Drive Train / Driveline Malfunction When driving Always
Q: 2nd gear only in forward gears.
A: Try some trans lubrication in your fluid.I had a sticky tourque converter in my 94 Intrepid and spend money needlessly.This may not solve it but its cheap and easy and may rule out a simple problem. Good luck.
All Part Groups Malfunction When driving When warm
Q: Engine vibrating during acceleration, the light showing the engine is flashing, smell gas (not sure if from own car).
1. What is the procedure to obtain OBD code using the buttons on the dash board (don't have the OBD-II reader) ?
2. What is your opinion on the car's problem ?
Thanks
A: you can't get codes from the dash buttons sounds like you have an engine miss check your spark plugs
Drive Train / Driveline Malfunction When driving When warm
Q: SPEEDOMETER DOESNT WORK, AND TRANSMISSION SEEMS NOT TO GO IN HI OR OVERDRIVE GEAR AND CK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.
A: This is most likely an output sensor. You need to have the codes checked to see. The input and the output sensors cause most of the trouble for the problem you described on Chrysler products.
Hope this helps
Q: The fuel gauge stays on empty during the cold morning but by the afternoon it operates fine. The dealership changed the TXV and the fuel sensor but the problem is still there. They are checking and the wire connection now but for the last 3 days there has been no change. the cold weather is a big factor and they just can not seem to pin point the problem
A: sounds like there might be some moisture inside the gauge itself. Freezes in the cold and binds the gauge, as it warms up it will thaw and clear up. Just a thought.
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction When driving Always
Q: When I was driving down the highway on a clear day - my windshield wipers started going nuts.
They automatically turned on and I could smell a heavy burning smell. The turn signals/parking lights work fine and the switch also does, but the headlight wont turn on and my brights/turn signal switch seems to be broken because I don't here that clicking when I pull back - but like I said the left/right turn signals still works fine.
The only way I have any headlights is just to hold the high beams back. Please help, thanks chris
A: Had the same thing with my '96 Intrepid.
Disconnect your battery for a moment.
That resets the computer and will fix the wiperblades.
Q: I am trying to replace the fuel filter on my 1997 Dodge Intrepid. Can you describe where the fuel filter is located? Or is there a web site that might have diagrams?
Thanks
A: Allldatadiy.com can help you with diagrams , it is a for fee site however . Go ask the service manager at a dealership or ask at a parts store , like Autozone , Pepboys , Advance Autoparts , or a similar store in your area . Any of these should beable to help you .
Q: my car intends to discharge coolant thru the coolant reserve tank when i come to a stop
eventually it will lose enough coolant to
begin to overheat i took it to dodge they did a
pressure check and found no leak...I myself changed the thermostat and the car was ok for a few days then it started again what can you suggest to do next
PS...the car had a blown head gasket repaired last year is it possible they did not do a good job
A: Was the air bled from the cooling system after installment of t-stat? Thermostats can be bad right out of the box, especially if the t-stat was not from the dealer.
A radiator shop can 'sniff' the coolant to see if combustion gases are present (leaky head gasket). You should be able to have this service performed at a nominal cost.
Drive Train / Driveline Vibration When accelerating Not applicable
Q: Above 45-50 mph, the right drive CV shaft loose, no unusual sounds, stub shaft has significant clearance. Advice?
A: If the shaft is just moving up and down while "driving" up in the air on a hoist, not usually a problem....
If this is happening while actually driving on the road, time to replace with a complete rebuilt axle assembly.... Ed
Chassis / Suspension & Steering Other When driving When warm
Q: My car does not ride smooth over bumps, it is alligned, had everything checked. Where do I find the problem?
A: Were the shock absorbers checked ? Alignment has nothing to do with how well a vehicle rides over bumps . Your problem resides with your expectations of the vehicle , it's design and the suspension of the vehicle . Primary points of concern are the springs and shock absorbers . You might want to try slowing down for rough road conditions , or avoiding such as much as you can .
