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| Response on tires DEAR BT: I read with some interest the problems on the Monte Carlos with Goodyear tires. I have an 03 Windstar that came with factory Goodyears. At about 7000 miles I kept having them go out of round. Finally, Discount Tire service suggested that I buy Michelin.VOILA AT 65000 Miles I am still driving those tires and they look as if there is another 20K Miles. I would suggest going to a reputable tire store, check the tires for roundness and see if they can stop the vibrations. EE, Houston A: DEAR EE: First of all I want to thank
you for taking the time and interest to write in and give
the solution to a problem that you were experiencing with
your tires/ride in order to possibly help out some of the
readers out there that seem to be writing in lately with
similar problems. I will pass this info on as an option to
those readers that seem to be boiling with rough ride
frustration. 
DEAR BT: I Have a 1998 ford mustang coupe and Im trying to locate a window regulator for the drivers side window. And I am having a hard time finding one for my mustang they dont seem to exsist anywhere in Houston if there is anyway you might know of a place that might carry them or I can order one without it costing me a small fortune.I would appreciate it very much. Thank you, Barbara B A: DEAR BARBARA B: Oh how many times in the past
did I face the same issue you are facing while in need of
parts for my rides until I discovered the Parts and
Accessories section on eBay Motors. Back in the ole days you
were faced with traipsing around your local junkyards all
day long then pulling those parts and crossing your fingers
to make sure that once you got them home and mounted them
that they would actually do they were suppose to do…WORK I
just now did a search for you to see if there were any of
these particular parts that you are in need of and I found
several for about $50.00. You must get this problem fixed or
how are you going to find it possible to pull up to the ATM
and withdraw money for a shopping spree if you can not roll
down your window! I hope I have been of the assistance that
you need!
Jimmy starting problem DEAR BT: I HAVE A 1995 "JIMMY" LOW MI. IT ALWAYS STARTS VERY GOOD ON FIRST START. AFTER DRIVING LONG ENOUGH TO WARM UP THE ENGINE, IT HAS TO TURN OVER SEVERAL TIMES TO FIRE UP, AND SOMES TIMES SOUNDS LIKE IT'S HITTING ON ABOUT 4 CYC. AFTER TAKING HOLT AND STRIGHTING OUT IT RUNS FINE. IF I SHUT DOWN AND RESTART WITHIN A FEW MIN. IT STARTS FINE. ANY SUGGESTIONS. I MIGHT ADD IT'S A "6" 4.2. I HAVE CHANGED FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL PRESS REG.[spider} VAC. LINE TO VAC. CANISTER. EACH TIME SEEMS TO HELP FOR AWHILE THEN BACK TO SAME PROBLEM. THANKS , TOTO A: DEAR TOTO: My first gut feeling is that
your spider is leaking fuel in the intake. You should have
replaced the whole spider instead of just replacing the
pressure regulator being as the spider leaking fuel in the
intake is a very common problem in the Jimmy’s. I bet you
have at least 120 on the clock “ODO” and it billows black
smoke when you first start it. I know that you do not want
to hear this but you should be able to get your upper intake
and spider addressed and fixed for about $1000.00 for parts
and labor.
GMC fuel response DEAR BT: About a month ago, A.D. of Houston was having a problem with a 1998 GMC. It was hard to start, sluggish, missing, smelled of raw fuel (as opposed to cooked fuel?), and the check engine light was on. Quite frankly, I think you sent him down the wrong path when you told him to check the ignition switch. The first step should have been to scan the computer and find out what trouble codes were making the check engine light come on. I have a feeling that would have shown a problem with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor uses a thermistor which has high resistance when cold and low resistance when hot. High resistance tells the computer to put more fuel into the engine and can cause extreme flooding. A poor connection or an open circuit will give high resistance. Also, a bad sensor is a common problem with these vehicles. The auto parts stores keep them in stock. That should tell you something. Don in Crosby, TX A: DEAR DON: If you are avid reader of my
Q and A’s that are in the Sunday edition of The Houston
Chronicle in the Auto section you are aware that I do
suggest to a lot of people to go get their vehicle hooked up
to the all mighty computer in order to determine which codes
that are popping on and pointing to certain problems that
are currently plaguing their vehicle. I do however make it a
policy of mine not to just tell everyone “go the the
computer and thanks for writing in”. That would be a pretty
boring Q and A column every week now wouldn’t it? After
reading A.D.’s problem I came to the conclusion to tell him
to check the ignition switch hence my years of prior
experience with the ignition switches being a common problem
that display the particular symptoms that he was explaining
to me. It is sorta tricky for me sometimes to be 100%
accurate diagnosing a problem from just someone explaining
it to me in an email. Week in and week out I do my best to
assist and be as accurate as I can be via cyberspace while
not being able to be under everyone’s hood to give a hands
on answer to everyone’s problem.
