Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for Dec 12, 2011

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	Help Request	Answers
	1994 Cadillac Commercial Chassis 5.7L Cuts out VIN: 1G6DW52P7R 1994 Cadillac Brougham with the LT1- These have Traction control-- symptom came to me as "car bogs down when going on expressway" from the elderly owners. Disabled the TC with the glovebox switch, and problem goes away. This TC I believe, by design does not ki...	View
	2000 Cadillac Catera 3.0L Heater No Heat VIN: W06VR54R4Y Hello, This is my first time asking for help on this site. Thanks in advance for any input. Need some expert Catera/opal help here. I am working on a friends 2000 Cadillac Catera. It has no heat. The car does heat up and run at the proper operating temperature...	View
	1965 Chevrolet C60 292CID Engine swap Thanks in advance. Customer has bad 292 original engine. He has provided a fuel injected 1997 366 with a 16 inch flywheel and adapter housing which we can not use with his existing transmission. The 366 he provided is a flangeless one piece rear main setup whi...	View
	2001 Chevrolet Blazer LS 4.3L Excessive Emissions, Poor Idle Quality, Surge, Stall, Poor Fuel Economy VIN: 1GNDT13W81 Truck came in on hook, stalled on road and won't restart. We found it to be a bad fuel pump. replaced pump and filter. ran great for a half day now cust complaint is surging and stalling and just running bad. I tested fuel pressure and found that the fuel pres...	View
	2004 Chevrolet Tahoe LS 5.3L traction control ? VIN: 1GNEK13Z64 hello everyone and happy holidays. I have a problem I would like some help with please.we replaced the transmission due to a noise and shift concern.this seems to have solved the problem but,vehicle came back a few days later with a customer complaint of a shi...	View
	2005 Chevrolet Astro 4.3L Sdm VIN: 1GCDM19X15 Just a general question. Air bag light on all the time. No communication with SDM. Removed seat and found SDM damp and corroded. I know it needs to be replaced what I can not find out is if it needs to be programed or reprogramed if a use one is used and is a ...	View
	2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS 4.2L Poor Idle Quality, Cuts out, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1GNDT13S15 This vehicle came in with MIL on, DTCs P0106, P0014, and P0017. But it also had a nasty engine knock and looked like the oil had been severely neglected so we replaced the engine with a shiny new Jasper engine. Started up and ran great for about 15 mins, now w... Trouble codes: P0017 (Ckp/exhaust cmp correlation)	View
	2008 Chevrolet HHR LT 2.4L ignition lock cylinder VIN: 3GNCA53P48 This HHR was brought in on the hook. Customer shut car off last night then remote started this morning and went out to take off when she noticed the key would not turn at all. Found an archive about the lock cylinder and houseing. Any luck out there. Shopkey d...	View
	1985 Dodge Ram 50 Custom 2.0L Timing Belt VIN: JB7FP24D8F Ok so I just got this little truck for free the other day. It hasn't ran in about 8 years. Exhaust was plugged. Simple fix. It desperately needs a timing belt. It is cracked up badly. The engine is an interference engine. I have tried 5 different belts on this...	View
	1999 Dodge Avenger 2.5L transmission VIN: 4B3AU42N5X Hi iatn members, I have a 99 dodge avenger stuck in limp mode, i check the eatx for pwr, eatx relay has input and outut pwr, I replaced the input and output speed sensors, i replaced the solenoid pack, i changed the transmission fluid and filter, but to no ava...	View
	2007 Dodge Sprinter 3500 3.0L rt rear wheel sensor VIN: WD0PF44557 hello to all members,have this sprinter van that keeps setting a 44e8 rt rear wheel speed sensor weak signal,change out tone ring found that it had a dent in it,also change out sensor and made sure there wasnt any rust build up where sensor sits in the housing...	View
	1995 Ford Ranger Splash 2.3L ignition VIN: 1FTCR14A9S This customer requested new door lock cylinders and a new ignition lock cylinder because the door lock key window was messed up by a screwdriver & the ignition had the famous stripped thumb wheel. I removed the ignition lock cylinder at the end of the day & I ...	View
