Popular questions

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How do you check the engine oil?
Checking the level of oil in the engine is a critical part of general maintenance and something that you should do regularly (with every fill-up, ideally). Here’s how to do it the right way: Park so the car is...
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Banging under car
Hi. Does it happen during acceleration, deceleration, when turing the wheel, or when just stopped? This information will help determine the source of the noise. This should be looked at soon as possible because it could be a critical component...
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What is the towing limit?
Your SUV can be equipped to tow at least a modest payload. However, it cannot tow the same amount as a pickup truck. Knowing the load limits is essential. You’ll find detailed information about towing and cargo limits on the...
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Engine smoked and had unpleasant odor on 2013 Toyota Prius V
Hey there thanks for writing in about your 2013 Toyota Prius V. It sounds like you had a coolant leak and caused the engine or electrical motor to overheat and shut down. If you would like to have this looked...
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Vibration from passenger side front wheel.
Occasionally, you will be able to measure enough play in the bearing that you can condemn it without further testing. You have to check the factory spec. to see what is allowed and will have to use a dial indicator....
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My Windshield delay wipers. 2012 Ford Explorer
Hi - there are 2 possible sources to this wiper shutoff problem: is the delay mechanism itself - which is electronic - at fault, or the wiper "position" mechanism - which mechanically senses when the wiper arm returns to the...
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Car starts on third try
Unfortunately there can be a variety of reasons as to why your Chevy Impala is having a difficult time starting and it is likely related to the check engine light being on as well. However, due to the information provided...
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When Should I Replace My Wiper Blades?
Your wiper blades are subject to wear from dirt and debris that is wiped from your windshield or has accumulated on the wiper blade itself. The wiper blade rubber dries out and cracks from environmental elements, and they can tear...
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Car slows up on hills
Hello. If the engine is revving high but the vehicle is not maintaining speed, then it is a transmission problem. If the engine is lacking power, then it may be something else like a catalytic converter or a fuel system...
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Car got hot and died
Hi. The car shuts off to protect itself as significant damage can occur without the proper amount of cooling. The first thing to check is make sure you have enough coolant. There may be 4 different lines on the tank,...
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My car engine shutoff while I was driving and I pulled over and tried to restart it but I wouldn't start up
It sounds like you have an electrical issue where the vehicle stalling may be from the charging system and battery lost connections. Your battery could be losing connection from relays clicking on and off, or the battery could be almost...
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Nissan Pulsar 2015 heating problem
Hi and thanks for your question. It sounds like you have two different things that could be fixed. There is either a vacuum line that split open on the blend doors to the heater and a/c system, or the blend...
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Lights keep going out
Hi. Looking at the wiring diagram for your vehicle, I see that the daytime running lights (DRL) were only available in Canada. So, I'm not sure if you mean the DRL or the headlights and tail lamps. Regardless, the factory...
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Car shuts down
Hi there. Any time you run the A/C, the car will be reduced in horse power because the A/C runs off of a belt that powers the compressor. If the compressor is failing or was faulty to begin with, this...
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Vehicle Service Light
If you are referring to the check engine light on your vehicle occasionally the cause of it illuminating is the gas cap is loose. If the rubber seal on the gas cap is intact and the cap is tight, all...
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Wheel off
Hello. When your wheel comes off as you're driving, it means that your lug nuts were loose. The lug nuts hold the wheel tightly to the hub of the car. If these nuts become loose, the wheel will detach from...
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Doors not locking
It sounds like you may be having some type of electrical problem. I Would recommend having a technician come out and inspect the electrical components on the four locks and look for a shorted wire or a bad switch on...
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Car hesitation and misfires
Hello. The most common cause of this is a tune up issue. If the spark plugs are worn then this can happen. If the check engine light is coming on I would typically start by scanning the computer for codes....
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Car shakes after driving for 5 minutes.
These could be two separate issues, but they could also be related. The brake booster uses engine vacuum to provide braking assist. So, if you are having engine performance problems, you might also have a lack of braking assist. This...
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How do I safely clean my car's throttle body?
The best way to clean a throttle body is to use throttle body cleaner with a soft towel to wipe out the carbon deposits on the throttle body. In order to do this, I would recommend having someone help you...
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Issue with Mazda 626, starts up then makes a grinding noise while in park
Your symptoms suggest that the starter solenoid contacts are burned enough to stick in the "Start" position (engaging the starter drive and motor), even when the ignition switch is not energizing the relay portion of the starter solenoid. The starter...
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Not going into gear
Start the vehicle for 10 minutes, then check your transmission fluid level, as per your owner's manual. If the fluid level is low, then you need to add fluid, and have your system checked for leaks. Aside from this possibility,...
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Car overheated and rattling
Hi. Overheating is a serious issue and can cause significant damage to the engine such as breaking the head gasket or even damaging the cylinders and pistons. You should have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the...