Suddenly a whole lots of problems have occurred!!! Help!

ANSWER : My first thought is you have moisture inside your distributor cap. This is a very common issue with older vehicles. I suspect all these issues are caused by a single issue. Since it is overheating, I would certainly be checking your cooling system. I wouldn’t expect it to blow a head gasket, but your symptoms definitely fit. It could also be clogged carburetor jets.

With an overheating car, I would begin by determining which cylinder are misfiring. If cylinders are misfiring on only one head, I would suspect you have a head gasket failure. Whatever is overheating needs to be addressed. It is very difficult to diagnose a car when it is overheating.

Another possibility is the roll pin holding the gear on the distributor has sheared. This can cause overheating and all of your symptoms. I think I would begin by checking your timing. If it is way off, I would suspect this. While your there, inspect the distributor cap for moisture.

To summarize:

Check timing
Check for moisture
Check distributor gear
Check for head gasket failure
Clean carburetor jets
If none of this applies, diagnose your overheating issue.

If you should need further assistance, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose your misfire firsthand for an accurate repair.

Good luck!

ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 1992 Oldsmobile 98. It is possible that the starter relay is failing. This relay is different than the starter solenoid that was likely replaced with the starter. The starter relay has electrical contacts which can burn or corrode with use, can fail with the erratic behavior you describe, and is relatively inexpensive to replace. It is also possible that the starter solenoid (which is part of the starter assembly) has a failure condition when hot. When you predict the problem to happen again or as it occurs more frequently, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to diagnose the starting issue and help you move forward with appropriate repairs.

ANSWER : Hi Joey. Unfortunately, it’s hard for us to provide you the correct diagnosis of your issue for two reasons. First, we don’t offer services or repairs in your country, so it’s impossible for one of us to come to your location and inspect your car. Second, without knowing maintenance details, it’s hard to tell you what might be causing the noise. In some cases, it can be due to loose cylinder head hardware; so it may be that the mechanic is correct. I wish we could help more, but that’s really all the advice we can offer. Good luck to you.

ANSWER : I am sorry – this will be hard to determine without more information, including your vehicle year, make and model. You say you’re hearing a knocking noise coming from the timing chain and it goes away after a few kilometers? Without more information, the only recommendation I can make is to hire an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic to inspect your vehicle’s engine noises and diagnose any necessary repairs from there.

ANSWER : Hi there. This might be an issue caused by two possible sources. First, it’s possible that your thermostat is not working correctly or opening later than it should. Second, it is also possible that you have an obstruction of coolant somewhere in the cooling system; perhaps in the heater core or air bubbles trapped in the system. Issues like this can be tricky to diagnose, so it might be a good idea to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete an overheating inspection; to help you isolate the issue.

ANSWER : Hi there:

If the driver side doors are the only ones that unlock when you press the power lock button, then it’s more than likely that you have a damaged main power lock control module or electrical relay to the passenger side doors that’s causing this issue. However, to be certain that you get the right repairs completed on your Volkswagen, you might want to have a professional mechanic complete a power door locks are not working inspection first.

ANSWER : Hello. Sounds like you have multiple problems. Check fuses first of course, then check the brake light switch, are brake lights coming on when you press the pedal? Get the problem codes from the ABS system – it’s possible there is a wheel speed sensor failure that could cause ABS/brake light warning and speedometer failure.

The temperature gauge malfunction is likely a failing sensor on the engine (this is usually a separate temp sensor from the one going to the engine computer). Most auto parts stores will read the codes for you for free. I would recommend having a Check Engine Light is On Inspection completed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose these problems, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost for repairs.

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.