How can metal in my car lighter keep it from running?

ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.

ANSWER : The first thing you need to check for in a case like yours is air leaks. Check all the rubber parts and hoses under the hood for good condition and connection. The amount of fuel delivered to your engine is determined by the air that flows in and any air that gets in through a leak without being measured means less fuel being injected. There are of course a number of other possible causes; a failed Mass Air Flow Sensor for example, but they will require special skills and equipment to be examined. You can have this conveniently checked out by contacting Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out your car and let you know exactly what it will take to solve your problem.

ANSWER : Hi there. What a conundrum. However, all is not lost. I believe you may have already had a concern in the making prior to the scissor incident. You mentioned that the phone wasn’t getting a good connection through the power outlet. It sounds like you may have an alternator failing which led to your current situation and explains why your phone wasn’t charging in the power outlet. Putting a metal object in the power outlet usually only blows a 10 amp fuse; easily checked and replaced and I definitely recommend you check and replace any needed fuses.

Have the battery tested with a digital tester that provided cold cranking amps, current voltage, and state of health; replace as necessary. Ultimately, have the alternator checked for voltage and amp output. The alternator provides the power source and maintains the battery while the engine is running. I strongly suggest acquiring a qualified technician to perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. I also suggest replacing the charger as these do break/wear out often. YourMechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a car does not start inspection.

ANSWER : I have only seen this situation once in my 30+ years and it turned out to be a broken crankshaft pulley. Belts are driven by the engine. The crankshaft pulley spins the belts, which in turn spin the air conditioner compressor, power steering and water pumps, and the alternator. The vehicle should be towed to your local repair shop and not driven. Without the water pump spinning to circulate the coolant, the engine will quickly overheat and result in more extensive damage.

ANSWER : It sounds like you have 2 problems here, the starter and an engine stalling problem. The starter problem is probably the starter solenoid, a power switch (integrated into the starter assembly) that takes a small current from the ignition switch and engages a large current at the starter. The contacts in the solenoid can burn over time, "sticking", which can cause the starter "run-on" like you described, and a "no crank" condition, because the same burned contacts don’t pass heavy current very well. The poor idling may be due to a dirty idle air control valve, dirty throttle body, or air leak in the intake system of the engine. I would recommend having YourMechanic dispatch a mobile, professional mechanic to your location to do a (Starter Replacement)[https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/starter-replacement] and car starting trouble inspection.

ANSWER : Hi – there are a couple of possibilities for your overheating situation. The thermostat may not be opening properly, preventing hot water from circulating to and cooling in the radiator. The water pump may be failing and can’t circulate enough hot water through the radiator. If the head gasket on the engine has failed, combustion gases from one or more cylinders "superheat" engine coolant very quickly.

If the coolant level is low, and there are air pockets in the engine, the coolant is literally "boiled away" inside the engine, creating far higher temperatures than a "full of coolant" engine. I would recommend having your car inspected by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to determine why the car is overheating.

ANSWER : Your question makes me think of a case I ran into a few years ago. The owner had modified his car but when he installed his fans, one of them was wired backwards so the fan ran in reverse. The two fans were fighting each other which was just like having no fan at all, so the car heated up while it was sitting still then it cooled off when moving. Check the rotation of both the fans before you check anything else. If that’s OK, you may be able to track down the problem with a non-contact thermometer, follow the course of the coolant with the beam. The radiator should be about 30 degrees or more cooler at the exit than at the entrance. If you need help with this, contact Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home to check out your overheating problem and let you know what can be done for it.

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. It all depends where the smoke is coming from. If it is from the exhaust then your engine be running rich and starting to foul out the spark plugs. Have the computer tested to see if any codes are present that could indicate what is causing the smoke. If you see smoke from the engine compartment then you may be running the engine hot due to low airflow over the radiator. Have the cooling fan checked to make sure it is running. If it is running and the vehicle has the AC running and the blower is on or near high then you may be using more energy than the alternator can keep up with. This can cause the radiator fan to not turn as fast as it should and let the temperature to rise if idled for long periods. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.