2004 BMW X5 and the sat nav is showing an error

Question:

I have a 2004 BMW X5 and the sat nav is showing an error. Have cleaned the laser, cleaned the disc, tried the DVD unit in another BMW and it works fine! But I still have an error message pop up when I try and access the sat nav.

Answer:

Try performing a battery disconnect. You have to remove the spare tire and the cover over the battery. Wait at least 5 minutes after the key is shut off before disconnecting battery negative. Once you have disconnected the battery leave it disconnected for about ten minutes. This will re-set all of the modules. Once you have re-connected and started the vehicle turn the steering wheel lock to lock and the abs lights will go out. Now check the function of your Nav system.

controls on the steering wheel are not working

QUESTION:

2003 Honda pilot the controls on the steering wheel are not working. the horn the cruise control buttons and the volume buttons for the radio. they all stopped working at the same time. all the fuses are good. is there are any common problems with these SUV or what could it be?

ANSWER:

If all the fuse are good in all the fuse panels, under dash & under hood. Do you have brake lights? The only thing that shares in common it the cable reel. This helps make electrical contact for the items on the steering wheel to the steering column. Look for part#1 in the above diagram.

Get the best deal buying a car in a fallin market!

Since automotive sales are tanking, now's the time to put off that new car purchase, right? Wrong. While it may seem silly to part with your hard-earned money right now, economic doldrums mean that now is one of the best times in years to get an incredible deal on a new car. The deals won't just happen by themselves, though.

1) Show the dealer you're a strong, serious buyer who can either afford to pay cash for the car or will qualify for financing.

2) While sales are down overall, some individual models, and even some brands, are still going strong. To get the best deal, you have to target your shopping. Look for good cars that aren't selling well.

3) Remember that no matter what incentives are available, you still may be able to negotiate for more. Play your cards right and you may turn a $2,000 incentive into $4,000.

4) While paying 0 percent financing on a car loan may not be as exciting as getting $3,000 cash back, over the long term, the lower financing rate may save you more money.

5) Remember that you can always negotiate the price of your trade. It's always a good idea to bring in an online estimate of your car's value. Full Article

What does McCain and Sarah Palin Drive?

They may not agree on how to handle Pakistan or what the "Bush Doctrine" means, but Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin both think Volkswagen's are cool. The senior senator from Arizona counts a 2005 VW convertible among his 13 cars, and his running mate from the great state of Alaska drives a fire-engine-red Jetta diesel when she isn't chasing down moose on a snowmobile or carrying hockey teams or tanning beds in her state-issued Suburban.

Word that McCain drives a furrin car brought a quick response from the Obama campaign, which wanted to know just what country McCain is putting first. But the Obamaniacs missed the point. The only convertible VW imported to the states in 2005 was the Beetle. That's right -- tough-as-nails John McCain drives the biggest chick car on the planet. Full Story

how do I remove drivers side window on 1999 Saturn SC2?

Question:
I have removed both the interior and exterior door panels on the driver's side. I can't seem to figure out how to remove the two clips that hold the bottom of the drivers window in place on the roll-up mechanism. My windows are the manual roll-up type, not powered.

Answer:
You are almost there. all you have to do now is push the window glass back towards the car( also with the window about half way up so the 2 white tabs that hold the window to regulator is visible) then the tab that is closer to the back of the car push down on the tab. you will see there is a tab with a lock on it just push down on the tab and push the window glass back this will make the front tab butt up against the window glass. do the same thing to the front tab now. push down on the tab and then push the glass back and up now. the glass comes out in between the inner and outer door panels.

hatch release suddenly popped and went weak, now the trunk will not open

Question:
My 2001 Explorer XLT back hatch release suddenly popped and went weak, now the trunk will not open. What can I do to open the trunk and fix the broken handle? Already Tried: key doesn't work, the squeeze latch stopped working today and has no tension on it to pull the door mechanism open.

Answer:
Basically the only option that you may have is to try to remove the interior trim piece from inside the truck and then turn the latch with your hand to open the hatch. Most of the time it is not very easy to remove the whole trim piece but I think on the Explorer you can pop the back glass and get in through the top of the trim piece once you pull it over the window latch. This is the way you are going to get to the inside to manipulate the latch in order to open and fix the handle.

