Tech Section
574 topics in this forum
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I have a user who recently had an arm amputated. He is doing ok typing but is struggling with the Ctr-Alt-Del to log in part. He is holding a pen in his mouth to hit the delete key. I've tried macros attached to programable keys on the keyboard and they don't work for that key combination. Any of you other I.T. folk out there know a way around this?
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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HOWS IT GOING OUT THERE? I'M NEW TO THE CLUB. I HAVE A 2001 IMPALA, 3.4L. IT SOMETIMES HESITATES ON TAKE OFF, AND WILL SHAKE LIKE ITS MISFIRING AT HIGH SPEED, FROM 60MPH AND HIGHER. MOSTLY AT A STEADY SPEED. INSTALLED NEW PLUGS AND WIRES,COILS,FUEL FILTER,FUEL PUMP, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, AND VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR. STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM.HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP, THANKS
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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This is in reference to my 2004 Grand Prix with the 3800 series III. This issue with stalling on start up seems to be pretty typical of the vehicle. I've been reading anything I can find on my Grand Prix starting issues, and I have read many other people who have had this issue and they say to clean the throttle body, because of the sensitivity to build up by the "drive by wire" throttle system. Anyone ever hear of this, or have any good ideas on how to go about cleaning the throttle body? I haven't had the time to check into anything else yet, such as testing the pressure in the fuel system, because I don't have a tool to do that with. Plus, I don't know nearly as…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Just got a new set of shoes from my 2001 Sunfire. Now whenever I hit the brakes there's a constant whine, louder when speed is under 30kph. Its especially bad when the brakes are cold. Any idea's what it could be?
Last reply by Satty, -
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Looks like someone wants a piece of the pie. I've seen numerous ads the last few days (print-now TV), where Valvoline is claiming that their syn oil is better than Mobil 1. They claim that it noy only wears better, but will last longer... It kinda suprised me.....usually Valvoline keeps to themselves.....so I wonder why the big claim there..... I wonder if Wallyworld will claim that their oil is better the Mobil 1 too? What do you guys think?
Last reply by gmpartsgirl, -
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I don't know how much help I'll get, this being a GM site and all, but maybe someone has delt with Chrysler's CD Changers. I have no idea how to work it or if it even works. I hooked up the stereo and CD changer to my car today to see if they worked. The Am/FM works, but the CD player doesn't...gives a disc read error every time I put a CD in. I'm not surprised since someone stuff change in the thing. The CD Changer powers up, but all that happens is all of the lights blink. I can't insert a disc in and when I press any of the eject buttons nothing happens. Meanwhile, the stereo doesn't seem to go to CD-C mode. The same button is used to toggle between the CD play…
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
I have a 03 z71 and it leaks or burns up coolant. I have searched the entire engine compartment and can not find the leak, the heater core is good, there is no coolant in the oil. I cant find where its all going aany help would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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This ends up being a shout out to the guy who impresses me the most with his detailing... DF... Help Me! ;-) So I have a handshake deal on a '97 Tahoe. Tan leather interior. Rug is a frigging disaster. Its not really ground in too much, but it looks like a series of spilled sugary drinks and lots of dirt stuck to that. I have a Spot Bot, but I'm not sure it can get into all the nooks and crannies with it. How would you handle it? It would not bother me to remove the carpet, but I would be a bit afraid that getting it to fit back in would be a PITA.
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Wanted to know if it is TRUE or FALSE that, if you have steel-belted radial tires, you need to rotate front-to-back/same-side in perpetuity (until you wear through that set of tires), or you will adversely impact the service life or the way they wear. Costco seriously DOES NOT have their act together in this regard. Most stores I've been to (about 4 out of 5) default to front-to-back/same side, which will maintain the direction the steel belts will roll Some stores (about 1 out of 5) default to front-to-back/switch sides, which will change the direction the steel belts will roll If I land in a store that wants to cross them, I will usually get into an argumen…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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My dad and I are prepping my late grandfather's car to get it driving again (wheels haven't turned in a bit over seven weeks) and ultimately prep it for sale (I'm going to try and buy it myself, hopefully, but that's another story). I ran it for ten minutes here and there while he was hospitalized and it's been plugged in to the block heater, so the engine block isn't frozen. The battery is toast. Won't hold a charge, so obviously that needed to be replaced. When I did get the car running I noticed that the left rear tire pressure sensors are both displaying a tire pressure of "---"kPa rather than the regular 190 kPa being registered from the front tires. I know t…
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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A 95 Camaro that is with the 3.4L V6. I was wondering if anyone had some tips to change the plugs. and wires. The owner is thinking of replacing Coilpack too. which i dont think is needed. The right side is easy but the left side might be done best i think if I take the Alternator off and some pointless emission crap off to.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I've been dealing with crap fuel economy all summer. I had tested a bunch of theories, including cleaning the throttle body, the MAF sensor, I used fuel injector cleaner, took my custom tune back to stock, checked my air intake, changed my oil, etc. Even thought it was linked to increased ethanol in the gas. It seems kinda dumb in retrospect, but I never checked my A/C because it was functioning perfectly inside the car. Well this past week, temp and humidity dropped to the point that I turned off the A/C and to my surprise, my fuel economy immediately shot up. I actually turned on the instant MPG display and watched the number drop when I clicked the A/C button on an…
Last reply by SuperDuper, -
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I have a 2007 Silverado Classic 4.8L V8. While going to the local Chevy dealer for maintenance they are recommending a transmission fluid change at around 30,000 miles. I am currently at 36,000 so I was going to have them change the transmission fluid. When I called to schedule I expected to use the GM Goodwrench coupon that came in the mail. It was for $129.95. However when I called to schedule they said the coupon didn't apply since I have the Dexron-VI and it is really expensive so they said it would cost $220. This got me curious so I checked the manual and it recommends 100,000 normal and 50,000 severe driving/towing. I drive mostly highway miles and don't tow.…
Last reply by redtruck, -
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I just failed my emissions testing in a 1996 Cutlass. This was caused by a replaced battery that same morning. I was told I need to find out what the drive cycle is so it can reset the monitors to "ready". Does anyone know what the drive cycle is?