	1996 Ford Probe 2.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1ZVLT20AXT Car came in for p1407 and found egr valve stuck open.Car ran good but had egr code.Replace egr assembly which egr positon sensor on it.Found egr passage clogged.Cleared out.Code comes back.Hooked vacuum pump to valve and dies when add vacuum.Did ford ruuning t... Trouble codes: P1407	View
	1998 Ford Ranger Splash 2.5L Excessive Emissions, Poor Fuel Economy, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1FTYR10C4W This truck has a P0171 stored, fuel trims as noted. Trims clear out off idle and while driving. Behaves like a normal vacuum leak. Disconnected all vacuum, breather, and PCV hoses and lines and capped them off. No change. Looked for gasket leaks with propane. ... Trouble codes: P0171 (B1 Lean)	View
	1998 Ford Taurus LX 3.0L No Start VIN: 1FAFP52S1W This car came in as an intermittent crank-no start. ran fine last week, Monday morning came in and car wouldn't start. acted flooded, found worn plugs, replace plugs and wires, car still wouldn't start, check compression on front bank, 75-80-50, checed again w...	View
	2000 Ford F-550 Super Duty Lariat 7.3L No power VIN: 1FDAF56F7Y Just installed a reman in our tow trk engine runs fine at idle starts good sounds good no koeo codes koer no codes under load it just wont pickup foot to floor 55mph can hear turbo spool up but no boost almost like a clogged cat on a gas auto trans just will n...	View
	2003 Ford F-150 XL 4.2L Hesitation, Cuts out VIN: 1FTRF17203 Hello, and thanks for the help in advance. I have an f150 here that intermittantly cuts out for a split second and then picks right back up and works as if nothing is wrong.it only seems to do it when you first pull out or if you have been off the gas coasting...	View
	2005 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4L runon when shut off VIN: 1FTVF14525 I was wondering if there might be an update for this trk. The owner says it will run on when its shut down after getting it up to temp.He also said mileage is down. Haven't been able to verify either is there a pcm update. Temp looks normal.	View
	1993 GMC G2500 Vandura 5.7L Excessive Emissions VIN: 1GDEG25KXP This ones a real hair puller. This van won't pass state emissions but it runs real nice. I don't have a gas analyzer except for my nose and this one smells really rich. Plates are expired so I don't really want to run it on the open road to test drive it. I'm ...	View
	2003 GMC Sierra 2500 HD SLE 6.6L wastegate VIN: 1GTHK23103 I am not proficient at diesels but am trying to aid a customer. He had several other problems including faulty thermostat and a faulty turbo boost pressure sensor that was setting a code P0236. We monitored the sensor values and replaced the boost sensor which...	View
	1991 Honda Civic DX 1.5L dash lights VIN: 2HGED6350M Recently, the dash lights on this vehicle do not turn on immediately when the headlights are turned on. There is invariably a delay of a few seconds to over a minute. I fear that sometime in the near future the dash lights will not turn on at all. Does any tec...	View
	2003 Honda Odyssey EX 3.5L MIL Lamp on VIN: 5FNRL18963 Came in with P1457 code, ran self test repeatedly, ran drive cycle until said evap system had passed. Smoke tested for leaks, nothing found. Give back to customer and 2 days later code would return. Happened repeatedly. Watching pressure sensor on scanner it h... Trouble codes: P1457 (evap leak)	View
	2005 Honda Odyssey EX 3.5L Rf Speed Sensor VIN: 5FNRL38425 Cannot get signal to abs module have good voltage going to sensor can pull sensor move magnet back forthand get signal pulled axle both sides spin rotor on hub and get signal on lf side do not see any tone rings my question is where or what acts as the tone ri...	View
	2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7L Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Stall, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1J4GW48N01 This vehicle came to me indirectly from another shop. The customer said that they were told the head gaskets were bad. One head (right side) has been off. The engine starts and runs ok at first, but after a while as it warms up it starts to hunt for an idle an... Trouble codes: P0351	View
