Maintenance & Repairs - April 2007

Hmm. So I am getting my car worked on, and the mechanic calls me for phone authorization for some work. Standard.

Then he says, "Now I have to ask you kind of a weird question. In order to verify that you are actually giving this authorization, the government has me ask you this: where did you go to high school?".
So I told him where I went, thinking even if this is BS, what harm could he do with that information? And he started trying to make small talk about my hometown.

Just wondering if any of you are mechanics or have heard of this new "federal regulation"! Is that a legit way to get phone authorization, or was he just satisfying his own personal curiosity (or worse)?

2007-04-11 13:55:48 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

Been told that some ticking from the exhaust is normal to hear after the car has been driven, but the ticking is pretty loud and continues for a good period and ive noticed it even when the car is on. In addition my car seems to be getting poor gas mileage. Not sure if they are related or what the problem is. My car has only 43k miles on it which is frustrating. Can't pinpoint the poor gas mileage as everything ie tires spark plugs, allignment, seem to be in good shape. Helpful advice appreciated thank you.

2007-04-11 13:00:45 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

The engine light shoing up.
.Mazda 626,,1993...coronos..V6..and has 193000km on it now
Has new O2 sensour, but only backside...has new waterpump,timebelt,fanbelt,new muffeler....

2007-04-11 12:53:58 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

The electric window on my car doesn't work.

I've removed the door pannel for a look, and there isn't anything obviously wrong.

The fuses are all fine.

What else could it be?
I don't want to invest in a new motor for it until I've checked everything else first.

2007-04-11 12:52:58 · 7 answers · asked by Wax Crayon 4

I was driving My 1993 Mercury Cougar earlier this evening and for no reason out of the blue the all of the dome lights in the car came on! Also the chime for the "left the headlights on" was chiming. I tried the dome light control, opened and closed all of the doors, still on. They stay on when the car is off. I had a bad headlight switch replaced a year ago for blinking headlights, maybe its bad again. Any Ideas, the car has auto power shut off after 45 minutes so they will go out then. Thanks In Advance!!!!

2007-04-11 12:12:44 · 3 answers · asked by Alan P 2

today i had to drive on wet snow for about an hour and i've installed a CAI which is little more than a feet away from the ground. Few times while driving i could feel the CAI sucking water. And when i got home and looked at the filter, it was definitely drenched pretty good. I am now worried that my car is gonna get hydrolocked or something is going to get busted inside the engine.
Can anybody please tell me how to prevent this from happening. A detailed help would greatly be appreciated
thanks

2007-04-11 12:01:01 · 7 answers · asked by rev 1

i have a 2000 toyota corolla wit 17x7.5 " rims and the front wheels r fine but the back hit my fender when i have people sitting in the back seat i was thinking about gettin lowering springs b/c that stiffens up the suspension n the car body wont be going up n down n it wont move when people sit . i jus took my system out thinking it was too heavy bc wit the system in there it would scrape even wit jus 2 people in it do u think getting coil overs or lowering springs will help it

2007-04-11 11:46:48 · 11 answers · asked by Adnan 1

I have a problem and was wondering if you know if the front blower doesn't work but the rear blower motor does work what the problem could be is it a fuse or are they both on the same circuit or separate. Do you think that the blower motor is gone???

2007-04-11 11:45:13 · 4 answers · asked by David L 1

How is the reliability of DB Electrical-Starters-Alternators, they have a listing on eBay. They are one of the few that claim they can make a 200 amp alternator for 2000 Chevy S-10 4 Cyl. If anyone knows of any other site that has an alternator this size pleases let me know. Also, adding a sound system that requires 80amps. Is this the way to go?

2007-04-11 11:40:39 · 2 answers · asked by CL 2

The locks on the car door are stuck closed and I can't figure how to get them open. I don't want to resort to pulling the frame off. It's after 5, so an auto shop is out...@#$%&@! Any suggestions?

2007-04-11 11:33:07 · 21 answers · asked by SlyAlice 2

My house in Roswell, Atalanta, buyer inspector checked my house garage door opener, and said that my garage door opener does not auto-reverse when some object (like hands) try to block at the bottom of the garage door when it rools down, but not interfering the laser beam !! My garage door opener does reverse when laser beam detects anything when door goes down, but does not reverse when object are not in the middle of the laser sensors. Is this violating the building code ? Is this supposed to cause concerns of hosue inspection ? It is GENIE opener and do not know the model number, what can I do to make it reversable when object blocks, but not in between the laser sensor ?

2007-04-11 11:28:45 · 5 answers · asked by Alan H 1

I have a 1996 Chevy c -1500 silverado 5.0 V8 2wd. When I put it into reverse, it shifts into reverse just fine, but as I back up, it sounds like it's grinding somewhere in the front. What could be the problem? It has 132,000 miles on it and it has a trailer hitch. I hope the previous owner didn't pull something too heavy.

2007-04-11 11:18:51 · 4 answers · asked by David W 1

if a car need a oil change or its due for its next oil change can i cause you to use more Gas

2007-04-11 11:14:18 · 7 answers · asked by timi 2

2007-04-11 10:45:35 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

My pre-owned car has a smell of cigarette smoke on the steering wheel from the hands of the previous owner. Is there any way to remove this odor? I've tried sanitizing wipes, but it is still there.

