Popular questions

The brake pedal being hard to push is telling me that there is a problem with your brake booster. The booster uses engine vacuum to help you apply force to the brake pedal. When the booster is not working this...

Hi there. Turn ignition switch off. Press and hold the odometer display button while turning ignition on. Hold button down for 5 seconds then release button. This will reset the reminder light for the timing belt change. If you need...

Depending on the model of Saturn that you have, the vehicle may have electric power steering. If the vehicle has electric power steering, it is possible that an electrical fault may exist. This fault could be located in the relay,...

You probably broke a throttle cable. It's just a short cable that goes from the accelerator to a complicated looking linkage on the intake manifold. This isn't a common failure so you may want to look hard at the linkage...

This suggests you may have a leak resulting from a failing gasket somewhere in your engine. As you know, there are many different places in your motor that are sealed by gaskets. I would suggest narrowing this down by placing...

Most vehicle seat covers are held onto the seat with hog rings. These rings can be removed and installed with a pair of hog ring pliers. These can be found online or at your local hardware store. It is also...

Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several issues that may be contributing to your symptoms. The battery may be failing. If the battery is on its way out, it may be able to supply the needed energy for...

Hi there: The OBD-II error code P0420 generally indicates a Catalyst System Efficiency is below threshold (Bank 1). The upstream oxygen sensor is located in front of the catalytic converter. If the upstream oxygen sensor is working properly, its readings...

Hi there - possibly. While it is possible that the wheel bearing was not damaged, or damaged enough to cause a concern for replacement. However, most modern front-wheel drive vehicles utilize double-row ball bearing hub designs, and these bearings are...

I have never heard of a legal limit for how low a vehicle can be. I would not recommend going below 6 inches for the lowest part of the suspension or you will not be able to go over a...

Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. Lock camshaft gears will not turn the camshaft and cause the timing belt or chain to break. This is not your issue. What could be happening is the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) or Idle...

The idle air control valve on your car may be defective, causing the high idle. A couple of checks would need to be done to determine if this is the case. Your engine needs to be checked for any vacuum...

We would use Castrol 5w30 oil. The vehicle does recommend full synthetic but it is not required. You would have to request the full synthetic Castrol 5w30 or the standard Castrol 5w30 oil. If you special request a different oil...

Hi there - the first task is to get stored problem codes - which may require a Toyota-specific code reader to get the level of diagnostic needed. Sequential Manual Transmissions are very sophisticated, computer-managed units, and very dependent on the...

Hi there, thank you for writing in about your 1997 Jaguar XJ6. The poor mileage and a rough idle is potentially due to a bad coolant temperature sensor or a broken wire to this sensor (the coolant temp sensor that...

I would suggest checking the Kelly Blue Book website with specifics related to your zip code as market prices of cars vary by zip code. This will give you a baseline for determining whether or not the car is within...

Hi - we need a bit more information to know how to prioritize these possible repairs. A roaring noise while driving would evidence wheel bearing issues. Pulling to one side or the other would indicate a brake caliper issue. Squealing,...

Hi Melody. Thanks for contacting us tonight. Anytime a wheel bearing has been diagnosed as being loose or faulty, it's important to have it replaced as soon as possible. A worn wheel bearing does not have enough lubrication to keep...

Hi. Your diagnosis is spot on! If the alternator and battery are good, something is causing a pretty significant drain on the battery, and this needs to be identified. This problem can be diagnosed by connecting an ammeter to the...

Hello, the first thing to check would be the operation of the stop lamp switch. When you press the brakes does the stop lamp illuminate? If they do, good that tells you that the switch is good. Now if it...

Hello. There are few things that could cause a water leak in the trunk on your particular vehicle. Which are, faults such as the trunk not fully closing due to a faulty trunk latch or the more common problem of...

Hello. If you are losing oil that fast it is because you have worn out piston rings or valve stem seals. Adding a little oil to the cylinder during the compression test will help you narrow this down. If the...

The old Northstar motors were horrible. They blew head gaskets. Eventually, they made them better, but they are very complex V8 engines with all kinds of computer controls on them and they cost a fortune to fix. So if you...