Auto Repair Questions

Auto repair question?
Heres 2 questions I really need help w/ Two auto technicians are discussing the stages of engine operation. Auto Technician A says during the intake stage of engine operation, the intake valve is open and the piston is moving upward in the cylinder. Auto Technician B says the intake stage of engine operation is directly followed by the power stage. Which of the following statements is correct? Only Technician A is correct. Only Technician B is correct. Both Technician A and Technician B a

fire4511:In both questions both "technicians" are wrong. Neither Technician A nor Technician B is correct In the intake stage the intake valve is open and the piston is moving down (not up). The power stage follows the compression stage which follows the intake, so power is not directly after intake. . T... More...

Auto repair question?
Every time I go over a bump I hear a clang noise in the back of my car. Could it be that my shocks are out? How much does shock/strut replacement usually cost.

walkerman5000:The cost will depend on whether your car is equipped with shocks or struts. It doesn't have both. Shocks are relatively inexpensive and can be replaced by a novice mechanic. Struts are more expensive and can require special tools. Does your car 'bounce' or 'bottom out' while you're driving? If ... More...

where can i find answers to my auto repair questions?
My brakes are making a scraping noise what should i do

Grumpy:Get them fixed. On most car and trucks,with disk brakes, there is a metal tab that makes a squealing noise when the brake pads need to be replaced. However, a grinding noise is metal on metal, you should not drive the vehicle any farther than necessary to get it to a service center to have the brak... More...

are there any free web sites for auto repair questions?


fire4511:Yes there is! Actually it is right here!!! Yahoo Answers!!... More...

This is an auto repair Question. I have a 2001 Chrysler Voyager the heater blower motor only works in the high
position. DO I replace Motor, switch, relay or resistor?

gdwrnch40:Sounds like the common side of the speed resistors is burnt up.... More...

Question about auto repair shop?
My hubby took his truck to a repair shop to have a dent fixed, have rods replaced in doors, and get a new windshield. After a week we got the truck back but the paint was bubbling and the windshield whistled so we took it back. We picked it up after another long week passed and it now has dents and scratches that weren't there. Also, the windshield still whistles. Any suggestions on how to handle this situation? The windshield can be replaced elsewhere for $165.00.

Paul:Have the work done correctly somewhere else and sue them in small claims court. Also, file a complaint with BBB and bureau of automotive repair. The Bureau of automotive repair WILL investigate your complaint, and the repair facility will be fined if they find in your favor.... More...

i have a question about auto maintenance/repair?
i purchased a 2004 nissan sentra 1.8 in jan 2005....i had the belt(s) replaced in dec of 2005 (less than a year ago)...the car only had 12000 miles on it when i bought it (demo i found out)....now i have 37000 miles on it....is there only one belt and its a serpentine?....the belt squeals only when idle or when i am not accelerating...if i accelerate then the sqeal disappears...does it need to be tightened?...it shouldnt need to be replaced should it?...i thought these belts were good for at lea

iii_scanjet_iii:Most likely it sounds like the tensioner. The tensioner is a pully with a spring in it. Modern automotive systems don't use a manual tensioner like in the old days. You know when you put the belt on you would spin a bolt until the belt tighted up on the pully. As the belt wore out it streched an... More...

written estimate for auto repair?
BAR for california question. Written estimate and invoice. If doing business with another company and not an individual consumer. is it required by bar, and state regs that a repair shop have a signed invoice from another company. Example: It is required that each invoice must be signed by the consumer for repairs. my question -is Does a company who contracts with a repair shop for services required to sign the final invoice?or is it not necessary?

Ironhand:Hollywood has it right. Besides, why take a chance? Even if the authorization is signed by a shop "grunt", he still represents the client shop. Go here------> http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/stdFolder.asp?Folder=/Geninfo/Publications/ ...and scroll to the bottom of the page and download the .PDF docume... More...

Auto Brake Repair - Do the rotors need to be replaced?
I have a Landrover Freelander and the brakes started grinding and I drove no more than 10 miles after the grinding started. The mechanic showed me the pads one had gone to metal. I looked at the rotors and saw no damage. He says I have to replace the rotors and refuses to do the repairs. My question is do the rotors need to be replaced?

