Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for Dec 23, 2010

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	Help Request	Answers
	2002 Acura CL 3.2L Drivers Seat Adjustment Switch VIN: 19UYA42492 This vehicle came into our shop with a defective seat track. The seat would not move. After replacing the seat track all was well with the vehicle. The vehicle owner later called and said that the DPMS Drivers position memory switch on the drivers door panel d...	View
	1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20v 2.3L Cuts out, Airflow Sensor Wirin VIN: WAUHE58A4L I am having an issue with this Audi airflow sensor. Upon putting the valve cover and intake back on for our customer, the engine starts and runs ok but will cut out completely under load. Noticed with MAF electrical plug disconnected, the engine runs way bette...	View
	2005 Audi A8 Quattro 4.2L Air Suspension VIN: WAULL44E95 The car initially came in with multiple suspension fault codes. One of the codes was related to power supply to the compressor. (I do not have the codes that was registered anymore). It also had codes: 01772 Signal from Level Control Pressure Sensor (G291) 00...	View
	1988 BMW 735i 3.5L Wiper Motor Ciruit VIN: WBAGB4312J Help BMW TECHS!! I'm going to say thanx ahead of time on this one!! This '88 BMW 735i came in for INOP wiper motor, and the problem that I am having is that I cant seem to find the correct wiring schematic on Mitchel. I cant seem to find the wiper motor on any...	View
	1988 BMW M6 3.5L Internal Bad Bearing VIN: WBAEE1418J BMW Techs: We have an 1988 M6 5 speed trans (Getrag)and it internally has a bad bearing making a hell of a noise. Even with the trans on the beach you can spin the main-shaft and get the noise to occur. Does anyone no of a place that reconditions these transmi...	View
	2003 BMW X5 3.0i 3.0L Unknown VIN: 5UXFA53533 Vehicle has bad oil leak under engine drivers side - area around leak very restricted - could not find source without removing more components - replaced oil filter, (had a vw jetta one time where the oil filter caused oil leaks - not from the filter)still lea...	View
	2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G6DR57V78 Happy holidays, We have this caddy that very intermittenly sets the code p2097, We have tryed to get this car to set this code on us, but no luck. At times will take a week to come back, have monitered all data on road and no other codes set, fuel trim bank 1 ... Trouble codes: P2097	View
	1996 Chevrolet C1500 5.7L Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 2GCEC19R3T howdy all, 96 5.7r engine giving me some trouble,must be missing something obvious, its missfiring at idle, not as bad off idle, but still slightly there, customer had plugs, cap, rotor and wires replaced at another shop, everything with intall looks good, sca... Trouble codes: P0300	View
	1998 Chevrolet P30 7.4L Poor Idle Quality VIN: 1GBMP37B9W hello I have a 1998 chevy 7.4 fuel injected with allison 545 has a banks power pak headers and air filter no electronics modified. this is in a class A motor home. intermittent power loss. when driving i can step on the accelerator quickly to wot it performs w... Trouble codes: P0131, P0151	View
	1999 Chevrolet C3500 5.7L Hesitation, Cuts out VIN: 1GBJC34R0X This vehicle was towed in as the customer thought the transmission was slipping. We checked the truck out and found that the catalytic converter had excessive back pressure. After replacing the catalytic converter the truck was road driven and it drove better...	View
	2000 Chevrolet K2500 LS 5.7L hard start VIN: 1GCGK24U3Y customer came in about 1 year ago for same problem. at times in the morning it would take a couple of crank attemps to start the truck. after it started, who knows when it would do it again. i check fuel pressure and everything was ok. cleaned throttle body an...	View
	2000 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS 5.3L Transfer Case Module VIN: 3GNFK16T7Y Module lasted four days. I have checked all wires again and again. been through every ground from one end to the other. Atc fuse has not blown. Back where I started. I need all the help i can get.	View
	2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4.3L No Start VIN: 1GCEC14W4Y engine died cruising highway speed. fuel pressure 55-56 psi, spark to all cyls using inductive timing light. cranking rpms ok on solus scanner. no injector pulse on scanner or at pcm or injector harness using lab scope (i doublechecked lab scope for inj. pulse...	View
