Archive for the ‘Q&A’ Category
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
I have heard as many arguments to warm up your car in cold weather as not to. What is your opinion? thanks - rudy fernandez
In the past, vehicles were equipped with carburetors, heat riser tubes, and a lot of mechanical linkages that had to warm up before they would operate correctly. Today’s vehicles are engineered and designed to allow the owner to get in their car, crank the engine, put it in gear, and get started with their busy day. All of the components that used to be mechanically controlled, are now electronically controlled by the computer. The vehicle’s Powertrain Control Module knows the temperature outside and adjusts the related components accordingly. So unless you’re warming your vehicle up just to get the heater hot, don’t worry about any other additional warm up time. Thanks! - Jim Burdeshaw
Tags: cold weather, vehicle warm up
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
Monday, November 10th, 2008
I have a ‘95 Mustang with a leaking transmission. A friend has a ‘92 Mustang motor, and said I could have the transmission. Are they interchangeable? - Ronnie V.
If your Mustang is equipped with the 5.0L H.O. engine, it should be interchangeable. That was the last year that Ford used that engine before they swapped to the 4.6L. You may also want to check into the source of the leak. It could be something simple that may possibly be a cheaper and quicker fix. Write back if you have any further questions. Thank you!
Tags: 1992 Ford Mustang, 1995 Ford Mustang, Ford, leaks, Mustang, transmission
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Mr. Burdeshaw, I know we are located relatively far south, but do we need to do anything to winterize our cars because of the change in weather? I’m sure winter tires are unnecessary, but was curious if anything is needed. - Randy W.
Depending on your maintenance records, I would definitely do the minor winterize preparations each winter. At least have the antifreeze protection level tested. Most vehicles should have their thermostat and antifreeze replaced ever other year or 35-60,000 miles. Along with these services, it is always our practice to check your drive belts (all belts, especially the water pump), radiator, and heater/radiator hoses. Most hoses rot from the inside out, so it can be tricky to determine if they are due for service. And as far as the tires go, I would at minimum check your tire age, tread depth, and air pressure. Thansk for the inquiry. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you!
Tags: maintenance, winterization
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
Monday, October 6th, 2008
I drive a 2005 Nissan Frontier truck. For about two months now, while driving, I can hear this tapping sound coming from my driver-side front wheel. I just had the brakes replaced about three months ago, so I know it is not the brakes, but the noise sounds like a baseball card stuck in the spokes of a bicycle tire. - Vanis D.
Believe it or not, it could still be something in the brake system. A lot of times, the caliper pins get overlooked as part of the brake job. Some techs forget to lubricate them which causes some binding and causes a clicking noise. You could also be experiencing a possible wheel bearing noise. Some other questions would be, does the frequency change with speed or does the noise happen at all times or just when you apply the brakes? Hope these areas give you a starting point. Write back if you eliminate these questions but still have the problem.
Tags: 2005 Nissan Frontier, brakes, caliper pins, noise, tapping, wheel bearing
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
The column shift on my 1994 Mercury does not match the right location. - Jake R.
Most column shift indicators are connected to the gear shift arm via a little string that pulls the indicator past the PRNDL1. There is an adjustment knob that you can turn in or out to fine tune the indicator. If you cannot get the indicator to correctly match the gear there may be a broken slide that the string rides on. Thank You!
Tags: 1994 Mercury, gear shift
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
Friday, September 5th, 2008
Where is the purge valve for bleeding the air from a Cadillac Northstar engine, year 1996? It is in a 1996 Eldorado. I have been working on it and need to bleed the air from the system and don’t know where the valve is. - Jim B.
Usually, when you mention “purge valve” on a vehicle, you are referring to the evaporative system. If this is the system ou have in question, there really is no way to manually actuate the purge valve solenoid without using a diagnostic scanner or jumper wiring with a system schematic. If you are referring to a different system (fuel?), please write back. Thank you!
Tags: 1996 Cadillac Eldorado, Northstar engine, purge valve
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »
Friday, September 5th, 2008
I have an old ‘87 Buick Park Avenue. It has 89,000 miles on it. I’ve had the fuel injectors replaced. The problem is that it takes too long for the gas to get to the carborator before it starts. Could it be the fuel pump? Once it starts, it runs well. I think that it doesn’t have enough pressure to keep gas up to the carborator. - Tony H.
The fuel pump could definitely cause your vehicle to have a delay in starting right up. You could also have a fuel pump relay that may not be energizing the pump correctly. But, keep in mind, there are several other components and systems that could also cause the same problem. I would recommend having an engine performance/fuel system diagnosis performed to be absolutely sure that this is where the problem lies. Thank you!
Tags: 1987 Buick Park Avenue, carborator, fuel injectors, fuel pump, gas, pressure
Posted in Q&A | No Comments »