Author Archive: austin1

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By November 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

2000 Oldsmobile Alero Engine Dies While Driving

HELP!!! I have a 2000′ Alero and I just paid it off!! ANd here I am!! It has 133000 miles on it and I have been having a problem with it dying while I’m driving it!! I have changed the fuel filter and spark plugs. I still continue to have a hesitation and every now and then it just SHUTS DOWN!! I wait a few minutes and it starts up and is fine for a few days. I have been told that it could possibly be the coil cover and boots. (one of the boots is cracked) Would this cause me to be “stranded”?FED UP, but PAID OFF in ILLINOIS

Posted in: Running Problems
By November 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Dodge Dakota Dies While Driving and Hard To Restart

I have a 97 two wheel drive Dodge Dakota. I trust my mechanic entirely. So much because they turned me a way because they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it and didn’t wan to just start replacing parts. They even waived the $80 diagnostic fee because they couldn’t find the issue. So here are the symptoms.

Posted in: Won't Start Issues
By November 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

1992 Oldsmobile Regency 98 Speedometer Not Working

I’ve written you before and you’ve helped me and now I find myself seeking your help once again.Our speedometer is very temperamental and at times refuses to work at all. Could you please give me some advice on the cause? I haven’t a clue as to why it behaves the way it does. Please help!

Posted in: Reader Questions
By November 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Will a 1998 Chevy S10 2.2 Liter Engine Fit in a 1994 S10 Pick up?

Working on a 1994 S-10 2wd 4cyl 2.2 Blown engine Have an available 1998 Wrecked available S10 2.2 Will the engine interchange with same block and head. It looks close by the eye but I can not find it in a manual anywhere. Where can I find this kind of INFO?

Posted in: Reader Questions
By November 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Ford Expedition Check Engine Light is On

I own a 1999 ford expoditaion with 80,000 I am a 24 year kid who owns this suv for 3 yesrs now i do beat on it its a 8 cly … i have changes one of my coil packs and it seem like its doing this again idle all messed up hesatint on gas i my check engine light is on my question to u i filled up my gas the night before all this probkem started could it be bad gas now i have a warnety on the truck dont know if coverd had to call and ask but should i let it run out of gas and but hi oxtain in it or bring it in asap

By November 3, 2006 7 Comments Read More →

Honda Accord Check Engine Light and EGR Valve Code

I have a 1999 Honda Accord and the check engine light seems to not want to stay off. I have taken it to the mechanics and the code that comes up is the code stating the EGR valve is bad. This would all be fine if the solution was simply replace the valve, but after replacing the EGR valve the light still comes on after several miles of driving. The weirdest thing is that all summer the light was not on, and since September the light has been on. The code is always the same, so now I am wondering if black electrical tape is the solution or could there be some other meaning to a bad EGR valve code. The engine sounds fine and the car doesn’t seem to drive any different than it did before the light came on. Any suggestions other than ripping the dash apart and removing the light is greatly appreciated.

By November 2, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

2007 Audi A3 Front Brakes Are Very Noisy

I just purchased a brand new 2007 Audi A3 2.0T. The brakes squeak – noticeably – when coming to a full stop. They have done this from the first day I got the car and do so especially when going down a hill and coming to a stop. The service manager at Audi tells me this is normal. I believe that I am being played as the loaner cars that I have had ( same model) do not do this. Nor is this a problem that has been raised in any of the Audi forums. I would appreciate any advice you might offer. If it is a problem then how best can I approach the service manager.

Posted in: Brakes
By October 26, 2006 3 Comments Read More →

1998 Toyota Camry Automatic Transmission Won’t Go Into Gear Sometimes

I recently aquired a 1998 Toyota Camry with a blown engine. I had a mechanic put in a new engine and the car ran great. Felt like it was brand new and shifted perfectly. Then a few days ago I went to put the car in reverse and the car didnt respond. The engine didnt rev up and the car didnt have the mild shake they normally do when the transmission is engaged. I didnt think anything of it and put it in park then back into reverse and it engaged and drove fine. Then the following day this happened to me twice but I noticed it did it on any shift position reverse and drive. It took 2 or 3 times that day to engage each time this happened. Then yesterday the car refused to go into reverse or drive at all no matter how much I messed with it. Im pretty sure the transmission is fine as when it does engage it drives perfect no jerking in changing gears no noises etc. Also the button on the shift knob is still tight which leads me to belive the shifter cable is still intact. My mechanic is clueless as to what this problem is. Any ideas of where to start looking or what the cause might be? Please help!

By October 26, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Mercury Sable Station Wagon High Idle and Poor Gas Mileage

I have a 1996 mercury sable wagon V6 with just over 200 000 km on it it’s still running good and I try to take care of it. lately the rpms have been running really high and affecting my gas mileage. about 6 months ago before a road trip I replaced all the spark plugs and wires changed the oil and such and everything was beautiful I was getting over 600km a tank. but lately it’s been acting up. I took it in for an oil change and got them to use the high mileage oil and flush the oiltank (if that makes since) and I’ve since driven it about 2000km and noticed the rpms going crazy so I took it in and got the oil changed again to regualr oil and asked if there was anything wrong with the oil and was told it was fine just really dirty. but the rpms remain the same. now I only mention the oil because I know in my car if I forget to change the oil after the regular 5000km I notice the rpms start going a little out of wack. maybe it’s something else? I’m not sure hopefully you can help.

Posted in: Running Problems
By October 26, 2006 1 Comments Read More →

Ponitac Tans Am GT Dies While Driving Have to Wait to Restart

I own a 1994 Pontiac Trans am GT with a 5.7 V8 and 125,000 . Over the last several months my car has randomly died while driving, and when I accelerate at highway speeds there is a loss of power at times. After the car dies, it may start up immediately, it may take 20 minutes, and sometimes it would not start until the next day. I have taken the car to two different mechanics on two seperate occasions. Neither shop could find anything wrong. They checked the wiring, fuel pressure, etc. Everything checked out fine which it should because the car has been well maintained and had a new distributor, wires, and sparkplugs installed two years ago. I stopped driving the car for about three weeks because the battery became weak after the second to last time the car died. After three weeks, I had the battery recharged and the car started up again, it drove ok for a few days, but then died again while I was driving. It immediately restarted and I was able to make it home. It drove ok for the next couple of days, but today I tried to start it and the starter was slow to turn. (starter is AC DELCO 4yrs old) I tried to start the car two more times, but after that the power shut off. Nothing worked not even the power locks. When the battery died last time the process was slow and gradual. I couldn’t start the car, but the panel lights passenger compartment lights worked a little. I’ve read hours of material from sites like this trying to find cases with similar problems, and I have, but never anything with my car and year. The fuel lines, filter, relay, and pump are what I normally see as the causes for other people, but the mechanics told me that these things checked out ok. They said that if there was anything wrong with these things it was read out. I even had the fuel filter replaced just in case, but to no avail. I need help because I don’t want to sell a good car that has a very fixable problem. However, I will if need be. One other note: One time after the car died a tow truck came and put gas in the tank, even though I had a little over half a tank, and the car started up. I had been attempting to restart the car for the last three hours, but it now restarted with no problem. I thought that maybe I needed to keep more gas in my tank, but the car has died on a full tank as well. Also, I always use premium gas, so I ruled out vapor lock caused from low octane gas.

Posted in: Won't Start Issues