Common Questions
Asked by motorists
Q:
Every once in a while I can hear a squeak or metal
grinding noise coming out of the front wheels. It happens mostly at
low speeds while turning. When I am going straight, I don't hear
anything. What can be the problem?
A:
Sounds like a bad CV joint. To be sure, turn the steering wheel all
the way to one side and then look at the inside walls of the front tires.
Look for the rubber boot at the center of the wheel that is wrapped around
the axle. That is the CV joint. If the rubber boot is torn, or
If you see grease or oil streaks radiating out from the center on the inside
wall of the tire, the joint is probably bad and will need to be replaced. On
most cars, it is often more economical to replace the complete axle shaft on
that side.
Q:
When I'm driving at or around 65 mph, my steering wheel
vibrates. When I let go of the steering at 35, the car drifts to the
right. What's wrong?
A: The
vibration at 65 is most likely a wheel balance. As for the pulling, first
make sure that your tires are good and inflated to the correct pressures.
Most cars will drift to the right when you let go of the steering wheel when
you are on the right lane of a two lane road. This is due to the road crown
that allows water to drain off. To see if this is the problem, try driving
on the left lane with the road crowning to the left. If it now pulls to the
left, it is a normal condition.
Actual pulling is most often caused by bad or unequally inflated tires. If
the tires are good, have the wheel alignment and the front end checked.
Q:
My yellow check engine light comes on
A: When the
Check Engine light comes on, it means that the computer has detected a fault in the
engine control system and has stored a trouble code. Many times, the problem is emissions related and the car will
feel fine. In some cases however, letting it go can lead to more costly
problems down the road. (not to mention the pollution you are sending out the
tailpipe)
You should take the car to a mechanic who can scan the computer for trouble
codes. These codes will allow him to run the appropriate tests in order to
pinpoint what is causing your problem and tell you how bad it is.
Q:
Will a bad Oxygen Sensor cause my spark plugs to become
defective?
A: The
answer is yes. The oxygen sensor is an emission control device that helps to
regulate the fuel-air mixture by sniffing the exhaust to see if the engine is
running too rich or too lean. It then sends a signal to the car's computer to
regulate the air/fuel mixture. If it is not working properly, the engine can run
rich causing the spark plugs to foul.
A bad oxygen sensor can also cause excessive fuel consumption, high
exhaust emissions and
premature failure of the catalytic converter.
Q:
When I
put my car in reverse it will not move unless I press on the accelerator really
hard, then it will go into gear, when I put it into drive, I have to do the same
thing, is this the transmission or the timing belt
A: Check
your transmission fluid! From your description of the symptoms, it
sounds like your fluid is low. I would not drive the car since it will cause
further damage to the transmission. The trans fluid must be checked
while the engine is warm and running. If you are not sure how to do it, have the
car checked out by your mechanic. If the fluid is okay, than you will need some
transmission work. If the fluid is low, it may be leaking out. Have it
checked as soon as possible.
If the timing belt fails, the engine will not start at all. The only
way to prevent a timing belt failure is to replace the belt according to the
manufacturer's service interval (typically every 60,000 miles)
Q:
Arm chair
mechanics are always telling me that my car , parked outside, and not being used, should
be turned over from time to time. Should I really run the motor every day?
A: All cars have
some drain on the battery, even when the engine is not running; the amount of this drain
depends on the type of car and the accessories that the car has. But all cars should be
able to sit idle for at least a week and most for two, before the battery would be run
down enough to affect starting the engine. Running the car for a few minutes can present
problems of its own. When an engine is run, moisture develops in the system. When an
engine is run at operating temperatures for at least 1/2 hour to an hour, this moisture
evaporates, but when an engine is warmed up for only a few minutes, the moisture then
condenses and forms water droplets, which is harmful to the oiling system of the car. So
my recommendation is as follows: 1- have your arm chair mechanics stay in their chairs and
away from your car. 2- take the car out at least once every two weeks for a good drive,
preferably on the highway. If this is not possible, consider disconnecting the battery
when the car is idle for more than two weeks. People who only do short trips and do
develop a heavier than normal condensation situation should change the oil more often.
Q:
Which is better
for the vehicle when it is frigid outside? To warm up the vehicle first, or to start it
and just drive off?
A: You can just
drive off, as long as you do it gently. With today's computerized, fuel injected
automobiles it is no longer necessary to warm the vehicle up for any length of time. Start
up the car, let the engine stabilize for about 30 seconds so that the oil can circulate,
and drive off normally. Avoid hard acceleration until the vehicle has reached operating
temperature, about 5 to 8 minutes. In real cold below zero weather, you would want to use
a light grade (5w-30) oil so that circulation would be easier.
Q: I own a 1993
Chevrolet Corsica. Do I really have to tune it up every 15,000 miles as my mechanic
recommends?
A: Your mechanic
is probably still sending his kids to college. No it is not necessary to tune your car
every 15,000 miles. The word tune means to adjust, and since your car is a fuel injected
computerized automobile that does not even have a distributor, there are no adjustments
that can be made to that engine, hence no need for a tune-up. This is true for most cars
manufactured in the 90's. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendations, which are found
in the owner's manual, as to filter and spark plug replacements. The important thing is
frequent oil and oil filter replacement, about every 3,000 miles. The rest will probably
go to 30,000 mile intervals.
More to come...
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