Great responses to unwanted pickup lines.
Erica Fernadez Boston, Massachusetts - 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis
Brakes. Got car from Dad, who's a Boston cabbie. She's hearing a hissing sound coming from the brakes, when she steps on them--noise began a month ago, after she considered trading it in for Cash For Clunkers). She thinks the car is angry at her. Guys say noise is the power brake booster leaking, needs to be replaced. Not expensive--Dad can probably find used parts for cheap.
Rick Smith Santa Rosa, California - 1992 Dodge Dakota
When it's cold, car starts fine, but once it's warmed up, if he turns it off, has trouble re-starting--it idles rough and stalls repeatedly, and can take 14 tries to get it going. Then, when it does start, runs rough. Also, recently has had it 'die' while accelerating. Had fuel pump and fuel filter replaced, did a fuel pressure test. Guys say it's likely a bad crank angle sensor, causing computer to send an incorrect signal when its warm.
Maria Reidelbach Kerhonksen, New York - 2003 Volvo V40
Argument with boyfriend over headlights. Do you have to replace both bulbs every time one burns out? Boyfriend insists on changing both, says says if one goes, the other is about to go as well. Ray initially thinks boyfriend is right, but Tom says replacing both is excessive--not a big deal to replace a lightbulb, so why not wait until the second one burns out? Ray modifies his position, suggest she get boyfriend to experiment by replacing one and seeing how long before the other burns out.
Scott Seaward Bellevue, Idaho - 2001 Ford F150
He put a rear headrest on backwards, and now he can't get it off. Not causing any vision problems, but it's annoying him every time he sees it. Is there anyway to get it off besides cutting it? Tom and Ray suggest hitting it with a hammer! Or forget about it.
Amber DiGiovanni Kansas City, Missouri - Volkswagen
Cruise control/acceleration. Was pulling into Blockbuster parking lot, lurched forward, crashed into the store. VW Dealer couldn't figure out why, it's happened again, when she's taken off cruise control. Could be a faulty cruise control switch, causing it to re-engage. Could also be computer problem with the throttle. She can try living without cruise control. Otherwise, go back to the dealer and leave it until they can reproduce the problem, and figure it out.
Zach Hull Portland, Oregon - 1997 Honda Civic
Seat/fluid. Any time he has passengers in the back seat, they get a brown liquid stain on their pants--swears it's not his driving. No smell, but there seems to be a little white mold on the seat. Guys are baffled--there's no fluid that travels under the seat that could be leaking through. May have been something living under the seat, or perhaps hot exhaust is getting through and causing seat to melt a bit. Need to remove the seat and look under to see what's going on.
Joyce Robinson Aberdeen, North Carolina - 2000 Toyota Camry
Brakes/noise. The car makes a 'Hoot' noise, sounds like an owl, or wind through a tunnel, only when she's moving, usually goes away when she steps on brakes. Guys say its the brake wear sensors, telling her the brake pads are wearing out and need to be replaced.
David Rhea Whitehouse, Tennessee - 2006 Nissan Sentra
Noise--tranny/ehxhaust. Automatic--when it shifts from 2nd to 3rd, he hears a small metallic clink noise sound, from the front driver's side. Only on that shift, regardless of speed, doesn't affect operation--the shift itself is smooth. Could just be a part of the exhaust flexing, not a big deal.
Julie Reilly Baltimore, Maryland - 2000 Toyota Camry
A transmission/throttle question. The accelerator sticks, then there's a pop and the car goes. Guys think it's likely caused by a build-up of carbon in the throttle-body area, and/or the throttle plate may be sticking. Needs to be cleaned with a solvent, throttle plate could need to be replaced.
Annie Solomon Nashville, Tennessee - Oldsmobile
Writing a suspense novel--character needs to quickly disable this car so the bad guys can't start it, has no tools. What should the character do? Disable the coil--simply open the hood and pull the coil wire. Car will crank, but not start.