Automotive FAQ

Question: Hahahaa. This project is going to be the most expensive bag of worm you ever opened!
I can’t speak to New Hampshire law. In California…..like I said earlier, you’ve got an expensive proposition on your hands. The engine you put in has [...]

Question: Thanks for the long explaination I didn’t feel like writing.
The slight steering input causes the rear of the car to go in the direction opposite the input. Not under good traction conditions. Under good traction conditions slight steering input is not going to make the car spin. The car spins [...]

Question: I have a 1984 Pontiac Bonneville with a stuck hood. The latch inside the car is very loose and doesn’t seem to be pulling on the hood lock assembly.
I haven’t looked to see if the cable broke at the hood latch inside of the car. That is tonight’s task. I am [...]

Question: I have a hesitation problem on my 1984 Mercury Cougar. 3.8V6 CFI. This
is the 5th time I have posted this question here, and have yet to get any helpful hints. I assume I have stumped all the experts out there. But one last time:
The car hesitates under light to moderate throttle. The [...]

Question: Was wondering who makes cars with four wheel steering? I know Honda’s Prelude is available with 4WS, and Nissan offers their HICAS system on the 300ZX (any other Nissans?), but I can’t think of any others. Any help is appreciated. Also, the HICAS system isn’t true 4WS, since it is only in-phase steering [...]

Question: As an engineer, I tend to favor revolutionary vs. evolutionary design. But even I know enough to recognize a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Take, for instance, the end of the production life of what will undoubtedly go down in automotive history as a great engine: General Motors’ 3800 Series II [...]

Question: If you had free reign to design your own instrument cluster, which gauges would you choose to have beyond the basic set?
I consider the basic set to be:
– tach
– coolant temp (or cylinder head temp for air-cooled engines) [...]

Question: I have a 1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 229 (3.8 l) V6, 106K on the clock. The problem is that when it is cold (below 32 degrees usually), when the car reaches idle after warming up, instead of idling normally, it races. Hitting the gas immediately after this happens forces [...]

Question: My 1987 Monte Carlo SS…Hesitates when you take off and has a surge when  > your driving at highway speed.. I have a mechanic put in on his  > diagnostics but he could not figure out why it would throw the same code  > everytime.  We replaced the fuel filter and EGR valve and [...]

Question: Specifically I am in need of the Vehicle Emission Control Information label (GM Part Number 14073579) for a 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. This label is/was located under the hood on the fan shroud and has deteriorated almost beyond recognition. I have contacted several Dealerships in my area to no [...]