	2005 Jeep Liberty Limited 3.7L Starting [...]	View
	2003 Land Rover Discovery SE 4.6L MIL Lamp on VIN: SALTY16413 Normally, these faults are a sure sign of a failed MAF. However, the problem has re-occurred after a while after multiple MAF replacements. Through all of this, the truck runs and drives fine, but we can't seem to get the faults to go away. Anyone else run... Trouble codes: P0171 (Bank 1 Lean), P0174 (Bank 2 Lean), P0173 (4th gear ratio monitoring)	View
	2002 Lincoln Navigator 5.4L Windows / Radio/Shift lock VIN: 5LMFU27R82 Customer called and stated Truck wont come out of park. and windows wont work . after more checking Radio and sunroof and rear vents also not working . Almost seems that any circuit on acc. delay relay are not working . Checked CB 601 at battery fuse block and...	View
	1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL 5.6L Cuts out Here's what going on with the car starts everytime and 2 seconds later dies. I can see when it's going to die the tach drops to zero, losing td signal and drops fuel pressure. The car will actually run if I keep the rpms up over 1300 any drop pass that will dr...	View
	2001 Mercedes-Benz C240 2.6L fuel gauge VIN: WDBRF61J21 vehicle was vandalised. main harness coming out of front SAM going toward center of engine compartment was sliced cleanly in two. after repairing harness engine would crank but not start. further testing revealed bad front SAM. replaced front SAM, now engine s...	View
	2004 Mitsubishi Lancer ES 2.0L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: JA3AJ26E24 Thanks in advance for any direction on this one. Vehicle towed in. Crank/No start. Diagnosed a timing belt failure. Also found valve damage. Cylinder head removed and sent out for repair/valve replacement. Head pressure tested good with new valves installed. R... Trouble codes: P0303 (Misfire Cyl 3)	View
	2002 Nissan Pathfinder SE 3.5L steering wheel VIN: JN8DR09Y22 HI GUY'S, I HAVE AN 2002 PATHFINDER, WHEN VEHICLE GETS WARM CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINT IS THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN AT IDLE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE - PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. WE HAVE CLEANED THE THROTTLE PLATE AND IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR. CHECKED ENGINE MOUNTS AND ...	View
	2007 Nissan Armada SE 5.6L Air Bag Light On VIN: 5N1BA08C87 Need a nissian techs help on this one have a 2007 armada with and air bag light on pulled codes b1218, 1015 and 1219 all come up with control moudule when i checked alldata for code discreption there is no information in all data for the code. Trying to find o...	View
	2007 Nissan Xterra X 4.0L powertrain VIN: 5N1AN08W37 truck came in on a hook as a no start. no spark and no pulsewidth. no codes in computer. fuel pump does prime when key is turned on. looked at the possibility of a crank sensor but wanted to check the ecm relay 1st as it powers the crank sensor and computer. c...	View
	2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G2WP52K7Y have this car that gets +16% ltft at idle and -18% ltft while driving. it started with a positive ltft at all driving conditions. fuel system pressure test revealed a faulty fpr (low system pressure). we replaced the fpr. and also replaced valve cover gasket... Trouble codes: P0171	View
	2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8L Air Flow VIN: 1G2WP52K12 Customer brought vehicle in complaining that it blows cooler air on the driver's side than the passenger's side. What I discovered when I drove it is that it actually blows the same temperature air on both sides; When in the cold position (his/hers controls)...	View
	1991 Toyota Camry 2.0L Lighting VIN: 4T1SV24E9M have this car here that when you turn the lights on the brake lights also turn on.i have checked to see if this has a lamp failure sensor and everything that i have checked also says as well.the dealer told me that this is thee base model and didn't have that ...	View