Buy a 2010 Chevy Camaro ~ order one now

Order a 2010 Camaro Coupe Starting October 13

Chevy is pleased to announce that the day you've been waiting for has arrived – you can submit an order for a 2010 Chevy Camaro (scheduled to be available spring 2009) starting Monday, October 13, 2008.(1)
Chevy dealers across the country will be able to submit customers' orders for the new 2010 Chevy Camaro Coupe, with its outstanding performance and efficiency, sleek styling and unexpected array of features, including:
- Price starting at $22,995(2)
- Choice of six-speed transmissions: manual or TAPshift automatic
- Projected 300 hp DOHC V6 engine that gets an estimated 27 MPG hwy with automatic transmission(3)
- Projected 400 hp V8 engine with automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management for added fuel savings
- Projected 422 hp V8 engine with manual transmission
- 4.5-link independent rear suspension
- Six air bags(4)
- Bluetooth® wireless technology available for select compatible phones(5)
- USB connectivity available on select models
- Standard one-year OnStar Safe & Sound plan(6)

Read More

I was driving and all of a sudden the car started to shake violently.

QUESTION:
1997 Nissan, I was driving and all of a sudden the car started to shake violently.The car started to reduce speed to about 20mph even though my foot was on the accelerator the car would not go over 2000 rpm's and would not go over 20mph. I have visually inspected the timing belt and there seems to be no rip or tears on it. I tried to add oil just in case the car was running low on oil.

ANSWER:
If your car has a timing belt, it is enclosed within the timing covers and you would not be able to see it. Most Nissan's have timing chains, so I don't think you saw the belt. Being said, I don't think you have a timing issue. I think you have a misfire on one or more cylinders giving this reduced power and violent shaking. If a check engine light has come on, you have to find out what codes are in memory. That is the first step. That will lead us to the offending cylinder if this is due to a misfire. Once we find the bad cylinder, we have to confirm, spark, fuel and fuel injector pulse, along with compression. One of these things is missing causing the misfire.

Electric Mini Cooper - MINI E

MINI E: All-Electric Plug-In MINI Cooper with 204HP Revealed!

Over the next year or so, BMW will produce around 500 units which will be leased to selected private and corporate customers in the U.S. states of California, New York and New Jersey, giving the Bavarian automaker the chance to evaluate the viability of a full-scale production EV. MINI said that it also considering the possibility of leasing the vehicle in Europe.

The battery can be fully charged through a standard outlet in about eight hours. However, MINI will offer each buyer a wall-box with higher amperage that will be installed in the customer's garage enabling a full recharge in just 2 1/2 hours. The MINI E also features a brake regeneration system that transforms kinetic energy to electricity replenishing the battery. According to BMW Group officials, the lithium battery offers the MINI E a driving range of more than 240km or 150 miles. Read more

Add a Flash Drive to Your Car Keys Today!

Top 10 Reasons to Give a Personalized Thumb Drive

1. The New Brag Book
2. Organization Is The Key To Success
3. Share Music
4. Be A Corporate Big Shot
5. Multi-Media Love
6. The New Mix CD
7. Portable Library
8. Build Customer Loyalty
9. Network And Be Remembered
10. For The Person Who Has Everything

* Your choice of 14 colors
* FREE Laser engraving on BOTH sides!
* Choose from one of our 32 exciting Themes such as "#1 Teacher", "Sports" or "Butterflies"
* Personalize the back with two lines of text
* Available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities
* Hi-Speed USB 2.0
* One piece, standard shipping only $4.65! 20 cents each additional drive.

512MB - $9.99 1GB - $11.99 2GB - $16.99 4GB - $24.99 8GB - $34.99 16GB - $69.99

NO ORDER MINIMUMS.

LOW SHIPPING COSTS.

Where is the turn signal flasher located on a 2000 Saturn

QUESTION:

Where is the turn signal flasher located on a 2000 Saturn LW2?

ANSWER:

On the dash there should be a button that makes the Hazards turn on and off. This switch has a flasher built into it that is also used for the turn signal flashers.

Can Cars today really run on Vegetable Oil?

Vegetable Oil vs. Diesel Fuel

Diesel engines are a type of internal combustion engine. Rudolf Diesel designed his own engine and obtained patent for his design. In his engine, fuel was injected at the end of compression and the fuel was ignited by the high temperature resulting from compression. Rudolf Diesel originally designed the diesel engine to use vegetable oils as a fuel in order to help support agrarian society and to enable independent craftsmen and artisans to compete with large industry. This was also after his failed attempt to run the engine on coal dust. Diesel engines are used in cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and locomotives. Read Entire Article...