Wanger:If the rotors have never been turned before and the grooves are not more than about 1/2" to 3/4" of an inch deep or less, you can take them and have them turned or resurfaced. It sounds like to more that the refusing to make the repairs is trying to jack the price up by adding on some parts. Without... More...

Does anyone know of any auto repair forums or chat rooms?
I have an 86 F250 that has a starting system problem and i cant find any rooms or forums to post a question on. Are there any sites for auto electrical diagrams or troubleshooting guides?

KayGeeTX:I was researching new cars, and noticed on the "autobytel" website that they have car repair forums. Hope that helps.... More...

Betterment Charges assesed on a auto repair?
A man hit me from behind in a automobile accident. I went to the repair shop to check on my car and they told me that I would have to pay a Betterment charge for certain parts. The parts in question were directly related to the automobile accident, and now they want me to pay $200.00 Should I have to pay for this when the accident was not my fault and the insured got the ticket?

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Are they any commercial auto repair shops that take payments?
I was just wondering if there were any repair shops that are national, that are willing to take payments on a big car bill? This may seem like a silly question, but it's worth asking.

me:YES -- in fact, virtually EVERY shop that works on your car will not only accept payment, but will EXPECT payment. more seriously - If you don't have the funds for full payment immediately - use a credit card - that is your way to make installment payments on the repair bill.... More...

Why are all the people answering auto questions posting "certified" this and "certified" that?
I have been a mechanic professionally for over 35 years but always worked with my father since I was old enough to pronounce the word! I am a "mechanic" not a "parts replacer" like so many of these guys I see! Does "certified" change that somehow? I've seen "certified" mechanics that don't know if they're on foot or horseback! Must just be an "EGO" thing I would assume! A "mechanic" can diagnose the problem and install the correct part making the repair. A "parts replacer" just keeps putting par

Rich Z:They have taken training courses run by the auto makers. They have passed the exams for those courses. They have a right to be proud of their knowledge and their achievements. That also makes them less likely to be "parts replacers" since they are starting from knowledge of what is correct. Not eve... More...

Auto insurance question! Chiropractic care Need help asap?
I had an accident last week courtesy of a slippery road and a guy cutting me off (he did not stop and i have no info) My car is damaged past it's worth and I'm getting another one this weekend. My dilema is this. I notified my insurance company, but haven't claimed any damages. (The car isn't worth a lot and I'm just trading it in so I don't want to repair it.) My chiroprator found nerve strain in my back more than I had previously and it has been bothering me a bit, but I have a high pain thres

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why do people give thumbs down?
i answerd a question on auto repair the guy followed my advice and fixed his car and saved $$$ my answer was direct and correct now some idiot gives me a thumbs down arrrg!!! can we report them for abuse?!?!

LindaLou:They give thumbs down if they don't agree with your answer, pure and simple. It doesn't cost you anything in terms of points, so don't take it so personally. Everything is going to offend someone.... More...

I have an auto insurance question, please help!?
Resently my girlfriend and I were in a minor accident in Michigan. We were in a Meijer parking lot when someone backed into us. We got his information and called our insurance company. They sent out an appraiser and he wrote an estimate for the damages. Soon after that he called and told us where to take the vehicle for repairs, the body shop called us and we scheduled an appointment to get it done. We took it in and they began repairs. Then about a week later we recieved a letter in the mail te

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Van sputtering, stalling, stopping...?
I have a 96 Plymouth Grand Voyager that has completely stopped running, and won't start, twice now. It happened once, then after repairs that included a fuel filter, pvc valve, air filter and fuel pump, it sputters and stalls, and the engine light comes on. The mechanic has checked the wiring harness, and tried another computer in it, with no change in the results. This is a reputable car repair place with mechanics that have worked on my vehicle for about two years, and I trust them completely,

Huggy bear:from an experienced mechanic... First thing to do is have a flow test done to see if the catalytic converter is bad... Then od the cheaper things. Plugs , wires. things like that that you can do... Actually jus call me I'll do better... More...

