Author Archive: austin1

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By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Nissan Pathfinder Makes a Thumping Noise in The Rear

I have a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder XE-V6 engine with approximately 186,000 miles. I have taken my vehicle to several garages and/or dealerships for diagnostics but to no avail…. There is this loud, thumping, thudding sound that comes from the rear of the vehicle. This sound does not appear all of the time. It sounds as if I’ve been rammed in the back. If I hit a bump in the road or apply my brakes a certain way (I’ve learned how to control my braking so the vehicle will not make this thumping, thudding, noise). When this noise occurs, it appears as if the vehicle has been rammed in the back and the weight seems to shift toward the front. No one can seem to identify this problem…..oh, but there is a problem. My vehicle has been doing this for quite a while now. Please come to my rescue.

Posted in: Reader Questions
By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Honda Accord A/C Compressor Went Out Again – Why?

I just had a quick question regarding the A/C in my 1987 Honda Accord. I just had a refurbished compressor put in my honda in 2004 – and I’ve only used the a/c for – I guess about 2 seasons. Well, I started having some trouble last fall (2005) with my a/c. I took it to a repair shop and they said I would need a new compressor. Well, since my car is RATHER old to be investing $1000 or more into it – I took it upon myself to put some Refrigerant R-134a in the system. Well, the a/c starting working for a couple of months (2 to be exact) – then stopped once again. I had another mechanic look at it again – and they told me the same thing and now I needed a new compressor or a refurbished one.

Posted in: A/C and Heating
By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Lexus GS 300 – Is This a Good Car To Own?

Thanks for putting up such a great site. There are far too few honest mechanics. I read your discussion about why you own a Lexus GS300 and have a couple of questions if you don’t mind. I am preparing to purchase a 2000 Lexus GS300 with 107,000 miles on it and no service history. I am having a Lexus dealer shop inspect the vehicle, but given that it is in good shape, how many more trouble-free miles/years do you think I can reasonably expect to take this great car? Also, Consumer reports lists several Lexus models including the Lexus ES as being prone to engine sludge, but does not list the Lexus GS. Do the GS cars also have this problem? Finally, which “editorial” sites do you most value (Consumer Reports,Edmonds, MSN Auto, JD Power, etc.)

Posted in: Car Reviews
By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

1993 Chevy Truck Belt Noise and Rough Idle

I have a 1993 Chevrolet C-1500 Work truck (175,000 miles). What is going on is I was coming home, and the engine started sputtering, and wanting to stall (after heavy rains), and the belts were squealing. I had to park the truck. Now, when I idle at around 3500 RPM, it sounds like a machine gun in the right head; however, when I drive it at 35 mph or less, it’s fine. We recently went to ethanol here, and I have had three mechanics tell me that it is a simple plug and wire fix; however, one has told me I need a new engine. I am newly stationed in the Norfolk, VA area with the Marines, and I don’t know any mechanics here, so I don’t know who to trust! There is no loss of oil, I have new high mileage synthetic in the engine. The radiator is empty (but I have had a slow leak for a year, and it goes empty a couple times a year).

Posted in: Running Problems
By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

2001 Nissan Maxima Check Engine Light Comes On and Off

I have a Nissan Maximan 2001, in fairly good condition, the maintainance always have been done on schedule… We have been having troubles with the check engine soon ligth in my car since last year, (is an orange ligth). The first time this happened was the air flow meter(7/7/05), after replace it it was good till this year when the problem started again, first time in March, the code indicated the O2 sensor, it was replaced and the ligth went off, then April, the code was for the neutral position switch, again replaced it, the ligth went off, now the code read the catalist converter, in this oportunity they reset the computer and the ligth was off for 15 days till today, when it turned on again.

Posted in: Check Engine Lights
By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Black Smoke and Oil Coming Out The Tailpipe of My Car

I have recently bought an older second hand car (1992 model 2.6L, 4 Cycl Pertol) and I’ve noticed in the mornings or whenever the engine is cold and I first start and warm it up, that small splatters of oil and water comes out of the exhaust pipe. The exahust does not produce any smoke at any time, but I’d like to know whats wrong because its slowly staining my driveway.

Posted in: Running Problems
By July 25, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

1999 Ford Windstar Transmission Shifts Funny When Engine Gets Hot

Hi I got a 1999 Ford Windstar 3.0L I’m having some problems when the engine gets hot,a soon as the temperture gage gets to the midle the engine runs very poor and tranny dosent wanna shift into 3 0r O.D or down or upshift like crazy (engine dosent overheat at all),before getting the needle temp. gage to the middle,everything its perfect,please could u help me, Thanks,Larry

Posted in: Transmission Issues
By July 17, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Nissan Maxima Check Engine Light Comes On Then Goes Off

I have a 1999 Nissan Maxima with 106,000 miles. For about a year now, the service engine soon light (yellow indicator) has been coming on and staying on for a month or so, then goes off for several weeks before coming back on again. The car drives fine and seems to have no symptoms of a problem. When it first happened, I took the car to my mechanic, with whom I’ve done business for 20 years and trust very much. He told me he hooked the car up to the computer, but got no codes to indicate anything was wrong. He said not to be concerned unless the light started blinking. Do you know if this is a common problem among Maximas? As I said, I trust my mechanic, but I’m still concerned when I drive the car long distances. What’s your advice?

Posted in: Check Engine Lights
By July 17, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Check Engine Light Continues to Come on In my Buick Rivieria – why?

I have a 1995 Supercharged Buick Riviera. I have had the fuel pump, transmission, brake module, radiator, water pump, fuel regulator, powertrain modulle,replaced and other things I am sure. the car has 143,000 miles on it so I would expect these things to go wrong. Recently I have had the EGR valve replaced and the mechanic told me that the service engine soon light would still come on but he was not sure. He told me that my car stored a trouble code that there was no code for. He said the engine light might go on and it may not.

Posted in: Check Engine Lights
By July 12, 2006 0 Comments Read More →

Quick Oil Change Business – How To Make a Profit

If you own a mobile oil change business and you have at least 100 monthly customers or 300 customers total you may wish to consider buying bulk oil to save costs. Oil is a large cost in the mobile oil change business, although not as much as labor. But any savings you get means more profit for your small business.

Posted in: Fluid Leaks
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