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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What else can I do? The Toronado has a bad wheel vibration between 55mph and 65mph. I've already had the tires rebalanced multiple times at different places. I've replaced the steel wheels on the front and had them rebalanced again. The ball joints have less than 3k miles on them. What am I missing?
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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You are looking at a two and a half foot wide piece of plastic "chrome" that has been one of the biggest sources of frustration for me in the last five years. The Coles Notes on my tale of woe: The trim applique on the trunk of my 2007 Impala is attached at the factory using six-eight clips into the trunk lid rather than an adhesive glue. As a result the trim is not fastened with equal pressure across the entire part and it vibrates as you drive or when you close the trunk. Unlike the Impala SS models which have painted/clear coated appliques the chrome on the more pedestrian Impala models have a sharp rather than dull lower edge across the bottom which during said v…
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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Okay all of you mechanically-inclined and talented posters, I've got a question for you. My wife's car is around 13k and we're approaching 11 months of ownership. I've been reading here and there articles or statements saying that GM's Dexcool Coolant is known to cause problems for radiators and engine parts (plastics, I think). Some sources have suggested removing the orange Dexcool coolant and replacing it with the traditional green coolant. If today's (or should I say 2008's) Dexcool coolant is not good for longevity, and since we plan on owning this car for quite some time (7 years maybe?), I was wondering if I should go ahead and get this done now. If so, what i…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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I am thinking about getting a 2001-2002 Impala LS, preferably with under 80K mi. My only concern is, I have heard conflicting stories of reliability with the transmissions, electrical system, and other mechanical issues. Is an Impala from the early 2000's a safe choice?
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I've been seeing that some folks have had problems with their 3.6HF engines in the outlook and stuff. Possibly problems with the crank or camshafts. What does anyone know on this?
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Has anyone else noticed the side to side shimmy that all the B-bodys from the 80s clear up through the 90s seem to exibit when going over small bumps at low speed? Years ago I had an '83 Caprice and noticed it. My buddy's 94 Roadsmasher does it too. It seems to be unique to this particular platform.
Last reply by rkmdogs, -
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I have been using Apple Airport Extreme plus an Express as a wifi extender for years now. The one I have is from 2013. Lately I've been having trouble with it in that even if I have full signal, my speeds are laughably slow. This isn't good for working from home. Unfortunately, Apple stopped making the Airport series after 2016, which is a shame because they really the best routers of their day. The problem that I'm encountering is that most routers have absolutely garbage reviews. Here's what I'm looking for: 1. Wifi6 and Mesh with at least one additional access point - I buy bleeding edge because I want the product to last me many years as my Airp…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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:( :( :( :( :( Yester day night in the rain i let my car warm up for about 5 minutes got out of the sub and normaly accelerated to 30 mph. Once i reached 30 I backed down a little the car went in to passing gear an it stalled. I quickly pulled in to this school parking lot. O yeah making a turn at 25 with no power steering sucks. Almost hit fence. Then tried to stop with no power brakes, again sucks, almost hit parking blocks. No major lights went on just Bat. Check engine and oil press. They come on when you turn your car on. so i tryed starting no luck. pushed car in N to get rolling start no luck. pushed in to space and walked home. came back 1/2 hour later fired…
Last reply by capriceman, -
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Hey guys, I expect to be leaving my Regal parked from mid-June until the beginning of August. I will be out of the country. I will be taking the car up to Portland but, since my Mom doesn't drive, I wouldn't even want her to start it and move it up and back a few feet to get things moving...though maybe a neighbor could do it. Still, it may wind up sitting there. I've heard that leaving them parked for that long can cause some problems. Namely, the battery may fail but more so than that, tires are supposed to get a "flat spot" or something to that effect. Is there any truth to that? What other car components could be adversely affected by being parked for a long …
Last reply by rkmdogs, -
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I'm wss just wondering what I should be looking for if my EGR is going... The car lacks pickup, idles rough, and is getting SUV gas milage..... It seems that I'm replacing a good piece of the fuel system...as I have already replaced the MAP sensor, and fuel pump, fuel filter.... Help...please.... 93 Cav, 3.1, 135k....
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Anyone here done it (with the heads on)? I'm having trouble getting either of the two types of spring compressors to get a grip on the springs. Any tips? I'll get some pics up in a few.