2007-04-11 10:40:37 · 5 answers · asked by Patrick R 1

Auto Zone gave me a diagnostics code of P0406 which says that the PCM has determined that the voltage signal from EGR sensor A is too high for the current engine operating conditions. (my check engine light went on this morning after about 1 minute of starting my car)

It says probable causes are either a failed EGR Position Sensor, an open or short circuit condition, a failed EGR Valve, a Failed EGR Pressure Sensor, or a Failed EGR Position Sensor.

How do I know which one it is? Is there something I can do to narrow down what the issue is?

2007-04-11 10:32:08 · 1 answers · asked by Anthony S 1

Ok. I was driving in the city and next thing I know I felt it stop. I was coasting... so I pulled into a parking lot. I tried to start the car again. It roughly tried to turn over. I opened the hood and looked inside. You could see where oil splashed back at the engine. I have gas.... I did not see any idiot lights before this happened. Could I have just busted a line? It was not overheating. I am going to have my sisters ex boyfriend look at it this evening hopefully. He is a mechanic. But I was just wondering if anyone had an idea what it could be. It is a 1997 Honda Accord. I am hopeing that it tries to turn over is a good sign... but it is kinda rough... like it catches for a second... then dies. I was thinking a cloged fuel injector or something. Admittedly it has needed a tune up for a while and I have neglected it. My plan was to get it done in May when I finish paying for the car ( I bought it used obviously.) HELP!!!

2007-04-11 10:29:57 · 3 answers · asked by TAZZLOVER8 2

-I have a jeep cherokee 96 classic
-it over heats on hiways if i drive 75mph for about 15 min, its seems ok in the city though

-i changed my second water pump this year
and i got all new hoses, radiator, cap and coolant
-there is no thermostat
-it was fine before, i use to drive over 100mph for hours
-my A/C don't work, but all the fans do
-the water/coolant comes out of the expansion tank when i stop

any posible reason for this? plzz

2007-04-11 10:03:31 · 8 answers · asked by Luby 5

I have power to the switch but when i turn it on I get power on the ground wires.

2007-04-11 10:00:30 · 2 answers · asked by bbking48507 5

I work for STEINEL, who makes the most durable hand held heat guns available and I would like to find more applications in which people use heat guns. Please share what you do with a heat gun. If anyone is interested, go to www.steinel.net to register to win a heat gun each month of this year. Thanks.

2007-04-11 09:59:07 · 4 answers · asked by Kenneth B 1

2007-04-11 09:46:58 · 8 answers · asked by Mary C 1

as i drive down the road my rpm needles wiggles all over the place it doesnt go all the way into the redline area thankfully. it doesnt rev up either, it was dying when it would go to zero but i had the coolant temp sensor replaced and it stopped dying, but it stills wiggles like crazy. it also has probs statring as it will start and die for a while, then starts up. the biggest problem is that it only does this sometimes then will run fine sumetimes.

2007-04-11 09:25:20 · 1 answers · asked by onefastjew 1

In my car the coolant resevoir plastic is very hot after driving (even after relatively short distances - engine at mid temp). Is this normal? It looks like a wet ceiling with beading cooland on the top of the resevoir.

2007-04-11 09:11:19 · 8 answers · asked by konki 2

When driving the other day my AC started making a tiny buzzing sound, but still worked.. It eventually started to get lounder and louder and now I just keep it off (although, it does still work).. The other day I checked it again and it made no noise and worked perfectly for about 2 hours, and then started making the noise again.. It almost sounds like a high pitched jet engine or something, but goes off as soon as turn off the AC, so it has to be that.. IDEAS???

2007-04-11 08:34:19 · 10 answers · asked by chris 3

2007-04-11 07:46:09 · 5 answers · asked by gone 1

I recently bought a 97 honda accord with 120,XXX miles on it. The dealer got the car from an auction and has none of the services or maintenance history so I don't know what recall service has been done. Do dealers update a national database by VIN detailing what recall service has already been performed on a car? I'd like to have a record of this and also get any recall service that has yet to be performed.
Thanks

2007-04-11 05:01:58 · 9 answers · asked by phe 3

Is is hard to replace a fuel filter on a 97 Bravada?

2007-04-11 04:34:01 · 2 answers · asked by j_n 1

2007-04-11 04:33:39 · 6 answers · asked by johnny r 1

The fan is suppose to turn on and off as needed.

2007-04-11 04:24:10 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

I have a 2002 Nissan Spec V that recently started making a loud cyclic noise from the right front wheel. I was on a road trip down in Florida when I first noticed this occur (I live in Michigan). The noise at first only happened when I turned right while driving, now it sometimes happens when I'm going straight as well (but not turning left). The noise also does not occur when I'm braking or accelerating, but happens when I am decelerating.
At first, I thought this was my brakes, as they need replacing. Ordered new rotors/pads and am getting them installed this week. However, I noticed yesterday after taking a couple hour trip to visit a friend that the noise from the wheel is significantly reduced now after that trip on the highway, but I can still hear it if I turn off the radio and listen closely. I'm confused now, do I have a problem with my differential or wheel bearings? Could it just be worn brakes? Being that the noise ceases when I apply the brakes, I'm getting worried...

2007-04-11 04:22:35 · 7 answers · asked by gpocalypse 3