GM TSB's DEAR BT: Is there a web site I can find these TSB's and print those? This dealer is reluctant to do anything. They would rather play dumb. Does GM pay or is it solely the dealer’s responsibility for TSB's? Doug A: DEAR DOUG: Mechanics typically get their
listing of TSB’s through companies such as Mitchell or
Snap-on as they pay monthly to have access to these. The
dealership should without any doubt tell you what TSB’s are
going on with your make and model and cover the work under
factor warranty if your car is still under the warranty!
2000 Mazda 626 DEAR BT: I am an owner of a Mazda 626. Year is 2000. I am having a coolant problem. The temperature gauge never gets hot. It is the normal range. After driving for about 15 - 20 minutes and stop, the coolant level rises in the reservoir. It rises and comes out of the reservoir tube. it spills out onto the ground. It also has some white foam on top of the liquid. Do you have any idea what could be going on. June C. Elizondo A: DEAR JUNE: You need to have your car
pressure tested to see if you have any leaks like an intake
leak and determine if my thinking is correct by your ride
having a blown head gasket hence the white cottage cheese
foam you are laying your eyes upon. You could also possibly
be having a thermostat issue. My best friend once had a
Mazda 626 that was doing exactly what you are describing by
having a blown head gasket and for about $500.00 later her
car was like new again. I hope I have been able to give you
some clues to what is ailing you and your car.
2000 Ford Contour DEAR BT: I have read your Q&A in the Houston Chronicle and I am very intrigued with your answers. I am not very mechanically inclined yet I know when there is something wrong with our vehicles. I have a 2000 Ford Contour that has already had the fuel line replaced twice and the fuel pump replaced once. About two months ago, I was headed home from Sugarland on Highway 90 and I pulled over to put gas in the car at a Shell. I filled up the tank and headed home on the Beltway. Right as I was getting off the beltway, I noticed that the car started to drag as I was slowing down off the exit ramp. I thought maybe that I accidentally moved the gear down but I hadn’t. As I started to go from the stop light, I felt the engine revving but the car didn’t seem to want to go. It moved very slowly so I thought it might be the transmission or simply the fuel pump again. As I got home, I put it in park and revved the engine. It seemed fine then but then the engine light came on. I took it to a mechanic and was told that it might have been bad gas and that I needed to change the spark plugs. My husband changed the plugs and then proceeded to detach the battery to reset the engine light. When they reconnected the battery, the light turned off but after a test drive, it came back on. Another mechanic told us it was the timing belt. It still ran for about another month tugging at times but it always turned on. After going to the Auto parts to get a part for our other vehicle, it died on my husband. It would not turn on anymore. He towed it to a mechanic nearby and was told that it was not only the timing belt but it was also bent valves. The cost for the repair would run us $1500. I have a mechanic friend and he said that the timing was off but how could we tell if the valves were bent if the motor/engine, had not been opened. He tried to crank the car but the engine would not turn over. Could this be the problem and can I get it fixed for less since I need it fixed but I don’t have the funds? Thanks, Pat A: DEAR PAT: Number one: The guy that said
that you had gotten some bad gas needs to go back to school
and I would have liked to have seen you keep your car at the
mechanic that said it was your timing belt and to have let
him fix it right then. The best way to tell if your timing
belt is broken is to pull the top cover off to see if the
belt is broken off and this is actually pretty simple to do
on the Contour. The best way to tell if you have bent valves
which is keeping your motor from turning over is to get
ahold of the crank pulley to see if it will turn in one
direction and not the other hence your belt being wadded up
around the crank which is why it is not turning over. You
will be able to tell the difference if you are hitting
rubber verses metal when you are turning it. If you are
hitting rubber it will feel a little cushy verses if you are
hitting metal you will feel it being a little clankity and
you will be able to actually hear it hit a valve, which
means your valves are bent. In your case I know you must be
analyzing that old saying about throwing good money at bad
but not knowing your whole financial situation it might be
the only option you have is to fix your Contour and get it
fixed right. I wish I could wave a magic wand for you and
fix this at no cost but you are definitely looking at about
$500.00 for a whole timing belt kit if you did not bend any
valves. I have seen a bunch of these motors “twin overhead
cam engines” having the timing belt broke without bending
any valves. I would suggest finding a good shop to do this
repair and not trying to do it on your own. Thanks for the
great question but sorry that you are having these problems.
I have a great friend in Colorado that always reminds me
when things seem gloomy that “this too shall pass” which it
always does and things do get better.
2000 Mazda stereo removal DEAR BT: Attempting to remove factory installed stereo from a 2000 mazda protégé. Removed side panels with flathead screwdriver. Inserted din tools as advised din tools applied to left side you can feel the spring tension when you push outward. Right side you cannot. Din tools will go in to far on that side also. It is like it is not getting on the proper side of the clips. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, Pat A: DEAR PAT: You will need to take the din
tool and slowly insert it in and move to the left then to
the right until you can feel the spring you are trying to
release. The screw has probably come hunkyjarred so be
careful and slow with your process and you will find it…if
all else fails use a blow torch! Thanks for writing in.
