Popular questions

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Cooling fans won't turn on when engine hot
Even though there are two fans, they work independently. One is called a radiator fan, one is the condenser fan for the AC. Each has each own relay. There are two temperature switches. There are 4 fuses involved. Both are...
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Power window coming off track.
Hello, to see why the window is coming off track, the door panel and water barrier will have to be removed and view the operation of the window to see the cause. You may need the aid of a mechanic,...
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The Abs came on and other brake lights came on in my car. How do I fix my car problem?
Your car is equipped with wheel speed sensors at each of the four wheels which monitor wheel speed while relaying this information constantly to the ABS and traction control system which are controlled by the car's ECU. When the ECU...
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Loose gear shift knob. 2013 Scion FR-S
Hello. It is normal for shifter knobs to be a little loose, but this should not cause any safety issues while driving. If you aren’t comfortable with it, you could always replace it with a new shifter knob. The shifter...
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Car won't start, battery drain - 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SL
Hello. The Chilton manual will be able to give you accurate information as to the location of the voltage regulator. This manual can tell you whether your voltage regulator is an internal or external part. It is not recommended that...
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Odometer not working
The speedometer is calibrated to read the correct miles per hour and distance driven at the speedometer factory. Are you sure you misread the odometer to be 1.2 miles and not 12 miles? If the far right number is a...
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ETC Light/Temp Gauge
In resolving all these issues, the first step will be to download the OBD-II trouble codes that have caused the check engine light and the ETC warning lights to set. There will likely be issues related to those codes that...
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Check engine light. How to clear permanently?
The oxygen sensor trouble codes that you are referring to will set due to trouble not only in the oxygen sensor itself but the oxygen sensor circuit too, which includes wiring, terminals, grounds, etc. Therefore, unless the O2 code(s) you...
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Advice on replacing the positive battery cable on a '95 Ford Mustang GT
Yes, definitely replace the cable. It was a design flaw on those, and as they get old, they short out internally. It happens all the time. And don't just get those cheap splice kits and put it in and done....
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Flashing Check Engine Light is on. The engine shakes at idle and has low power.
Hi, the first task is to extract the problem codes which are causing the Check Engine light to flash. Most auto parts stores will do this for free. I would suspect plug wires next, and check the condition of the...
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Have a Mitsubishi Lancer 30th anniversary 2011, making a rattling noise when accelerating and loss of power. There is occasional smoke.
Hi there. The rattling noise is the ignition system being too retard or advanced as the engine is accelerated. Check the camshaft position sensor and see if the sensor is connected and sending a voltage reference to the computer. To...
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Car won't start I can hear it trying to crank. I've just replaced the alternator and battery it just won't turn over...
This suggests that the motor have run out of oil. When the oil pressure gauge reads zero, this means that there is not enough oil pressure inside the motor to properly lubricate engine components properly. When this happens, you may...
Question
Check Engine Light is on with trouble code P0014.
Hello, this over-advanced camshaft timing is a significant problem, and should be checked out ASAP by a professional mechanic. Trouble code P0014 indicates a problem probably due to worn timing chain guides, a stretched timing chain, or a weak timing...
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Having trouble shifting out of park
Hello. It sounds like you have an issue with the brake switch. When the switch fails it keeps the shifter from unlocking. The shift interlocking system will not allow the shifter to move unless the brake pedal is applied. I...
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ABS, VSC, steering wheel lights on
Hello. I see that there are several issues that you are having here. There are also several things that may need to be repaired to solve the problem. All of the things that you have listed here may indicate that...
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Diesel in gasoline tank
Gasoline engines cannot run on diesel because it is very hard to get it to burn from the ignition; you need very high heat and pressure to get diesel to combust. For example, if you were to throw a match...
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Rumbling sound from rear of vehicle
There can be multiple causes when dealing with a roaring or rumbling sound. A wheel bearing can cause a rumbling sound. When it comes to a rear end or differential it is important that all of the correct shims have...
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Ecu vin verification
Hi there. This really isn't a service we offer or are best suited to give you any "good" advice on. When it comes to ECU's, we always defer to the OEM solution; due to the possibility of connectivity issues with...
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The sound has stopped working from my aux input in my fusion. It says line in but will not play any sound. Any advice??
It sounds like you may be having an issue with the auxilary cord itself. These cords often times fail internally causing one or more speakers to stop playing sound. I would recommend getting a new aux cord to rule out...
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Very hard to start vehicle
Hello. This code is also related to the catalytic converter not working properly. This can also happen when the ground wires connected to the O2 sensors are not properly hooked up causing them to send erroneous info to the computer....
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When replacing a water pump do you use thw gasket it comes with and gasket sealer
Yes you should use a good anaerobic sealer with the paper gasket applied to water pump and engine to hold and seal gasket.
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I was driving and then all of a sudden, my oil pressure went down and a loud knocking started.
Hi, thanks for writing in. The only way to verify if the engine is damaged is to do at least a partial inspection of the internals. The oil pan and/or valve covers should be removed to inspect the camshaft sensors,...
Question
multiple codes and rough idling
The first thing to check for in any drivability problem is air leaks. Any air that gets into the engine without being measured will lean out the system and cause problems. Look at all the rubber hoses and boots under...
Question
I'm putting in a police interceptor motor from a Impala to a 2005 Monte Carlo but it has fly by wire
Prior to doing this work, you should confirm that the "new" vehicle configuration is certifiable insofar as Federal emissions law, that is if you intend to register the vehicle. Please see the relevant Federal EPA Engine Swap Guidance Document. California,...