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Friday, August 08, 2008

The key is difficult to insert / remove from ignition

QUESTION:
I have a 94 Camry. The key is difficult to insert / remove from ignition and won't turn at all. I've tried the spare key and it won't even insert all the way into the lock. Saw online about removing lock cylinder, but can't turn to ACC position
Answer:
You can either drill the lock cylinder which is no picnic or what I do is drive a square shank screw driver into the key slot then put a wrench on the shank and force the tumbler cylinders to the ACC position. Obviously use common sense here not to break the whole housing off. I have had good success at doing it this way.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

2005 Chevy Silverado error code P0449 registers

Question: 2005 Chevy Silverado error code P0449 registers when cleared it comes back after a couple starts. What could be the problem Answer: This is usually a problem with the Evaporative Emission Canister Purge Solenoid. If it was me, I would do a bit of troubleshooting BEFORE replacing parts. You could just have a loose or broken wire or connector.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Where are the transmission fill ports and fluid level checks for a 2003 Ford Explorer

QUESTION:
Where are the transmission fill ports and fluid level checks for a 2003 ford explorer. i dropped the pan and come to find out that i do not have a normal fill port. Need to put the transmission fluid back in the vehicle to get it on the road. Tools and any other key facts would be greatly appreciated. Already Tried: Looking for fill ports for the transmission fluid and really could not distinguish where to put the transmission fluid. have had other " good car guys" look at it an they were just as befuddled. need to know how to so i can get my car back on the road.
ANSWER:
There is a special tool that screws into the "drain plug in the bottom of the pan. But if you can rig up something to squirt the fluid into the pan from the bottom then you do not need the tool. The easiest way is to put as much fluid that you can in the pan itself before bolting the pan back up. This makes the job a hell of a lot easier. Then start the truck let it get pretty warm and open the plug on the bottom of the pan(just the TX-30 torx bit screw) and when fluid just barely flows out of the hole then you are going to be at approx the correct level.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Vistaprint Coupons

If you own your own business or are thinking of starting one then there is no better way to look professional than with a quality business card and printed apparel with your company Logos displayed for all eyes to see. Vistaprint has be around for years and I personally have used there services and have received adequate service. If you head over to the vistaprint web site by following the link posted above you will be taken to a self help logo creation template. You simply add your desired text where asked to do so and follow the instructions. You will be prompted with at least a dozen different designs and you can even opt for text only if you wish. If you want to have a professional design something more extensive they offer this service as well. Vistaprint also offers other services and is offering some discounts for these other services. I have added the coupon codes below for reference in case there is something you might want to save some money on. Coupon Code - Description Labels50 - 50% Off Address Labels FreeInvite - 10 Free Invites BizCard08 - 50% Off Business Cards FreeBrochures08 - 25 Free Brochures CarDoor25 - 25% off Car Door Magnets Checks25 - 25% off Checks PC50 - 50 Free Oversized Postcards Stamps50 - 50% Off Small Rubber Stamps TShirts25 - 25% Off T-shirts

How Can I stop my 85 Chrysler 5th ave to pass emissions if it smokes

Oil smoke (blue) or coolant smoke (white) will not cause your vehicle to fail emissions test. If you have Fuel Smoke (Black) this will fail you. This is caused by a rich running condition. First place to start would be a complete tune up and if there is a check engine light on, have necessary repairs made to turn light off. If this is a carburetor engine, you may also need to have the carburetor tuned and the ignition timing set. No need to worry about the smoke if it isn't black.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

ac not working

Question: I have a alero Oldsmobile gls 2.4 and the ac is not working. leak test negative pressure is fine compressor not kicking on Answer; Most common issue is low freon. Even if it is low on freon it can still have pressure: Now if you are certain it is not low on freon, then it is electrical. The first test to do would be to apply power directly to the compressor to see if the clutch pulls in. If it does not: Replace the compressor/Clutch (most come together). If it does pull in then follow these steps to diagnose the issue STEP by STEP Air Conditioning Troubleshooting

Friday, August 01, 2008

car is making a low moaning sound when it gets to around

HUB BEARING
Question: My car is making a low moaning sound when it gets to around 30 to 40 mph. The mechanic I took it to today drove it and said it was the wheel barrings and that it would cost $250 to $350 to fix. It''s a 2001 Toyota Camry. What do you think about this price? Answer: If the noise has been verified as that then this is a very fair price. The part is not more than $50 but the labor is intensive on the bearings.

Troubleshooting your Air Conditioning System

Air Conditioning Compressor

Ok, the Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch will not engage, so lets figure out why not. With the ignition key on, unplug the low pressure switch (clutch cycling switch) and place a jumper wire across the connector. The switch is generally located on the side of the accumulator. If the compressor clutch does not click in then you need to check for Battery Voltage at the connector. If you do have Power leaving the A/C Clutch Relay and heading to the compressor but not power at the clutch, then replace the wire between the two.

Troubleshooting your Air Conditioning System

Thursday, July 31, 2008

my 2006 ford escape 2.3 litre 4x4 light flashes 8 times... what does it mean?

The light flashing 8 time means that the computer is getting invalid wheel speed information. This could be mismatched tires (2 new tires on one axle with 2 old tires on the other) or even 2 different size tires. Or could even be a bad wheel speed sensor. You need to get somebody with a scan tool to see if they can pull the codes for you. A parts house normally will do this for free.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Automotive Scan Tools - Code Reader

Professional garage technicians know well that there are a number of different great scanners available. For example, there are some great scanners that are designed to scan for air bag and ABS codes. OTC makes a great air bag and ABS scanner that can diagnose and clear all air bag, ABS, and even engine codes. When a car problem occurs, the first step is to trouble shoot the related system. Then, perform simple tests that can lead you to the cause of the malfunction and the repairs needed to correct the problem. Sometimes You need the right test equipment. There are many different automotive SCAN TOOLS to choose from. Select one that meets your needs. More Scan Tools.