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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Okay, 1994 Century. The cupholder in the armrest is broken. I threw it out a while back. Since I've become an avid tea drinker in the morning and putting it in a travel mug, I'm tired of holding beverages while I drive anywhere. I found this, a cupholder to replace the one in the armrest. The guy advertises it for a Buick LeSabre/Park Ave, some Caddy and Olds too, but said it may work in other models. How can I find out if this will work in mine? Was it a standard cupholder mechanism used in GM armrests? eBay Cupholder Link Thingy Anyone know?
Last reply by Paolino, -
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A friend of a friend is restoring his very rare 400,4spd. special edition Trans Am. The car only has 21k original miles and they are doing a concours-level resto on it. So, I am trying to help find a source for an NOS exhaust system for it. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail they sent me with the original GM part numbers: help us locate an N.O.S.- exhaust system for my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am with the Pontiac 400 engine. Here is the needed info: Front Y-Pipe 10002881 Y-pipe behind catalytic convertor 10003452 Resonator 10002882 Resonator 10002883
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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How much does the TIME between oil changes matter? Its been about 4 months since my last oil change, but I've put less than 2000 miles on the car since then. I plan on getting it changed this week, but I was just curious how much of a factor time was in the life of oil if the miles are low and not very hard.
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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So more and more manufacturers switching to turbo-four and turbo-six engines. We got a lot of new mainstream cars, crossovers and trucks coming out with turbo engines. Now we all know that NA four, six, and eight cylinder engines with regular oil changes can go easily 200k - 300k miles. What about turbo? How long do you think they will go without some major issues?
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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I apologize for the bad picture but that is what I got right now. This was my dad's truck, he passed away earlier this year. My mom has been driving it ever since. The truck has an automatic transmission. She drives from her house across town to come visit with me and my brother at our house. The last time she drove it a few weeks ago it acted funny on her, she didn't know how to explain it so I test drove it around the block. I tell you guys I didn't know if I was gonna make it back to my house. Reverse won't work most of the time, motor just spins. When I was driving it would shudder bad. I believe it sounded like metal scraping too but I can't remember 100% cause it ha…
Last reply by BigMac, -
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How is it determined how many cubic inches or liters an engine is?
Last reply by Hudson, -
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I'm quickly approaching 100K miles. I was planning to do spark plugs and wires at 100k. First off, that is when I'm supposed to do them right? Second, any good suggestions for reaching those plugs on the back bank? Any other preventative maintenance things that should be getting done around 100k? Thanks everyone!
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Before the Buick was parked for its (seemingly never-ending) heart transplant, it was squealing badly. Brake pads, duh. I'm going to replace the pads and rotors tomorrow, I figure that as long as I'm going to be playing down there, I'd do the bushings. Is there an easy way to get them out?
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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One of the stabilizer links on my Malibu is going bad. There's an intermittent rattle/knocking noise from the front right suspension that sounds very much like my girlfriend's Cobalt when her link needed to be replaced (it's actually the same damn GM part), except mine's behind 5x more sound deadening so it was hard to pinpoint. Anyway, I'm going to replace the sway bar links as a pair, along with the bushings, and I found Moog replacements (part K80252) that are extremely highly rated that also appear to be an improvement over the factory design. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QR12NG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p263_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&…
Last reply by cp-the-nerd, -
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I noticed a week or so ago that I can smell a bit of antifreeze when the air is on in the Grand Marquis. My first thought is heater core, which would really suck. I also noticed the last time I drove it that the belt was squeaking a bit. Today I took it to the store and it was squeaking a lot, so when I got home I popped the hood to check it out. Turns out coolant is leaking from the waterpump onto the belt and causing it to squeak. So that means it's time to do the waterpump. My question is would a waterpump on its way out cause me to smell it inside when the air is on? Maybe because fumes from the engine bay are getting pulled inside via the intake.
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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Almost Thought She was PERFECT Anyway.. For the last coupla days I'd been hearing what I was thinking was a "roaring" issue or even a drone of sorts coming from the driver side rear area. So. yesterday did a careful inspection of the tires.. wheel.. brakes.. and then decided to make a few calls. Talk to my Corvette guy at the dealership.. then to a guy I kno who works at Merchants Auto.. then of course my dad.. and all unanimously said "WHEEL BEARINGS." OK.. I am at 57K on the ODO (purchased in July 2013, traded in Taja my '11 Camaro RS 3.6L).. and drive her like she's the Vette all day.. every day that I drive her. 1) Checked to see if under Drive-train (5/…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Okay, so here's the deal. I run a Holley 600 on one of my Camaros. Every week or so this winter I would go out and idle the car to keep everything in good shape, but the car hasn't been "on the road" in a year or so. I got it out the other day, everything seemed fine, and changed the plugs. With the new plugs in I fired it up and it purred like a kitten. I put it in gear and tried to make it to the gas station but ran out of fuel at the bottom of my drive. After adding about 3 gallons of fuel, the car started this thing where it wouldn't idle. I figured it had just sucked something up into the carb or fuel filter. So, for good measure, I added some fuel system cleaner…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Do you routinely use a fuel injector cleaner or fuel system additive? I do. I add a bottle to the tank about every 5,000 miles, in addition to using the better detergent gasoline brands. Which ones do you use, like, and/or know have a good reputation? I've heard Techron is the best. Others mention brands like Lucas and Seafoam. I don't know much about these, so I don't use them. I have also used STP and Valvoline fuel system cleaner. You need to read the label on the Techron bottle. The one that is nicely priced only treats 12 gallons of gasoline. The one in the larger plastic bottle treats up to 21 gallons. My tank holds about 17 gallons. Any…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Speedometer Malfunction
by Guest YellowJacket894- 11 replies
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Well, what else can I say but our family car is suffering from an ugly little bug. What bug you ask? Well, although I don't have a photo, the speedometer needle in our '04 Imp is resting on the gear selection display, all the way over at the park position. What I'd like to know is simple: is there a way to avoid the dealer? How can this be fixed? If the dealer has to be a part of this, what's the cost? Thanks.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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What do you guys think about LED running lights/turn signals/brake lights retrofitted into an older car?