	2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L Excessive Emissions, Poor Idle Quality, Surge, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 2GCEK19T72 This vehicle has a terrible miss upon cold start below 45 degrees. It will miss,load up,stall and run terrible til it is warmed up. Looking at the misfire counter it shows all cylinders missing until it gets to operating temp. This truck has done this for the ... Trouble codes: P0106, P0171, P0172, P0300, P0440, P0507	View
	2004 Chevrolet Tahoe LS 5.3L Unknown VIN: 1GNEK13T74 hi to all and happy holidays i have a taho with a intermitent noise in the front end it sounds like a wheel bearing but it only makes the noise for a few minutes just wondering if anyone has ran into this before thank in advance jeff	View
	2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LT 6.6L Poor Idle Quality, Cuts out, Stall VIN: 1GCHK23265 i have tested all fuel lines i can get to, if you prime the system by the hand pump it will start, but die after 5-[...]. sounds like its runnning out of fuel.. plz help	View
	2007 Chevrolet Equinox LT 3.4L gauges,door locks,lighting,traction control VIN: 2CNDL73F47 Trying to Program New BCM using Tech 2 download keeps failing ,have tryed as replacement and reprogram , tried using pass thru and remote. Have part # of new BCM [...] which both Dealers in town say is current replacement #. I am able to reprogram old/bad ...	View
	2001 Chrysler Town & Country LX 3.3L tapping noise similar to lifters VIN: 2C4GP443X1 lifters replaced oil pressure is 65# engine is very clean inside nothing in oil pan. good oil flow to rockers	View
	2005 Chrysler 300 2.7L Stall, MIL Lamp on, no power VIN: 2C3JA53G65 this vehicle came in, intermittent stall problem on decel, and intermittent loss of throttle response, will idle but will not accelerate. ignition can be cycled, will start and run (electronic throttle lamp will be flashing). clear codes, can drive 30 feet or ... Trouble codes: P2110, P2112	View
	1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 5.9L wipers VIN: 3B7HC12ZOW when the left turn signal is turned on the wipers come on and stay on until the signal is shut off. the emergency flashers do the same thing. right signal is ok tried new combination t.s. wiper switch same problem i think that there must be a couple of wires t...	View
	2008 Dodge Charger R/T 5.7L Esp,Bas,Wipers,turn signals,Radio VIN: 2B3LA43H28 the local police dept.have this 08 charger that the esp and bas lights come on.if you shut the car off and restart the lights are off.when the lights are on, the wipers,turn signals, and the factory radio also quit working.they stopped in about 3-4 wks ago,sai...	View
	1999 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L Wheel Bearing VIN: 1FTZR15X4T Vehicle came in for a "whomp whomp" noise around the 35mph speed range. While on lift neither hub in the fron was loose... sounded like it was coming from the passenger side. put truck into 4wd on the rack and brought it to 35mph and indeed you could feel a no...	View
	2002 Ford E-350 Econoline 5.4L Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Misfire VIN: 1FDWE35L32 At the end of my rope! Hi, have a fleet box truck i have been running out of ideas on. Came in running rough, missfiring and just filling the garage with smoke(fuel). It had an exhaust leak due to the manifold so replaced that. Replaced spark plugs due to the ...	View
	2008 Ford Escape XLT 3.0L CD player VIN: 08ESCAPE08 My customers cd player in her Escape has a cd stuck in it and is making a sound that reminds you of a 8 track player eating the tape- who remebers those, or even knows what those are. I am guessing I will have to send the player in to get fixed. The question i...	View
	2000 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3L Hesitation, Surge, Cuts out, Stall VIN: 2GTEK19T3Y Hesitation, stumble on accel when everytime you start out with vehicle in open loop	View
	2005 GMC C6500 Topkick C6C042 8.1L No Start VIN: 1GDG5C1EX5 no start at begining of job applied starting fluid and engine started. same result when side mounted fuel tank hit with dead blow hammer,engine would start. replaced fuel pump and engine would not start .checked at injector and have no pulse but still have goo...	View
	1998 Honda Accord EX 3.0L security sys VIN: 1HGCG1651W wanting to know if there is a way to disable the factory anti theft system without disabling the car itself	View
	2003 Honda Pilot EX 3.5L battery VIN: 2HKYF18463 I have a Honda Pilot with a very random, but persistant battery drain. Sometimes as quick as 30 minutes of sitting, other times overnight. Parasitic draw shows 0.017-0.024ma when checked. Have installed knife switch to positive so that amp meter can be attache...	View
