
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Sunroof will not retract
A leaking sunroof is generally causes by a clogged sunroof drain. Believe it or not, sunroofs are not watertight. They have channels that drain the water that comes in down tubes throughout the car. When these tubes clog up with...
Question
Car makes clicking sound
It sounds like your battery may be dead. If you hear a clicking noise and the starter will not engage then your battery is more likely the cause. I would have a technician come out from YourMechanic and inspect the...
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My a/c isn't blowing cold air.
The belt has to be on the compressor for the system to work. If you haven't already done so, installing a new belt will be a good first step and it may solve all your trouble. But if the air...
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My 2000 chev blzr ran hot then water was added after cooled down seemed OK drove it did OK then ran hot again
If your engine overheats within 5 minutes then I would say it is a thermostat is stuck closed. In your case you drove longer than this before it overheated. You may have a water pump not pumping enough water or...