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Ok, this is going to suck. I might have to put tires on the Cobalt sooner than i thought. The Cav still gets good tires(they get replaced in the spring), but it looks like I might have to get cheaper tires for now. I was planning on Traction TAs(about 315 buck), but might have to drop to about 200 bucks... Are there any decent tires in this price range?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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So I'm driving home today and There is a light on my dash lit up. I'm Thinking what the hell is that? Looks like a Movie camera? Nah thats not it. What is it? So I get Home and look in the book, it's the service engine soon light. Remembering the loose gas cap thing from Somewhere, I check it. It barely on at all, soo I tighten it down. Restart the Car, the Light is still on. I can Assume it was'nt becuase the gas cap was loose? I did notice a very strong gasoline smell when I Started it this morning. But the light was'nt on during the drive to work. Saturn l200 2.2 liter.
Last reply by SingleStylish, -
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can anyone find any good set-ups for ram air? or at least a better filter set-up also i need a skip shift eliminator... slp's website the best for that or should i just get it from the cheapest place?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Tappin Tina
by Bryan- 11 replies
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Hey guys, I don't even know if anybody remembers me, it's been a real long time. But anywho... before I start I want eveyone to know that my father is the king of knowledge when it comes to knowing about my car (or any car especially GM, hes been rebuilding engines and doing body work on cars since he was 14 years old, and is currently the service manager at a Chevy dealer in PA) but I still want some advice because he's in a state of denial because he has to find a way to get her intake leak fixed, and now solve my new issue, which is why I'm here. Sorry that took so long. The issue is apparently "sticky lifters", which we are assuming was caused by sludgy oil (since…
Last reply by Bryan, -
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After we started up the electra, we found that the brakes are jammed...the "brake release" "pull here" thing is stuck, and the floor breaks are stuck. WHAT CAN I DO?
Last reply by balthazar, -
ouch
by scharmer05-
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So the head gasket is going out on the Impala finally at just a little over 105K. Dealer says $1100. Seems a bit high to me. Am I mistaken? Let a guy know.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Mom finally gave up on fixing her Taurus wagon. So I took her car shopping. She looked at a Passat wagon, Vibe, Vue, L200 and a Malibu Maxx. She was planning on a late model used but later decided to spend the extra couple grand and buy new. So her local Chevy dealer found her an 06 Maxx LT with a couple extras, sunroof, side air bags, XM. Very nice little car, I was very impressed with the solid feel of it. So anyway, my reason for posting.... I'm pretty comfortable with GM's 3.1, 3.4 and 3.8 V6's. But I don't know too much about the 3.5. I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on the changes (as compared to the previously mentioned engines). Is this just an up…
Last reply by Mike The Canadian, -
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Yeah, this is interesting. Ever tried to start your car while it's running? Our 03 Cav does that now-but this is when you start it. If you turn it more than a second too long-SCREECH! It never has done this before...expect for some reason-it started this week. Other than that-no other issues? Anybody else had this problem? Very, very strange...
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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poor little buggers been runnin pretty poor lately... it starts up... but idle is rough, when you floor it it lags considerably and power comes in jolts until it begins to smooth out... any ideas?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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My dad has been driving my mom's 2003 L200 while she's in England, the Sebring is sitting in storage somewhere, hopefully being stolen. Last night he was over here with some other family members and my car was parked in so I took the L to the store to pick a few things up. It started to die on the road, just losing speed, and the dash lights dimmed for a minute, then it got back to normal. When I stopped at a red light, it died and wouldn't start. Putting the key in the run position led to the dash lights flickering and all of the idiot lights flipping out. Putting it in ACC led the dash lights to sync with the hazard lights. The transmission wouldn't shift out of p…
Last reply by Satty, -
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After 30 years, the grease and grime has finally caught up with it. There are no physical restrictions from it extending all the way up or all the way down, but it's pretty gross at the seams. Dealing with these things can be a chore, but when they're properly lubricated they work well. What do I clean it with and what do I relubricate it with? .... what?... what did you think I was talking about?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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How often all of the bags will blow in a modern car when it is hit and how often just some of them will? Just saw a vehicle that had been hit hard in the side, and only the side impact air bags had blown, not the fronts. Also, what are the laws regarding used airbags? Does anyone know? I know in some states salvage yards are not allowed to sell them. Chris
Last reply by fightingbee, -
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So one of my items on the "need to fix" board is the 2004 Grand Prix GTP, which is currently sidelined due to a pinhole leak in one of the power steering lines. Not the lines to the rack, but one of the steel lines ON the rack... which I have found that nobody actually makes replacements for. Not wanting to pay for a new rack when this one is otherwise fine, and not wanting to drop the frame to swap out a rack, I have been investigating other ideas... The 2004 apparently has "Magnasteer II". Earlier models had just "Magnasteer". However, when I source parts (from Rock Auto, for example) the note that RPO NV8 (Magnasteer) and NV7 (variable assist) use the same rack un…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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I was just wondering. On my G6 there's this round thing that looks like a speaker tweeter on where the side mirror is mounted. What is it? Is it a speaker? I counted all six speakers in my car, excluding this. It appears on my friend's Mazda 3 as well, and he says it could be for the heated mirror, but he's not sure.
