Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for Apr 18, 2009

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Open Help Requests for All Makes and Models

	Help Request	Answers
	2004 BMW 330Ci 3.0L MRS/no comunication/Entertainment system NOP/Sever VIN: WBABW53404 Vehicle Starts and drives OK. MRS light is on,Sound system show BMW insignia at start up but will not react to any buttoms,Driver seat will only adjust on back rest,all other switches Inop. We hooked up AUTOLOGIC scanner and run Quick test,found several module...	View
	1992 Buick Skylark Gran Sport 3.3L prndl fuse/cluster VIN: 1G4NM54N3N The PRNDL (20A) fuse blows but only in drive or reverse. Park or neutral won't pop the fuse. The cluster also goes dead as a result of the fuse blowing. The ignition switch needed to be changed because it would turn itself off due to something going crazy insi...	View
	2001 Buick Regal LS 3.8L ignition cyl/key VIN: 2G4WB55K11 The key (1/2 the time) will not turn all the way off. Wiggle the steering wheel to no avail. It will turn all the way off or it won't	View
	2005 Cadillac SRX 3.6L Fuel gauge VIN: 1GYEE63795 Problem is fuel gauge will drop to zero and info system, sometimes, will not hold statistics and sometimes cannot be read because of orange lines across screen. Sometimes the stats will reset. Will happen at random and will correct itself just as fast. Dealer ...	View
	1992 Chevrolet Camaro RS 3.1L engine races VIN: 1G1FP23T1N First Id like to thank anyone that can help. Customer states that the vehicle races unless their foot is on the brake. The problem is intermittent. On test drive confirmed the concern. The car will pop off the rev limiter unless your foot is on the brake, if i...	View
	1996 Dodge Stratus 2.4L No Start, no 8volt from pcm VIN: 1B3EJ46X1T Help, this car has no 8 volt going to Ckp or Cmp sensors. But it also is missing the 8 volt from the PCM. Shorts to ckp & cmp were checked and none was found. Thought I had fixed the problem when I found the pcm fuse missing from fuse box but that did not rest...	View
	2000 Dodge Dakota 4.7L ticking noise i have a customer that has a 2000 dakota with the 4.7 litre. he has been to several different shops for this ticking noise.so far he has spent over 1000 dollars looking for this problem.the pan has been off...bearings and wristpins ok, valve covers have been o...	View
	1999 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 5.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1FMZU35PXX Good morning to all. I have this explorer we picked up at auction last week.When we got it check engine light on code P0340 (cam sensor open or shorted) and had a severe bucking at cruising speeds w/ light throttle (would go away if more throttle applied). I r... Trouble codes: P0340	View
	1999 Ford E-250 Econoline 5.4L Hesitation, Cuts out, Stall, Misfire VIN: 1FTNE24L6X Anybody come across this problem? 1999 Ford E-250 5.4 litre came in running rough at idle,occasionally stalling like the key was shut off,restart it and runs fine for 10-20 minutes,then start acting up again,we unplugged the mass airflow sensor and it smoothed...	View
	2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty XLT 6.0L No Start VIN: 1FTSW31P93 Customer brought vehicle in for me to install PCM. He said that his tech told him it was what he needed. I installed the PCM as requested and the vehicle left. He was back an hour later saying that the same problem was there as before, I sent him back to his t...	View
	1997 GMC Sonoma SLE 4.3L No Start VIN: 1GTCS19W1V Hi everybody, i have this GMC pickup with no start problem, the owner stated that he was driving it and stoped suddenly and refused to start, towed to my shop,i scanned on my scanner no faults, i checked for fuel pressure is 20 psi, removed the tank and instal...	View
	1987 Jeep Comanche 2.5L Hesitation, Stall engine cranks and idles well doesnt have any power when you rev engine it backfires though exhaust very bad also though the intake running very rich someone had pluged off map sensor vacum when you connet it the engine quits with old sensor and new one thanful...	View
	1998 Mercedes-Benz S320 SWB 3.2L Hesitation, Surge VIN: WDBGA32G1X car runs unstable at icle specially when hot cyl nu 5 an6 do not run ok and 4 also in smoth running in scan number over 3.5 and the adap over 10. found spark plug cyl 1,2,3 slighly black and cyl 4,5,6 closer to white, there is no vacuum leak, could it be the v... Trouble codes: P0306, 05, 04 (missing on cyl 5 and 6 and 4)	View