	2005 Honda Accord EX 2.4L engine VIN: 1HGCM56895 Car towed in for no start.Checked compression and found 0 for all 4 cylinders.Pulled valve cover and found timing marks on cams off.Not sure if valve bender.Reset marks and replaced tensioner as well.Cranked engine over and timing jumped again.When rotate engi...	View
	1985 Jaguar Vanden Plas 4.2L turn signal, hazard indicators VIN: SAJAY1345F Hey guys, Darn seems like i just asked for help on another Jag, V.P not too long ago, although it was a lot newer, what is it with these cats that keep running me up the wall. Got a '85 Jaguar Vanden Plas, this is one of our long time customers and we do all t...	View
	2003 Jaguar XK8 4.2L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: SAJDA42C23 This vehicle was brought in with the complaint of check engine lamp on, and occasional rough idle for a few seconds after a 15-30 minute hot soak. On initial road test, we did not notice any problems, the engine ran great. During scan testing, we retrieved the... Trouble codes: P0300, P1316, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0307	View
	1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0L Engine Temperature VIN: 1J4GZ58S7R Jeep techs, we are struggling with a Jeep 4.0 that is running too cool. Over the last 24 months we have replaced the radiator, waterpump (twice), heater core, thermostat (Five of them). We used the OE thermostat the last time. Checked the fan clutch, coolant f...	View
	1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0L No Start, Cuts out, Stall, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1J4GZ58S0T started out as intermittant stall during warm-up , now just stall at any time hot or cold driving or parked idling. usually doesn't turn on check engine light. Trouble codes: P0351	View
	1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0L Air bags VIN: 1J4GW58S53 This car came in with the SRS MIL intermittently going on or off. Using a Launch scanner, the following faults were pulled. The are not numbered except by the scanner in sequence: 1. ROM failure. 2. Driver squib circuit #1 shorted. 3. Passenger squib circuit c...	View
	1998 Lexus ES300 3.0L Power Brake Booster VIN: JT8BF28G6W Fellow techs, this car came with a complaint of "the car wont stop" so i test drove vehicle to find a rock hard brake pedal. Tested booster to find no drop in pedal after staring engine, tested check valve and it was fine. Replaced booster twice w/ a used uni...	View
	1999 Lexus LX470 4.7L Poor Idle Quality VIN: JT6HT00W1W Ok so my customer left the headlamps on and killed the battery..when they jump started it the idle surged, they then drove about 100 miles and now have a high idle, about 1300 rpm. I havn't been able to find a procedure for relearning the throttle on this fine...	View
	1996 Mercedes-Benz C220 2.2L No Start VIN: WDBHA22E3T Need some help with this one guys. Vehicle came in as a no start. Broke line loose at fuel rail and found no fuel pressure. Pulled feed line off at fuel pump and gas ran out for a second and then stopped. Simple, car out of gas. Put gas in it and found that fu...	View
	2000 Mercedes-Benz S430 4.3L ride control VIN: WDBNG70J8Y Hello Mercedes Techs Customer concern is that the vehicle has a very hard ride, I understand that code C 1517-001 refers to air pump,relay or fuse, but what is the testing procedure for the other 2 codes please advise. Thanks in advance	View
	2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 3.2L Cooling Fan VIN: WDBJH65J21 Hi everyone. I have an E320 here with a DIY type customer. He didn't have air conditioning, so he had someone wire a switch inside the car to turn on the A/C compressor clutch directly.. he says that he cycles the compressor as to not cause any harm to the sys...	View
	1986 Mercury Grand Marquis 5.0L Excessive Emissions, Poor Idle Quality, Poor Fuel Economy VIN: 2MEBP95F3G This car is running pig rich at all times. The O2 sensors are reading .95 volts. Fuel pressure is well within spec at 37 psi.The system holds pressure. The vacuum hose at the regulator has been disconnected. The pcv valve has been removed from the block. The p...	View
	2004 Nissan Maxima SL 3.5L Timing chain VIN: 1N4BA41E04 Rattle in timing chain area during cold start only for 15 seconds or so. Pulled front cover off & the only thing I see as a possible problem is front secondary chain is slightly loose, I can move chain about 1/4" up. Not sure this is the cause of the rattle, a...	View
	2005 Nissan Sentra S 1.8L spark plug VIN: 3N1CB51D45 I have a broken spark plug in cylinder #3 hole. Does any one have any suggestions for removing the spark plug.?? The vehicle was diagnosed with a head gasket problem on #3. The other spark plugs came out with lots of penetrating oil and letting it sit for seve...	View
