Maintenance / Repairs :: Electrical System Failure After A Jump Start?
So a co-worker needed a jump after leaving her lights on. Her car was parked on a busy road and I had to pull up next to her in the opposing traffic lane to be able to reach her battery. In my haste I put the clamps on the wrong battery terminals on MY car (hers were correctly attached). When I got in my car to start it I could see the wires were smoking and immediately got out and disconnected the cables. We ultimately needed to purchase new cables and were able to start the car. The problem is now her radio doesn't work and when she brought it to the dealer they said there is some kind of electrical system failure?!?! Is that possible? Her car works perfectly fine, except for the radio now so not sure what happened.
View 14 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Turn Off AC Before Stopping At End Of Day
Missing the point about why to turn off the AC before engine....it is to evaporate the condensate in the interior air handling system so as to dry it out and prevent mold and mildew in the evaporator and duct work area!!!My wife does not like this either, but, it would be very difficult to clean out and kill a moldy mess in the evaporator and duct work. Part of this is also running the fan on a high setting for several minutes or more after killing the A/C compressor to blow things dry!
View 19 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Car Is Chugging When Stopped?
Car is chugging when stopped. Changed the spark plugs and fuel filter. Still does it. Now checking the distributor. I've attached a couple pictures. You can see the brown marks. Is this a problem?
View 10 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Car Shaking After Jumping Battery
I accidentally left my car on overnight and my battery was dead in the morning, of course. I got it jumped and I drove all the way to work, but every time I slowed down at a light or for traffic the car started shaking. It has to be fairly slow before it starts happening, say 15-10 mph or lower. It never did this before the battery went dead, and it stops as soon as I gave the car any amount of gas at all. I'm hoping this is just a temporary side-effect of having to jump the battery. What the problem might be?
View 8 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Oil Light Comes On After Sudden Braking
oil level checked by dipstick, a little low
View 7 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Broken Wire In Door Jam?
I've got broken wires in the driver door. Do I have to solder them?
View 11 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: When Turn The Key No Sound Aside From Fan Turning Every Few Seconds
My car won't start! When I turn the key, the car doesn't make any sounds aside from the fan turning every few seconds. The car seems to think the engine is going. All the lights and everything turn on (they're hardly turning on now after trying to get the car running for a couple of days). All the wires on the battery and to the starter are in really good shape, no corrosion or damage or anything.
I've tried starting the car while in neutral as well, still nothing. Does this sound more indicative of an issue with the starter or with the battery? My friend and I were trying to get the starter out so I could have it tested but the bolt is on very very tight (broke a wrench trying to undo it). I want to figure out what the most likely culprit is before I go too much further. Unfortunately I'm out of work right now so taking it to a mechanic isn't really an option, but I really really need to get my car fixed.
Maintenance / Repairs :: Aluminum Alloy Corrosion Rim Leaks
Just how common is this? How much can be done about it? Is it sometimes hopeless? Surely no one ever actually welds them up and then machines them back off?
View 19 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Reduced Engine Power When Driving At 70 MPH
I was driving my truck back home (70mph) and dashboard said reduced engine power so it slowed me down to 50 then 40 pulled to the side turn it off disconnect battery connected everything again turned work fine for at least 300 ft and turned off completely now it wont start... What could be ? I switch the throttle body and is not it....
View 11 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Transmission Malfunction - Won't Shift Lever?
Transmission problem, will not shift lever. If car moves while on P, then the interlock will not disengage. I car doesnt roll at all it will allow me to shift gears but if the cars rolls just one inch then i cant shift gears. Already replace brake sensor.
View 6 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Loose Steering Wheel / Not Jerky Just Sloppy
I just drove a car I'm looking to buy and the steering wheel was pretty loose. Not jerky, just sloppy.
I can tell it needs an alignment, but what could I be looking at in order to tighten it up?
I've learned that front ends can get pricey pretty quick.
Maintenance / Repairs :: Loose Timing Chain Cause Engine Miss?
is it possible for a loose timing chain to cause a engine miss.
View 1 RepliesMaintenance - Repairs :: Grinding Noise In Front Passenger Side?
I had my first car 3 months and every thing was going fine, this afternoon I was leaving the motorway and heard a grinding noise in the front passenger side. There are marks in the disc but the pad looks like it has enough meat on it. What is the problem? The driver's side is fine no noise. There is a bit of a lip on the disc so I think it would need changing soon but it's not that bad.
View 19 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Code PO430 / Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold
I was app. 10 miles from home & engine started missing & went into limp mode & yes the light flashed . I limped it home anyway & now have a PO430 code . # 2 spark plug died & caused this , danged plug didn't have a hundred miles on it since new . Replaced that plug & everything's fine except that code . Vehicle runs great . I've also read an 02 sensor could cause this code .
View 4 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Check Engine Light On / Misfire On Bank 1 And 2
Change out the penlum gasket and now the check engine light came back on and the codes are 301 and 302 miss fire on the bank 1 and 2. not sure what it is now. mechanic is lost...
View 14 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: 2002 VW - Function Of Windows And Lock Buttons Swapped?
OK I have a 2002 VW Bug TDI and yesterday I got into the car and the windows, sunroof, and mirrors did not work all are power. Now for the fun part. When I leaned over and tried the window button on the passenger side the doors locked. So on the drivers side the window buttons do nothing and the lock button work just fine. On the passenger side the the lock button does nothing but the window button locks and unlocks the car. As best as I can remember the windows worked normally on Monday. I have not looked at the fuse box but would that cause the window button to work the locks?
View 3 RepliesMaintenance / Repairs :: Low Pitched Intermittent Whomp Sound Coming When Braking At Low Speed
A couple of weeks ago I came home from work to find my front passenger side wheel completely deflated. I didn't think much of it at the time and thought someone must have let it down. However, ever since then I have had a very low pitched intermittent 'whomp' sound coming from it, when braking at a low speed. When the car comes to a stop, so does the noise.
I'm beginning to suspect that the tyre being deflated was due to it not being properly sealed to the wheel. I'd parked half on/half off the pavement outside my house with the passenger side on the road. I assumed the tyre deflated because it couldn't handle the weight of the car on the tyre. I've inspected the tyre and there are no obvious punctures and the wheel has remained inflated ever since and I've now agreed with my housemate that I can use the drive to park it on for the time being to stop it happening again.
However, before the deflation everything was fine with the car and there was definitely no 'whomp'. What it may be/ways to check what it is myself and/or potential costings of taking it to a mechanic?
Lumina :: 95 - Fuel Pump Relay Clicks Without Key In Ignition
Without key even in ignition, fuel pump relay clicks constantly every 8 seconds with the gauge lights illuminating during this 8 seconds. The only lights that function are the gauge lights. Upon turning on the headlight switch only the gauge lights illumin8. Absolutely no headlights, dome light or brake lights. No fuel pump sense/pulse. No radio, key on or in accessories.
Multi-function switch was not the issue. How would I troubleshoot this one?
Saturn - S-series :: Maintenance And Repair - Ignition Lock Replacement
Do I need to do anything other than disconnect the battery to disable the airbags on this car so I can replace the ignition lock?
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