Ask a mechanic. - Non-Ski Gabber - Forums

Quoting tronned from Jul 2 2012 4:02:01:
yeah, im not super up to date on locking diffs on 4x4 shit but i imagine it could not be good to put a diff under that much heat on a highway. if an axle falls apart, it travels at transmission speed and bounces around under the car, so it doesnt matter if you have a front axle fall apart and you run off the rear because the front wheels are still spinning and flopping around an axle shaft.

Quoting 5teve. from Jan 25 2011 10:14:10:
My mom's trail blazer, i was driving it went around a corner hard, wheel blew off, no tire damage, just was low on air. I pulled up on the curb a little when it happened and possibly damaged the front right rim. Now when driving on the highway(actually anywhere) when you hit about 65-70mph the steering wheel shakes real bad, almost like a machine gun.But when you go faster around 85-90mph is isn't as bad. What's the problem?

Quoting tronned from Jul 2 2012 2:49:47:
That is hard to say what is wrong without being in front of the car but if you think about the fundamentals of what a car needs to create power you can start eliminating possible causes. A engine needs air/spark/fuel in order to build power. Does the motor act strange in anyway when you go above 25 % besides a lack of power? Is the timing of the engine off? Is the dist. not timing properly? Is there a restriction on airflow through the intake? Is there a pinched fuel line that cannot supply fuel demand?

Quoting tronned from Jul 2 2012 3:09:48:
no, not really. but it might rust there easier. Metal is weakened anywhere there is a bend/dent but with that said, i would low ball the dude and use it anyways.

Quoting jibbinc.$ from Jul 2 2012 11:06:00:
the dist timing is set correctly. not sure about engine timing itself. new aifilter. how could i check for intake restriction or a pinched fuel line?

Quoting tronned from Jul 29 2012 5:53:44:
bump for anyone that needs help.

Quoting cornholio$ from Jul 31 2012 12:22:10:
I'm thinking of buying an Audi, I have about $10k budgeted for it.  Any thoughts?

Quoting Elg$ from Jul 31 2012 5:15:12:
i drive a bmw e36 320i convertible, and when going about 5 mph with the windows down/roof off i hear this vibration sound. Sounds like metal vibrating on metal. Any clue what it might be, and how to fix it?

Quoting tronned from Jan 24 2011 9:57:12PM:
It seems every so often there is a "car help" related question posted on NS and I thought I could maybe help out people who dont want to make a thread but want to ask a quick question about an issue they are having with their car. I am a mechanic at a higher end german car company so I thought i could maybe give my 2 cents or point you in the right direction to resolving your issue on your own or give you an idea what to tell your mechanic the issue is. No question is stupid and I will try to help out.

Quoting Elg$ from Jul 31 2012 5:15:12:
i drive a bmw e36 320i convertible, and when going about 5 mph with the windows down/roof off i hear this vibration sound. Sounds like metal vibrating on metal. Any clue what it might be, and how to fix it?

Quoting Granite_State$ from Aug 1 2012 10:22:00:
Perfect. I have a 2004 VW GTI VR6 with 150,XXX. Recently I've noticed a weird whining when I decelerate in third gear. I've heard it could be a multitude of things. Thoughts? BTW this car has never been beat on in its entire life.

Quoting Piste.Off$ from Aug 1 2012 10:16:31:
Any experience changing the bank 1 sensor 1 pre cat O2 sensor on a 2003 audi a4 3.0 quattro? I haven't been able to find a decent write up anywhere on the internet.

Quoting doitbig from Aug 1 2012 10:31:57:
got another one for you tronned... Still having an issue with my driver side door controls on a 2003 CTS. driver window, driver lock are inoperable. lock won't lock from key fob nor from driver unlock switch. all window switches other then the driver switch are operational. -Checked all associated fuses first, all good. -Swapped 100% working driver control switch cluster, same problems so I assume my switches are OK. -Checked on-board diagnostics center, nothing showing electrical issue. -Pulled my door panel to check if there were any loose connections, didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. The crazy thing is it's affecting things like my radio turning off when the driver door is open, the switches won't illuminate when dark. I'm not a skilled electrician so I'm thinking about taking it in...just wanted to give you one last try.

Quoting gnartogue$ from Aug 1 2012 11:05:01:
the abs is my '98 lexus gs300 was acting weird so the mechanic i went to just disabled it so i just no longer have abs. this is no big deal now but i have heard that the car wont pass inspection in New Hampshire because the abs is not functional. is this true? will any mechanic pass it? how much does it cost to fix?

Quoting tronned from Aug 1 2012 10:23:00:
i cant really recall on that engine. I would assume its not bad, get a good o2 sensor wrench and some good rust breaking spray and it should be easy. o2 sensors are easy mode, just gotta make enough room to get at them. do you have o2 sensor related faults or cat convert faults?

Quoting tronned from Aug 1 2012 11:00:55:
im 99 percent sure its a broken door wiring harness.

Quoting doitbig from Aug 1 2012 10:18:23:
where does it sound like it's coming from?