	2006 Nissan Altima SL 3.5L Starting VIN: 1N4BL11E86 OK, we got this car in and it had two codes for cam position sensors. It started and drove, but "banged" into drive and reverse. We opened the hood and noticed that one of the cam sensors had been unplugged. We plugged it in and the car refused to start. We pl...	View
	2001 Oldsmobile Alero GL 3.4L Cooling Fans VIN: 1G3NL52E71 This car came into shop for a simple service and complaint of heater not warming up now that the temp is dropped below freezing. Suspected therm or heater core pluged, wrong. After inspecting car was 3/4 gal low on antifreeze, filled and same thing. Has code s...	View
	2000 Suzuki Vitara JLX 2.0L Timing chain VIN: 2S3TD52V1Y After 50 miles it has started making a loud ratteling noise. We havent removed the timing cover yet. Alex the tech that did the work was carefull when installing all of the new parts and did not have any problems we are tring to find what we should look for wh...	View
	2002 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4.7L Rear Pads VIN: 5TDBT48A92 Back for metal to metal rear brakes. Do not see proportioning valve. Is it built into the ABS controller or how is it regulated. Braking feels normal and is not dragging. Seems that 9000 miles is too short a time for completely wearing out rear pads.	View
	2000 Volkswagen Beetle GL 1.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: 3VWCD21C9Y Please help, i've run out of ideas. The cel comes on about once a week. The air pump comes on when the engine is cold and there is vacuum to the combi valve. When the engine is warm and the air pump is activated the STFT goes from -5% to +25%. The secondary ai... Trouble codes: P1424 (17832 secondary air system leak detected bank 1)	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	2003 BMW M3 3.2L wont upshift intermit. VIN: 413JR22240 Installing a set of steering wheel microswitches fixed the problem. as stated most people do not use these, but this guy does and he drives the car hard (thank God someone does). so expect these to wear out every 35k with hard use, these have been replaced un...	5
	2005 BMW 530i 3.0L No Start VIN: WBANA73584 Thanks for the replies. Since there is nothing more I can do with the info and scan tool I have available the customer has decided to take the car and if problem returns go to the dealer. Trouble codes: A0C0.	2
	2002 Chevrolet Express 3500 5.7L Misfire VIN: 1GAHG39R12 WELL EVERYONE THE PROBLEM WAS THE EGR VALVE. THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE HELP!!! THE CYLINDER WAS FOUR AND SEVEN. WE WENT ON A RIDE BUT WE FOUND IT...THANKS EVERYONE.	19
	1989 Dodge Dakota 3.9L Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Cuts out VIN: 1B7GG26X8K thanks to everyone for the replies recieved. all were very useful in diagnostics on this nightmare. after repairing all the vaccum leaks found we installed a new distributor and idle and hesitation issue was solved. again thanks to everyone who replied and to ...	14
	1996 Dodge Dakota 3.9L Cuts out VIN: 1B7FL26X2T thank you for the tips about the wiring to the ecm for a bad ecm. Took awhile to get the new ecm out to hawaii. customer came in dropped the new ecm in and away he went happy as can be. So thanks again for the help. Trouble codes: P0351 (Ignition coil 1 primary).	12
	1997 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.0L Poor Idle Quality, Surge, Stall VIN: 2B4GP4438V Thanks to everyone that replied to the post. The problem was found to be two leaking fuel injectors. They were diagnosed by pressurizing the fuel rail then clamping off the supply line downstream of a pressure gauge. The pressure should have remained constant,... Trouble codes: P0743 (TCC solenoid/relay circuit malfunction).	7
	2000 Ford Focus ZTS 2.0L lights, trunk release, locks VIN: 1FAHP3831Y Five of six replies nailed it! I split the harness loom at the trunk harness and found two wires broken, including latch power circuit and one wire nearly broken. The harness is ordered and I'm confident this one is fixed. In the end, the hatch switched po...	6
	2000 GMC Jimmy SLT 4.3L Transfere Case VIN: 1GKDT13W0Y Due to the amount of replies saying encoder motors going bad and a used part was only $50.00 I replaced the motor and all works properly. Thanks to all those who replied, greatly appreciated.	6
	2004 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.4L No Start VIN: KM8SC73D74 THANK YOU switch on the left strut tower. Why is it not in Mitchell on Demand. It all makes sense now. The left front spring was broken and when I put it on the hoist that spring was banging and popping and tripped the switch. I love it when it's easy. Than...	7
