Author Archive: austin1

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By August 14, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Mercedes Benz Auto Repair Manual

I have a 1987 Mercedes Benz 420SEL that I am rebuilding (and modifying and adapting to my own vision of “my car”). Recently, the A/C and Instrument cluster went completely off, concurrently and simultaneously, and I knew I had real trouble now, not having the shop manual ($150 CD!?!) or any schematics for the electrical system. Chasing wiring harnesses with a multimeter, and not to mention having to endure the hottest heat wave of the summer, all the while not knowing how fast, or how much oil pressure, or what RPM, and if the engine is overheating, really made me hate life for over a week.

Posted in: Online Auto Repair Manuals
By August 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Chevy Impala Has Noise in Engine When Engine is Cold

I have a 2002 Chevy Impala and everytime I start it for the first time of the day it makes a tack tack tack noise until I start driving. When I start the car every other time after the first time, it doesn’t make the noise anymore. It also doesn’t make the noise while I am driving. I also noticed that it doesn’t have as much power when I drive as it used to. I just had a tune-up and the oil changed, but it is still doing it. If you could tell me what you think it could be, that would be great. Thank you.

Posted in: Reader Questions
By August 3, 2006 1 Comments Read More →

Free Online Auto Repair Manual

Hi, I am a student from Sri Lanka & doing some studies for auto motor Mechanics. I have no money to buy your expensive auto repair manuals. So let me know any car manuals or links for my future studies. If you have any free online auto repair manuals please e-mail them.

Posted in: Online Auto Repair Manuals
By August 3, 2006 1 Comments Read More →

How To Stop and Fix an Engine Oil Leak in My Car

I own a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.3L engine. This spring my wife was complaining that the motor was ticking. I figured that it was the lifters so I called my mechanic and set up an apointment. He called me later and told me the car was about 2 1/2 quarts low on oil and that I had 2500 miles since my last oil change. He asked the change the oil to see if that would help. He changed oil and the ticking went away.

Posted in: Fluid Leaks
By August 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

1999 Mercury Cougar – Battery Cables Smoked Then Melted

I might have hooked up my jumper cables backwards when I tried to jump start my 1999 Mercury Cougar. Now the battery light is on, and the battery will not hold a charge. What did I do?

Posted in: Battery/Alternator Problems
By August 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

2005 VW Golf Makes Transmission Shifts Funny – It Jerks

I have a 2005 VW Golf – 12,000 miles. Twice in the last month the car jerked very hard when the transmission attempted to go into the next gear. It will jerk “hard” twice in a row and then be fine for a few more weeks.I took it to the VW dealer and they claim they couldn’t find anything wrong. They took it for a ride and the problem didn’t occur! Not surprising since it is a sporadic problem at this point. I have a gut feeling that this is just the start of the transmission going bad. It’s alarming when it happens because it is so noticeable and I can’t prepare myself for the sudden “jolt”. Would you please email me with your thoughts?

Posted in: Transmission Issues
By August 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

How Do I Know My Car Needs New Shocks and Struts?

I am curious about the suspension of a Ford Escort LX 1997. If I am feeling the bumps a little too strong and quickly. Would that be the shocks or tires too low (needing air maybe) I will check that out. Or should I replace the shocks on the car?

Posted in: Front End Problems
By August 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Old Ford Truck Runs Then Dies and Won’t Restart Until It Cools Down

I am having trouble with my 1985 Ford F-250. It will run then quit. when it cools it will start up again. There seems to be an engine module on the fender wall and possibly an ignition module on the distributor. How can a shade tree mechanic test figure out the solution.

Posted in: Running Problems
By August 3, 2006 1 Comments Read More →

Chevy Blazer Rear End Differential Diagnosis and Repair Advice

I recently bought a 1992 K Blazer with the 5.7/v8. The transimission was replaced recently, but there is a leak of tranny fluid, its a small one hardly anything on the ground, just wet on the bottom of the transmission. The vehicle shifts great though, and the engine still sounds really strong. That is a minor problem. When I bought it, the guy told me that the garage had put an s10 ujoint in mistakenly instead of a full size. The reason I asked him is when I drove it, there is a whirring sound from the rear. My roommate is very car knowledgeable, and after running it at 80 mph on the highway for a jaunt yesterday, he swears the rear differential is going out.

Posted in: Fluid Leaks
By August 3, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

My Saturn SL1 Ovearheated on the Highway – Is My Headgasket or Block Cracked?

MY CAR (97 SATURN SL1, 230K MI) OVERHEATED A LITTLE WHILE I WAS IN THE FREEWAY. I NOTICED THAT THE GAUGE WOULD STAY JUST OVER THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE AND WOULD NOT COOL DOWN. I STOPPED AND AFTER IT WAS COOL ENOUGH, I CHECKED FOR ANY COOLANT LEAK. THERE WAS NONE AND WHEN I OPPENED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, THERE WAS A LOT OF OIL IN THERE. I FIGURE IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.

Posted in: Over Heating
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