2001 Avalon sputtering DEAR BT: I have a 2001 avalon when I crank up after driving the car sputters out it has 129k on it do I need to change the fuel filter I have a new oil change new air filter or adjust the idle on it my rpm is between 0-1 but not on 1 it is half way what can I do jrutherford A: DEAR JR: Hello again,
2005 Jeep rare issues DEAR BT: Help! I purchased a 2005
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 in early 2006. I bought it
as a certified Jeep pre-owned vehicle with the remaining
factory warranty. It had around 27,000 miles when I bought
it. I did lots of research before I bought the vehicle and
felt confident buying used since it was from the dealership
and certified. I also checked the Carfax report and showed
no reports of damage on the vehicle. Here is the issue, the
Jeep has had numerous problems. I am not sure if it is
because of the fact that it is the first year of this body
style or because it was used. Here is what is going on: Keri A: DEAR KERI: Hi!
91 Chevy van fuel issue DEAR BT: I have a 1991 Chevy Custom Van, 5.7 V8, 125000 miies. It has started dying when the gas gauge drops below 1/2, usually at about 1/4. It starts right back up until I stop and it dies again. I know there can be a number of things (fuel filter, fuel pump, sending unit, etc.). My question is - how do I diagnose this? I don't want to take it to my mechanic and have him start changing parts till he hits on something that corrects the problem. Thanks. I enjoy reading your column in the chronicle and your web site. Charles Billingsley A: DEAR CHARLES: In order to determine if your
van is losing fuel pressure you will need to put a fuel
pressure gauge on your van by putting it in-place of your
fuel filter and this is located under your driver’s seat.
Putting on a fuel pressure gauge yourself can be a pretty
huge chore to tackle so you may just want to put some trust
into your local mechanic and have him diagnose and repair
your sweet van.
95 Honda Civic cabin filter DEAR BT: I own a 1995 Honda Civic DX
with 165,000 miles. Does this vehicle have an AC Cabin
filter?? If it does, where is it located and how hard is it
to change?? Andy- Houston, Texas A: DEAR ANDY: Hi Andy from Houston Texas...
one of my favorite places in the whole world!
ES 350 oil change indicator DEAR BT: My Lexus ES 350 has an oil change indicator that comes on at 500 miles before the next oil change. It is a red triangle on the dash and is quite annoying. Is there some procedure to turn off this annoying light reminder. Thanks Gary Mauro A: DEAR GARY: Hi there!
06 Chevy Impala vibrating DEAR BT: Recently in the Houston
Chronicle you answered a question from Steve concerning his
'07 Monte Carlo LT. I am having the same problems with my
'06 Impala LS. The tires are Good Year 16" Integrity's on
factory steel rims with bolt on covers. I've had the tires
rotated, balanced and pressure checked as required and the
alignment seems fine. The car and tires have 18,000 miles.
Do you know of any tech bulletins concerning this model? My
dealer says they do not know of any. Doug A: DEAR DOUG: As far as TSB’s on your ride
there are over 22 regarding corroding, tire warranty and
tire pressure. Your car is still under factory warranty so
why is the dealer not waiting on you hand and foot to make
sure this gets handled and makes you content and happy? Like
I told Steve I would recommend asking your local Chevy
dealership to replace your shock absorbers and struts to see
if this fixes your vibration and re-balance your tires. Have
the service manager take your car around the block and even
on the freeway so he can duplicate and experience what you
are living with day in and day out. It is their
responsibility to make your car right, and they are more
than aware of this issue that Chevy is having with the Monte
Carlo’s and Impala’s I hope this helps out,
1994 Park Avenue tail light warning DEAR BT: I have a 1994 Park Avenue. Above the rear view mirror is a Lamp Monitor system and the "tail light" light warning is on. I inspected the rear tail lights, the brake lights, and turn signals. All the lights are working. One idea I had was to remove the bulb in the Lamp Monitor, but I thought that there may be a "real" problem and I should fix it. Do you have any ideas of what it could be. It's a great old car that's very comfy and gets great MPG (27-29 at 65mph) and carries 6 people with luggage. With only 80K miles. Keep writing your advice it's great. B Tatum A: DEAR B TATUM: Hi there,
1998 Explorer intake gaskets DEAR BT: I have a 1998 Ford Explorer 2 WD with a 4.0 liter V-6 Engine, OHV, Fuel Injection plus auto-trans. The check engine light came on at 64,000 miles. The mechanic checked everything out and said the intake gaskets were leaking. I did not replace them as he didn’t seem too sure. At 84,000 miles, the check engine light came on and I could hear an air whistle. I took it to a Ford dealer and they said the two upper intake gaskets were leaking. The dealer did the repair job and it worked well except for some hesitation or bucking at stop and starts. It was also bucking and hesitating at 64,000 miles. The check engine light came on at 88,000 miles four months later. I took it in to another Ford dealer and they said the two upper intake gaskets were leaking again. They repaired it at no cost but now it hesitates at stop and starts and bucks. The engine light has just come on again four months later at 91,000. It is whistling air again and also accelerates faster. Can you help me understand the problem so that I can get the dealer to repair it permanently? I understand that there have been complaints about the problem previously but I didn’t get to read them. Are there any Ford repair bulletins on this? What is going to be the ultimate fix, other than get rid of the vehicle? Please publish your answer on your web site and would you kindly send me an E-mail? Lois A: DEAR LOIS: What you have been forced to
live with on a daily basis is a very common problem that
Ford is very aware of. If you replace the intake this should
save you the constant repair of the gaskets that without any
doubt is plaguing you. The only TSB bulletin is regarding
the gaskets leaking so if you find the right parts house
that carries Dorman you should be able to get the intake for
less then you probably spend on your cable bill every month.
You will have a very hard time getting Ford to step up, take
responsibility and assist in this repair so why not replace
the intake then sell the vehicle and get a jeep! Sorry, I
just had to throw that in there. I really believe that once
you replace the intake you will be good to go for a while.
There is a huge benefit to your bank account by having a
vehicle that is paid for like I am sure your Explorer is! I
hope this helps and thanks for the question.
2002 Explorer bad brakes DEAR BT: Barbara, we had our brakes repaired on our 2002 ford exployer , but the brakes scare us, sometimes they will not stop the car, the peddle goes to the floor, then sometimes they seem to be fine.
Hi there,
Honda tune-up and cost DEAR BT: I am mechanically blonde,
deaf and dumb ~~:o) Cyndi Hill A: DEAR CYNDI: First of all I give you huge
kudos for recognizing that a tune up is an essential part to
keeping your cars health up to par! When you take your car
in for a tune-up you can expect them to put in new spark
plugs and spark plug wires, replace any worn out belts and
or hoses, give it an oil change and new oil filter, switch
out the filthy air filter for a new shiny one, adjust your
valves and your timing if necessary, replace your fuel
filter, add water to your battery if need be and clean your
battery posts if corroded, check all your fluid levels and
replenish them or flush and replace if necessary. Proper
maintenance of your vehicle is a must to promote longevity
and performance; our cars are typically the second largest
thing that we invest in so you NEED to protect that
investment! Have a tune-up performed on your car
approximately every 2 years or every 30 thousand miles,
whichever comes first. As far as cost goes…if you take your
car to the dealer expect to pay anywhere from $250.00 to
$400.00 but I recommend taking it to your trusted local
mechanic because he will do just as good of a job and only
charge you about $150.00. When my friends and I go out we
call it getting Texas dolled up, so make sure to have your
cars engine also Texas dolled up, or in your case North
Carolina Southern Belle dolled up! Thanks for the blonde,
brunette or auburn question.
Chevy Blazer poor gas milage DEAR BT: I have a 2000 Chevy Blazer, 2 door, six cylinder. My gas mileage in town is 14 to 15 miles per gallon, highway 17. My husband drives a 2000 Ford Explorer, 4 door, six cylinder. He gets 17 miles per gallon in town and 20 highway. This is driving me crazy, why does he get better gas mileage when his vehicles is bigger and heavier than mine. I have tried gas additives, changing my driving habits, and talking to our mechanic, to no avail. Jo Ann A: DEAR JO ANN: I do feel your and your bank
accounts pain on constantly being drained by poor gas
mileage. It will be a day to remember when we can count on
the gas mileage being accurate that is promised from the
manufacturers. You can try gas saving tips such as: Remove
any and all excessive weight out of your Chevy Discontinue
excessive idling, such as sitting in traffic, sitting in
your driveway as you impatiently await your kids to get
their garb together and come jump in your vehicle Ride your
car on the proper air pressure in your tires Get routine
tune-ups Use the right grade of oil I hope by utilizing
these tips you see an increase in gas mileage and more money
in your back pocket to enjoy those blue light specials at
Kmart. Thanks for writing in,
2 Ford questions DEAR BT: Barbara - First, 2000 windstar, dash lights; ABS light, brake light, check engine, etc. come on periodically. the ABS light has been on for sometime now. others go off but then come back on days later. Now the drivers side window is starting to work only spordically. Obviously an electrical problem but the dealer cannot seem to analyze properly or fix. #2, 2003 Tribute. had brake
pads changed at around 40k miles. dealer changed the rotors
cuz they saw a problem and it was warranty work. Since then
(several months now) I've had a whining sound at speed.
once I hit 40 mph it starts and gets progressively
louder. And my mileage is only about 17 - 18 mpg.
Dealer can't find anything wrong. If the brakes were
dragging wouldn't it pull to one side or the other? hands
off the wheel, it stays straight on the road. KM A: DEAR KM: Hi there, Okay let’s start with your first question regarding your Ford Windstar. You need to wiggle your window switch in different directions to see if your window works after this. If it does this means you need a new switch, if this does not work you need hit on the inside of your door in order to see if this makes you window work. If the process of hitting on your door panel makes your window work you will need to invest in a new window motor/regulator. Now on to the Tribute: Thanks for 2 questions in one
email…that is a first and I like it!
1993 Lexus SC 400 door panel DEAR BT: hi barbara I have 93 sc 400 with a jamed door I need to know how do I take the door panel off? So I can fix handle.
