Break problems

ANSWER : Yes, all of those issues should be checked out, especially as the warning lights involve key vehicle safety systems like the steering system. Your vehicle is under warranty as it is brand new. You should bring the car back to the dealer and have them resolve the issues at no cost to you. If the issues recur, be sure to follow up, as needed, and if the issues are not permanently resolved, in a reasonable number of visits to the dealer, keep in mind that very specific, and very protective (of the consumer) state and Federal Lemon laws apply to new vehicles. I mention all this because you are driving a brand new car and yet all these warning lights have appeared. That’s not an expected outcome and thus you should follow-up promptly and make sure this gets fully and thoroughly resolved. If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Usually a person describes such an experience as more force than usual is needed to stop the car. I am not exactly sure what you are experiencing here, so I will address a few things. Speed and weight of your vehicle will make braking less effective. All things being equal, if you are coming to a stop at the exact same speed and the exact same distance, your master cylinder could certainly be the issue. So could your anti-lock brake system. Your master cylinder can have internal leaks that will affect its ability to create enough pressure at your wheels. Your anti-lock breaks have the ability to do the same thing, but in much different ways.

It sounds as if someone has done a lot of work to your car already without experiencing your issue. This suggests you have an intermittent problem. Intermittent problems are inherently difficult to catch. In order to catch your problem, you will need to leave your car with someone for several days so they car do the best they can to recreate the problem. If stopping is still safe, I would recommend waiting until the problem becomes worse and is much easier to identify.

Usually if it is a anti-lock brake problem, there will be a anti-lock brake light on or the brake pedal will bounce when braking.

I recommend having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose your brake system firsthand to help you figure this out.

Good luck!

ANSWER : Hi there. This vehicle is known for having a history of electrical issues. From the symptoms you are getting it sounds like a bad ignition switch or a failing body control module. Most of the time it is the ignition switch. When it fails internally it causes these systems to act up almost like the key is being turned off and on. This can be diagnosed with a voltage meter by doing a voltage drop test on the switch. If the switch is fine then the body control module will need to be replaced. If this is something that you want to have diagnosed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your office to inspect your electrical problems.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle may be having issues the with ABS system. Considering the timing with the brake light switch, you will want to verify that installation and make sure it is clean, dry, and tight. If the transmission does not detect that the brakes are being pressed, the transmission will not move out of park, pointing to an issue with the switch or its circuit. You may also want to check to verify that the brake lights are getting power when the pedal is pressed, both while on and off. If there is not an electrical issue, you will want to turn your attention to the vacuum and brake fluid. There may be a vacuum leak involving the booster. All of the vacuum lines should be inspected. The hydraulic brake fluid lines, fluid level, and fluid condition should all be inspected. For more help with these inspections, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : The clips are removed easily by using a long set of needle nose pliers. If they are still not coming loose then use along punch and hammer to tap the corners to loosen the tab and then finish using the pliers.

ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. When the vehicle struggles to accelerate or keep at a steady pace in a parking lot, are you turning at the time? If this is the case, the vehicle is struggling to assist you with steering, and it has nothing to do with the brakes at all. Without the assistance of power steering you can continue to steer, it just becomes very, very hard. This will feel as if the brakes are being applied. In this situation you will need to inspect the power steering pump and system. If you are not turning when this is happening, you may be facing a throttle issue or a brake issue. The brakes should not be applying by themselves, but they can feel like they are and its referred to as a sticking brake. The throttle can also rob the engine of airflow which will kill the engine and cause deceleration. The first step is to determine what is actually happening that is slowing down the car. From there you can diagnose what has failed causing your symptoms.

ANSWER : Hi there:

In most cases, the symptoms of white smoke and needing to add coolant frequently mean you have a blown head gasket. It can cause inconsistent starting problems as you’ve described, but it’s also possible that the crankshaft position sensor is also damaged. Changing a head gasket is a rather expensive repair, but using "bluedevil sealer" will not solve this problem. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection to determine why your Altima is having this issue.

ANSWER : The problem sounds like your brake booster is leaking vacuum and will need to be replaced. The brake booster helps you apply the brake and if it is leaking or the check valve that supplies vacuum to it is leaking then you could loose power brake assist. Have the brake booster system checked for problems as soon as possible.