Social Question: Who is smarter?
Bob and Lynne have MBA's. They earn 6 figures annually. They live in a lavish home and would rather pay someone then learn how to do the cooking, cleaning and repairs pertaining to their home and cars. Mike and Carrie are both average high school grads. Mike is a mechanic who runs an auto repair shop. Carrie owns a small cleaning business with her sisters. The couple recently built a small 3 bedroom rancher with the help of a friend of Mike's. They never needed a contractor. Carrie also grows h

se7en:depends on the context... More...

Anyone from Jalandur I have a question for you?
The auto repair shops that are run by the talwars anyone know them? Doing a check for my friend, i hear they are good people

hanumaster:i dont know them. love me, how is that possibly helpful to tell us that your cousin lives there??... More...

Fixing cars for neighbors question?
As a person, i sometimes dont mind doing auto repairs for friends, and neighbors. I like to help people out. I just dont like when they cheap out on parts. For example: If i did a brake job, i would like to do it my way, and get 100 percent of parts it really needs. This would prevent future problems later. Anybody agree with me?

scrapper4point0:They're probably getting a great deal on labor cost, so I would only do the job if I could do it my way. Don't skimp when it comes to the safety of the vehicle.... More...

I appreciate that this is a help site but why oh why do unqualified people give answers on car maintenance?
Im amazed that people just give random answers to SAFETY CRITICAL questions in the maintnance part of the cars and transportation section, if your not a fully qualified mechanic, why answer as you could be putting the driver, passengers and members of the public at risk Thank you for all your answers but some people are missing the point as for "take a chill pill" well thats different, the point i am trying to make is that the auto repair industry has a bad reputation for not been totally hones

Mark F:I for one happen to agree with you. About 95% of the answers given here are, on average, complete rubbish. Of course it doesn't help that many of the questions are so hopelessly vague as to make a good answer nearly impossible. Most do not even bother to include a year/make/model/engine descriptio... More...

Copying photos to email page without doing attach for Yahoo?
I am trying to send my friends pictures of my new baby. I know how to attach them but it takes about 5 minutes per pic to upload them. I get jokes and photos on e-mails that when I open the e-mail the photos are all in a vertical line opening up one at a time automactically. I tried to copy the photo but when I paste it paste is grey and doesn't work. I even tried to copy to word and then to the e-mail but I just get a big square. I can only paste them by opening them up as explorer then pa

turnerd11:get a free aim acont and then use there mail and it will have atache photo right to doc or email not as a atachment... More...

Has anyone here actually received helpful answers from this site?
I read a lot of these questions, and I feel that people are being given bad advice on a lot of isses, especially auto repair.

steph:of course.... More...

business opportunity??
like any man out there i've grown tired of my job . i work at a junk yard and its gotten to the point where i actualy say that"I Know CARS"inside and outside imports and domestics. im 20 years old and a sorry to say "dropout" i know now an education is the way to go,but i have to do something. I don't have the funds to go to college but i will though .but for now im stuck in a rute.I'm going to be a father real soon and the job I have is ok paying but too ...lets say tolerable. I've gotten to th

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Free health Care?
there is a question being asked by someone here at Yahoo: (Are you more worried about the 4 burned flags or the 50 million Americans who can't see a doctor? Ir you're more worried about the 4 flags that were burned last year, you are a Republican. If you're more concerned about the 20% of the population without health insurance, then you're a Democrat. Which issue do you think Jesus would be more interested in? ) (Now here is my question) Should we ask From our government for: Free heal

Super Man:Free everything, YA free everything, ya free everything! thats the ticket! NOT!!!!!!... More...

My ex owes over $200K back child support. I'm in TX; he's in AZ.?
He claims to be on disability, yet he tells my son that he operates an auto repair shop out of his home garage. He's always been like that - getting paid under the table and/or in beer! My question is this: Can you collect child support from someone on disability? Oh, and when doing a google search on his wife's name, I saw that she was involved in an accidental shooting at work a few years ago. I'm thinking she probably received a settlement. But that's probably strictly her money, right? Thank

MisFit Angel:Go to your local Child Support Office and apply for services there. Make sure you take the LAST COURT ORDER THAT WAS FILED. This will let them know that what you are telling them is true. This order will also include how much Child Support your ex is to be paying. They will file an order with Arizon... More...

