Auto Repair Articles

QUESTION:

1990 900 turbo leaking hydraulic fluid. seems to be toward the radiator end of the engine. replaced clutch master cylinder, that was not the problem. any suggestions? 

ANSWER:

Only 1 thing on your car uses hydraulic fluid. That is the transmission, the brakes and clutch use brake fluid (highly corrosive nothing like hyd fluid). If the master cylinder is running low, you are losing brake fluid. Probably the ABS pump or control unit. I believe that is where they mount it. More likely though is a transmission leak from the cooler lines (they run into the radiator). Check both of these.

QUESTION:

I own a 2000 4×4 Isuzu Trooper 3.8 Liter. When it starts up it idles fine, however, when you put it in gear the RPM goes up and you have to keep your foot on the brake pedal because it feels like it wants to go and move fast. Very unusual to experience. Not sure if this is a sensor problem or not. The transmission was replaced or rebuilt in April 2007 with 120,000 miles. Any idea?

ANSWER:

I looked up technical bulletins on your vehicle and it appears there have been problems with the Accelerator Position Sensor. Beyond that it will require some diagnostics by a good technician to determine the exact cause.

QUESTION:

Had my brakes done 3 weeks ago on my 1997 Buick, told mechanic that I had to completely press petal to floor before the brakes would grab. He told me it was because he had to change my break fluid. Then the other day I was on my way home and went to use my brakes and all I heard was air whooshing I kept hitting the brake and thats all I heard. What happened?

ANSWER:

Your brake booster and master cylinder are bad. Replace them both together, as a unit. Then you will be fine.

Troubleshooting Your Brake System
 

QUESTION:

Dash board lites flashed. Tried to reset got an code, don’t know what that means now van will not shift into drive. 1999 Town & Country van Town &Country 3.8L Already Tried:
Drove and stopped- lights wouldn’t come on- it buzzed when I put key in ignition. I got to dealership they put new battery in they said battery was fried. Driving home air and defrost lights flashed. Radio was slow to come on. Drove fine for a day except for flashing lights. Then we tried to put the battery on better and reset the computer but now their is not enough power to put the car in drive and make it go forward.

Answer:

Calibration test may be initiated manually by pressing and holding WASH and REAR WIPER buttons for 5 seconds

before doing the first test.

QUESTION:

In a 1989 Chevy Beretta where is the air conditioning port to put in coolant? 

ANSWER:

I think on this one it is located near the battery and under the air intake box/hose assembly. It is in the thicker of the two a/c lines. So you can follow the thicker line from one end to the other and are guaranteed to find it.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting and How to Recharge A/C 

keep in mind this is a small port since it requires R-12, It looks like a but bigger than a valve stem cap on the wheel. It is referred to as the low side port and is between the compressor(sometimes located on the compressor itself) and the Evaporator(which is located in the dash and connects through the fire wall on the passenger side)

Question:

2000 grand am. Key won’t come out of ignition. can remove it by pushing button on underside of steering column. Electrical release solenoid beside Ignition  switch is working fine, where is the signal coming from that activates the release? 

Answer:

There are 2 bulletins. One is for making sure the shifter is totally engaged in the park position. If it hangs up and doesn’t go into park, it won’t allow the key to be removed. The other is for a key cylinder that will not rotate back to allow the key removal. This involves drilling a hole in the aluminum housing to drill out the pin that releases the cylinder.

How can I tell if My Car’s alternator is charging ?

There are a couple of ways you can do this. One is by using a multi-meter set to DC Volts. If the meter shows less than 13 Volts it is not charging(this is done with the engine running). Another indication is if the icon on the dash that looks like a battery illuminates then the alternator is not charging. Typically the alternator will produce 13.5 to 14.7 volts. If it does not you will need to replace the alternator. Make sure to check this after installation.

Directions for Testing with a multi-meter

Question:

How is the 1990 Ford Escort ignition key tumblers replaced. I’ve removed the covers & tried to release tumblers by depressing the release pins through both open ports in canting, but tumbler unit won”t pull out in any position. How do I release tumbler assy? 

Answer:

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. If equipped with a tilt steering column, remove the upper extension shroud by unsnapping the shroud from the retaining clip at the 9 o’clock position.
3. Remove the steering column lower shroud.
4. Unplug the warning buzzer electrical connector.
5. With the lock cylinder key, rotate the cylinder to the RUN position.
6. Take a ¹/₈ in. (3.17mm) diameter pin or small wire punch and push on the cylinder retaining pin. The pin is visible through a hole in the mounting surrounding the key cylinder. Push on the pin and withdraw the lock cylinder from the housing.

To install:

Fig. 1: Use a 1/8 in. (3.17mm) diameter pin or small wire punch to push on the lock cylinder retaining pin and remove the cylinder

1. Install the lock cylinder by turning it to the RUN position and depressing the retaining pin. Insert the lock cylinder into the housing. Be sure the lock cylinder is fully seated and aligned in the interlocking washer before turning the key to the OFF position. This action will permit the cylinder retaining pin to extend into the cylinder housing hole.
2. Rotate the lock cylinder, using the lock cylinder key, to ensure correct mechanical operation in all positions.
3. Attach the electrical connector for the key warning buzzer.
4. Install the lower steering column shroud or trim shroud halves.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.
6. Check for proper start in P or N, then make certain the start circuit cannot be actuated in the D and R positions and that the column is locked in the LOCK position.

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Question:

I have a unit to test a/c refrigerant level/pressure and if it needs more or needs other repairs. I need to locate the low side port of the a/c on a 3.5 liter 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue engine to attach the unit. Can you tell me where it is?  Already Tried: Looked under the hood and was not sure if I located it or not. I think it is on the right side of the engine as you look at it in front of the brake lines and a bit lower.

Answer;

The low side fitting is on the accumulator on the right side of the engine compartment(driver side). You should be able to trace the large line at the compressor back to the accumulator assembly.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting