Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for Dec 26, 2012

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(Also Available: All, Asian, Chrysler, European, Ford, GM.)
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	Help Request	Answers
	1997 Audi A4 2.8L Heater Audi miseries!! Lol. It came in with a complaint of CEL and heater not getting hot. I scanned it and got a po116 CTS performance. Test drove it temp didn't come up much and heater was pretty much cold. I searcehed iatn archives and found a few cases of t/stat ...	View
	2000 BMW 328i 2.8L rpm, fuel, temp, turn lights, dsc light on VIN: WBAAM5347Y car came in with cluster non op: rpm, temp all the way to red, speed not correct, fuel gauge incorrect also the gt1 will not connect and gives a terminal 15 fault, had to set up manual comunication I tried disconecting the dsc module and the cluster still act...	View
	2001 BMW 330i 3.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: WBAAV534X1 Car was recently purchased from individual who claimed CEL was never on. Customer drove home and next day when driving to work, CEL came on.Diagnostic tests showed lean on both banks. Ran smoke test to check for vac leaks- found air boot to be cracked.Replaced... Trouble codes: P0171 (Lean condition bank1), P0174 (Lean condition bank2)	View
	1994 Chevrolet K2500 7.4L Poor Idle Quality, Cuts out, Stall VIN: 1GCGK29N7R This is a new purchase for a good custumer and and he wanted it tune up hopeing to fix problem, the vehical will intermitaintly stall at idle or when comeing to a stop I found one code 42 mabe due to tune up checked timing, Checked all my baces found nothing o... Trouble codes: 42 (EST problem)	View
	2004 Chevrolet Express 2500 4.8L Misfire Hello fellow techs. I need some suggestions on this van, custs complaint light blinks after driving on highway for a while. sure enough drive @ highway speeds usually 70 mph check engine light blinks. whats odd is you can't feel mis. check codes p0300 random m... Trouble codes: P0300, P0122, P0174	View
	1996 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L overdrive VIN: 3B7KF23C8T Thanks for looking! Truck has had 2 transmission shops comepletely overhaul this 47RE trans. Both shops can not figure out why no overdrive. I have looked into this and have found many problems but not the magic one. The alternator is new and was replaced for ...	View
	2005 Dodge Neon SXT 2.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1B3ES56C95 Downstream o2 lean condition circuits test fine. Still code comes back. Any help would be great thanks. Trouble codes: P2096	View
	2007 Dodge Sprinter 2500 3.5L MIL Lamp on VIN: WD0PE74657 Hello All, Thank you for your help in advance. This is a new vehicle to the customer and he has a Ck Engine light on intermittently. Drivability is very good, there are no symptoms at all, as a matter of fact this thing runs great. I recorded the above codes ... Trouble codes: 60 (Camshaft position actuator 1/2 target performance), 64 (Camshaft position actuator 2/2 target performance)	View
	1963 Ford Falcon 2.8L ride control VIN: 3T22U11580 Trying to help my neighbor with this Falcon. Problem is that the front springs bow outwards making it impossible to drop the shocks in. If we straighten the springs until we can get the shocks in the spring will bind on the shock. Looked at and even tried inst...	View
	1989 Ford F-150 Custom 5.0L Excessive Emissions, Poor Idle Quality, Cuts out, Stall VIN: 1FTDF15N9K Hello fellow techs. I,M having a problem with this truck. The truck had a dead cylinder and it was sitting for a while. I finally got time to work on it and decided to replace the motor. Motor is use from a crown victoria that was running very good. The motor ...	View
	1999 Ford Taurus SE 3.0L battery VIN: 1FAFP53S8X Customer had car towed in with a dead battery, The system has a drain of .4 amps, Disconnected #23 fuse , GEM and drain goes away, I believe i have a gem staying engaged . In resurching IATN and Identafix, several fixes were the GEM (body contral module). Call...	View
	2002 Ford Focus ZX3 2.0L fuel gauge, temp gauge, interior lights VIN: 3FAFP31342 It started as an intermittent clicking sound behind the instrument cluster. Then I noticed the fuel and temp gauge flickered with the click. The interior light flickered too. I checked the relays but the clicking sound seems to be right behind the instrument c...	View
	2003 Ford Explorer Postal 4.0L Oil Pressure VIN: 1FMZU72K23 Need some help here. Truck came in from other shop needing a motor (locked up) purchased reman motor from lkq reman. During install we found problem with original engine, it broke a valve spring and put a hole in #4 piston. Installed reman motor - no problems ...	View