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
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This is what it claims to do: I was thinking of trying it, but I wanted to know if any of you have tried it or know if it's any good or not. I've seen mixed reviews...most seem postive but a few negatives...so is it any good or just a load of crap?
Last reply by PurdueGuy, -
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The battery in my first remote died about 2 years ago, so I started using the second one. Now that the second one has died, I went out and bought new Duracell 2-pack of batteries marked DL2032/CR2032. The dead ones were Panasonic CR2032. I've tried both batteries in both remotes, and none of those combinations work. Is there some kind of reprogramming I need to do??
Last reply by RjION, -
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First, I usually don't do this. I used to bring Castrol or Valvoline to gas stations to have my oil changed not expecting much of a credit back. I have a friend who does often and I think it's tacky if the part is easily sourced. I'm in a situation where some parts are available on line, they are becoming less available in retail channels, AND, a few months back, one mechanic said. 'Why don't you bring in the parts?' It's a small shop. They don't even have an alignment rack. This small mechanic's shop gets real good reviews. What are the pros and cons of this? What would happen if there was a warranty issue in terms of fixing the problem (the part was a du…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Ok, time to change the plug wires. Brought a dirty change of clothes to work and so did a co-worker who is very cool and helps me with minor items. Have a 3800 V6 in W-body Regal. Got the 3 in the front in about 10 minutes. It cranked over fine, so I did it right. YAHOO! Started in on the rear firewall plugs. Took of the manifold decorative shroud and the clips for the plug wires. Good God. There are these heat shields around each plug and he and I tried EVERY plug and we couldn't pull ANY of them. We tried pulling on the rubber boots and then on the heat shield... NOTHING on any of them. WHAT'S THE DEAL? I mean...my hand clearly reaches every plug. I…
Last reply by razoredge, -
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Well, I encountered two problems today in the GTO. First, as I was driving along on the Interstate, a rock flew up and left a very, very small chip on the windshield. It's probably an eighth of an inch in diameter, and it's only on the outside. So, my question is, how easily can it be fixed? The second problem is a little more serious (potentially) and I'm not sure exactly what the problem is, but it's something in the rear end - probably the tires. I heard a slight "hiss" coming from the rear when I was driving, and I thought maybe it was some electrical problem and the speakers were making it (the stereo was off). However, I rode in the back of the car and decided i…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Where in the hell is the starter on the Northstar 4.6 starter in a cadillac XLR helping out one of my friends replace it. Me and him went through a 12 pack of beer searching for it. I'm so confused right now... Where is it????
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Since we have a basic hand tool thread going why not a power tool thread? What's in your arsenal? What do you want add to it? For drills, I actually have three. My very first power drill is a Black & Decker CDC1800. It's been a great drill but the NiCd batteries no longer hold a charge and it just doesn't fulfill my needs anymore. (3/8 chuck, 650rpm). Last year I purchased a Skil 2364-02 720 rpm compact drill/driver. This has been a great little tool, having 2-speeds (which the B&D lacks) makes stripped screws a far less frequent occurrence. A few months ago I was given a Makita 6227D, however it too had a dead NiCd battery. These are nice drills so I ordered a…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I already have a trailer for towing cars... however, it weighs a ton... at least... and its huge. So its a fine towing setup when its hooked up behind the F450HD dump truck or "Dad's" overbuilt work van. Unfortunately, the van and the F450HD are rarely registered, gets lousy MPG, are expensive to maintain and I cannot store either and the trailer at my primary or secondary residence. If something was to break down and _IF_ it was road-ready, I'd be doing an extra 60 mile round trip, at the least, to pick up the tow rig before retrieving a broken car. I really want to get back to using a smaller dual-purpose tow vehicle and a lighter trailer for emergency tows. I was …
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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So I've overhauling a bunch of stuff on my '89 GMC G3500 Vandura. It started out as a quick quest to fix the brakes from pulling to the left, and to get it through NJ inspection, but after shaking things around, its turned into a mountain of replacement parts... new ball joints, tie rods, rotors, calipers, pads, etc. This was my late father's truck, and generally he kept things in good shape, as he was a mechanic, but I'm a bit disheartened at the condition, since I haven't put many miles on it in the last six years... I'm surprised he drove it with such a mismatching of worn parts. So, anyway, I'm on the home stretch. But after taking the brake pads out, there is a…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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A coworker of mine asked me if I knew anything about Caprices and electrical problems. I told him that I'm no mechanic, but know plenty of people online that I could ask (um, that means you guys!). He has a 1991 Chevy Caprice with the 305 V8. He was given this car by his uncle about 7 years ago. When his uncle owned it, right before giving it away, the radio was replaced due to being shorted out. John, my coworker, had to replace the radio again about two years after he got it. The first indication of an electrical problem (other than the shorting of the radio) was that the door locks would hum & vibrate - until he turned the car off. The latest issue he has is…