AC appears to work when driving, although inside car temp feels

Question:
AC appears to work when driving, although inside car temp feels like its on the increase. When stopped temperture guage increases from mid point to near full deflection, continued driving drives the temp sensor back towards mid point, although not much cooling going on. Clutch like sound from compressor kicking on and off, when observed flywheel appears to start and stop, large AC fan (top of cooling housing) does not kick in at any point, although it sounds like there is a demand for it. Complete cooling housing replaced appx 12-18 months ago...car odometer only 50000km operating in Saudi Arabia, extreem ambient temperature...any suggestions

Answer:
The compressor clicking on and off is a sure cut sign of the system being low on freon. Once the freon level is full then the system will work properly.

Reference Link: Air Conditioning Troubleshooting

can u tell me what i need to do to loosen the bolt that holds on an idler pully

IDLER PULLEY

QUESTION:

Can you tell me what I need to do to loosen the bolt that holds on an idler pulley on a 95 Buick Lesabre, I haven't really tried anything

ANSWER:

All you need to do is find a socket that fits it, should be 13mm or 15mm. then using a ratchet turn it counter clockwise. Remove the bolt and idler together. It may be easier to remove the serpentine belt before doing this. This can be done by inserting a 3/8" ratchet in the end of the tensioner and loosing the tensioner to allow the belt to be removed. Draw a picture of the belt routing for reference when installing.

Mercury Mountaineer has plenty of battery power, but will not turn over

QUESTION:

My 1999 Mercury Mountaineer has plenty of battery power, but will not turn over - any ideas? Attempted to jump start battery - but that was not the issue. The battery is fine. It simply won't turn over, I can hear a metallic click, but the starter does not engage.

ANSWER:

If you idea of plenty of battery power is the fact that the lights and radio work then it can still be the battery. The starter requires around 250 amps where the radio only requires around 5 amps. 99% of all no starts are caused by a failed battery. You can have the battery load tested or use a battery out of another vehicle to test.

Once you have ruled out the battery, the next step is to test for power at the "s" terminal (small wire) at the starter while someone holds the key in the "Start" position. If you see battery power , then you need to replace the starter.

Reference Link: No Start Diagnostics

Online Repair Manuals - Mitchell Price Change

For all those mechanics out there that have relied on Mitchell's online repair manuals to get the job done with, listen up.
Starting 11-1-08 the much loved price is changing from $9.99 to $11.99. Act now and lock in the low price of $9.99 while you still can and save. You will still get the same great quality information with updated TSB's, wiring diagrams, repair information and more.

Take advantage of this opportunity now and save before the price increases.


MITCHELL1 is now online for the Do-it-Yourself er. This online subscription service is designed for automotive enthusiasts and provides the same Repair information used in thousands of automotive shops and dealers across the country. The Upside : As a special offer you can obtain this information for just $9.99 . Repair shops and dealers pay thousands of dollars for this information and individual books are $70 to $150.00 not including Shipping and Handling fees. This a a great deal for the most professional Mechanic or the at home mechanic.

2006 Chevy Silverado - Rattle in steering column

Question:

I have a 2006 Chevy Silverado and I have a ratling noise in the steering column. It only has 13,000 miles on it.You do not have to hit a bump to get it to rattle. It has not been wrecked. What could this be?

ANSWER:

There is a TSB on this that refers to the steering shaft as the cause of the problem. There is a new design that needs to be installed and should be covered under your warranty.

TSB #000235003N -- CLUNKING NOISE UNDER HOOD AND CAN BE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND/OR STEERING COLUMN (REPLACE UPPER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT [I-SHAFT] ASSEMBLY). *PE (NHTSA ID #10025148, APRIL 01 2008)

Should I buy a New Car or should I wait?

This is my opinion, Don't but a new car... instead lease it for either 2 or 3 years. The reason I say this is that I believe the car manufactures will come out with MPG around 50 or better, with this you would have a hard time getting rid of a car you buy today. If you lease it you turn it in and go for a different one. The government is calling for better fuel mileage not matter if we want it or not.

Ford already has a car they manufacture over seas that gets 65 mpg. It is a diesel and Ford has decided that they could not make money on this car in the US as of today, but none the less the technology is already here.

last night the "check engine" light came on

QUESTION:

I have a 1998 Honda Civic EX and just recently had a yearly maintenance in July 2008. Just last night the "check engine" light came on. What can be the problem with my Honda? What signs can I look for? Where do I start for troubleshooting since I don't have the manual?

ANSWER:

An error has been detected by the engine management system and you need a computer scan done to find out what is causing the check engine light illuminate.

You can get it done for free at your local Autozone or you can purchase a scan tool and do it yourself.

heat and air does not come on anymore.

