If you have a Chevy Cobalt can not find the battery, it is located in the trunk next to the spare tire. To access it, open the trunk, remove the carpet, and locate the battery at the rear of the car. Why is the battery Placed in The Trunk? The usual reason for placing the… Read More »
If you have a Chevy Traverse and it gives a P0496 OBDII error code, there is a problem with the Evap system. An OBDII scan tool will give a P0496 Evaporative Emission System High Purge Flow. There are several causes of an Evap system error which are listed below. What is a P0496 OBDII Error… Read More »
If you have Chevrolet or GM vehicle and see a battery saver active message on the dashboard, there may be an issue with the charging system. This is not always the case, but the message is there since the onboard computer no longer sees the vehicle battery being charged. There are other possible causes than… Read More »
If you have a dashboard message saying Check Fuel Fill Inlet, the vehicle sees a problem with the no gas cap system. This is a common problem for Ford vehicles, including the F150, Mustangs, or any Ford Capless Fuel System. The No Cap system was created to eliminate the gas cap and make filing gas… Read More »
If you have a GMC Acadia with a P0017 OBDII error code, there is a problem with the timing. An OBDII scan tool will give the error P0017 Crankshaft Position (CKP) – Exhaust Camshaft Position (CMP) Correlation Bank 1. Several failed components can cause a P0017 OBDII error code with the GMC Acadia, including sensors… Read More »
If you have a Honda Element with a P2646, the ECM does not see the rocker arm oil switch working when the rocker arm oil control solenoid is switched on. An OBDII error code will be given “P2646: Rocker arm actuator A- Bank 1 Perf. or Stuck off.” or “A Rocker Arm Actuator System Performance… Read More »
Antifreeze is commonly used as a coolant inside an engine to help protect it from very cold temperatures and corrosion. Water was originally used to cool engines but quickly caused issues since the freezing point is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Different additives were used to lower the freezing point of water to stop ice from forming,… Read More »
If you have a Chrysler 200 and can not locate the battery, it is located in the fender. The battery in the 2010-2014 Chrysler 200 is in the driver-side fender well. While most batteries are assessable from the engine bay, the Chrysler 200 will need the tire and wheel well splash guard removed. The battery… Read More »
If you have a 2003-2007 Honda Accord and a headlight bulb has gone out, it is easy to replace. The driver side is more difficult than the passenger side since the battery needs to be removed to reach it. Replacing a headlight bulb falls in the DIY category, but if in doubt, be sure to… Read More »
What is an Engine OBDII Error Code P3400? A Honda with an Error Code P3400 is a “Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 1“. This error can be caused by several things but is commonly caused by a bad oil pressure sensor, Possible Causes Engine Error Code P3400 Defective cylinder deactivation solenoid An open or short in… Read More »
If you have a Dodge, Jeep, or Chrysler with a P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204, there is a problem with a fuel injector. The last digit in the code points to which cylinder is having the problem. For example, a P0201 is cylinder-1, and P0202 would be cylinder-2. There is several fuel injector test that can… Read More »
How a Fuel Injector Works Symptoms of a Bad Injector Common Faulty Injector OBDII Codes How to Test if a Fuel Injector is Good or Bad Test #1: Listen for Clicking Sound Test #2: Check Injector Coil Resistance with a Multimeter Test #3 :Spray Pattern Test Test #4: Circuit Power Test Test #5: Ground Trigger… Read More »
If your air conditioning only works when you are driving, there are several causes and fixes. A vehicle A/C system’s main components include the condensing fan, condenser, compressor, and refrigerant. If one component fails, the system will stop blowing cold air, but some symptoms point to certain component failure. Below is the most common causes… Read More »
Having a good OBDII Scan tool can help greatly when it comes time to troubleshoot a vehicle. A good scan tool will display the error code that points to the problem a vehicle is having. Not all scan tools can read transmission codes with only certain units built to read and diagnose transmission errors. What… Read More »
If you have a Ford that uses a fuel pump driver module, it can be bypassed for testing. This can be a good way to test if the module is bad or possibly get the vehicle home in an emergency. I recently ran into this problem with a 2008 Ford F-150 that had a fuel… Read More »
Since their introduction, OBDII Bluetooth scanner tools have become a favorite among part-time mechanics and professionals to find and fix engine problems. They are low-cost engine diagnostic tools that can help troubleshoot a problem. For example, if an engine light comes on, which gives no indication of the problem, a small, low-cost OBDII adapter code… Read More »
If you have a Honda with a P0171 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) sees a problem with the gas/air-fuel ratio. The official definition for a P0171 error code is “Bank 1 System Too Lean.” What is a Honda P0171 Error Code? A Honda with a P0171 OBDII error code is a “Bank 1 System… Read More »
