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1990

The engines themselves, that is the blocks and cylinder heads, are identical in both model years. So, they are a direct catalog interchange, have identical castings and so forth. However, the computers for the two years do NOT interchange. That...

Hi There, It sounds like you may have two issues going on here. The whistling sound is likely a part of the air intake in the motor. Try opening the hood and throttling the motor a bit to see if...

This is a pretty common problem on Ford trucks. Typically, you can get the steering wheel to unlock by turning the wheel side to side while also turning the key forward. If this doesn't work you likely need to replace...

This is most likely caused by a faulty Idle Air Control valve (IAC valve). This valve regulates the speed of the engine's idle by creating a controlled vacuum leak in the intake manifold. It is also possible that there may...

If you are not getting a spark from the wires, then there may be a problem with the ignition system, or engine management system. As both systems are electrical, and sometimes highly elaborate in nature, I would recommend having a...

In this case, it sounds like your battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-replacement) or alternator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/alternator-replacement) is failing. If you'd like to get this fixed, certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose your stalling issue (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-stalling-inspection) to determine the exact...

Hello there, thank you for asking about your 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. There can be an issue with the switch itself or the hazard flasher assembly. The flasher is the device that makes the lights blink and a failure here...

This engine uses a cooling fan clutch that controls the fan speeds on demand when the engine radiator starts to get hot if increases air flow to cool the engine down and slows the fan when it needs to increase...

Hello. The symptoms you describe can be caused by a few different things. A few possibilities are an exhaust leak, or some sort of engine performance issue, such as a misfire. If the noise appears to be coming from the...

If you had the distributor out, which I believe is necessary for changing the manifold on that engine, you may not have it installed correctly. The gear is designed such that it can go in any number of positions so...

Hi Link. Thanks for the question tonight. One thing you might want to check is your wheel bearings, as damaged or loose wheel bearings can cause a 'floating' issue with the front end that tends to clear up when braking....

A leaking transmission is definitely a reason for concern. Lack of fluid can prevent the transmission from shifting properly and eventually leave you and your vehicle stranded if it is left unresolved. The information provided on your Buick is a...

Hi, the blue tint you mentioned is in fact from oil burning. Over time the internal engine components, specifically the piston o-rings and the valves, wear out and oil starts seeping into the cylinders and burning with the air and...

On an electric convertible top system the usual causes for failure are the switch, the motor(s), or something broken causing a bind in the mechanics of the retractable top. It is easiest to start with a visual inspection of the...

If your oil level is where it needs to be, there is proper oil filter installed, and there are no leaks, this would indicate a bad oil pump or possibly bad crankshaft main bearings. If the engine runs without knocking, smoking or other...

The idle speed may be elevated due a a large vacuum leak. When unmetered air has entered the engine, the vehicle may try to compensate by adding fuel. The extra air and fuel translate to an increased idle speed. Have...

The fuel pump and filter may be getting to the injectors but if the injectors are not opened then it would not start unless you sprayed starting fluid into the intake. The injector not opening means the crankshaft sensor is...

Hi. Is there any power coming from the top of the distributor? The ignition coil itself may not be firing correctly and should be inspected. The coil is controlled by the ECU which does have the possibility of crashing as...

Thanks for writing in about your 1990 Mercedes Benz E300. It sounds like the idle valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement) may be stuck closed and this could be why the engine only starts when the gas pedal is pressed. Due to the pressures...

When a car won't start, but the motor turns over, the first thing you need to figure out is what is missing. All gas powered vehicles need a few things to run. Fuel pressure, spark and injector pulse. The fuel...