Popular questions

Each door has it’s own door lock actuator. It’s a small motor built into the latch. The most common cause for just one door not locking or unlocking is this. It’s possible there’s a wiring issue too. If you're ready...

If it's economy of service you want, you can't beat the Japanese. The Mazda is a very reliable car and will usually cost less to service than the VW. Most of the time, the Mazda will go over a hundred...

Unfortunately, YourMechanic does not diagnose problems with, repair, or install aftermarket sound systems. I would recommend reaching out to the products manufacturer to determine if it is compatible with your vehicle.

There is a short somewhere causing the lights to work intermittently. However, to provide more insight as to where the short might be, I would need to know exactly which lights are illuminating intermittently. I'm guessing that it is not...

Hi there - while there may be a very slight performance gain to be had by also replacing the rear rotors, you will be fine without doing so unless the rear brake rotors are severely grooved or otherwise worn. The...

Hello, I would start by extracting the problem codes from engine management and the transmission as well. You don't mention it, but surely the Check Engine light is on at this point. These codes will help determine a strategy for...

If the car fails to accelerate or is stalling there is something wrong with the fuel or ignition systems and possibly the air induction system. Only an in-person diagnostic will reveal the cause(s). Possibilities that I would initially consider are...

It is possible that the new catalytic converter is bad. Sometimes, when the converter comes apart inside, it can get into the muffler and cause it to be clogged.

Hello - the use of "sealing" products is a bit of a religious discussion. Some swear by them, others swear at them. Yes, they will sometimes seal a small leak, although head gaskets are less likely to stay sealed due...

Sometimes the hole can be saved, and sometimes it cannot. Methods for repairing the hole include chasing it with a tap, or using a HeliCoil kit. A HeliCoil is a coil-wire insert used to create new threads in the cylinder...

If you want to continue to change transmission fluid on a regular basis then you can do it every 30,000 miles or 3 years. This is a good timing since you did it 1 1/2 years ago, you have another...

The rear wiper arm may be stripped out. If you remove the retainer cover and then move the wiper arm by hand to see if the shaft does not move when you move the wiper arm. Replace the wiper arm...

This may suggest the transmission synchros may be wearing out. Your transmission has small gear synchronizer rings that help to move the transmission in and out of the various gears. When these begin to wear out, you may notice it...

Hey there. The coolant bottle on this car hold pressure and the material can only be sealed using a plastic welding or melting process. Otherwise, replacement is the only recommended repair. The replacement of the bottle is recommended before engine...

Valve cover gasket leaks are located by visual inspection and are usually one of the easier leaks to confirm the source of, since they are high up on the engine. It would't hurt to wash it off, especially if it's...

Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2005 Mercedes Benz E55 AMG. You may have to have the radio command unit reset and reprogrammed by the dealer using the latest software. They will have to reprogram the unit to...

The oil you bought contains extra ingredients to help protect the engine against wear. Check the starburst symbol on the back of the bottle and compare it to the symbol in your owners manual. If the ratings match, go for...

The seat belt retractor should be replaced as an assembly. It can be checked for obvious, and repairable faults, but generally an item like that which is safety related is not worth taking a risk over. Water can exert lots...

The front air bags or air lines may have a leak or the height sensor is defective. The most likely cause is the height sensor is defective.

It could be the alternator. You can go and have any mechanic, anywhere take a look. Most guys do it free--they can check your batteries and alternator. It takes five minutes and they can tell you if the battery is...

The window regulator in that door has broken. The window regulator uses a series of cables and pulleys to move the window up and down. Oftentimes, the pulleys, (which are made of plastic,) will break. When this happens, the cables...

If your vehicle's check engine light illuminates, there is a malfunction that should be diagnosed and repaired. If the check engine light is flashing, that means there is a serious fault, such as cylinder misfiring, that requires immediate repair. Misfiring,...