I have a 1998 Z71 Pickup that has just stopped dead in road. Question is any one have idea why?
Have replaced fuel pump, ignition module, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. Still will not crank, have been told that it may be crankshaft sensor. If so, where is it located at and how do I replace it? Does anyone know of a good website that I could go to that has step by step instructions on how to repair your own auto? Or where I can find repair manual on my 1998 Chevy Z71 4x4? Thanks for your help. MM

taknadvantageof:if it will not turn over, the crankshaft sensor will not help, if it does turn over and not start, it may be the sensor, or the pick up coil in the distributor. if it does not turn over it may be that the starter stayed engaged to the flywheel and drained the battery voltage down, if voltage drops b... More...

Do i have to have my vehicle repaired in the state i was involved with the accident?Other driver was at fault.
I was involved in a auto accident in the state of Florida,i live in Georgia about a 6.5 hour trip.Other driver was ticketed for fleeing scene of accident.driving on suspended license and no proof of insurance.The vehicle wasnt registered in his name but it was to his girlfriend he was living with.Im hearing conflicting stories if she has insurance or not. My question is this do i have to have my vehicle repaired in the state of florida where accident occured.The vehicle wasnt driveable and had

Lindy357:Your insurance company will pay for damages to your car (minus the deductable). You can take it where ever you want. If you want your deductable back, you will have to sue the other party for it.... More...

How do I check that the parts in my car have been changed or not?
I have recently brought my car to an auto shop for repair. I am afraid they have changed something in my car, like swithed some parts with some old stuffs. My car is 2004 camry, was bought brand new. So how do I check if the parts currently on my car are actually the original parts that came with the car when it first was bought? I see there are serial # on every part, but how do i check that the number is the same number as before, as now i don't have any record of what it was before. So how ca

The young Merlin:It is you who knows more about your car. It is difficult to find out. I owned previously Ford car and it happened, I changed the ball joint. I leave this car to the mechanic and after a couple of days I got my car. It is my attitude to go for wheel alignment whenever I changed this part, so I b... More...

Auto claim check made out to me and bank, how do I pay to get it fixed???
I have a question, my car recently got broken into, personal things were stolen as well as the 3rd row seats (it's an SUV). The insurance claim adjuster could not find used quality seats at the time of the claim, so they had to cut me and the bank a check for the cost to replace them new, totaling around $7,900. I was looking on the internet and found used quality seats for around $2,000. Here's the problem, the bank won't endorse the check without the repairs being done, and I don't have the m

Chris:Contact the insurance company and ask them to cut a check co-payable to you and the shop, then that way it ensures that the car gets repaired, but you don't have to deal with the lienholder. You should also not be looking to pocket the difference. That is wrong! If you've determined you can get this... More...

Basic credit questions?
Ok I just turned 23 but when I was 18-21 I did some REALLY stupid stuff w. my money. I overdrue a checking acct by 272 dollars and it was reported to Chex Systems, and I owe about 4-6 different places money that I think have referred me to credit bureaous. For the past year and a half I have been making a consious effort to pay my bills on time and have been doing great but have no had the money to go back and pay off all my debts that have went to collection. I tried to get an auto loan and was

Mariposa:Bad credit which was reported to the credit bureaus stays on your credit report for 7 years. The statue of limitations for being sued over these bills can vary depending on which state you live in. In some states, you can still be sued for a bill even after it has fallen off the credit report. Liste... More...

Personal auto damage claim?
I was involved in a wreck in which the other party was at fault for rear ending me. My car received little damage, (fender bent, scratched paint and the tailpipe was pushed in, etc. I have been in a wreck before which caused major body damage, but I overlooked the hidden mechanical damage such as alignment problems, ruined shocks, etc. This time I'm going to pursue getting the mechanical part looked at very well. My question is whether insurance adjusters look for this type of damage and if

Chris:Adjusters can only write what they see when they're standing there with the car intact. You do not need other estimates. The adjuster issues payment based off the insurance company's estimate, and once the car is put in the shop if other damage is found they contact the adjuster who will write a sup... More...

