If your coolant is low, you may have a leak that needs repaired. If your coolant level is normal, the problem may be with your thermostat (this part regulates engine temp), the cooling fan, or radiator. You need to have...
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. Check the battery cables for more corrosion and clean them up again. You may need to put backing soda and water mixture on the terminals to clean the corrosion completely off. Make sure that...
The power braking system in your 2012 Toyota Highlander uses an engine vacuum to increase the operators brake pedal effort and applies a higher amount of pressure on the brake assemblies. This function is found in today's higher performing vehicles....
There is most likely an electrical component that has failed, causing the battery to drain. These can be very tricky to diagnose. Basically, you need to be able to measure how much current is being drawn from the battery when...
On the Volvo 850, there is a plastic gear on the odometer/trip meter unit inside the instrument cluster that is known to wear out. The instrument cluster will have to be removed, disassembled, and the gear replaced to correct the...
Hello. Thanks for writing in. Due to the fact this major loss of power only happens when turning, it is likely the assisted steering that is straining the engine. The power steering system is powered by the engine and drive...
Checking the engine oil is a vital part of being a responsible car owner. Even if you’re incredibly punctual about having your car serviced, you still need to keep an eye on the oil level to prevent potentially damaging the...
These codes all point to the operation of the throttle position sensor. The throttle position sensor is a sensor used to monitor the throttle position relative to your foot on the gas pedal. The sensor is usually located on the...
Hello. If the problem comes and goes it may be one of the shift solenoids. It is common for these to fail and have problems causing them to stick which will cause this. I typically start by checking the computer...
Hi there. In most cases, when a car won't start it breaks down in two specific areas. First, the engine is not getting enough or the correction ratio of air and fuel mixture or second, the engine can't ignite this...
You may want to have the leak checked and all the fluid levels checked and topped off before attempting to drive the vehicle at all. A long drive may run whatever is leaking out of the fluid and cause more...
This could be related to a couple of possibilities. The [instrument voltage regulator]((https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/instrument-voltage-regulator-replacement) regulates the voltage supplied to the various gauges in your vehicle’s dash. When this is not working properly, this may cause the gauges in your dash to...
Hi there - manufacturers are using plastic for valve covers, intake manifolds, and other engine components more and more often for weight and expense savings. Unfortunately, with repeated heat cycles, some of these plastics become brittle, or warp and won't...
Hi there. Aftermarket catch cans can help to reduce oil consumption on some engines. Some 3.5L engines are prone to excessive oil consumption after 100,000 miles due to low spots in EGR passageways. The catch can is designed to collect...
Hi there. This is almost always caused by a failing ignition switch. When it starts to fail and lose internal contact, this can cause these symptoms to occur. I always do a voltage drop test on the switch to see...
The battery sounds like it has power since you shorted the jumpers together. This is not a good way to test a battery or the battery could explode. You may have a problem with the starter or the cables going...
Hi Cynthia. Thanks for submitting your question to us today. I'm not sure if a wiring harness is the root issue of the symptoms you're experiencing. Usually when this issue occurs, it's due to fuel delivery or ignition system problem....
Worn U-joints installed on a well balanced driveshaft will cause vibration and noise as the whole assembly slaps around while rotating at high speed. However, the cause of the changing amount of vibration during coasting versus acceleration can only be...
Hi there. Most of the time when you overheat this engine it will also cause the transmission to get too hot. When this occurs it can easily cause transmission failure. I would suspect this if the vehicle does not move...
The airbag light indicates a malfunction in the system. The system is always monitored for faults. It could be the airbag itself, wiring, or the impact sensors. The system will need scanned to see what trouble code is set. If...
Seat belts, also called safety belts, are vital components for the safety of the driver and passengers alike. The purpose of the seat belts is simple. If the vehicle is in an accident, there are extreme forces involved trying to...
To answer your question: maybe. The throttle body has some redundant circuits in it that might make it possible to operate in a "limp home" mode, but unless the owner can have the car repaired and verify the repair before...
There can be a few different reasons for a catalytic converter to fail. Your engine running too rich or lean or coolant in exhaust from a blown head gasket can cause failure. Also a defective converter that breaks apart and...
