Popular questions

Question
When shifting it bogs down then rpm shoots up and bogs down again before returning to normal.
Is the engine "new" or "re-built"? If it is a used engine, check engine compression. Loss of power on acceleration can be due to plugged fuel injectors, faulty oxygen sensors, fuel pump and/or filter, vacuum leaks including that caused by...
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Hello, when I make a sharp right turn, my car makes a whining noise. Could this be my ball joints or cv axle?
Hi Amber. Thanks for contacting us today. Usually a whining noise while turning is an indication of either worn wheel bearings or low power steering fluid. It is also possible that a steering suspension component might be loose or worn,...
Question
my car engine is smoking. can I safely drive it to dealer? (10 miles)
It depends on the source of the smoke. If the vehicle is overheating, any use could quickly ruin the engine. If the smoke is from engine oil dripping onto a hot exhaust manifold, you could end up with an engine...
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Key stuck in ignition of 2008 Chrysler Town & Country
Hi. This is a fairly common issue with the Town and County's around this time. There is a module in the ignition that communicates with the car's computer and won't let you remove the key if it doesn't believe the...
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Hear rattling coming from back end of car especially when I go over bumps. Is that a stabilizer problem?
Hello - it is certainly possible that the noise is a worn, or loose, stabilizer (aka sway bar) link. It could also be a loose shock mount, trailing arm or other control arm that is loose. I would recommend having...
Question
I need an oil pan gasket, I've had a slow leak jiffy lube tells me 2003 Pontiac Aztek
Hi there - yes, it's probably safe to drive with a slow leak; however, increasing the frequency of checking your oil level becomes crucial with a known leak. Checking every day is not unreasonable if the leak is severe. I...
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My RPMs keep going up and down irregularly
Engine surging can be caused by several issues. Typically in diagnosing these types of issues, you want to start by having your engine scanned for diagnostic troubleshooting codes. If scanning the computer doesn't pull any codes, the best way to...
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Crunching, grinding, popping under front end
It sounds like the brake pads or wheel bearing may have failed. If the brake pad surface is worn, it will grind against the rotor surface, especially during braking. The bearings could also be to blame. Over time the...
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Why does my car jump/shake when turning left, after i got my right cv axle and lower ball joint replaced?
Hello - from your description, it sounds like the left (driver) side CV joint and axle are bad as well, and should be replaced. The outer CV joints take a beating while turning and applying power. It is possible that...
Question
Is an HDM headlight driver module the same as a relay switch?
Unfortunately many manufacturers will call a part by one name while call it something else. However a module is a computer and a relay is more like a switch. If they recommended a module it is likely a computer failure....
Question
Lean fuel condition and transmission problems
Hi There, There is a good chance that if the fuel cap was left off in a heavy rain that there is a fair amount of condensation or water in your fuel tank, which will definitely cause problems with starting...
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I hear a creaking/squeak kinda noise when turning my steering wheel
Hello, thank you for the video. If the noise occurs when the vehicle is sitting still like the video shows, then you are less worried about any suspension components, and you want to focus in on the tie rods, ball...
Question
How do I know if I need engine mounts?
Greetings. Engine mounts are made of rubber that is designed to dampen vibration, in time the rubber will dry up and loose its ability to absorb vibrations. The vibration caused by a bad motor mount will increase gradually, so your...
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I noticed by the automatic gear shift panel is a slot for a key. I think it was some type of security so that if you locked it, no
The key slot is for disengaging the shift interlock in case the shift interlock is inoperative and you just stick the key into slot to release shifter.
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Automatic transmission issues, high RPM at low speeds
Hello, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Chrysler Cirrus. The transmission control module would need to be scanned to see if the codes stored may indicate the shifting problem you are having. You may have an internal shift solenoid...
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Fan sound when stepping on gas pedal
Hello. If the noise occurs when you accelerate then it sounds like it may be a timing chain problem. Being that this engine does not have a fan the noise typically comes from the timing chain. It may be from...
Question
Car won't start - replaced torque converter. 2005 Ford Expedition
Hi - if you are getting power to the starter solenoid - both the power cable from the battery, and the "start trigger" wire from the ignition switch, most likely the starter is no good - the solenoid at least....
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2008 Cadillac CTS strabilitrak says off, service traction control, engine light flickering on and off and car won't start
Hello. I would start by checking the battery by having it load tested and then I would check the connection of the negative battery cable. If these are fine then the ignition switch needs to be tested as that is...
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I got sound when I shift to 3rd gear and it's get hard to put shift to second gear when car is in 3rd gear.
Hello. It sounds as though the synchronizers in the transmission, which are used to adjust transmission internal gear speed when upshifting or downshifting are possibly worn out or you are shifting a bit too fast. It is also possible that...
Question
i have a 50 cc scooter the engine won't start after i mess around with the idle
It is possible that you could have flooded the carb when you adjusted the air/fuel screw. I would keep the screw where it is at and let the scooter sit for a while to let the fuel disperse. Once the...
Question
My 2014 ford Taurus won't start. Replaced battery and fuel pump. Idk what's wrong please help
If the car is starting but the problem is immediate stalling typical causes for such immediate stalling are a faulty mass airflow sensor, faulty engine coolant temperature switch/sensor (typically at cold start only), faulty camshaft or crankshaft position sensors, worn...
Question
NYS Inspection
Generally a broken mirror would be considered a safety issue that you could fail for. Unfortunately with every state having different guidelines, we do not have access to each state's requirements. The best thing to do would be to just...
Question
The Check Battery Light will come on and the car will lose power. Sometimes the power steering will stop working as well.
Hi there, thanks for writing in. In several instances, when the Check Battery Light comes on before the engine died, then it's probably the alternator. If your engine died before the Battery Light illuminated, then you may have had a...
Question
I drove my car with 2 spark plugs unplugged misfired horribly, what kind of damage could I have done?
Hello, This should not have caused any damage and is generally not something to worry about. To the extent you continued to drive it this way, for very long the un-burnt fuel that is pumping through the non-firing cylinders may...
Question
Popping noise from Engine when accelerating from 2000-3000rpm
Hi there. A popping sound like this is typically caused by an engine misfiring problem. It can be caused by ignition system problems, or fuel system issues. However, there are multiple components that could be causing this issue, so it's...