	2003 Mercedes-Benz G500 5.0L unknown VIN: WDCYR49E13 Hi everybody I need some advice on this one. The Drivers display says brakelamp bad. And ABS light on.! Checked the brakelamp all 3 of them are good. Checked all connections did a visual check on the wheel sensors found nothing abvious. Resest the ABS light, ...	View
	1996 Mercury Mystique GS 2.0L ignition VIN: 1MELM6539T 1996 mercury mystique. after starting engine i can not turn off engine, even with key out of the ignition the car is still running. removed ignition fuse to turn off engine and engine shut off, but even with key out of the ignition all 12v accesories still wor...	View
	2002 Nissan Altima 2.5L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire VIN: 1N4AL11D12 costumer wos told needs head gasket by deler.no coolant leaks found and itis not loosing colant.cold start problem only idles rough for 20 sec and it rans good after with no problem at all.thank you in advance for any help. Trouble codes: P0300	View
	2004 Nissan Maxima SL 3.5L ignition coils VIN: 1N4BA41E74 Need to now if some one had an experience like these before we have car here for a miss fire on 2 cylinders, over 100,000 mile car. coils where burn out, took platnum out and replace all 6 new coils and plugs, and install all back together, when test drive car...	View
	1973 Porsche 911 T 2.5L No Start, Poor Idle Quality VIN: 9113103112 We have this 73 Porsche 911 T car came in running rough and misfiring and rough idling. We replace fuel distributor and all injectors , now the car runs great, but it's very hard to start cold, it pops to air filter and hesitate. We replace warm up regualator ...	View
	2006 Toyota Corolla S 1.8L 1-2 Shift VIN: 1NXBR32EX6 1-2 harsh shift. Code P2716	View
	2000 Volkswagen Beetle GL 1.8L noise When the turbo spools there is an air sound that seems to be coming out around the turbo area, all hoses are good and this happens at 2000 rpms and up, I don't beat on customers cars so I did not go past 3000 rpms. It had a po1557 which I replaced the divertor...	View
	2003 Volkswagen Caravelle 2.5L Valve timing injection timing VIN: WV2ZZZ70Z3 new Mechanic has replaced timing and injector pump belt but has not realised that camshafts gears were not splined has put back toghether but no start - appear to have compression but injection timing may be out - blowing black smoke - has anybody have any fur...	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	2002 Audi A4 1.8L immobilizer VIN: WAULC68E52 OK Guys ! It's working with the Immo & mileage correction software.I'd read the data in the old instrument cluster ,then stored it in the laptop ,removing the old IC ,reinstalling the new IC ,then write the stored data from laptop to the new IC. After 2 times...	18
	2001 BMW X5 3.0i 3.0L eng VIN: WBAFA53531 Yes, you can use 5 series motor for X5 - You need to switch over the oil pan - we used all the accessories from original x5 motor - worth the saving to use 5 series motor - x5 block very expensive - thanks to all	1
	2004 BMW 120i 2.0L No Start VIN: WBAUF52030 Hello Gentlemen, Thank you very much for all you help,Thomas was correct in his diagnosis a voltage spike damaged the ECU. I gave the job my best shot but in the end I had to send it to BMW service dept. for the installation, one other thing I found on the top... Trouble codes: P0339, P100F, P1057, P1062.	6
	1991 Buick Park Avenue 3.8L clutch VIN: 1G4CU53LOM Thanks for the help. I haven't had time to fix this yet. (Who has time to work on their own?) But I did learn that the clutch can be replaced in the car, and I will give it a try when I get time. Thanks again. Deck	10
	2003 Cadillac CTS 3.2L Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G6DM57N93 My sincere Thanks to Dan,Cecil,Kenneth,and Eric for their responces. The Vehicle is fixed and out the door. After posting it was quiting time so I left work and pondered the situation over and thought about other things I could check so the next morning I went... Trouble codes: P0300, P0301, P0303, P0305.	4
	1999 Chevrolet Blazer 4.3L Cuts out VIN: 1GNDT13WXX This is fixed ...and I must say that by all common thoughts of fuel pump...it was,!!! I am confused as to why the pump that was older drew less amperage than the new on. On ac 3 phase motors the condition of the motot is determined by the elevated ampera...	27