Last reply by NOS2006, -
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If you guessed Intrepid...you'd be... Wrong. Not the Shadow either. (both of those Dodge's transmissions shift fine, much to those who say DCX transmissions are crap) It's...the Geo Prizm! Yeah that's right, the one with "Toyota Quality" Yesterday (which was freezing), I set off too school but first went to Shell to get gas. I pulled in and gassed up. Turne the car on and went to put it into 1st...and it wouldn't go. 2nd...no...3rd...no...4th...no...5th...that's be a "f@#k you asshole I don't feel like moving" no. Eventually I managed to force it into 1st and I was off to school. i got to the lights at R110 in Lowell (by Consumer Auto Parts for those of you wh…
Last reply by american_revolution_2005, -
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Ok fellas, here's the deal. Some of you may know I recently bought a 1995 Riviera and in the 2 months I've had it, I've had to replace my boost solenoid, my radiator, and my ABS control modulator went (which I am not replacing) and now this....when the car is parked, and running...whether on level ground or a grade, and the wheels are pointed straight ahead...there is play in the steering wheel and a "tud" can be heard and felt in the floorboard. also when making a right hand turn at higher speeds you can hear this "pop" or "tud" as you are coming out of the turn and straightening out again....Anbody know what this could be? Also I've notcied that if you sit with the…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I have a 2006 Pontiac G5 with the 2.4 VVT Ecotec. At about 1500kms, I started to get a startup noise that sounds eerily like piston slap from a GM V6 or V8. I wasn't aware that the Ecotec also suffered from this. Anyone else have this misfortune on the Ecotec?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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After trying to figure the light out for a while, I think I might have figured it out... Turns out-it looks to be idle air control valve. Though this gives me a few questions to ask.. Could this be the major cause of my shaking at idle? (and my all-over mpgs?) I was told this part lasted a bit too long..true? (140k) I need to know a little more about this little guy...as I thought I knew what I was doing... While replacing this, I was planning on replacing the fuel filter and Pcv valve too... Any suggestions? (expect for setting it on fire and rolling it down a hill.. )
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I'm wondering if I should be worried about the oil pressure on my 3.1..... Granted it had a valve cover replaced about 25k ago.... It runs top line (all the way to 80-which is as high as you can go), and at idle, it drops to the half way point. it has well over 100k (140k) on it..... It seems to be driving ok (expect for the lack of pick-up Need the MAF sensor)............ I'm just worried about the high end thing.....
Last reply by CMG, -
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If so, why? It got so heavily embraced in the 80s, and all but the luxury marques seem uber-reluctant to turn back... Does it cost that much less or something? Is it so much less complex?
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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Well this morning dawned liked an ordinary day. The old Chevrolet fired up like always, and the 3.4 came to life. Drove fine until this afternoon when it began shifting hard while driving it. It gave you a little more a jerk and whining sound. I haven't had the trans serviced in a while (maybe not at all) it is 7 years old and has 76,xxx miles on it. Is my trans going? It doesn't feel like slipping tho, but hell it could be? Does it need to be serviced or am I out a tranny? Please help my trans knowledge is limited. PLEASE HELP! Thanks in advance.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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i noticed alot that if my car is hot and I run in to a store or junkyard for about 30-45 minutes then i get in the car go to start it it will start then kinda misfire and stall it will do this repeatedly untill after you start it you floor it until it revs up then let it back down to idle and it runs fine after that. never does this on cold starts or if it was just running. pretty much all the ignition system was replaced in feburary this year. plugs wire cap rotor coil and ignition module any ideas? 1990 Caprice classic 305 TBI TH-200 trans
Last reply by capriceman, -
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For some time now the Shadow has had some stalling issues. Usually this would happen when the car was cold, and almost always on cool/colder days. In the winter it was a bitch until the car warmed up. It would stall either when coming to a stop and almost being stopped, or when just starting to accelerate. Since I got back from Kansas I have discovered that it stalls when going in revers. Not always, but sometimes it will either want to stalls, and the tack swings wildly between 0 and 1200 RPM...sometimes it stalls, sometimes it doesn't, but it sounds like it. I think it might be the throttle body, but I'm not sure. It's a fuel-injected 2.5 4-cylinder. Any thoughts? It'…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Is there a positive way to tell if an '03 GP SE has ABS or not? Code on the decklid code label? There's nothing hokey like "ABS" on the wheel centers or brake pedal. Bought a rear bearing/hub assembly as one in the rear is bad, counter guy asked if it has ABS & I assumed 'yes', but it's not standard on other than the GTP, and I'm wondering if it DOESN'T have ABS, that I'll need to swap it for another hub. Will possibly be replacing it tomm evening, so a speedy confirmation would be appreciated before it's exploded in the driveway. BTW- GM wanted $435 for this part, NAPA: $138.
