How to change rear brake pads on a 2001 Mazda Miata

Question:
How to change rear brake pads on a 2001 Mazda Miata. I can't get the caliper to fully retract so I can put on the new pads.

Answer:
Sometimes you need to remove the brake fluid reservoir cap. This will allow the fluid to move so the caliper piston can be compressed. This happens when fluid has been added at any point.

Brake Replacement Step by Step with Photos

I have a 89 ford escort that has been setting for 10 years.

Question:
I have a 89 ford escort that has been setting for 10 years. want to get it going again but am having brake problems. Replaced brake booster. both rear wheel cylinders and shoes, both front calipers, master cylinder and cleaned the lines and I still don't have good brakes. I have to stand hard on the brake pedal to stop but it will not stop as fast as it should. Could it be the brake pressure control valves locates on the bottom of the master cylinder or is it something else. It just doesn't stop like it should in case of need to.

Answer:
Below is are quick diagnostic steps for hard brake pedal. You have done most everything but we need to take it a step further. Either the new booster is bad(it happens) or you do not have sufficient vacuum at the booster most likely caused by an engine vacuum leak. Since the car has been setting for some time it is more than possible for there to be cracked hoses, etc that are creating a vacuum leak. A higher idle than normal is a classic description of a vacuum leak.

Brake pedal feel is firm, but brakes lack sufficient stopping power or fade
1) Check the operation of the brake booster and brake booster check valve. Replace worn or failed parts.
2) Check brake linings and brake surface areas for glazing and replace worn or damaged parts.
3) Check for seized hydraulic parts and linkages, and clean or replace as needed.

how to change spark plugs on a 2000 Ford Taurus

Question:
I have a 2000 Ford Tarus and want to know how to change the spark plugs myself, I am a single mom and i don't have a lot of money, can you help me?

Answer:


remove plug wire
use a 5/8 sparkplug socket and ratchet
turn counter-clockwise
install in reverse order
If this is a coil on plug set up, remove each coil assembly and then the plugs underneath

my 93 F250 is warmed up, it will stall on heavy acceleration

Question:
after my 93 F250 is warmed up, it will stall on heavy acceleration and heavy brake more often. Check Engine light is on. Already Tried: I have replaced the following: fuel pumps, fuel regulator, fuel filter, ignition module,distributor, stator, plugs, wires, cap and rotor

Answer:
The first thing to do would be to check for codes. This can be done without a scan tool. Here are the instructions.

Let me know what codes come up and we will move to the next step.

Craftsman C3 19.2-volt 3-pc combo tool kit. Sale:$89.99, save $50

Mechanics and tinkerers alike its time to listen up and listen good. There is an opportunity that is fast approaching but it is for a limited time. This Sears Super Saturday Sale event is like no other. On November 22nd Sears is having a one day only Door buster Sale from 7:00 am to noon only while quantities last! Get the Craftsman C3 19.2 volt 3 piece combo tool kit that will be on Sale for $89.99, you are going to save $50. The 3 piece combo kit comes with a cordless 19.2 volt reversible drill, a 19.2 volt cordless shop light and a 19.2 volt cordless circular saw.

Don't worry about talking the Mrs. into going with you to shop for great deals on tools because she won't be left out. That's right, Sears is also giving an extra 15% off of all fine jewelry that is already 40% to 70% off. Now hows that for motivation for the Mrs. And if you have to take the kids along, no worries. Sears is giving 60% off on out wear and sweaters for the whole family.

So get your self out of bed early this saturday the 22nd and make your way to Sears to take advantage of this great one day sales event and get yourself that drill that you have been wanting.

I want more power and was told to get a supercharger

Question:
Where can I get a super charger for my 2002 Nissan Maxima ? I want more power and was told by several of my friends and several mechanics that I should get a super charger. Where can I find more information on turbochargers for my Audi and where can I get one.

Answer:
I would have to agree with your friends and the mechanics that you have spoken to that a supercharger is the best way to go for more power. Since you are looking for a Nissan Supercharger I would recommend checking out superchargerpros.com for more information and purchasing your supercharger. They have a Toll Free number and staff standing by ready to assist you. And the pricing is comparable to others. I am considering installing a pontiac supercharger on my firebird.

Do I need a code for the radio after I change the battery

Changing a battery in my 2005 Chevy Avalanche. Do I need a code for the radio after I change the battery? I had to have one in my Pontiac Grand Prix.