	1997 Geo Tracker 1.6L Code VIN: 2CNBE1865V Thanks for your help. I have a intermittent egr failure on this. about two weeks then it comes back. I have tested system completely and egr test pass most of the time however every know and then it fails. Trouble codes: P0400	View
	1993 Honda Civic LX 1.5L No Start VIN: 1HGEG8557P Hello all, thanks in advance. This honda came in as a no start, they said it happens more frequently when it rains. This has been an ongoing issue for them, not sure exactly how long but found a reciept for the other shop dated october 2012. I push it in have ...	View
	2004 Hyundai XG350 3.5L valves VIN: KMHFU45E24 Thankyou in advance for any help. While removing the timing belt, the back camshaft rolled backwards. The front camshaft rolled foward as soon as I got slack in the belt. This ended up bending valves on both banks.Cam holding tools are not very helpfull, due t...	View
	2006 Land Rover LR3 4.0L light on VIN: SALAE24486 Hi all I need to pick a few brains i have a Landrover that has not been serviced for a couple of years. I have 3 issues one is an airbag light with code B0091-81 left side restraint invalid serial data recieved. I cant find any info on alldata or shop key can ...	View
	1993 Lexus ES300 3.0L Poor Idle Quality, Surge, MIL Lamp on, Od light VIN: JT8VK13T7P Hi everyone. This lexus is kicking all of our butts here. It's first visit to us was a complaint of an engine noise. It was a rod bearing so the customer was quoted a used engine. He returned about a month later to have it installed. The vehicle was driven fro...	View
	1988 Lincoln Continental Signature 3.8L cooling system VIN: 1LNBM9846J Hello:I have this Lincoln here that came in needing head gaskets replaced coolant in #3&#4 cylinders.Sent heads to machine shop for resurface and pressure test,Installed new gaskets and new head bolts.Replaced thermostat as a precaution.The problem with it now...	View
	1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 5.0L Windshield Heater Core VIN: WDBFA67F9V Vehicle brought in due to coolant leak. Pressure test revealed large leak at the firewall just below the windshield from 3/8' tube. Alldata list a "heated windshield heater core" but has no information except a labor time of 2.2 hrs. Any info, or direction to ...	View
	2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 3.2L MIL Lamp on VIN: WDBUF65J63 first time : fault codes for open circuit after cat comes on after 2 to 3 months . intial issue found was corrosion at connector. (open heater circuit after cat bank 1 and 2 ) was cleaned repaired and o2 sensors replaced . *using genuine Bosch o2 sensor. not ... Trouble codes: P0141, P0161	View
	2006 Mercury Mariner Convenience 2.3L Smart Junction Box VIN: 4M2YU57Z06 This vehicle came in for the shifter would not release, found the shift interlock solenoid was not getting power from the smart junction box, replaced the SMB and programed with as built data from Ford, after programing the shifter was working correctly. but t...	View
	2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS 2.4L Will Not Shift VIN: 4A3AC44G31 on startup fuse # 10 blows and trans seems to be in 2nd gear , wont shift up , also no reverse , srs light comes on and the fuse that blows says its for back-up lights , unplugged big plug on top of trans , no change also unppluged input speed sensor , no chan...	View
	2000 Nissan Frontier SE 3.3L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire VIN: 1N6ED27T5Y Hi, every one. We repaired snaped timing belt back in may. At the beginning there was slight roughness in idle, we just let it go, customer never complain until know , but now check engine light comes on with codes p0300 and p0325. And idle is realy bad now!!c... Trouble codes: P0300 (Random misfire), P0325 (Knock sensor)	View
	2002 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8L Starter VIN: 1G2HX54K52 HI. I have this bonneville that will not crank over. if i apply power to the starter solonoid starter works fine. i grounded the starter relay and starter works fine. i connected scanner and checked for antitheft code or disable problems. no codes or problems ...	View
	2009 Pontiac G5 2.2L valves VIN: 1G2AS18H09 car was towed in by customer. said was driving 55 mph and went to increase speed, rpm shot up and car fell dead. tried to start and it acted like timing chain had broken. subsequent compression check revealed no compression and leak down test revealed air comi...	View