	2007 Toyota RAV4 Sport 3.5L throttle responce VIN: JTMBK32V57 thanks in advance for the help vehicle came in with a very touchy accelerator pedal just taking off you would think it is a super charged big block this is a fly be wire vehicle the vehicle has no codes in current or history and all the values for the throttle...	View
	2005 Volvo S80 2.5T AWD 2.5L Stall, MIL Lamp on VIN: YV1TH59205 This 2005 Vovlo S80 2.5 AWD will only act up once in a while. When it does it sets all of the codes stated above, and the reduced power light comes on, as well as the engine will stall. If you turn the key off and let it sit for just a few seconds and then res... Trouble codes: 9200 (Cruise Control/ TP Faulty Signal), 9220 (Electronic Throttle Unit Potentiometer 2 Faulty Sig), 929D, 9270 (Throttle Unit Faulty Sig), P2135 (Throttle/ Pedal Position Sensor Switch A/B Volt Correlation)	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	2002 BMW 325xi 2.5L oil filter housing VIN: WBAEP33422 Thanks to everyone for your prompt and accurate reply's. I repaired this one by doing the seperator update with all four hoses and the oil filter housing gasket was hard as a rock. As many of you suggested I also replaced the valve cover gasket and bolt grom...	20
	1995 Buick Riviera 3.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G4H5H5K4S thanks for all the help. got my scope back and the vehicle back in finally. tested waveforms for 18x crank sig and cam sig at ecm. signal never dropped out and cam/crank error never exceeded 2 counts. 0 actually. vehicle needed another ecm. second replacement ... Trouble codes: P0341, P0342.	9
	2000 Buick LeSabre Limited 3.8L Cuts out VIN: 1G4HR54K6Y wow is all i can say. thanks to everyone that replied with help. so many of you was on the right track. it was the mass air flow sensor. i guess what threw me off was the car came from another shop that replaced the mass air flow trying to fix this problem. tu...	39
	1994 Chevrolet Astro CL 4.3L left front brakes VIN: 1GNDM19Z4R Have to close this post. Unfortunately, the vehicle did not get fixed 100%. Much to my chagrin and disappointment. However, it's much better and safe enough to drive, although a hard slamming of the brake pedal at a high speed would still make it veer sharply ...	40
	2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.8L Master Cylinder VIN: 1B4GP44L3Y we first replaced the left front caliper didn't change a thing,so went on to change the abs pump like recommeded found the steel line going to the left front wheel were it came out of the pump had a small hair line fractor at the nut replaced line and they h...	13
	2004 Dodge Durango Limited 5.7L instrument cluster VIN: 1D4HB58D24 hi sorry it took me so long to get this fixed but heres the fix. i got back from vacation and tried the fcm, didn't fix it. so i started from scratch. i went back to the juction box and wiring diagram where the corrosion was and cut out the network wires and j...	14
	2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.3L blower motor VIN: 2D4GP24RX5 special thanks to daniel and robert for the loosen firewall nuts and the pics that were sent. i still called crysler ford several times but got it done. your fingers or 1/4 wobble or eyes,or pecker or any thing else won't go up there for that hidden screw with...	7
	1998 Ford F-150 Lariat 4.6L No Start, Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Surge VIN: 1FTZX17WXW well i had to put this vehicle aside for now. lucky its a spare car for one of my friends. as soon as i figure it out i will post the fix. thanks to all who replied.	11
	2006 Ford Focus ZX4 2.0L Cuts out, Anti theft light fli VIN: 1FAHP34N06 thanks agin for all the help this one was a challange but its fixed after many of sleepless nights and the dealer sending us on a wild goose chase checked all wiring and grounds we confirmed pcm insalled new pcm and programmed to the car this one is out the do... Trouble codes: B1601.	8
	2008 Ford F-150 Lariat 5.4L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1FTPW14V18 So Zac managed to find me the part# that my local dealer could not. It is "6L3Z-14407-A" The new buffer is not perfect it has about a 5% random error. The old one had about a 20-30% error. It does seem good enough to keep the ICP happy. No codes and a correct... Trouble codes: P0446 (EVAP vent solenoid fault), P0461.	2