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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I have a 2k grand am and the blower motor resistor went out. The fan will only blow on the 3, 4, and 5 settings. The part is reletively cheap and I was wondering how hard it is to replace it. Any help would be appreciated.
Last reply by I hope GMRULES again, -
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How much excess oil does it take to float the valves in a small block Chevy? I added a bit too much oil to my '68 Camaro (1/2 quart) and while I was draining it, I got to thinking; how much is too much? Would a half a quart over be enough to float the valves or would it have to be significantly more?
Last reply by CMG, -
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So, my 19 year old daughter has a 17 year old friend. 17 year old friend "Britney" (not her real name) was given a '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee with an inline 6 as a gift when she got her permit two years ago at 15 1/2. Jeep was bought new by her grandparents....and has had good care. About 150K on it... My questions...what weak spots are there on these vehicles? Her father and grandfather ran a buisiness that for years was very profitable...sold the buisiness...and now the guy they sold it to has run it into the ground. Girl's father is loosing his job Dec. 31. So...I want to know what to look for that is specific for this vehicle to help her keep it running through th…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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So I want to see if the `86 Caravan will start up. It's been sitting in the driveway for at least 3 year and 2 years since it was started. Here's what I know: It has no coolant...bone dry in the reservoir and the radiator. Checked the oil and the oil on the dipstick seemed very thick...like molasses. No idea about the condition of the gas in the tank. Does anyone have advice on the procedures for prepping it for startup?
Last reply by !!!TED!!!, -
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I am planning to spend a couple of days soon to clean/detail/wax both the Envoy and G6. One area I want to focus on is the engine bay, as when I went to replace the air filter in the G6 Wednesday I noticed how horrible it looked under the hood. I used to wash the engine bay of my '92 Cavalier Z24 every spring, but when I had a '95 Trans Am in spring of '98 and washed it it wouldn't restart for 3 hours. Since then I've neglected the engine bay for fear of damaging something electrical. Of course now I realize I just need to be careful when cleaning the engine areas. I don't intend to remove the plastic cover on top of the engine (unless it's needed), and plan to use S…
Last reply by PurdueGuy, -
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I can't complain after 15 years and almost a quarter of a million miles. From another thread, I have to get either a tie rod or a front wheel bearing assembly fixed...but that can wait until early next week. Now, I evidently have a sensor problem. For a while now, the SES light came and went intermittently and the only noticeable problem was a surge right after shifting into OD (4th) at relatively low rpms (1600 or so) and, right after shifting, if the engine is put under load. It was sort of a flat spot. Now the SES light is on "full time." Upon start-up, the 3800 revs up a little more than usual, idling is rough and the tach seems to wander (better with A/C on, whi…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
Can a 2.2L Ecotec easily be put into a 1999 Sunfire that only has the 2.2L? I want to know because I heard that the 2.2L are pretty shotty but the Ecotecs were significantly better. Could this be done without switching out the tranny? The engine in it is fine but once it starts getting into the higher mileage in the future. Also what else would need to be changed? Also, can G5/Cobalt rims be put on a 99 Sunfire and are they the same bolt pattern. They both have the 5 wheel nuts but I don't like the look of the wheel covers.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I was wondering if you had an all aluminum block, heads, headers, raditor, valve covers, and intake. ect. could you get it anodized in lets say burgendy and not have any issues of it changing color chipping or fadding due to stress or heat? I was thinking of ideas for the caprice again and its possible future. 350 all in anodized aluminum in the same color as the paint.
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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My Fusion's airbag light came on today. I wont be able to get it into the dealership until Monday at the earliest, anybody have any insight in this? Should I quit driving the car until I can get it looked at ir anything? I figure that the worst case scenario is that the airbag wont deploy in a crash, since I always wear my seatbelt I'm not uber-paranoid.
Last reply by Satty, -
OK. So when ever I take a sharp corner, regardless of speed, I hear this weird klunk from the front end. I have a single idea at what it might be, and that would be tire rods. Yes? No? Maybe so? Also, what would cause the speed setting on the wipers to change. Like sometimes in the fastest wiper setting, they are imtermittant and vis versa. Turning them off and turning them back usualy does the trick. And finally, my indicators are telling me that my rear window is open when it closed. I think the latch might be loose. Cheap part? Hopefully :] Thanks for any input. [except calling me teh n00b. not allowed.]