	2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen 2.3L Surge, Misfire VIN: YS3DP75011 I got this saab with slight misfire, the history on it car came in with oil leak from the head gasket, install new gasket & reseal the timing cover, after that we have a slight misfire, new plugs & new igintion casset are replaced, check the timing chain is ma...	View
	2007 Suzuki XL-7 Luxury 3.6L MIL Lamp on VIN: 2S3DA51717 Hello Guru's: We've got a swell Suzuki XL7 in today with multiple codes and weird scan results. Using my X-431 diagun, I am looking at the ECT and IAT sensor readings bouncing around minus 40 C and the control module voltage occasionally going to 32 volts, som... Trouble codes: P0008 (Engine position system performance Bank 1), P0116 (ECT coolant sensor performance problem), P0100 (MAF circuit), P0018 (Crankshaft/camshaft correlation position Bank 2), P0113 (Intake air sensor)	View
	2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 4.7L Will NOT set monitor VIN: 5TBRT34172 Have replaced all 4 O2s with dealer units, followed TSB re: drive cycle for monitors. Sets O2 heater and cat monitors, won't set EVAP and O2. Now, it also "forgets" the ones it has at times. Checked grounds, voltages to CPU, swapped in known good MAF and CPU, ...	View
	2005 Toyota Camry 2.4L smell VIN: 4T1BE32KX5 This car has a intermittent exhaust smell through the heater vents into the vehicle. The customer says that it is noticed when idling for over 5 minutes and you turn the blower on after idling. We tried the car several times but could not duplicate the problem...	View
	2004 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 2.0L Brake lights VIN: 3VWSA69M44 Just want to see if anyone has seen this problem before: Customer brought car in stating that brake lights don't work "at times". (They work ok at this time) What I did notice is that with the key on, the brake lights stay on very dimly, even with the brake li...	View
	2006 Volvo XC70 2.5L Surge, MIL Lamp on VIN: YV4SZ59216 Need help on this one, Volvo techs. Car has came back for the third time. Twice the car had no drivibilty problems but the light came on. Twice the car surges and the light is on. I know you can reprogram for a false MAF codes, but this car has the symptons of... Trouble codes: 120D, 121B, 216D, 21E0	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	2005 Audi A6 Quattro 3.2L Abs VIN: WAUDG74F7S Thank you all so much for the help. It turned out to be the usual suspect ABS module. The reason we didn't pull the trigger to replace it is because it showed different symptoms than a lot of the others when going bad. Plus it's a fortune to replace for the cu...	5
	2007 Audi A4 2.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: WAUBF78E87 Thank you very much to all who replied. I did smoke the system under 7psi with a modified smoke tester, found no leaks in the intake from the mass air flow sensor up to and through the intake, just that valve on the vacum pump on the back of the head. I tested... Trouble codes: P0299.	12
	2004 Cadillac Seville SLS 4.6L Misfire VIN: 1G6KS54Y44 Thank you everyone for your replies. We installed new plugs and swapped coil strips. Misfire followed rear coil when swapped to the front. Installed new coil stripped to correct misfire. The rear strip must get more heat then the front one. Installed Bousch O2... Trouble codes: 171 (Lean bank 1), 174 (Lean bank 2), 300 (Misfire), 150 (o2 sensor fault b2s1).	20
	1999 Chevrolet K1500 LS 5.7L speedo non op VIN: 1GNFK16R3X the fix for this one was a new vcm. I learned from kenneth of pennsylvania that the output from the vcm should be a frequency of at least 500mv. thanks ken. I didnt even know what kind of signal i should be looking for.	6
	2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS 2.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G1AP12P05 We checked and double checked the work we had done. This engine IS in time. We scoped the cam and crank sensor together and the patterns are consistant. No good example in the data base to match it to. This engine does not have cam phasers (it has solid ca... Trouble codes: P0017.	12
	2005 Chrysler Crossfire 3.2L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1C3AN65LX5 I have not heared from the customer ,The last thing she told me was her Tech fixed it by replacing the injector ..very hard to believe because of no misfires or any other codes.Thank Guys Trouble codes: P0153, P0137.	6
	1997 Dodge Stratus 2.4L uncomplete obd II mo VIN: 1B3EJ46X0V well,after reading all the replays we received, we will send the customer to the dealership foe computer re-flashing. we attempted to complete the monitors, according to the criteria for every one, but just couldn't complete them.thank you for all you help.hap...	12
