November 2, 2006
Q. I have a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu LS. Recently the “check engine” light has been staying on every time I drive the car. I have already tried checking the gas cap, running fuel injector cleaner through it, and disconnecting the battery. Do you have any other suggestions for me?
A. You have tried the basics, now it is time to find the actual cause of the light. Have a technician with a computer scanner “scan” the car to determine what is turning on the “check engine” light. The technician will get a code and should be able to use that to repair the car.
Q. I have a 2002 Malibu that is plagued with anti-theft problems. Consequently, I'm regularly left at the side of the road. This happened twice in the last two weeks alone. The dealer has recently changed the body control monitor and replaced some relay or chip, but this problem is not yet solved. It just was towed again. This has been no less than eight times since the beginning of this year! Do you have a suggestion?
A. It sounds like the Pass-Lock system is shutting down the car. Have the dealer check the Pass-Lock sensor and lock cylinder. Once the repair is completed, the system will need to be re-programmed.
Q. I have a 2006 Honda CRV with only 5,000 miles on it. Since I moved from the South to the Northeast, the car has had some starting problems; it cranks for a bit before it gets going. Will this problem get worse as the colder weather approaches and what should I do?
A. Your Honda should start quickly in both hot and cool weather. You should leave your CRV with a local Honda dealer and let them see how it starts. If possible, meet the technician in the morning to show them how it starts. This way you demonstrate exactly what happens.
Q. What could be wrong when everything in your car stops working? The car will start but the lights, power windows and horn don’t work. This happened overnight (after my son drove the car) without any warning.
A. Cars use a part called a fusible link. This is a wire that is designed act like a fuse if the system becomes overloaded. Check all the fusible links and wiring, as well as the fuses themselves. Fusible links and fuses can sometimes fail due to a reversed jumpstart.
Q. I have a 1992 Lumina with a V-6 engine. When the car gets hot after a long drive and comes to a stop, it stalls. I changed the idle speed motor and it still does it. The second issue is I smell gasoline around the engine compartment but there isn’t anything leaking. The gas smell started after the stalling problem. What could be wrong?
A. There are several issues that could cause the stalling. I would start with a check of the exhaust gas re-circulation valve. If the EGR valve is sticking, this could cause the stalling. The second issue is a possible transmission torque converter problem. If the torque converter clutch is not releasing when coming to a stop then the engine will stall. The gasoline smell may be a result of a faulty/oversaturated evaporative (charcoal) canister. This can happen from overfilling your car’s gas tank.
Q. My 1998 Chevy Lumina with 105,000 miles makes a tap-tap-tap noise. It is particularly noticeable when I first start the car. Someone suggested low oil or sticky/worn lifters. The oil level is OK. Are sticky lifters a big job?
A. The noise could be a result of a poor quality oil filter. If the oil filter is allowing the oil to drain back into the engine, it will make some noise when it first starts. Replace the oil and filter using a good quality filter. If the noise persists it could be a worn valve lifter. Valve lifters require some engine disassembly and can be an expensive repair.
