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5658 messages,  Last post on May 06, 2013 at 12:20 AM

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What is this discussion about? Brakes, Electrical, Engine, Exhaust

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Messages Page 561 of 567

#5592 of 5658 Re: dying car [stickguy] by oldfarmer50

Nov 12, 2012 (10:06 am)

Replying to: stickguy (Sep 20, 2012 3:30 pm)
"...warning lights coming on...runs rough then dies..."
 
A few weeks ago (probably when you posted) I had a similar problem with the old van. Dash warning lights, bucking, loss of power and then dead. Turned out the battery had come loose and the positive terminal hit the cross member. Shorted out the battery and welded it to the metal. A few kicks and a jump got it started right up.
 
I'd go back and look for something grounding out the electrical system.

#5593 of 5658 Re: General pre-purchase question [oldfarmer50] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 12, 2012 (10:39 am)

Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Nov 12, 2012 4:53 am)
head gasket sealers are rarely successful, and a good hard test run should expose the problem if it exists. Also you can check for signs of overheating in the engine bay, including coolant spill residue on the radiator, front of the engine, or stuck to the hood overhead.
 
There are also cars which are far more susceptible to head gasket failures, so you'd be doubly cautious on those, as you would on any turbo or supercharged cars---any kind of 'boost' mechanism exploits engine weaknesses ruthlessly.

#5594 of 5658 Re: General pre-purchase question [Mr_Shiftright] by oldfarmer50

Nov 14, 2012 (9:30 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 12, 2012 10:39 am)
"... A good hard test run..."
 
So you're saying get it out on the highway and get the RPMs up under full throttle? What happens, does the sealer pop out and the engine overheat? Would make for an interesting conversation with the seller when you return with his car smoking and sputtering only to say "no thanks".

#5595 of 5658 Re: General pre-purchase question [oldfarmer50] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 14, 2012 (9:59 am)

Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Nov 14, 2012 9:30 am)
I'm not saying ABUSE it ...just get it into a little sweat so that the engine is at normal operating range and the RPMs are not loafing. Consider it the same as the stress test you take on the treadmill at the doctor's office. He's not out to kill you (usually), only test you.

#5596 of 5658 Re: General pre-purchase question [Mr_Shiftright] by euphonium

Nov 15, 2012 (12:53 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 14, 2012 9:59 am)
When during your "stress test" & driven by a buyer, the engine fails, is not the buyer responsible for the repairs because the car was in his care, custody, and control when the damage occurred? After all, the car was fine before it was "stressed".

#5597 of 5658 2003 chevrolet cavalier transmission by trinere

Nov 16, 2012 (1:59 am)

Hello:
 
Just like to know what exactly is wrong with the automatic transmission only able to shift from neutral to drive and not to park and reverse. Started happening in April 2011 and has been happening 2-3 times working after minutes trying to bring it to reverse or park. Now it is getting worse.
 
Any step by step help on fixing this problem is very much appreciated.

#5598 of 5658 Re: 2003 chevrolet cavalier transmission [trinere] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 16, 2012 (9:38 am)

Replying to: trinere (Nov 16, 2012 1:59 am)
unfortunately, there is no way to definitively diagnose a modern automatic transmission based on symptoms.
 
First off I would check the fluid level of course, and if it hasn't been changed in a while, new fluid and filter is a cheap way to approach the problem---probably won't help, but you know, you never know.
 
Along with that, I'd scan the car for trouble codes stored by the TCM, and see if there are any hints there.
 
I'm guessing some kind of stuck valve body mechanism, or, in the worst case, internal damage. But let's hope for the best when you start investigating the problem more.

#5599 of 5658 Re: General pre-purchase question [euphonium] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 16, 2012 (9:37 am)

Replying to: euphonium (Nov 15, 2012 12:53 pm)
No, the buyer isn't responsible unless there were some actual evidence of abuse. Anyone can sue anybody for anything, but lotsa luck winning that one in court.

#5600 of 5658 Re: 2003 chevrolet cavalier transmission [Mr_Shiftright] by trinere

Nov 16, 2012 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 16, 2012 9:38 am)
Thanks for the reply.
 
This morning when I went to park the car I had to keep moving the shifter up and down to try to get it in reverse since no one was around to help me push the car. After almost an hour of forcefully moving the shifter up and down it somehow pushed up to the reverse gear. It would not shift to park.
 
The brakes is fine according to the brake lights.
 
So as of Friday morning the car shifts to reverse, neutral, and drive.

#5601 of 5658 Re: 2003 chevrolet cavalier transmission [trinere] by bolivar

Nov 25, 2012 (12:52 am)

Replying to: trinere (Nov 16, 2012 9:28 pm)
Almost sounds like a linkage problem rather than a mechanical/electrical problem inside the transmission.

Messages Page 561 of 567

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