I think I have upset some so called master mechanics.Why?
Well I guess that just goes to show that I was right, they do get pretty cocky when they are wrong. All I did was asked a question and wow some pretty nasty reponses. Hate to be one of their customers when they question the ability to repair their vehicle. But I guess they just have this sense of power, since they have a paper that says they went to school to learn to fix cars.. Sorry but experience will always be the best teacher. Not saying that learning is bad but becoming MR. Mechanic does

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I don't have a question, I have a warning. Team Toyota is not a reputable place to buy car. pappee16@yahoo.com
I went to Team Toyota, O?Neal Lane, Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Friday, December 9, 2005 at 1:00 pm, to have my brakes repaired on my 2000 Toyota Tundra 137,000 miles. My daughter?s car needed tires, it had electrical problems and a few other things wrong with it, so we were going to see if Team had something we could afford and trade in just the 1999 Camry. Well we were too upside down, (owed more than the car was worth) so we told them okay, and were leaving Team going to get something to eat w

just_wondering:Hindsight is 20-20. The first rule of buying...if they need an answer today, the answer is NO, ALWAYS!!! Take a couple of days to check out all the details, then make an informed decision. Remember it is your money and you have to live with your decision!... More...

2000 Dodge Intrepid 2.7L engine problems?
I work for a towing and auto, semi, truck, etc. repair shop in Wisconsin. We towed in a 2000 Dodge Intrepid that has a 2.7L DOHC 24 Vavle enging that wounldn't run. The owner had been trying to start it for a few days and it had been sitting outside in about 10 degrees weather, when we got it into our shop, we first found out that it needed a new starter as the owner had burnt out the old one trying to start the car, we checked the sparkplugs and oil and found that the car had not been loaded

autobeef.com:That 2.7 liter Chrysler engine is arguably the least reliable engine of any modern vehicle. I run CarComplaints.com & engine failure/timing chain failure with the Dodge Intrepid (and other Chrysler vehicles that use the same 2.7l engine) is hands down the most common complaint we've received. Look... More...

Insurance is trying to screw me...please help!?
The Auto body got an estimate of $10,900 for repairs and the insurance says they cannot total the car if the repairs cost below $12,800. They took an indepent auto valuation and valued my car at $16,280. Kelly blue book puts it around $15,000 for a similar car in Good condition. The auto body shop has not included 'Frame' repair and he says he cannot include the exact amount without starting the reapirs. And he has estimates the frame repair to cost $300 which i think is bogus. I can't imagine

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Wow isn't this scary????
How open borders turn Americans into roadkill Illegals drive up highway deaths as U.S. hits new highs for unlicensed, uninsured motorists -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 25, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern ? 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Vitalina Bautista Vargas bids farewell to husband in court (courtesy Chattanooga Times Free Press) WASHINGTON ? Marcos Ramos Medina was driving his 1997 Chevrolet Lumina erratically, according to witnesses,

DAR:I hope that first driver was at least deported after the mistrial. I love that if you just state facts and opinions the pros call for sources, but if you cut and paste they accuse you of not being able to think for yourself....... More...

Why does people think Certified Mechanics are Rip Offs?
I have seen people bring a vehicle into the shop that was beyond repair, totally worn out, and shouldn't even be on the road, but yet the customer thought you were a rip off for not making it run like new! Some people even think certified mechanics are cocky, and don't have a clue about working on a car. I would just like to know what it takes to be a mechanic that would please everybody that comes into the shop? If you are unable to repair your vehicle yourself, and you don't have a geniuss in

rakel-de-freitas@rogers.com:I posted a similar question recently. You should have a read of it. I think you would be very interested. But I do agree. It's not bad enough the hardship, a certified, licensed tech has to go through, along with the cost of tools, but the public perception and attitude that all techs are rip-offs. ... More...

Radiator leak in '88 Volvo 240 DL?
I just purchased a nice 1988 Volvo 240 DL wagon. However, it has a radiator leak. I have been putting water in the radiator every morning before driving it and also every night before coming home. I would like to get this problem fixed ultimately, but I do not have the money to do this now. A friend of mine recommended that I go to Auto Zone and buy some Radiator Stop Leak to temporarily fix the problem. But when I called a local mechanic, he said "No! It will ruin your car." So I guess

yes_its_me:It depends on the leak. Radiator stop leak works in some cases but certainly not all. Used wrong it can clog up the whole radiator. I thought I was a pretty knowledgeable mechanic, but put some stop leak in to get home from a trip and then had the radiator replaced. After a few hundred miles I went ... More...