A: Hi there: You first have to get the window regulator out in order to get the door panel off. Remove the inside of the door handle bezel using a tapered screw driver, carefully pry up in a forward fashion in the power window switch assembly to release the retaining clip. Pull the switch panel forward, unplug it and remove the switch. Remove 2 caps and 8 retaining screws and then you should be able to remove your almighty door trim panel. Let me know if you were able
to get this little door problem fixed and beware of not
getting addicted to self car repair!
1995 Taurus temp sensor location DEAR BT: Can you help telling me how
to locate the temp sensor in my 95 ford taurus? The needle
runs hot after about 10 mins. I don't know if it's the
sensor, thermostat or something else. There is no leak of
any kind whatsover. Of course money is an issue which is why
I need your help. I tried searching the web for pictorials
but couln't find one. nelson A: DEAR NELSON: In order to check the
temperature sensor you will need to locate the thermostat
housing under the hood and that is where it will be. There
are going to be 2 switches there, the single wire is for the
gauge and the 2 wire is for the fan. The way to test the
gauge is to unplug it and it should go all the way to cold
and then when you touch the metal connector to the engine
block the temperature gauge should go all the way to hot.
1998 Lincoln Mark VIII suspension DEAR BT: I have a 98 Mark VIII that
has been a great car. At 80K miles, the check air
suspension signal comes on at highway speeds. I can drive
it all day around town and no signal. I can stop turn it
off and restart. The car raises back up and the signal goes
off. Two mechanics say it is not the air bags. They did
not have software to communicate with the suspension. Help!
A: Hi there: I think the question should
be: How many Lincolns that are around that do not have some
sort of Suspension quirk? I am being a little sarcastic
because it never has failed no matter how many Lincolns that
I bought for my mom everyone of them ended up having some
sorta suspension issue.
1998 Sierra hard start DEAR BT: Help me please!!! AD, Houston A: DEAR AD: I want you to try this method
of madness:
2000 Dodge 1500 poor gas milage DEAR BT: Hi, I have a 2000 Dodge
1500 pickup with a 5.9 engine, and it gets very poor gas
mileage. I put new spark plugs & wires & air filter in it
but still no change . The fuel filter is in the tank and it
is costly to change . Iam a old school mech. for 43 years
and not use to computer controled and fuel injected engines
. Do you have any suggestions? If you do please let me
know . Ray Walker A: DEAR RAY: I would check to see if any
of your fuel injectors are leaking and if so replace them
and this will defiantly help your gas mileage other than
that I really do not know what else to tell you other than
you are not going to see any better gas mileage out of your
5.9 Dodge. One of my brothers has this exact truck and he
constantly drains his bank account and will until he buys
something with a smaller more fuel efficient engine. The
only positive is that you are getting better gas mileage
than you would if you had a Dodge V10…sorry, I just had to
put that in here. I wish that I could be of more assistance
in approving your poor gas mileage and keep a little more
dough in your back pocket!
2007 Monte Carlo DEAR BT: Just purchased a 2007 Chevy Monte carlo LT. Problem is that driving it home at highway speeds , it felt as if I was driving over a washboard. I thought that the the tires were over inflated, but they were not. The car transmits every bit of road uneveness/bumps back to the cabin. Chevy said is was due to the 17 inch tires(goodyear LS-2). I then test drove the 2008 Impala LT with the same tires and the ride was considerably smoother. My car has 2300 miles on it . Any Suggestions would be appreciated. Steve A: DEAR STEVE: FYI, there are over 14 TSB’s
under “wheels and tires” regarding your sweet 2007 Monte
Carlo. You need to take your Monte Carlo in to your local
Chevy dealer because they are more than aware of this issue
you are having and demand satisfaction! Tell them to start
by replacing the shock absorbers and struts to see if this
fixes your vibration, re-balance your tires, and possibly
try a set of 16’s instead of the 17’s on your car. Your car
is under warranty so tell the service manager to drive it
around the block in order to experience the chaos and you
expect them to fix it and make it right! As a huge lifelong
fan of Goodyear Tires I am not focusing on the tires raising
all the heck that you are experiencing with the ride in your
Monte Carlo.
Jag lifespan DEAR BT: howdy,
A: Hi there: There is a butt for every
seat when it comes to our choices in what we drive. Peace of
mind is what we gather when we have a comfort level with our
cars and you seem to have that with your Jag. I do drive
newer cars but I also have older ones that I am not at the
least bit hesitant taking on a long road trip or even
trusting enough to put my mom into them on the road trips
that she takes from time to time.
Landcruiser fuel issue DEAR BT: I was wondering if you could
give some advice, I am having a problem with my toyota
landcruisers fuel sysytem and what i mean by that, is that
for some odd reason the EFI 15 amp fuse keeps on getting
blown and as a result the truck cuts off and when it does
and i try restart it wont start, it sounds like it wants to
restart but at the same time it sounds like its chocked and
i do not smell any gas. The only way it starts momentarily
its when i replace the EFI 15 amp fuse but it blows within 3
to 5 minutes so its clear that i have a short somewhere??? i
just dont know where its coming from some one said it may be
the fuel pump..... i dont know please help!! Thanks! Edgar A: DEAR EDGAR: Hi, You need to grab a book
associated with your 1995 Toyota Land cruiser that will
contain a wiring diagram in order to help you locate the
wire off of the fuse panel that is blown and find out what
all this particular wire is feeding. It sounds like to me
that it is the wire that is rubbing underneath your air
breather and if it is you need to replace and or repair it.
I hope I have been of the assistance you are in need of for
your frustration. BT
5.0 Mustang DEAR BT: I hope this is the correct address to contact you regarding an auto question. Well here goes. I have recently been interested in the hardtop Mustang 5.0L cars that ended with the 1993 body style. I was interested in a std shift, and the last yr's model (1993). Do you have any pros or cons on this auto and a viable way of searching for one (tried ebay motors from your suggestion on Maxim Sirius Radio but no luck). Have you heard of Pro-Team in the mid west? They have warehouses of collectables. Let me know when you get a chance. Thanks in advance. Yours truly, Peter Hogan A: DEAR PETER: Hello there!
Jeep washer reservoir DEAR BT: My wife has a 2002 jeep grand cheerokee and recently the washer container started leaking ; can I replace it myself and is it a big deal ? Hi there! I do love Jeeps!
The answer to your question is yes! The part should not set
you back any more than about $75.00 and can be picked up at
most Auto Parts Stores or you can sit in the comfort of your
own home and grab it off of eBay Motors Parts and
Accessories. To replace the part it should not take you
anymore time than approximately 30 minutes to switch out the
old with the new. You might need to think about setting some
time aside pretty soon if you plan on being able to see out
of that dirty windshield full of splattered on bugs! Thanks
for the super question,
1987 Toyota DEAR BT: hi barb, if u could help me
i-would be a friend for life. i have a 1987 toyota 4wd
4cyl fuel inj turbo pick up and if u step on the gas pedal
it dies right then and i have the mass air flow sensor
unpluged and if u plug it in it dies right then as well, but
it idles ok. i tried a new fuel pump; it didnt help, and i
cant figure it out. Jerry A: DEAR JERRY: Hi! Sounds like to me that
the culprit is your mass air flow sensor. Toyota built these
trucks to out last most of us humans but occasionally a part
does go a-rye. Thanks for writing in with such a great
question and I hope now I am a friend of yours for life.
2003 Sierra Beam shake DEAR BT: I have a 2002 GMC Sierra
1500 pickup with a Vortec 5300 V8 engine. It is 2 wheel
drive, 4 door vehicle. Currently it has 77,000 miles on it.
From the time that I purchased the vehicle, it had a slight
bounce to the ride. A new set of tires were installed
within two months, and then one of those tires was
replaced. The selling dealer said there was nothing they
could find wrong and that a pickup was a rougher riding
vehicle. I began using an independent automotive shop. We
have put two sets of tires on the pickup, replaced the
shocks, aligned the truck, balanced and rotated tires, and
checked all of the front end, all to no avail. The set of
tires on the truck now have been on for a month and are a
softer tire than the previous set, but the problem is worse.
The bounce begins at about 42-45 mph. My wife has had back
surgery and basically is no longer able to ride in the
truck. I visited with a service manager at a GM dealer and
as I was describing the problem he started telling me what
the truck was doing and what I had tried. He said it was
"beam shake" and not to put anymore money in trying to fix
it. It is only on trucks like mine and that GM was trying
to resolve the problem that they suspect is due to motor
mount supports but had not come up with a solution. I called
customer servive in Detroit. The representative was not
aware of such a problem but called me back a few days later
and confirmed that there is a "beam shake" problem and that
the engineers were trying to come up with a solution, but
could give no timeframe as to solving the problem. Karl A: DEAR Karl: After reading just a couple
of the first sentences to your question I was leaning
towards motor mounts but as I read on I quickly said to
myself…Ummm yeah, I have heard of this complaint a few times
and you need to demand a repair and or a replacement of your
Sierra. You paid for a truck that is supposed to drive,
handle and ride in a certain manner and yours does not. I
would send a certified letter to GM giving them a deadline
and if this gets you nowhere you then need to hire an
attorney to see what progress he or she can achieve. Do not
roll over on this and forget about it. You are and have been
inconvenienced now by the fact that your wife cannot even
ride in the truck anymore. You can also sick the Houston
Better Business Bureau on GM to see where they can get!
2003 Trailblazer gas tank DEAR BT: Good morning. I have a 2003 Trailblazer and this morning the as hand was reading under a 1/4 tank and the digital readout read 52 miles. I stopped to fill up and the tank was full. Can you tell me what is causing this problem. My fear is that someone put water in my tank. Any ideas will be helpful. Thanks. MN A: DEAR MN: Wow, does this sound very
familiar. I have been in your shoes a couple of times in the
past and I will point my finger in the direction of the
sending unit that is located inside your gas/fuel tank.
After digging through a ton of TSB’s “Technical Service
Bulletins” my gut feeling has to be right. Be prepared if
you are in need of a new sending unit your mechanic will
also have to replace the fuel pump, all of this really
should not set you back anymore than $700.00. Having water
in your fuel tank would not give you the symptoms that you
are experiencing.
85 Ford F150 DEAR BT: I have a 1985 Ford F150 4X4 with a 300 6 cylinder engine. Last night after about 2 miles from home the engine just started to lose power until I got down into 1st gear to get it off the road. After a minute or so wondering what happened I opened the hood to look.The exhaust manifold was glowing a BRIGHT CHERRY RED!!The cooling system was fine.I thought maybe the catalytic converter was clogged so I cut the exaust between the catalytic converter and the down pipe/restarted the truck and it is still as if something is blocked in the exhaust and still no power on acceleration.What could be the problem??? PLEASE HELP!!! Thank you in advance. Robert Minney A: DEAR ROBERT: Hi Robert Sounds like to me
that you and your sweet ride are experiencing a fuel issue
by running out of fuel and running lean. You will need to
check your fuel filter and fuel pump and you may have even
fried and melted your catalytic converter. You may also have
done some damage to your engine by getting your engine so
hot and damaging your pistons. I would first start with a
compression test and if you find that you have good
compression then you may be able to get back up to par with
a fuel filter and fuel pump replacement! I hope that I have
been of some HELP!
Sad Infinity story DEAR BT: You might remember printing my message and your response a few weeks ago. It was about my stick Infiniti G20 with 151K miles. You agreed with me that it had a lot of miles left and I should keep it. Well, neither of us anticipated the driver who thought I was turning into the parking lot she was leaving. I was unable to avoid her. She got the ticket but I lost a car. You can imagine how heartbroken I was when her insurance company refused to consider repairing it. So, I now drive a 2007 Acura TSX - with automatic. It's a great car and hopefully someday soon I'll appreciate it. For now, my left foot and I miss the G20. Thanks for your quick, thought-out response to my first message Terry Wizig A: DEAR TERRY: Hi there Terry! I opened up
your email and immediately felt your pain. I am so sorry to
hear this but you did good with your recent choice of your
new 4 tire partner. The end of any love affair is always
such a difficult thing to deal with and can usually take up
to a year to get over. I wish I could say that I have not
felt such pain but I have. Even though you feel and have to
deal with the pain it is better to have loved and lost then
not have had any at all! What did you do with the ole piece
of metal and components? I once parked mine in the garage
and didn’t part with it for about 2 years, it seemed to help
being able to stare at it on occasion. I still resent my
lead foot for causing that accident that forced me to retire
my ole beauty. Email me when your new Acura needs help!
Smiles BT
Mazda Protege advise DEAR BT: I am turning my beloved Mazda Protégé 5 over to my 21 year old daughter because I love her too. I have been to 2 local repair shops, Jiffy and STS. One recommending fuel injector replacement, another a cleanout. What is the life span on fuel injectors? Also, why would I want an engine flush? 2003 with 60k Julia Peterson A: DEAR JULIA: The life span on your fuel
injectors in your Mazda Protégé typically will be around 80
to 100k. You should not be looking at a clean yet until
around 20 to 40k more miles with no problem. And regarding
the engine flush, you should be good to go until your car
reaches 80k on the clock “odo”! Thanks for writing in. BT
Locating Buick door panel screws DEAR BT: How do u remove the passenger rear door panel on a 2000 Buick LaSabre,my neighboor couldnt locate any screws to remove it.
A: Well hello there!: I totally understand how
frustrating this can be. Sometimes while staring at certain
things to do with your car it looks like it should be so
easy to figure them out. In order for you to pop off the
door panel you will need to insert a screw driver behind the
door handle Bezel and gently remove the bezel. Then look
down into the bezel opening in the door trim panel and if
you see a spring clip you will need a special tool to
release the fastener. If this is the case I would suggest
taking it to your Buick dealer. However if you do not see
the spring then there should be a screw behind the bezel and
you will be able to get the door panel off after unscrewing
the screw. Very important to make sure you carefully pop out
the wood grain panel in order to keep it in one piece.
Thanks for the great question!
Hyundai fuel issue DEAR BT: First of all let me tell you I enjoy your information sharing. I have a 2001 Hyundai XG300 and what is occurring is that when we go to fuel it up, it acts as though it's full of gas. The pump clicks as it normally would when your tank is full. The problem is that it will take about .25 of a gallom at a time and then I hve to remove the nozzle from the tank and let it breath for about 2 seconds. As you can guess it takes 15-20 mintes to fill up the car. It's gotten to where the gas starts coming back out if I'm not careful and that creates a saftey / fire hazard if it spills. Can you give me an idea of what to do to resolve it. I've checked the tank neck openeing and it appears it has a box with some kind of valve in it and charcol filter as well. Very confused and concerned on how to resolve this issue. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. Rene Benavides A: DEAR RENE: Hi Rene The gas tank has to
come out being as you probably have a stopped up vent. I
would drive your Hyundai around until it is basically out of
gas then drop the tank. It is a lot easier to do this task
with little gas in the tank and a lot safer than if the tank
has mass amounts of gas in it. The problem is going to be in
the vent tube that lets the air out not the tube that lets
the fuel into the tank. I would however suggest to you to
take it into the dealer or a trusted mechanic because this
is not the easiest task to perform in your driveway on a
Saturday afternoon! Thanks for enjoying my column in The
Sunday Edition of The Houston Chronicle Auto Section because
I love writing it!