Answer:
No. The radio is Serial locked with the vehicles BCM. So there is no need to worry, this is a Chevy not a Honda!!

passenger side window just froze and wont go back up or go down

Question:

I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado. Last night my passenger side window just froze and wont go back up or go down either. I was thinking its a fuse or something like that, but when I do press the button for the window to move, all it does is click on that side. Drivers side window is fine. Would you be able to help me out?

Answer:

Since the other window works , it is not a fuse as they are not separate. Most likely your regulator has failed you and will need to be replaced. The window motor and regulator are sold as an assembly to be replaced at the same time.

Where can I get a turbocharger for my Audi ?

Question:

Where can I get a turbocharger for my 2002 Audi A4 ? I want more power and was told by several of my friends and several mechanics that I should get a turbocharger. Where can I find more information on turbochargers for my Audi and where can I get one.

Answer:

I would have to agree with your friends and the mechanics that you have spoken to that a turbocharger is the best way to go for more power. Since you are looking for an Audi turbocharger I would recommend checking out turbochargerpros.com for more information and purchasing your turbo. They have a Toll Free number and staff standing by ready to assist you.

My girlfriend has a 2000 jaguar XJ. She had one burned out low beam

Question:

My girlfriend has a 2000 jaguar XJ. She had one burned out low beam, and when the mechanic replaced this one bulb, both low beams barely threw any light. She drove a few days with the high beams on to compensate, but now they aren't working. Could the mechanic have screwed things up? Installed the light wrong? etc. He claims she now needs a new part which will be hundreds of dollars...all for a burned out headlight. The rest of the lights were fine until he replaced the one bulb. The other low beam was plenty bright. In fact, it was brighter by itself than the two low beams combined after he replaced the one bulb. I wondered if it could have been a ground issue or something to that effect.

Answer:

If all the mechanic did was replace the headlight that went out for some reason and the lights did not work correctly afterwards, then i would say the part was probably bad to begin with or the replacing the bulb would have fixed it the first time.

It is possible, You should have had him remove the bulb after noticing that it did not fix it right but you probably would ave found it needed the same part as what the mechanic is telling you that you need now.

wrangler is overheating and has an entire new cooling system.

Question:

wrangler Jeep 4.0, my 94 wrangler is overheating and has an entire new cooling system. it now is idling rough and stalls out. whats wrong? replaced the entire cooling system. was fine for a month now it overheats again and idles rough and dies

Answer;

This is a classic sign of a blown head gasket. To confirm this, have a compression test done. All cylinders should be within 20 psi of each other. If not, you have a blown head gasket. Have the head check for cracks once removed to be on the safe side.

Overheating Diagnostics

fuel pump assembly out but cannot figure out how to get the fuel pump out of the plastic assembly

Question:

I am trying to replace the fuel pump in my 2000 hyundai accent. I have the fuel pump assembly out but cannot figure out how to get the fuel pump out of the plastic assembly.

Answer:

This is a complete module unit and is replaced all in one piece. You do not remove it from the plastic module.

4 New tires, front ball joints, frt rotors and pads, rear brake rotors and pads

I have a 2004 Ford Mustang. Just had the following work done: 4 New tires, front ball joints, frt rotors and pads, rear brake rotors and pads; $2200. Was this a fair price?

Answer:
Depending on what kind of tires and size. The front pads and rotors and rear pads and rotors at "brake shops" run around $1200.00 usually less at a local car repair shop and could be more at a dealer. Ball joints could run around $450.00 installed. and tires can run from $100-$250 each depending on what you got. So if the tires where good ones then you got a fair price.

REPLACED MY BATTERY ON MY 2004 F150, NOW I GET SERVICE ENGINE SOON

Question:
I JUST REPLACED MY BATTERY ON MY 2004 F150,4.6 LITER NOW MY TRUCK IDLES REALLY LOW,I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK ABOUT 60 MILES SINCE I CHANGE BATTERIES NOW I GET SERVICE ENGINE SOON DISPLAY TODAY THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON BUT THE LOW IDLE WAS FROM THE BEGINNIG OF THE BATTERY CHANGE

Answer:
IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO COME ON AND SET A CODE, THE ISSUE HAS TO THERE FOR A CERTAIN LEGTH OF TIME. FOR EXAMPLE A MISFIRE MAY OCCUR BUT UNTILL IT OCCURS 100 TIMES DURING 400 CYCLES IT WILL NOT SET A CODE.

