Popular questions

If you have a bad knock sensor, then the engine timing may be going too low and causing the low rough idle. If the scanner gives a code, then have it diagnosed and fixed. A vacuum leak will also cause...

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning LightThe Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system or the Traction Control System (TCS) indicator/warning light comes on briefly when the engine is started. If the system is working normally the indicator light goes...

Hi Galen. Thanks for contacting us today. The first thing I would do is check the oil level to ensure this is not the problem. If your oil level is good, and the oil is clean (meaning it does not...

Hey, thanks for writing in. There may be two different issues at play here. Your fuel gauge sending unit may be faulty which is what causes the fuel gauge to fluctuate erratically not reading correctly. This is a small...

Most alternators have a voltage regulator integrated within them. This voltage regulator is responsible for making sure that the battery is charged right around 14 volts. If your alternator is producing 17 volts, it is almost a certainty that the...

There may be a variety of potential reasons for this to happen. First, if the van cranks over we can rule out the starter, battery and starter relay. If it does not crank over and simply makes a "clicking" sound,...

Interestingly, there is an identical report of this fault, for your year, make and model, in the NHTSA database. It's probably not the battery, although you should still go ahead and load test the battery. Once the car engine is...

Hey there. In order to check the cylinder for spark you have to remove the coil and insert a spark tester into the coil after reconnecting it. Then you can check to see if it has spark. The injector will...

Many keys that have a chip in them must be programmed to the vehicle. I would recommend visiting your local dealership to get your key program to the vehicle. Once this has been done the vehicle should start right away....

A rumbling sound could be associated with a lot of different things. Being that you are able to hear it on the exhaust piping is good because the causes can be narrowed down. Depending on the mileage the chance of...

If you have all the forward gears and do not have any reverse then you may have an internal reverse band problem or the reverse solenoid is the problem. You will need to have the transmission computer scanned and transmission...

Hello - the symptoms you provide regarding the lack of Reverse suggest either the Reverse clutches are burned out, or the Reverse piston servo seals are leaking so the Reverse clutches don't actuate. With the "shaking in Drive" you mention...

Sudden up and down fluctuations in the engine coolant temperature gauge signify a gauge, sensor, or wiring fault. To resolve that problem, the service to request is a temperature gauge diagnostic. The radiator could be partly cold if the water...

Hello, I would not recommend that you replace only the head gasket, because of the scoring on the cylinder walls that will still remain. This could lead to a loss of compression over time and cause the engine to run...

Hi Andrew. Thanks for contacting us tonight. What you are describing is incredibly rare - but in many cases is caused by an electrical system short or a stored error code triggered by - believe it or not; a security...

Hi there. This is most likely a service reminder indicator chiming. Take note of any messages on the display panel. It could also be the seat belt reminder chiming. This could be due to the belt being unfastened or the...

There is an electronic window motor module that operates the power windows and locks. Sometimes these can and will fail causing intermittent operation as you describe. This can also happen when wires short or are pinched. Many vehicles have wires...

If you are getting random misfire codes and O2 sensor codes after getting fuel i suggest you have a fuel sample test to see if there is excessive water in the fuel. You can try adding some drygas in the...

The most common cause for the brake pedal to sink slowly to the floor will be the brake master cylinder internal pressure cup failure. The seals may be worn or sludged up from old dirty brake fluid. I have...

I can understand your confusion and frustration, I believe your Kia is experiencing a few different issues that could all together duplicate the concerns you are experiencing. It would appear that one or more blend doors, these are inside the...

Hi there. The general rule of thumb is to remove the battery cables anytime you work on any component that is electrically powered or has an electrically powered sensor. So, in this case, it would be a good idea to...

Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. Check the connections from the ignition switch to the starter. It seems to me like there is a short within the ignition switch making the starter engage when the ignition switch is selected...

The first thing I recommend is to check all your fuses to ensure they are all good. It could also be an issue with the IPDM (Intelligent Power Distribution Module). The dash module needs voltage when the motor is off...

The vehicle stability assist (VSA) system on your car is designed to help provide better traction, stability and handling during certain driving conditions. However, it doesn’t have to be on, and there are times when you’ll want to turn it...

The coolant temperature sensor on this engine sends a feed back voltage data to the computer. The computer uses this data to monitor the engine temperature from about minus 40 degrees F to over 300 degrees F. The coolant sensor...