Quoting Elg$ from Aug 2 2012 10:55:34:
under the car i think

Quoting tronned from Aug 1 2012 11:13:04:
it wont pass inspection if the abs is not working.

Quoting SkierX$ from Aug 2 2012 11:52:12:
This varies state to state. Some states don't give two shits if your ABS is functioning or not so long as your brakes function properly themselves. Some states do care. By the book, NH inspections don't indicate that they check the status of ABS. http://65.82.88.69/Gordon-Darby_New_Hampshire/newhampshire.htm#Geninfo That said, it depends heavily on the shops themselves. some shitty shops will try to use the inspection as a way of holding you hostage to repairs or overly marked up parts. I've had a shop try to tell me I needed new wipers or else I would fail. Thankfully, I had kept the receipt for the wipers which were relatively new, in the glovebox and was able to politely tell them to go fuck themselves and that they needed to recheck the wipers as they are in good condition. They wanted close to $30 for a wiper that in all likelihood cost them $2 or less. PS - If you are buying auto parts at an auto parts store and don't need the parts the same day, Rock Auto absolutely KILLS it with prices pretty much across the board.

Quoting cubber$$ from Aug 3 2012 7:32:06:
When honing a cylinder, (4 wheeler, 200cc bored to 250) can there be any vertical scratches, residue from a melted piston? Im too poor to buy a new cylinder or have this one bored again. I just want it to run enough to drive it on a trip in two weeks. Hone away for hours?

Quoting .RYAN66$ from Aug 3 2012 7:34:41:
should never have used a big bore kit! that really weakens the engine, would have been better off doing cams, high comp piston, port and polish. much more reliable and safer.

Quoting sniche from Aug 3 2012 8:07:46:
Is $750 a good deal for getting a Head Gasket Replaced on my 2001 Ford Taurus?

Quoting sniche from Aug 3 2012 8:07:46:
Is $750 a good deal for getting a Head Gasket Replaced on my 2001 Ford Taurus?

Quoting .RYAN66$ from Aug 3 2012 8:15:11:
depends on the engine but generally it is a pretty easy job if you have some basic tools and mechanical knowledge. there are some good videos on you tube about it, could probably even find one for your make and model.

Quoting sniche from Aug 3 2012 8:35:56:
The extent of my mechanical knowledge goes as far as changing oil and fixing a spare

Quoting sniche from Aug 3 2012 8:35:56:
The extent of my mechanical knowledge goes as far as changing oil and fixing a spare

Quoting .RYAN66$ from Aug 4 2012 1:07:50:
yeah then I would take it somewhere reputable, you are getting robbed on the other price.

Quoting Karafanda from Aug 4 2012 3:21:08:
is it true that underglow will add 3 inches to my penis?

Quoting jibbinc.$ from Aug 3 2012 6:58:37:
1990 civic runs alright 1 - 4 gear under light throttle. squeeks under heavier throttle, with little power gain. 5th gear can only got up to 120km/h. if i press pass hmm %10 throttle in 5th for an extended period ( 5 mins ish ) ( or if i have been heavy on throttle 1 - 4 ) car begins to backfire/misfire ( not sure ) and if i stay on the throttle it repeats every second or so. sounds like a hollow sound almost. i have to downshift to 4th, if i give medium throttle same bog. in neutral rpms drop down to 300, engine shakes pretty violently. eventually after sitting in neutral and tapping the gas, rpms will get back to 600 and its driveable. after it cools down for half hour, drives normal again idles at 800. my thoughts : MAP sensor ( manifold absolute pressure ) clogged cat converter? ( my 02 sensor, TPS sensor are the only CEL codes ive ever had and i replaced them.) new plugs wires, aftermarket distributer and valve/spark gaskets

Quoting Granite_State$ from Aug 2 2012 11:30:26:
So I brought my car to the dealer today, no warning lights. Mysteriously while they were working on it they called me and said two engine lights were on. The trac control and engine. Now I know that replacing my stock airbox with a custom made RAM air might cause the computer to think something is wrong, but the TC? Sounds fishy. They were replacing my front bushings and strut towers as well as front brakes and rotors. I feel like they may have fucked something up and just used the "it was on when we got it" excuse. Any thoughts? It was certainly not on at any time before I brought it in...

Quoting cubber$$ from Aug 3 2012 7:32:06:
When honing a cylinder, (4 wheeler, 200cc bored to 250) can there be any vertical scratches, residue from a melted piston? Im too poor to buy a new cylinder or have this one bored again. I just want it to run enough to drive it on a trip in two weeks. Hone away for hours?

Quoting swd$ from Aug 4 2012 12:19:50:
I have a question that may be stupid but since I am not mechanically inclined I will ask somebody that is! I have an automatic 09 impreza and when I accelerate quicker than normal I hear a weird groaning noise. I believe it starts in 3rd gear but it only lasts for a gear because when it shifts up or down the noise stops. The groan is deeper than what my car sounds like in other gears. Any ideas?