Popular questions

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Loud sound when eccelaratjng.
Hello Hazel, thank you for writing in. When the noise is associated with acceleration, then the issue is likely exhaust, transmission, or engine related. There is also the option that the RPMs are reaching higher levels before the vehicle shifts....
Question
Recommendation and information on seal conditioners and synthetic oils
No, not to my knowledge. The problem with all kinds of sealers and engine oils is that they have all kinds of additives but no one ever tells you what the exact ones are. So you really can't compare. The...
Question
Car won’t start, battery is good. Head lights in dash won’t come on. Radio comes on. Can’t lock doors.
The only way to rule out the battery as a cause, or contributing factor, is to perform a load test on the battery. If a battery has internal defects, even if fully "charged" it may not be able to supply...
Question
Coolant light is on
The coolant temperature sensor may have a malfunction or your engine computer needs to be reprogrammed. The problem may occur when going through temperature extremes. The computer can sometimes read a rapid change of temperature which will turn on the...
Question
Car is leaking
It does sound like the weather stripping is the cause of this issue. I would recommend using parts from the manufacturer for proper fitment. I would recommend having a quote provided from a local body shop or upholstery shop for...
Question
Vibration at low speeds in first and second
Vibrations at low speeds or when the clutch initially engages are usually caused by hot spots on the flywheel. These hot spots are hardened areas of the flywheel that are caused by heat. When the clutch tries to engage on...
Question
My truck selectively shifts hard
Hi there. From the description you provided, it seems you have more than one thing going on with your vehicle. The hard shifting, and the starting off in second and then jumping into first as you accelerate, could be a...
Question
Difficulty in shifting into 5th and reverse
To answer your question it is the transmission and clutch. The transmission will need to be disassembled and the shift rod bushings linkage and the gear checked for wear or broken bushings and bearings. When the transmission is out, then...
Question
Coolant temperature too high - 2011 Audi A7 Quatro
It sounds like the engine thermostat, a device that reduces coolant flow until the engine has reached it's operating temperature, is not opening. This prevents hot coolant from getting to the the radiator where it is cooled. If the dealer...
Question
Grinding noise shifting in reverse and clutch goes to floor
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 1988 Pontiac Fiero. It sounds like the clutch is dragging and not releasing properly. The problem could be with the clutch itself (warped disc or pressure plate), or a problem in the...
Question
What does the manual transaxle shift indicator mean?
The manual transaxle shift indicator is located on your instrument panel. This light illuminates to let you know which gear you should shift to if you would like to maximize your fuel economy.
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How do I end a phone call?
You can end a phone call at any point by turning the MENU/SEL knob to Hang Up, then pressing the knob to select Hang Up.
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My car is overheating
If you have replaced the thermostat and radiator and the engine continues to run hot and cold and temperature is not controlled correctly. You should replace the cooling fan control switch and make sure all the air is removed from...
Question
Ignition switch is going out.
This sounds like your ignition lock cylinder and ignition switch both need to be replaced. A mechanic would need to replace the lock cylinder first and then check the switch operation to see if it will need replacement also. ...
Question
After parts replaced, bubbles in reservoir
Hello. If all of the air is out of the system then the issue is internal. It is typically caused by a blown head gasket. This can occur when the leak is really small. When it is small enough the...
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Hard steering while driving
If you are losing engine RPM, that itself will cause loss of steering assist, but in that scenario the engine has a stalling, or loss of power, problem. The potential causes in that scenario are quite varied and numerous. If...
Question
can i charge my car battery with car cables still connected and charger machine on
You should not have a problem as long as you charge at a low rate and do not turn on the key while charger is on. A lot of people use a trickle charger to keep their battery topped off...
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Replaced many items, but the car still doesn't start
Back away from the parts cannon. Just kidding, but on a serious note that sounds like alot of unnecessary parts have been replaced. Why don't you let a mechanic take a look at it for you? We all believe in...
Question
Ok, this is a little long but I'd love to hear your guys thoughts. I bought a 2014 Impreza AWD 135k miles with the automatic CVT transmission two days ago to flip ($1000) worth (~$7500). The guy got the car from a dealer auction, said it needed a transmission, and didn't want to put the time into it. I'm a car flipper hobbyist so I was looking for something to occupy my time. The car starts and the engine is great, no lights on the dash. The underlying problem is when I shift the car into a gear, THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. It shifts fine, but the second I rev the engine to try to move the wheels, the dashboard lights up like everyone else here. Turn it off and on again, it goes back to being fine. OBD Scanner says p0700, p2750, and p2746. 1st code is a general transmission problem code, the other two are the primary and secondary speed sensors on the transmission. My initial plan was to get a trans from a junkyard ($450 used) ((car-parts.com) and throw it in, thinking that might cover all of my bases. So I started to drain the fluid to find out it looks dark brown or nearly black. (Youtube shows this might be common) I understand ALOT of people fix this with a valve body ($350-$450 used) or brake light switch (my lights all work and it shifts into gear fine) but after reading this, I might get lucky switching the speed sensors (2x $88). I refilled the transmission with CVT Fluid from the dealership ($75) so I can do an official diagnostic with a multimeter to check harnesses and the TCM (everything checks out). Unfortunately I need to at least lower the transmission a bit so I can take off the primary speed sensor, but if this doesn't work I'll get a transmission from a junkyard and swap it. Either way idk If I can lose on this flip. I'm hoping someone might respond by tomorrow to let me know if both speed sensors being bad would stop my car from moving.The next step in the diagnosis is to replace the speed sensors, but the codes were p0700, p2750, and p2746. I feel like it's weird for both sensors to go bad at the same time. But if they did, would this prevent my car from moving while in gear?
Question
Engine not turning over when starting.
The most common problem for the engine that will not crank (if the battery is okay) is the starter. I recommend that starter is checked for proper power getting to it from the battery and the ignition switch before replacing...
Question
Car won't start and battery seems fine
Hi there. In most cases, when you attempt to jump start the vehicle and it doesn't work, it's due to a damaged starter relay, the starter motor or the ignition relay itself. Before you complete any repairs however, it's a...
Question
Radiator leaks 2003 Nissan. Sentra gxl automatic transmission gxl model
Hi There, Depending on how severe the leak is or where specifically on the radiator may depend on how the fix may be approached. In some cases the radiator leak may be repaired without replacing the radiator. In other cases,...
Question
Slow starting
Your car's accessories (i.e. interior lights and various other dash lights) are designed to go out as you turn the key to start the engine. This is purposely designed this way to direct as much power as possible to the...