	2005 Jaguar S-Type 3.0L Ac VIN: SAJWA01T25 Defective DCCV. Thanks guys. You all are MASTERS!!!	5
	1991 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L No Start, Stall VIN: JM21J2J1J2 Frank from Florida, hit it on the nose, plugged exhaust. Thanks to all my peeps	7
	2006 Lexus RX400h 3.3L Vsc System VIN: JTJHW31U76 Thanks for the input. After running through the bleed procedure and initializations time and again, with a battery charger connected, found that the skid control module failed. The calibrations will run and set, but the module will not accept them and keep the...	5
	2000 Lincoln LS 3.9L no communication VIN: 1LNHM87A0Y Thank you fellow techs again. After pulling modules, and begining to check the harness (again) we asked for a commitment from the customer and have yet to see the vehicle back in the shop for further testing. Thank you all again for your help I hope this post ... Trouble codes: B1676 (Wiper park sense circuit failure), B1446 (1 injector driver fault), U1041 (u1262-), U1262 (c3303-), C3303 (p0201-), P0201.	4
	2001 Lincoln Navigator 5.4L Poor Idle Quality, MIL Lamp on VIN: 5LMFU28R21 Thank you to all that replied. We pulled the cylinder head and found an exhaust valve on #5 cylinder to be the culprit. Customer has decided to replace the engine instead of doing a valve job. A wise decision considering the mileage on the motor. Thanks ag... Trouble codes: P0305 (Cylinder 5 misfire).	10
	1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 2.8L Fit & Finish VIN: 1110241200 We ended up scrapping up parts and making everything work. We got some good suggestion from fellow members but had no luck...some parts get very hard to find so we improvised and we are good to go now! Thank You IATN members.	11
	1992 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.5L No Start VIN: JB3BU24A7N We are fixed, ecm did it. I read the replies and did pull the ecm to check it internally, could not see any thing burnt. I was uing my modis on this unit [which I had to input as a Mitsubishi] and then remembered since its a dodge colt my drb3 should work as w...	6
	2000 Nissan Frontier XE 3.3L Excessive Emissions, Hesitation, Cuts out, Stall, Misfire, Poor Fuel Economy, Excessive rich VIN: 1N6ED27Y7Y First off thanks for much needed info on this nissan frontier.No books covers the type of problems we deal with on some of these cars. After going after a part that had a code,and that would set again after being cleared [crank sensor],and not being the part t... Trouble codes: P00, 325 (Knock sensor), P00, 335 (Crank sensor).	5
	2005 Nissan Frontier Nismo Off-Road 4.0L No Start VIN: 1N6AD07W55 im going to call this one fixed even if im still waiting for parts let me tell ya what was found...first we pulled off the front cover found the right cams off 2 teeth fixed that problem...took crank sensor back out found that the new one i put in had been hit...	6
	2001 Pontiac Aztek 3.4L Mechanical VIN: 3G7DB03E81 thanks for all the replies the transmission was bad thanks to all	3
	1997 Toyota RAV4 2.0L Poor Idle Quality, Stall, no idle cold VIN: JT3XP10V00 Problem was carboned up idle control valve gate as most of the replys suggested. Special thanks to Ron who gave a exact, consise, repair technique including a cool tip of using Toilet bowl cleaner to boil out the carbon.Runs like a top. thanks to all who reply...	10
	1999 Toyota Camry LE 2.2L Hesitation, Surge, Cuts out, Stall VIN: JT2BG22K6X After trying to enrich the fuel mixture during this die out with carb cleaner, starter fluid, and propane, all of which made no difference, I tried driving it with a fuel gauge connected. Even though all indicators said it wasn't lean (fuel trims, O2 readings,... Trouble codes: P0401 (Insuffecient egr flow), P0441.	12
	2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8L heat VIN: WVWPD63B21 all the help was helpful -we did not feel it was the water pump as it did not overheat at highspeeds -or idle -we did reflush the heater but the biggest help was to fill it with paint thinner and let it sit 5 minutes [we gave this one 15 becaused we had flush...	11
	2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 2.8L no coolant flow VIN: WVWWH63BX3 sorry for the long wait time guys, I was working with vw tech support and had over 40hrs in this bad boy. I replaced both head gaskets which fixed the now flow problem, afterward I had flow to heater core but only pee warm. R@R dash and replaced heater core an...	10
	2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 2.5L srs Thanks all, VAG was needed. Turned out to left crash sensor code due to disconnect with key on. Cleared code, SRS light out.Thanks again.	5

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