DOT 3 and DOT 4 are very commonly used as brake fluid in many modern cars and trucks. Both types work very well, with DOT 3 used for routine driving and DOT 4 used more in newer vehicles or for high performance. Can You Mix DOT 3 and DOT 4 Brake Fluid? The short answer… Read More »
The coolant system in modern vehicles differs slightly from older cars as they use a reservoir tank many older cars and trucks did not have. Older cars and trucks often had an overfill tank that would capture fluid that came out of the radiator when hot but was not truly a part of the system.… Read More »
If you have a suspected bad fuel pump relay and need to temporarily jump it for testing, it is easy to do. A better method in many cases is to look in the fuse box for a relay with the same part numbers and temporarily use it. Using another similar relay is commonly a quick… Read More »
If you want your car or truck exhaust to rumble, some of the best ways is to go with muffler delete or a straight pipe. Both are good for getting an aggressive race sound from the exhaust, with both having a distinct rumble. What is Muffler Delete? Muffler delete is when the muffler is removed,… Read More »
If you have a vehicle with a P0053 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) is seeing a problem with an oxygen sensor. The official definition is “Heated O2 Sensor (HO2S) Heater Resistance (Bank 1, Sensor 1).” There are usually four oxygen sensors on a vehicle. What is a P0053 Error Code? A P0053 error code… Read More »
If you have a Honda that displays the error “Electric Parking Brake Problem,” there can be several causes. Many Honda owners report having issues with cars equipped with the new braking system. The vehicle will keep beeping and display on the screen “ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM”. Often the “BRAKE” and “BRAKE SYSTEM” lights also light… Read More »
If you are scanning a vehicle with an OBDII scan tool and get a “No Powertrain DTC or Freeze Frame Data,” message it means there are no codes to display. The full message given by an OBDII scan tool is “No Powertrain DTCs or Freeze Frame Data is presently stored in vehicle’s computer.” This can… Read More »
If you have a vehicle with a P0171 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) is reading a problem with the air/fuel ratio. An OBDII scan tool will give the error message “P0171 “Bank 1 System Too Lean.” What Is a P0171 Error Code? A P0171 code indicates there is a fuel/air mixture problem on Bank-1… Read More »
If you have a Honda with a P0118 error code, there is a problem with a coolant heat sensor. The official definition is an “Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit High.” There can be 2-4 engine coolant temperature sensors (ECT) in a Honda, depending on the year and model. What is a P0118 Code Honda… Read More »
If you have a Nissan and it is giving a P0456 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) is seeing a problem with the EVAP system. The official definition of a Nissan P0456 error is a “Small Leak Detected in the EVAP System.” Often related codes also are given, such as a P0448 (Vent Control Valve)… Read More »
If you have a Chevy Cruze with a P0299 code, there is an issue with low pressure from the turbo. The official definition of a P0299 code is “Turbo/Super Charger Underboost.” What is a Chevy Cruze P0299 Code? A Chevy Cruze P0299 code happens when the onboard computer (ECM) sees low pressure in the manifold.… Read More »
If you have a Chevy Malibu with a P1101 error code, there are a few fixes that can solve the problem. A P1101 error code is listed as “MAF Out of Self Test Range.” Some scan tools will give the error as an “Intake Air Flow System Performance.” When the Chevy Malibu first starts, the… Read More »
If you have a GMC Acadia with a P0496 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) sees a problem with the EVAP system. A GMC P0449 OBDII error code is listed as “Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Flow During Non-Purge.” The most common cause is a bad gas cap or purge valve. Both fixes fall in the… Read More »
A radiator cap is a necessary part of any cooling system to not only keep fluid in but let coolant out if it becomes too hot. If a radiator cap goes bad, it can be replaced by most DIY-type individuals. Remember never to remove a radiator cap while the engine is hot as the cap… Read More »
An engine coolant temperature sensor (CTS or ECT), like all sensors on an engine, is critical for a motor to run properly. This is a guide for testing and replacing a temperature sensor if it is bad. While every vehicle will have a different location for a sensor, the basic information below will be the… Read More »
If you have a Chevy Silverado or Sierra with a P0449 error code, the onboard computer (ECM) is seeing a problem in the EVAP system. A Chevy P0449 official explanation is listed as “Evaporative System Vent Control Circuit Malfunction.” The most common cause is a bad gas cap or vapor canister vent solenoid. Both fixes… Read More »
If you have a Chevy Trailblazer with a P0014 error code, most scan tools will show an “Exhaust (B) Camshaft Position System Performance.” Some scan tools will give an Exhaust (B) Camshaft Position Timing – Over Advanced Bank 1. The most common cause of a Chevy Trailblazer with a P0014 error code is low oil… Read More »
If you find yourself alone after changing out brake pads or a master cylinder and have no help to bleed them, there are a few ways to do it alone. This happens to many DIY mechanics as most people disappear when it’s time to go to work. Luckily there are some easy options. Here are… Read More »