Buick power window follow up and response DEAR BT: In your column on July 1, a reader complained that the power window mechanisms fail far more frequently on LeSabres 2000 and later than on LeSabres from the 1990's. He said that the original equipment fails and the replacement equipment fails again in 2 to 4 years. You said that the difficulty is a combination of steel cables and plastic. Did you mean that this difficulty is for 2000 and later LeSabres, or for power windows for cars in general? I have a 2002 LeSabre that has had to have the mechanisms replaced on all four windows. Ron McCain A: DEAR RON: Hi Ron! Unfortunately it is
petty much all power windows in general since 1998 and up. I
guess it may just be a way for the Auto Manufacturers to
make a little bit more dough! Thanks for writing in!
92 Lexus screeching DEAR BT: My daughter has a 1992 Lexus. It is making a screeching sound upon acceleration and braking. Help!! Debbie A: DEAR DEBBIE: I would first say that it
sounds like it is your alternator belt but that would only
be screeching while accelerating and not braking. I would
have a mechanic check out your motor mounts. I hope this
alleviates your screeching under your hood that is making
your head screech!
Montero smoking DEAR BT: i have a 1999 mitsubishi montero sport xls with a 3.5 liter v6 engine the problem is the engine smokes out the exhaust pipe (blue oil smoke) when you sit and idle like waiting in lne at burger king waiting to get your order this is the only time it smokes is when you let it sit and idle it dosen"t smoke when you crank it in the morning, or when your driving it down the road, it had 54,000 miles on it when i bought it the oil has been changed faithfully every 3,000 to 3500 miles i am an advid do it yourselfer type of guy the only thing major done to this vehicle was a timing belt and timing belt pulley's change i also do some mechanic work just my own vehicles. The vehicle has 133,000 miles on it now ,the spark plugs or the spark plug wires,or the fuel filter has not been changed,no sensors of any kind has been changed,it uses about 1 quart of oil between changes. The timing belt change was done at a bout 90,000 miles but the smoking problem did not start then ,it occured at about 95 to 100,000 miles the vehicle does not run nor does it idle rough not even when the smoke starts coming out the tail pipe. After it starts smoking from letting it sit and idle when you start down the road the smoke clears up and it dosen't smoke any more till you let it sit and idle again. It normally has to sit and idle at least 5 minutes or so before it begins smoking and it will continue to smoke until you get back out on the road again,then it will clear up again. The pvc valves have not been changed but i checked them and they still rattle [does that mean they are still good.] If it were the valve stem seals it would smoke when cranked in the morning,dut it dosen't,so i've kind of ruled that out is there any sensor that could be letting some oil slip past it when you let the vehicle sit and idle could there be a problem with an intake gasket letting oil come into the intake when idling . Any information,suggestions something i can do or try would be very appreciative. Hope i have given you enough information so you can troubleshoot this for me Tommy Sellers A: DEAR TOMMY: Hi Tommy When your Montero is
idling while waiting for your favorite number 3 from that
fast food joint the motor is running slower than if you were
cruising at 80 on the freeway. When it runs slow like this
it makes your valves wobble in the guide which in addition
makes the seal oblong and not seal around your stem. This
then causes oil to run down the valve stem into the
cylinder. I could tell you some pretty good news by saying
that you may just need a valve job but with as many miles as
you have on your Montero you should be looking at investing
in a whole spanking new motor. Thanks for writing in!
Mazda 626 coolant problem DEAR BT: My daughter's '96 Mazda 626 is still smelling funny (like burning coolant) a week after I added almost 2 qts. of coolant/water(50/50). It has a little 1/4 in. Di. runoff tube/hose which vents off the coolant resevoir cap. The tube is only about 6-8 in long and I found it running straight down at the side of the engine block where if & when it does vent it seems dangerously close to several belts & their pulleys. There appeared to have some white-ish residue under the tube. Is this the way it's supposed to be? I'm not much of a typical car guy, (tho back in the 70s and early 80s I learned tune up basics etc. & even how to do a good valve adjustment (because my brother-in- law was in town to teach me). I stopped learning & doing when computers took over... So how about that little tube? Jonathan in Chico A: DEAR JONATHAN: Hi Jonathan I would have your
radiator cap pressure tested to make sure that it is not
leaking and running out the overflow tube ”your 6 inch long
tube” you will also need to have a block test done on engine
being as it sounds like to me that you have a head gasket
issue hence the whitish residue that you are describing
which could also be described as a cottage cheese type
substance. This happens when your car overheats and the
fluid/coolant from your radiator/cooling system mixes with
your oil. Thanks for writing in!
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