Drive Train / Driveline Making Noise Happens sometimes Not applicable
Q: short shaft on right side of diff.seams loose ,this is wear the inside CV joint is attached,there must be a bearing inside but can it be adjusted.There seems to be some kind of star type of locking ring around this shaft
A: the star type locking ring is for differental pre load that ring sets your side bearing pre load for the ring and pionion set the shaft will have some play at it going into the trans
Q: I just had my brakes redone in the front. I was told I needed new rotors, which I purchased.
I was told that minimum thickness was .912 and that my rotors were at .904 and .899.
After having work done, I examined new rotors and found that they had been turned down to approximately .937 and .921.
Evidence was on one rotor surface that at least 3/32" (.090) had been removed.
Is this necessary on brand new rotors? Or is this done to "assure" that next time when I bring car in it will again need rotors?
Thank you
A: I would have to question that brand new rotors would need to be machined.....
If I understand your question ...the shop purchased new rotors because the old ones were to thin to machine, so they machined the new ones down to the to thin characteristics of the previous ones?? .....Ed
Q: I replaced my 3.5L engine a few months ago with a brand new engine.
After I took the car from the shop there was a major vibration when accelerating (which only occurs in gear and when the car is on the ground), but only when the engine reaches 2000rpm. Above 2000rpm it is smooth.
There was also a huge drop in power and acceleration. I have also been experiencing higher idles and hard starts (jumping to around 3000rpm and holding for a few seconds).
The vibration has calmed a little in the past few months.
The shop that installed the engine told me at first that it was a mis-aligned exhaust, and later that it was a broken transmission mount. It was neither.
I've had it looked at at a couple other shops and they have all told me that there is nothing wrong with the engine externally.
I've checked the transmission, suspension, and fuel systems, and have done a few good tune ups on it.
I'm just running out of ideas. What could be causing the vibration and power loss?
A: The vibration is caused by the balance(actually counter balance) shaft not being aligned correctly with the new timing belt....... Ed
Heating / Cooling System Malfunction Happens always Always
Q: I have a blend door actuator or blend door actuator wiring fault code coming up on my diagnostics according to the diagnostic mode check outlined in the haynes repair manual. Where is the blend door actuator? Which wire or wires run to it. How can I get to it?
A: The blend door might be the door in your heater/air conditior box that mixes the air. But I can't figure out how the car's computer knows it is bad.(hmmm, this new millenium)
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction When driving When warm
Q: First incident: Gauges stopped working for no apparent reason; transmission would not shift. Dealer could find no problem since I could not duplicate what happened. Next incident: Wipers started up and I couldn't shut them off; guages stopped working; couldn't turn off dome light. I had to pull fuses. When I pulled the fuse for the wipers, the gauges started working.
A: ITS POSSIBLE THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING FOR THE WIPERS OR THERE IS AN EXPOSED PEICE OF WIRE THAT GROUNDS OUT YOUR SYSTEM.... IF THIS IS HAPPENING AFTER YOU DRIVE THE CAR AND HIT A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD.
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction Happens always When warm
Q: I shorted out the control box on the drivers side of the car when I was changing the head gasket, after I put the car back together it will not charge and the check engine light comes on, does that box control charging?
Electrical / Lighting Systems Malfunction When driving Always
Q: I have an abs problem. I get the "trac off" & "ABS" lights as soon as I begin to accelerate. I took it to a dealer. He said it needed a new ABS module. Dealer wanted nearly $1000 to replace it. I bought one for $115.00 (rebuilt).
I've never put one in, but I am a reasonably good shadetree mechanic. Do you have any info on how to do this? It looks to me like I may have to remove the battery & battery holder, then the ABS controller box & bracket, then remove the controller.
Is there anything else I need to remove to get to the controller? Any info would be appreciated.
Tim Robbins
t.j.robbins@home.com
A: Tim, before getting into that, have you or the dealer absolutely ruled out a wheel speed sensor problem?
This way to the live technicians