QUESTION:

I have a 2005 F250 Harley Davidson edition and the heat and air does not come on anymore. It has the auto control system in it. It started out with the air blower not being able to be controlled or shut off then it went to just nothing? Where should I start to look? So far just reset the battery to see if it rests the computer

ANSWER:

Assuming you have checked all the fuses.
The first place I would look would be the blower motor relay ( located in the battery junction box under the hood, for specific location refer to fuses and relay section in the owners manual). If it is sticking it would cause the issue at hand. the other thing that might be a problem would be the blower motor speed controller but not as likely.

Reference: Using a multi-meter

2004 Suzuki Forenza and recently I have heard a knocking sound

QUESTION:
I have a 2004 Suzuki Forenza and recently I have heard a knocking sound that increases as i accelerate, do I have a rod knock or could it hopefully be something else?

ANSWER:
What you have described is a classic description of a rod knocking. The engine is done. Its time to replace or rebuild it. If you choose to have it replaced, I recommend Jasper Engines as they come with a 3 yr/100,000 mile parts and LABOR nationwide warranty. This means if there is a problem you pay nothing. If you have a junk yard engine out in and there is a problem, you will have to pay the labor again.

wierd wawawa..sound coming from back tires

QUESTION:

weird wawawa..sound coming from back tires,had to get it tagged and licensed, it passed the safety inspection .and only I hear it!the guy that safety inspected it said, the only thing he could think of would be the tires .wearing unevenly?Got those at Big O and they overcharged me,afraid to take it there anymore>>1985 Mazda 626

ANSWER:

The best way to check to see if it is the tires would be to move the rear tires to the front and see if the noise follows. If it does, you may be able to have the tires replaced under warranty if they are fairly new.

How to check trouble codes on a 92 la sabre without the scanner

Checker and autozone type places will pull the codes for you for free most the time. Because they will sell you the part to fix it right there too.

If you want to do it yourself, no problem. Follow these steps : EXTRACT GM TROUBLE CODES

You will find step by step procedures for extracting the codes yourself along with code descriptions and causes for each code.

EXAMPLE:
CODE 24
Trouble Code 24 indicates that the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is reporting an abnormally low reading when other sensors indicate it should be higher.

The conditions for setting this code are:
1) no Code 33 or 34 (MAF Error) is present, and
2) the vehicle speed signal indicates < 4 MPH and
3) engine speed is between 1400 and 4400 RPM, and
4) during a low load condition (LV8 between 50 and 99), and
5) transmission not in Park or Neutral, and
6) all conditions met for more than 20 seconds

If the code was logged when the vehicle was in motion, the following should be checked:
1) Defective or corroded VSS connections
2) Maladjusted TPS sensor. The TPS should read about 0.42 volts at closed throttle
3) Defective speedometer cable
4) Bad or missing speedo drive gear(s) in tail shaft housing of the transmission
5) Defective VSS
6) Defective ECM

I noticed a vibrating sensation that runs through all of the car

QUESTION:
Dear Sir, I own a 2006 Trailblazer, it is only 46000 KM. Recently I noticed a vibrating sensation that runs through all of the car. It is most intense when cold and decreases after running the engine for a while, even when driving it is there but with lower intensity. I can feel it much clearer when I start the engine apply the brakes and shift the automatic transmission to "D" and try to take off while still applying the brakes. The vibration max is at 1200 RPM. Please advise

ANSWER:
This could be real easy or could end up being a real pain to find. GM has issued a couple of bulletins regarding this kind of a problem from different components in the chassis and drive line, etc. It makes a difference if the truck will do it on a hoist in the air or not. Some of the more typical things to look for would be bent, loose or missing or miss aligned exhaust components that are grounding out. If you can power brake the truck and make it do the vibration while someone else walks around it with a pry bar, you may find it. Have him apply pressure in different directions to things like the exhaust system. The rear transmission mounts, cross members, etc. Just about anything that can move or is mounted in a rubber bushing should be suspect. According to GM, you should even go so far as to check the drive line angle to be sure there is no harmonic resonance coming from the drive shaft. Some of the earlier ones had to have a vibration dampener added to them to stop the harmonic vibration from them. Even loose steel fuel or brake lines flexing against the floor board or frame could set off this kind of noise or vibration, as could an out of balance or lose fly wheel or flex plate on the rear of the motor, if it happened to be loose or had thrown a balance weight off of it. This gives you a few ideas, unfortunately, it can't just automatically be pinned down to any one component as there are so many possibilities. Including mounting brackets under the hood. But GM also has what is known as a chassis ear that can be attached to various parts of the frame and body and then have the car driven to help narrow down the area or cause based on the harmonics of the vibration, you may end up needing to use that kind of a tool to find the problem.