Tag Archives: Car Repair

Need car repair help? Get free information, advice and answers to your automotive questions from real mechanics.


2004 Buick Regal ABS, TRAC OFF And Engine Light

I have a 2004 Buick Regal LS with 194k. I haven’t had any major issues with it, but tonight I was driving and, randomly, the car started kind of bucking and jolting forward upon accelerating. I was almost to my location so, when I got there, I turned it off for about 10 minutes. It started up fine, but I noticed the ”trac off” light…

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My Pontiac Has Intake Gaskets Leaking- Is It Safe To Drive?

I took my 2001 Grand Prix 3800 V6 engine (130,000 miles) into the dealer for a bit overdue oil change. After doing the courtesy inspection, a mechanic familiar with my car fills out a form with some problems I should get fixed, the main one being that the intake is leaking coolant. I’ve been keeping a check on the coolant in the overflow reservoir and…

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Car Repair Problems For Mechanics

Car repairs can be tough on a mechanic. Auto repair on cars and trucks for a living can take it’s toll on you. After years of sevicing all makes and models, my head is full of information, specifications, procedures and common problems. Many of which are now useless to me since older cars no lnger come in to the new car dealership for repairs. We also…

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1999 Oldsmobile Alero Whistling Noise

I have a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero and it’s making a whistling noise. Sounds like it’s coming from the vacuum pack at the rear end. It will be fine when I first start it but then after about 2 miles of driving it starts making the noise. It will do it no matter if I’m driving or if I’m in park. I don’t know what it…

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Information About Car Safety Recalls

Lately at work, there has been an increase on vehicles coming in for recall work or other safety issues. Usually, this is normal, but the past few weeks have seen a rise in recall repairs that are more than a year or two old! Just today, I had a Chevrolet Impala that came in the shop for two different recalls that were over two years…

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How To Make Money On Car Repair

So you want to become an auto mechanic, huh? You want to make good money doing you what you like to do? If you love working on your car or your friends cars, you may think this would be a perfect career choice for you. You think you can make a good living in the auto repair industry. Well, in this article I will give…

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Car Problems With GM Auto Parts And Employees

This is going to basically be another rants and raves article, but this time it is going to be about our parts department at the dealership. Normally, everything runs smoothly. We have a great parts manager and most of the counter guys are fun to be around and are knowledgeable. We do have one guy, though, who fails to fit the bill. Lucky me, I…

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Oldsmobile PCV Full Of Oil After Intake Gaskets Replaced

Is a wet and oily PCV valve & housing internally a normal condition on the 3800 V6 or is there something wrong? I just replaced intake manifold gaskets along w/ new upper intake plenum (includes new PCV valve + housing), on 1997 Oldsmobile Regency 3.8, due to gasket failure & coolant in cylinders / crankcase. Oil was changed. Car started up fine with white smoke…

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Bad Fuel Pumps Cause Vehicle To Not Start

Lately, we’ve have quite a few vehicles come through the shop with fuel pumps that have failed. This seems to go in cycles, where we see a lot of one particular thing coming in all the time and this time of year seems to be fuel pump problems. The colder weather can have a lot to do with these failing, but other than that, it’s…

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Tire Pressure Light Description and Operation

Tire Pressure Monitor System Description The tire pressure monitor system was developed many years ago to alert the driver to a tire that is loosing air. As one or more tires lose air because of a leak as compared to the other tires, a warning light or message will come on the dash. A module or computer is used to monitor the system and has…

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2006 Chevrolet Impala Shifter Stuck In Park

Yes. I have a 2006 Chevy Impala and it is stuck in my garage. I cannot get the shifter to move form park to drive. It is running right now. ProTech: This is a common problem. You have an issue with the shift interlock solenoid, most likely a broken wire. If you shut the car off, you may not be able to get the key…

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2002 Chevy Impala Ignition Replaced But Still Won’t Start

I have a 2002 Chevy Impala and had the ignition replaced and still having problem with starting, security light still comes on. Ok, what exactly did you have replaced? The ignition switch. Alright, the switch itself has nothing to do with the security light coming on. You most likely need a new ignition cylinder and Passlock sensor housing…that is what goes inside the switch. That…

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2000 Saturn Has Engine Noise and No Oil In It

My 2000 Saturn SL2 is making noises when I accelerate. I took it in today to get an oil change and it was bone dry. What can I do to prevent loss of the car? I am afraid there is engine damage. ProTech: Well, if it went long enough without oil, you could have done permanent engine damage. After the oil change, was the noise…

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Chevy Lumina Hard To Shift Gears

I have a 1997 Chevy Lumina. Last couple days I was having trouble shifting into gear – park to neutal to drive. Very hard to pull. I took the car to several mechanics who said it was the transmission – cable. So, I had it replaced, mechanic said the old cable was locked up causing the problem Then he asked me if I had trouble…

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