	1997 Dodge Dakota SLT 5.2L Oil Pressure VIN: 1B7GG23Y5V I want to thank all of you who shared your thoughts with me regarding the problem with this vechical, I shared most of the opinions given and had a few new thoughts given as well. My goal was to get my memory jogged regarding the oil pressure problem and you a...	34
	2000 Ford Contour SE 2.0L No Start VIN: 3FAFP6638Y I made another video clip, displaying the testing performed, and a PDF describing the testing in detail. The short version, is the fuel pump connector, had poor terminal tension on the power, and ground pins. The customer was advised, that if the fault occurs ...	14
	2010 Ford F-150 STX 4.6L Ipc VIN: 1FTEX1EW2A Well I have tested battery and passed load test and electronic test. cked water level and did a hydrometer test and all are good. I agree with unplugging modules one at a time till problem goes away but first the problem needs to be present. We had the vehic...	6
	2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L abs light VIN: 1J4FF48S4Y thank you for all the advice, but what it turned out to be was a antenna wire that was ran through the lower right side kick panel area above the fuse block.someone had run a new antenna line above the fuse block and didnt water seal it. I had decided to water...	9
	2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0L Up shift VIN: 1J4GW48S42 Thank you for your help Techs. I replaced the governor solenoid and sensor and that fix the problem. I used the snap-on verus and noticed it would jump from 1st to 3rd. Randomly trying to go to 2nd but never able. Thanks again for the help.	7
	2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0L Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1J4GW48S42 I was able to find the TSB for sticking valves. The exhaust valves rotate above 3200 rpm. If the engine is never reved that high they never rotate and begin to stick open but only under certain loads and rpm. You are suppose to remove the rockers and rotate... Trouble codes: P0306 (Cylinder 6 misfire).	11
	2007 Jeep Compass 2.4L MIL Lamp on, Trans Temp Light VIN: 1J8FF47W27 After discussing the issue with the customer, they decided to go the check valve route. He is fairly mechanically minded and stated when the condition would occur, the transmission and fluid did smell quite hot, so he believes it is not an electrical issue and... Trouble codes: P0218 (High Temperature Operation Activated).	3
	2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata SV 2.0L Heater VIN: JM1NC25F58 Replaced recirculation door + housing, air mix actuator, all is well, Thanks for your help with this, Robert	4
	1997 Mercedes-Benz E320 3.2L 1-2 shift VIN: WDB2100352 Hi friends, Thank you for your helpful advices. I replaced the conductor plate and erased fault codes. The transmission still operated in limb home. The only code I had now was constantly 147. My X431 could not check the adaptations. My Star diagnostic was out...	8
	2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 3.2L Convertible top opening VIN: WDBLK65GX2 We had already checked all the items recommended by folks who responded to this help request. We finally gave up and sent the customer to the dealer, with the hope that we will receive a report back as to what the problem was. Thanks to everyone who took the...	7
	2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG 5.5L MIL Lamp on VIN: WDBU476J05 as always-thanks to all who responded,it seems even if you have all of the correct documentation,it is up to the discretion of the parts dept.on what they will and wont sell you.	8
	2005 Nissan Altima S 2.5L master cylinder VIN: 1N4AL11D95 Got it going. Pressure bleed and openend the left front then right rear. Got fluid and bleed master cylinder and the 4 brakes. Maybe it was open long enough to get air in M/C?	8
	2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.4L Clutch VIN: WP0AB29961 Owner towed to dealer. I have tried a couple of times to get info on what the problem was but he says they still haven't taken it apart. If I find out what it was I will post the info. Thanks for all the input.	20
	2004 Toyota Camry XLE 2.4L MIL Lamp on VIN: 4T1BE32K64 This one is finally fixed!The problem turned out to be in the ground supply to the computer that is used to energize the heater circuit in the a/f ratio sensor. This ground comes in to the computer at pin 7 of connector e9 as a white/ blk wire. It should be gr... Trouble codes: P0031.	10
	1996 Volvo 960 2.9L Poor Idle Quality VIN: YV1KS9603T WE SUBLET THE VEHICLE TO A EUROPEAN SPECIALITY SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE TPS. VEHICLE IDLES AT CORRECT RPM ON COLD START NOW THANKS FOR REPLIES.	9

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