	2011 Ford F-150 Platinum 6.2L Mirrors VIN: 1FTFW1E60B YOU CAN NOT ADD POWER FOLDING MIRRORS TO A TRUCK NOT BUILT WITH THE OPTION	3
	1998 GMC K3500 Sierra SL 7.4L Emissions VIN: 1GTHK33J0W Thanks everyone, but my customer decided to apply for emissions waiver. They spend much more than the minimum to spend and the problem still exists. Ps. Had to replace all 8 injectors because two were. It firing correctly causing the misfire. I'll open another...	11
	2004 Infiniti QX56 5.6L Cruise Control VIN: 5N3AA08C34 Thanks for your help the veh is fixed we replaced the distance sensor and aimed/configured it at the dealer. Frank.	4
	1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited 5.9L Govenor Pressure Sensor VIN: 1J4GZ88ZXW It was the transmission govenor pressure sensor. The customer said he replaced them (sensor and solenoid) and there sitting on the center console. I did install a computer to find the trans pressure sensor reading 5 volts key on eng off (was able to return it)...	8
	2004 Kia Sorento EX 3.5L Transfer case VIN: KNDJC73334 Thanks for the help from the replies I got. The TCCS is indeed on the trans tunnel UNDER the help carpet! I looked through all the manuals including those provided by the help answers (thanks for that), Unfortunately due to the lack of useable info on diagnos...	3
	2003 Land Rover Range Rover HSE 4.4L shifting VIN: SALME11413 The problem is the transfer case shift motor after the other work it started setting a code in the transfer case ECU : noise on signal line as well as the code for output speed sensor in both the trans & transfer case ECU's.I borrowed a shift motor from a frie...	3
	2003 Mazda 6 i 2.3L No Start, Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Cuts out, Stall, Misfire VIN: 1YVFP80C73 One thing that i learned was that without the right tools and help from everyone out there this repair would have taken alot longer.The chain was stretched almost 25 degrees.I purchashed the TDC line up tool.set all marks and the rear of the cams were off by 2... Trouble codes: P0340.	5
	1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SL 4.5L Mechanical VIN: 1070441203 thanks for all the great advise retimed the timing chains and it ran alot better mixed in new fuel now the customer is going to sell the car.	8
	1997 Mercedes-Benz E300 3.0L Electronic VIN: WDBJF20F5V everyone was right. took the pan down and it was loaded. puit used trans in it and its gone. thank you	12
	2007 Mercury Monterey Luxury 4.2L Safety VIN: 2MRDA22227 Thank you very much for the info. Each time the customer dropped the vehicle off with the fuse blown they gave me another peace of info. This time they informed me that the passenger sliding door was taken off the vehicle to repair some body damage on the righ...	3
	2001 Nissan Maxima GLE 3.0L Poor Idle Quality, MIL Lamp on VIN: JN1CA31DX1 i never had a chance to fix it they were bringing the car back got t bone rode off that fixes that problem thanks for everyones input on this problem Trouble codes: P1320 (Missfire), P0303 (3 cyl).	11
	2002 Nissan Altima 2.5L No Start, No comminication VIN: 1N4AL11D72 FINALLY GOT INTO THE SYSTEM UNDER THE GLOBAL MODE WITH MY MODIS,SHOWED A P1610,1611,1614 CODES,RELEARNED SYSTEM AND CAR RAN FINE ABOUT 15 MINUTES,THEN SHUT DOWN AND RESET SAME CODES..INSTALLED NEW NVIS SYSTEM FROM FACTORY AND RELEARN,CAR RUNS GREAT.THANKS FOR ...	5
	2008 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP 5.3L Electronic VIN: 2G2WC55C28 thanks for the info found pinched wires from the factory on the fuze box on pass side near firewall all good to go works fine now	3
	2006 Saturn Ion-2 2.2L ignition VIN: 1G8AJ55F16 BCM replaced and programmed with some trouble, Drove fine for 15 miles. Next time we started it, it runs for about 6-10 seconds, stumbles and stalls. Codes are P0101, P0171. They are new. Old ones P0300 and P0326 are still present. Timothy	7
	1996 Toyota Corolla 1.6L No Start VIN: 2T1BA01E6T Thanks for the insight everyone! The battery disconnected, I disconnected and removed the alarm. Disconnected battery, started vehicle and ran. THANKS EVERYONE!	7

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