	2001 Dodge Caravan SE 3.3L dash lights, reverse lights VIN: 1B4GP25R81 Van was back following Monday and I decided to start from the beginning again... I found B+ circuit at C1,1 dead to the world. First time around this is where I started also, likely I didn't load the cicuit enough?? Completely dead on recheck however...Thanks ...	3
	2005 Dodge Stratus SXT 2.4L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1B3EL46J55 OK, while I am waiting on the correct parts to repair this car, the problem IS positively identified. More on that in a moment... It seems from searching the data base that more than one tech has had a problem with this one, so let me share a few testing tip... Trouble codes: P0491 (Secondary Air Injection--Excess/Insufficient Air Flow).	5
	2001 Honda Civic EX 1.7L Surge, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1HGES26791 Thanks to everyone who replied. We replaced the V-tec solenoid and test drove. All is well now and it runs great. Trouble codes: 1259 (vtec system mal.).	13
	2003 Kia Sorento EX 3.5L Engine VIN: KNDJD73323 The customer did not want to fix the car. but after all that i had already checked out. i strongly beleive that the butterfly valves were the problem. there was no problem in the lower end of the engine. there was nothing wrong under valve covers that was seea...	14
	2004 Land Rover Range Rover HSE 4.4L Red brake light on VIN: SALME11434 Yes! Thanks to all three of you, you all nailed it. The reset procedure of Key on Engine off and wait worked just fine. But for grins and giggles I plugged in the Solus with European and set it for 2004 bmw x5...It communicated just fine and gave me access....	3
	1998 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC 4.6L Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Poor Fuel Economy VIN: 1LNFM92V6W thank you guys for your help specialy Pedro [...] the problem is fix. I change the MAF sen. thinking that was the problem buty it wasent. Pedro was right The Ploblem was the tire size. the car call for 225-60-16 but in the fron it had 235-65-16 and in the r...	7
	2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 3.2L Multiple VIN: 4JGAB54E81 Thanks for the replies, they were most helpful! We installed a new fuse panel and sent the vehicle out, after 2 weeks it is still okay, but that may not have been the problem. Most replies suggested the fuse panel,one cited battery cables (both are known pro...	7
	2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor 1.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: WDBRN40J93 thank you for your information the customer decided to not put any more money into the car said he would just go get a new one so cannot tell you anymore he did not want to pay for anymore diag. Trouble codes: P201C, P0170.	9
	2002 Mitsubishi Montero Limited 3.5L rear axle VIN: JA4MW51R42 Well thank you all very much those of you that said add an additive was right, could not find any from the dealers so i found an differential additive from "Wurth" a German company, which worked wonders. thank you all for your help and support (iATN rules, To...	6
	2004 Nissan Sentra 1.8L heater core VIN: 3N1CB51D94 HEAD GASKET WAS PROBLEM, BUT HAD TO BE AIR PURGED. VEHICLE FRONT HAD TO BE RAISED TO 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND ENGINE SPEED OF 2500 RPM TO SUCCESSFULY PURGE. tHANKS TO ALL THAT REPLIED	4
	1994 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.3L Misfire VIN: 1G2NE1534R Thanks to all who replied, after replacing two injectors and the pcm, the final problem ended up being the coil bridge/cover.	16
	1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5L # 2 cly VIN: NO VIN IM found the left intake cam 180 out .all timing marks will line up .cam lobes willnot be in proper place to do valve ajust as per mitcel.rotate cam car has compeson	10
	1995 Toyota Corolla DX 1.8L Mechanical VIN: 2T1AE09B8S When it is all said and done the mysteries of toyota VIN have proved to be kept in a secret vault only to be seen by the annointed few.Up to 1995 there was one system in use , a change in 96 from the 4th to the 5th digit and adding to the fun is the fact that ...	6
	2000 Toyota Camry LE 3.0L TPS not switching VIN: K7Y0239504 The specs ended up being a 3 wire sensor that does not show the idle switch on or off. The vehicle is gone and the customer has not called with any problems, thanks for the input.	8

(Also Available: All, Asian, Chrysler, European, Ford, GM.)