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Today, I fixed the a/c in my Intrigue. One of the gears in the passenger-side blend door actuator got a huge crack in it, rendering the whole thing useless. Two trips to AutoZone later (the first time I ordered the part, it didn’t make it onto the delivery truck ) and I’ve got cool air blowing out of the passenger-side vents for the first time in about a year. Today, I also noticed that something else is wrong with the car, and I’m worried that it’s the transmission. Back in July, I went to look at a 2002 Taurus SEL, because my local Chevy-BPG dealer quoted me $1167 to fix the blend door problem (thank God for the internet, I fixed it myself for $140). I was hesitant t…
Last reply by loki, -
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About to pick up my brand new HHR SS. We live up in Canada, and the block heater is standard on most Canadian ordered vehicles, and is used 4 or 5 days in the winter, every winter. However, there is no block heater option available on the 2.0 turbo charged engine, currently in the HHR SS and soon to be new Cobalt SS. Being new to turbos, the turbo technology seems to be the only difference between the usual normally engine. So, is the fact that its a turbo the reason that a block heater isn't a factory option? I can't imagine what it would conflict with with a turbo charger and an engine block, but there also has to be a basic reason a block heater is not an optio…
Last reply by Avinash, -
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Sometimes when I start my 2000 Tahoe 5.3 there is a very high pitched whine from below the vehicle ,not always but sometimes after it has been running and good and hot?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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How the f**k do you remove it? The Legacy has been Armor All'd sometime in the past and I've been having a hell of a time trying to remove the shine. The automotive interior cleaners and similar protectant sprays with a 'matte' finish do nothing to actually remove that god-awful stuff. Any solutions that won't have negative effects to the interior materials?
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
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Yeah...?
Last reply by Gnitro, -
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The CEL has occasionally been going on and off, and I finally went to Autozone and had the OBDII scanned. I got "coolant temperature below thermostat regulating temperature", which probably means a thermostat that's stuck open. I've been noticing that the temp gauge needle being suspiciously low. It's been like that for a while... so my question is, was there any damage caused by having a thermostat stuck open?
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I've never understood how tire sizes work. My Cadillac has 225 55 16s I have another set of snow tires from another car.... <ahem>.... that are just laying in storage in my basement. I would like to include them with the sale of my car. They are 205 55 16s will they work?
Last reply by CMG, -
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*Sigh* Stupid remote is dead. It looks like the fob has a crack on the inside. And I'm not paying 70 bucks for a new one. Where could I get a cheap one? Ebay, maybe? I miss opening it from far away....
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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So the other day I noticed that the Prizm's blower motor kept changing it's speed despite being always set tof ull. It would slowly build up to normal speed, then go back down to a lower speed, then go back up. This would happen over a couple minutes, not like every few seconds. Because it works I'm not that worried...just curious if anyone might know why. Of greater concern is the speedometer, which stopped working a few days ago as well. Then it started working again....then didn't. Tonight on the highway It would work, then drop down to zero, then a few minutes later jump back up to the correct speed. If the unit itself going or could it be something else?
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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airbags are a tremendous advancement in car safety, no doubt about it--unless your under 12 and not blah blah my question...if you wear glasses or smoke what happens then? i know, im sure yourre better off not going through the windshield but has anybody ever heard of or know what the consequences of either of those things would be? im not really sure if this is tech, per se...so feel free to move it, but id really like to know. thanks
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
Spark Plugs
by Petra- 1 follower
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My old Mercury was supposed to have new spark plugs installed at the 180,000 mile point. However, I didn't notice this until recently, so I've already put about 300 more miles on the car. My concern is: How long can I go before the spark plugs will need to be replaced? I'd like to wait until my next oil change @ 291,000-some kilometers (roughly 180,820 miles), because I need my money for other things right now, like paying back my parents for buying the car in the first place. Any advice?
Last reply by Petra, -
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I wished GM had done a better job with the cooling systems in the 1997-2003 Chevy Malibus. Do the 04-07 have the same problems? There has been litigation against GM over the coolant problems but you had to file before October of 2008. Do a search of LITIGATION AGAINST DEXCOOL. Can you use another kind of antifreeze other than Dex Cool?
Last reply by schuby87, -
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For about the last month or so, I have gotten a vibration in my front left tire/wheel at speeds above 60 or so. It is when the wheel is centered and I am going down the freeway. If I move the steering wheel to the left or the right just a hair, it goes away. I'm thinking it's the alignment. It's a W-body Regal coupe. This morning, I got my on-schedule Costco tire rotation and balancing. It didn't help much, so it's probably not the balancing. Is it probably the alignment? I had front brakes done a month ago...it's FWD...is there anything in a caliper or anything in the front axle that could cause a vibration at higher speeds? Lastly, could it be something else li…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Until it doesn't. When Apple launched iOS6 it booted Google Maps from the OS and replaced it with Apple's Homegrown Maps app, which is pretty terrible. How bad you ask? Map detail google iOs 5 vs iMaps iOs 6: To name a few. There's an entire tumblr site dedicated to these glitches. What Apple has done is removed Google Maps and replaced it with something far worse. And there's not an app for that. If it necessarily delays the approval for Google Maps for iOS6 it will be sending a clear message to its customers that it's no longer interesting in providing them with the best possible user experience. Meanwhile, I'll just keep using my Android phone, because i…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Ok, I have the Regal with the 3800 V6 Series I 1992 that now has original mileage in the high 200,000s. Incidentally, they have no EGR valves. I will soon have to go get its emissions test to renew the tags. Here's the deal. In most states that I've lived in and in which the car has been registered, they test 4 emissions components (HC, CO, CO2 and O2). In California, they add NO (nitrogen or nitrous?). At any rate, the car has performed fantastically on the first 4 components...extremely clean and changed minimally over the years. However, it's not as clean on the N.O., though it has always passed. I heard that this is common: cars run clean on all the others and …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
If a engine has E85 capability, what changes are needed to the engine? Is there more hoses, solenoids, condensers, etc to further fill up the engine compartment?
Last reply by scharmer05,
