Popular questions

You may be correct that the thermostat is stuck closed. One way to test a thermostat is to put it in a pot of water and bring the water temperature up to the thermostat opening temperature. This is imprinted on...

Hi. Your car is rear-wheel drive and the axles are in the rear differential. The axles have a seal and a bearing. The seal stops the differential fluid from getting on the brakes and rim. Your axle seal has broken,...

It sounds like the idle air control valve or the mass air flow sensor may not be properly reading the air intake volume, resulting in the stalling as you describe. This may also suggest there may be a bit of...

This may be a sign of low transmission fluid or a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car's computer activates a transmission...

This blue light may be related to the factory security system or an aftermarket security system. If your vehicle does not have the factory key fob, the light is likely part of the aftermarket security system. If this light is...

Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. Remove the negative battery cable to the battery and leave it off for about 2 minutes. This will cause the computer to reset. Then hook up the battery cable and start up the...

This sounds as if you have a low idle condition. I can say your car isn't likely to suffer a catastrophic failure because of this. With a condition such as this, it is normal for it to run rougher when...

If you are having no issues turning the key in the ignition lock, the lock assembly should be okay and the actuator pin that links the lock cylinder to the switch may be the problem. Pushing the key in hard...

Hello. The codes that you have listed are for engine misfires. P0300 is for random misfires, while P0304, P0305, and P0306 are for specific cylinder misfires. Misfires can be caused by many things. If you have already replaced the MAF,...

Hello. Your vehicle should be equipped with four different camshaft position sensors, one for each of the engine's camshafts. They are mounted in the front of the cylinder heads, near the camshaft actuators, across from each other. The sensors should...

The front and rear parking lights are on the same circuit, so first, check to see if the front parking lights are working. If the parking lights are not working with the headlight switch in the on position, then locate...

Hi Ana. Thanks for submitting your question today. It's quite possible that the gear shift lever may have broken, if the indicator is telling you the car is in "DRIVE" gear but it is pushed forward. As a safety device,...

Your rear door is supported by two gas charged suspension struts one on each side that will loose their pressure over time. The two struts normally support and help lift the door for you then hold it open until you...

Anytime the code reader says sensor 1, it is referring to the upstream. Anytime the code reader says sensor 2, it is referring to the downstream. If you need further assistance with your oxygen sensors, then seek out a professional,...

The Oil Pressure Low – Stop Engine message appears when the oil pressure switch, which is located on the engine, has detected low oil pressure. Low oil pressure can be caused by a number of things including a low oil...

Your starter is located on the driver's side of the motor just down below the left bank of cylinders. There are a few bolts that hold it to the mounting plate that it is attached to. There are also two...

Hi There, It sounds like you may have a couple of different issues. The idle problem may be a result of a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. The idle air control valve monitors the air intake as it...

It sounds like you may have a failing alternator. The alternator is responsible for running the electrical system of your vehicle while the engine is running as well as keeping the battery fully charged. If the alternator fails, this can...

Hi Alyssa. Thanks for contacting us today. Typically if a check engine light comes on after filling the fuel tank, it's due to a vapor pressure problem. This often is triggered by one of the EVAP system components. This system...

Hello, thank you for writing in. While it is technically possible to drive the car with a failing electric power steering system, it is not going to get any better. The vehicle will need to be serviced as soon as...

Hi there, thanks for writing in. There are a lot of potential causes of this problem, all of which are hard to diagnose without being in front of the car. It could have a failing mass air flow sensor, a...

Hi there, thanks for writing in. Well if the car ran before you did the timing belt, but now doesn't run after, I am or course going to say that the likely scenario is that the timing is off. Make...

You can adjust the Treble, Midrange, and Bass features in your infotainment system to create your ideal audio settings. Adjusting these features is easy: 1. Press the TONE button. 2. Use the MENU/SEL knob to select Treble, Midrange, or Bass....

The fuel injection system does nothing until the engine is turning (starting or running), so pressing the pedal before you start will make no difference. The fuel injectors work at any RPM, so a choke is not necessary. The computer...

All modern cars are equipped with an Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) system. The EVAP system prevents fuel vapors from the fuel tank from escaping into the atmosphere. The EVAP system collects and temporarily stores the fuel vapors in the charcoal...