Automotive FAQ

Question:
GM should just bow out of the police package business if all they can come up with is the Impala.  Police work is just too hard to expect something like the Impala to hold up in the long run.
They (like the Lumina version) are simply too small inside and out to handle what police work [...]

Question:
Another depressing day at the junkyard today.
This winter took its toll on alot of Chicago cruisers. Rows of mid to late 80’s Caprice’s, LeSabre’s Caddy Broughams, 98’s and Town Cars. Always a surge in new residents after winter ends, only to lay rotting away before being fed into the crusher.
It appears my 78 Olds 88 [...]

Question:
I have an 02 Chevy Impala LS, about 56K miles.  It recently started doing something odd – sometimes when I manually turn on the headlights the “service vehicle soon” message comes up on the dash.  It goes away when car is shut off and restarted.  It doesn’t do this all of the time.
Any clues?  Thanks.
Answer:
OBDII [...]

Question:
Location: Brunswick, OH 1996 CHEVROLET IMPALA – SS, black, 60000 MILES, Rayban window tint, Clifford alarm, K&N filter, have stock parts, 60000 service done, PREFECT condition, new brakes, tires, automatic transmission, air conditioning, $23900 or best offer, call Keith voice mailbox 800-662-8638 x7308, pager 602-656-6525. /E
I  mean, for that kind of money, I can buy [...]

Question:
I currently have a 90 Buick LeSabre with 200K miles. I drive at least 110 miles a day. I am looking for a replacement. How will the Chevy Impala do? I am specifically interested in the car with a 3.4L engine. This engine is supposed to get better gas mileage than the 3.8L. Will the [...]

Question:
Hello there.
Is there a simple car type/model which can be maintained or fixed (say replacing clamps, hoses, and even the oil pump, etc.) without much difficulty (i.e. most parts accessible) and special tools?  That is, a serviceable car by a non-mechanic but by someone with basic tools (wrenches, etc.), a little know-how, and perhaps Haynes-type [...]

Question:
I’ve got a small (large) question (problem).  A few years ago I rebuilt the 350 in my Nova.  Since this was the first car engine I had rebuilt, I got someone involved who had done several 400+hp engines.  On his suggestion I had put in a Speed-Pro cam that I can only reference by the [...]

Question:
The easiest way to improve milage is to build smaller cars.  This presents several problems:
(1) Smaller profit margin on compacts and subcompacts
(2) Competition from overseas.  The Big Three got burned already in the small car market
(3) Americans don’t want small cars, so building them is a
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bad business move.
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if this were to be true,  it would [...]

Question:
let you know.
Ethan, I wonder what you would consider acceptable mileage and if you haven’t been getting it out of your engines then I wonder why.
(Yes, that’s intentionally a little provocative…. nothing personal, I just wanted to spur some discussion on the expected vs actual mileage among the net readers.)
Answer:
1st car-67 ford falcon–164,000 miles–no known [...]

Question:
I am voicing my displeasure with General Motors and their vehicle order process here, and I would like to share my experience.  Hopefully, there will be someone who can collaborate or benefit from my plight.
Back on Sept 4, 1999, I placed an order for a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup.  The dealer that has my business [...]