Popular questions

Question
my car gear is stuck in drive but the gear shift goes to park car is in acc postion wont crank or swicth to off to remove the key
Hi there, thanks for writing in. It sounds like you most likely have a broken shift cable, or a failed shifter assembly. A failure of either part would allow you to move the shifter handle to park, while the transmission...
Question
How long does it take to replace a axel/cv shaft assembly
On the 2006 Navigator, if a professional mechanic is replacing the axle(s), it is assumed to take about 1 hour to replace one axle (i.e., one side) whether it is the rear axle or the front axle. Replacing both axles...
Question
I have white powder substance on metal parts of my engine on my 13 Toyota Sienna, 54,000 miles. Should I worry about corrosion?
If the material (the white powder substance) is observed on aluminum parts, that just surface corrosion of the aluminum. The surface aluminum has oxidized and produced aluminum oxide (a white powder). This kind of superficial corrosion is meaningless insofar as...
Question
Clunking noise from the rear passenger side when going over uneven roads or bumps.
Hi there. It appears you've done a pretty good job of diagnosing a possible problem with either your rear strut or rear stabilizer bar. It's common for struts and stabilizer bar bushings to wear out first among suspension components (especially...
Question
What does it mean if the Anti-theft Light is on in the dash?
Your car has a built-in anti-theft system. If someone attempts to start the car without a programmed key, open a locked door without a key, or even get in through the rear liftgate or open the hood, the horn will...
Question
What does the Side Air Bag Off warning light mean?
The Side Air Bag Off warning light is located on the instrument panel. When the light illuminates, the passenger side air bag is temporarily deactivated. The passenger side air bag turns off when the front passenger seat is not occupied,...
Question
My battery light comes on when braking and every once in a while while driving?
Hi there. Sounds like a battery terminal is loose and becomes slightly disconnected when the car is shifted forward during braking. Check the battery cables and make sure that they are tight on the battery terminals. If the battery cables...
Question
Engine shakes when I turn on the car for the first time in the day
This is somewhat normal for this car upon start up unless it is excessive. As to the check engine light, I would suggest not clearing the codes, but rather having the computer scanned by a qualified mechanic from Your Mechanic...
Question
Smell of coolant outside of car after running, no visable leak
There two places I would recommend checking on this: In the trunk by the coolant cap there is a plastic shield. Remove this and you should see a coolant air relief, or "burp" valve. Sometimes you will see...
Question
My car wont start; haven't oil change in 6,000 miles. Is that the problem?
Just because you have not had the oil changed it would not cause no start unless you let it run out of oil and seized the motor. You should turn the crankshaft by hand to see if engine turns and...
Question
Overheating issue, when heater is on its normal temp. but if heater is off it begins to overheats, until heater is turn on again.
You need to scan the computer to see if the cylinder head temperature sensor under the intake on the right head is reading the engine is overheating or what temperature the engine is running at. The engine cooling fan module...
Question
What does the “Check fuel fill inlet” warning mean in the message center?
The “check fuel fill inlet” warning is an indication of an issue with the fuel cap, which covers the fuel fill inlet. Fuel caps are a vital part of the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system. If the fuel cap is damaged,...
Question
car turning off while driving but starts right back up
Most commonly when the car stalls while driving, but starts right up after, the cause is an intermittently failing crankshaft position sensor or camshaft position sensor. The first step to diagnosing this problem however, would be to scan the engine...
Question
engine struggles turning over and rpm don't move from 0
It sounds like you have both a stalling issue and difficulty starting but if the car is dying immediately after starting and you keep trying to restart it, that alone will cause the battery to discharge and explain the no...
Question
Temp. Gauge rises when I'm stopped or idling and when I run the AC but not when I'm moving.
If you are getting overheating only at lower engine speeds with no obvious reasons, then you will need to check if there is good flow through the radiator using a laser temperature sensor. By doing this you will be able...
Question
Car won't accelerate after a stop, what could be wrong?
You could have a problem with the electronic throttle control motor not responding or the throttle plates sticking. You should have the throttle plates checked for excessive carbon build up. Also, I'd recommend checking in with your local dealer. See...
Question
How do I use electronic range selection (ERS)?
Electronic range selection (ERS) allows you to put a range on the gears available in your automatic transmission. If you are in “Drive,” for instance, your vehicle can use every gear. ERS allows you to set a limit for the...
Question
Transmission slips if I shut truck off and restart it will do fine for a few seconds then slip again
Hi there, thanks for writing in. The reason is starts slipping at 30 is this is where it needs to change to second gear or third gear. The problem is most likely the servo piston for the second gear engagement...
Question
Car jerks when I press accelerator or take foot off of accelerator pedal
Hi there. Usually when the car will 'jerk' when you press the accelerator and lift from the accelerator, it's likely due to clogged fuel injectors, damage to the throttle body or other fuel system components. It could also be due...
Question
Clicking noise when I crank my car after a cold start. It goes away after the car idles down and warms up
Hello. There are 2 possibilities for this clicking sound. First, you may need to have the valves adjusted. They may be a tad loose with your mileage. The recommended interval for a valve adjustment for this engine is every 105K...
Question
Brakes are failing no fluid leaks at all and brake fluid resevoir still full
An internal seal failure in the master cylinder is possible and that is easily tested for by either blocking off the master cylinder ports and/or using pressure gauges to measure pressure developed within the system upon pedal application. It is...
Question
The car won't start unless it sits for over four hours
Hello there. A few possible faults could cause this type of intermittent no start condition. The most common would be a battery, starter, battery cables, fuel pump, fuel injector, or a wiring issue. This type of failure indicates a fault...
Question
Hi there ! My dash said rear access open , but it's close and I can open it anymore
Hi there: There is an electrical sensor that is located underneath the rear door that sometimes fails; due to exposure to elements or perhaps being struck by something. When this sensor fails, it tends to illuminate this warning light on...
Question
How do you adjust the side view mirrors?
Your side view mirrors give you a way to see what drivers are doing to the side and behind your car. Of course, you have to have them adjusted correctly to use them. Here’s how: Locate the circular mirror...