Popular questions

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Actuator not opening trunk
Since the trunk lid solenoid is working, it sounds like the latch or actuator needs to be replaced. There are also two ways to open the trunk if the key fob or dash button don't work. Pull the "T" shaped...
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Swooshing noise when braking
Brake noises are pretty common. Worn pads can make a rotational scraping noise while driving if the wear indicators are contacting the rotors. The noise will most likely be worse while braking. Performing a visual inspection of your braking system...
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Car leaking antifreeze
It is possible that the leak is coming from a hose; depending on which hose or water outlet the hose is connected to, this could be a relatively simple repair. However, the cooling system should be pressure-tested to verify the...
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Problems with alarm
If you now have a key that fits the door you will have to hook up all the wires back to normal. After this is done, disconnect the battery and wait at least ten minutes. With all of the doors...
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Car jerking past 10 MPH
The shaking steering wheel at relatively low speeds is telling me that there is a tire on the front end of your vehicle that has a broken belt, causing it to be out of round; the jerking could be the...
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I have a vibration in the center of my truck from 55-80 mph
If the driveshaft was rebuilt, I would first check to be sure that the shaft is balanced AND true. The biggest problem though is identifying a facility with the appropriate CALIBRATED equipment and knowledgeable staff. If you can identify a...
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I have a 2007 Mini Cooper le and recently I have a diminished check engine light. Car runs fine but my turbo no longer seems to work.
Hi there. Usually when a check engine light is on half and the other half is black, that is usually an indication for the gas cap not sealing properly. Check the gas cap seal and see if it's cracked, distorted,...
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How do I use the Lock knobs to lock the doors?
Each door has an individual Lock knob directly above the door handle. Push this knob towards the front of the vehicle to lock that door, or push it towards the back of the vehicle to unlock that door.
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I have a 2009 Audi Q9 and everytime I drive it it has a strong gas smell. The car does not hesitate to start and no check engine l
Hi there. On modern automobiles, fuel odors should not be detectable at anytime beyond refueling. A strong smell of gasoline can indicate a leaking fuel supply component (fuel filler hose, filter, or lines) or an evaporative emissions component (purge valve,...
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Carb swap kills motor
Hi Tom: It's very difficult to give you a "guess" as it's always best to inspect the entire set up including your intake manifold, vacuum lines and your emissions hardware, but sometimes when you swap from an Edelbrock 4 barrel...
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Brakes screech
You may be hearing a normal noise coming from your metallic brake pads: a piece of metal could be exposed in the pad, causing this noise until it wears away. Or you may have worn brake pads and the pad...
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Prius is entering its second decade -- what to watch out for?
The battery is a lithium battery just like the rechargeable batteries you buy except better quality. The warranty on the battery is 8 year 80,000 mile warranty on most years of the Prius. The replacement battery may be coming down...
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Vehicle stalled while driving
There are countless potential causes for your problem. The first step is to retrieve the diagnostic trouble code (DTC) associated with your check engine light. This code provides a starting point for the diagnostic procedure. Regardless, any testing will have...
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Noise after timing belt and water pump replaced
It is certainly possible that something could have gone wrong during the repair. The best thing to do in this situation is to return to the mechanic who did the repairs and ask them to give your vehicle as second...
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2013 Toyota Highlander making a lot of noise from waterpump, and I'd like to know to expect in terms of repairs.
The engine has to be removed in order to replace the water pump on this engine. The labor just for the water pump is 13 hours. This does not include diagnosis or additional repairs needed like thermostat or any other...
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Car leaks power steering fluid
There are many hose/line connections involved in the power steering system that can be possible leak points. The power steering pump and steering gear (rack and pinion) are major components and common failure items on your vehicle. Have an experienced...
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Car cut off while driving
There are several parts that when they fail, will cause the engine to stall and not restart. The crankshaft position sensor, ignition control, module, and the fuel pump. The first two will set trouble codes in the computer to aid...
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Car window stuck
The most common failure is the window motor and regulator. I recommend having it checked to see what failed and a window motor and regulator replaced as an assembly is the most common repair. I recommend you have a mechanic...
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Clutch has less resistance than normal
If you are noticing that the clutch is getting too easy to push, this could indicate that your clutch pressure plate is growing weak from broken or overheated springs in the clutch. It could be something else if you have...
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Car Temperature Rising
You should first confirm that the temperature controlled radiator cooling fans are functioning. If they are not working, or not working well, that would cause overheating at idle. The only way to condemn a radiator, other than if it is...
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Can't find where my fuel pump relay is on car
Hi there. This video is actually pretty good to show you how to self diagnose this type of problem that is common with TDI's. I would recommend watching this video first, and if this doesn't resolve your problem - I...
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Steering doesn’t work very well, bad on the highway
Before giving any diagnosis, I would first suggest that you have you car checked out as soon as possible since this could be a safety concern. If you feel it is unsafe to drive, YourMechanic can come to your home...