The first thing to do would be to extract the check engine light codes. This can be done with a Scan Tool or you can take it to an Autozone and they will do it for free. Once you have the code it will help guide to the problem area.


Trouble Code Descriptions

My 99 escort has suddenly started running very rough

Question:
My 1999 Ford Escort 4 Cyl 2.0 has suddenly started running very rough it seemed like spark plugs and wires but i changed those and it didnt help. check engine light came on and code read vehicle speed sensor. would that cause these symptoms? Already Tried: Spark plugs and wires. air filter. my gas mileage has slowly dropped with this problem

Answer:
If the engine id running rough at idle, I would recommend replacing the coil assembly as this is a common issue with the Escorts.

If it idles fine and only seem to run rough(shift at abnormal points) then Yes, it is being caused by the vss sensor.

Drive One!
(this code will appear as a text link, but when clicked will load the widget)

Ford Racing's I'm Driving One Sweepstakes

Drive One!


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Bloggers : Enter and complete the refer-a-friend section to be eligible for the Grand Prize.

the a/c blower on my 2005 lincoln town car at times seems like it can't tell how hard it should be blowing

Question:
the a/c blower on my 2005 Lincoln town car at times seems like it can't tell how hard it should be blowing. ( sounds like it is out of breath..like a bellows. ) a dealer replaced the blower motor and blender door motor. problem still exists. please help. my warranty expires in 3-4 weeks. Already Tried: one dealer said they replaced the blender door motor as well as main blower motor. there were issues with direction of air flow as well as noisy blender door. these two things seem OK now but at times, especially when starting the car in a situation where the auto a/c should come on, it does come on but the blower huffs and puffs like it sounds and feels like it is out of breath.please respond

Answer;
I have only one suggestion. Check the cabin air filter. If it is clogged there will not be sufficient air flow for the blower. Check that and if that's it you can hit accept, otherwise I don't have anything else for you.

I am always steering to the left when driving on most roads

Question:
I own a chev uplander I am always steering to the left when driving on most roads except where the road are flat (no crown ) I Do not remember it being this way when it was new . Any Ideas

Answer:
Sounds very much like somehow the front end alignment got knocked out of adjustment. Either because of a loose steering component or maybe a curb got bumped during a parking maneuver or a pot hole in the road caught it wrong. Your best bet would be to have the front steering components checked for looseness and have the front end alignment checked and reset as needed. When they pull like that it is normally because of those reasons and those same reasons can end up causing excessive tire wear also . There an be one other cause and that is if a belt in the tire is separating. Rotate the front tires to the back and see if it goes away, if it does i recommend replacing the tires.

I cant get a key less entry to work for my car.

Question:
1995 Volvo 850 Turbo ,I cant get a key less entry to work for my car. I tried turning the key 5 times on and off and then trying to make it so the light on the dash starts blinking

Answer:
Make sure you have a new battery the remote. close the door turn the key 5 times then push a button on the remote and hold for a few seconds. then turn the key off and try the remote. if that doesn't work you might have a bad remote. is this a new remote? the light will blink when the alarm is set. that can be done with the key in the drivers door.

Honda civic that when it is cold it shifts slow into high gear

2002 Honda Civic

Question:
I have a 2002 Honda civic that when it is cold it shifts slow into high gear. the rest of the gears are OK, and it shifts fine when it gets warmed up. Already Tried: Changed the fluid

Answer:
Now you are referring to your car having an automatic transmission? If that is the case, I would recommend letting you car warm up a little before driving it. What most likely is happening, is when driving the car cold, not all the fluid has a chance to move around enough & warm to proper operating temperature. If it is only the top gear, you may not have enough fluid pressure &/or the torque converter is not engaging yet like if the car was at normal operating temperature. If you feel you have a much larger problem you can contact your local Honda dealer &/or Honda to verify that your transmission is not under a recall. That would help also.

Questions to Ask the Seller

1. Why are you selling the vehicle?
2. How many miles are on the odometer?
3. What's the condition of the vehicle?
4. Does it have any special features?
5. Are you the original owner?
6. Was the vehicle ever involved in an accident?
7. Do you have service records for it?
8. How much are you asking for it?
9. Take along the Used-Car-Buyer's Checklist.

Note that most of these questions are legitimate for used-car dealers as well. The more documentation they have on the car, the better. You can ask for a phone number of the previous owner if the dealer doesn't have many details. How the dealer reacts to this request may be of interest to you. More