This weekly feature for Warranty Direct about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America’s Car Show on satellite radio. Below are some recent Q&A from the America’s Car Show email bag.

Dear Tom,
I own a ‘94 Camaro Z28. The right front low beam light was out so I replaced it with a new one and it still doesn’t work. Any ideas? It was replaced with the same kind of light that came out. All the other lights are working. Thanks.
Chas from Lima, OH

Chas,
Now is the time to start tracing wiring and powers and grounds. Either there’s a break in a power wire or there’s a bad ground to that headlight bulb. The ground should be found on the header panel above the radiator; the power wire in the harness comes from the bulkhead connector at the firewall. Get out your wiring diagrams, test light, and logic probe, and start diagnostics. Be careful with the test light. If you pierce a low voltage/amperage wire going to a module you will fry it. If there’s no obvious ground or power wire problem, you might want to employ the services of a professional tech to avert damage to the system.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
I own a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder. It had a squeaky serpentine belt since I bought it in 2006. It only squeaked when the weather was cold and lessened as the car warmed up. I decided to replace the belt a few months ago (the old one had pits and cracks). The noise stopped for a day or two. Now the belt constantly squeaks in both cold and warm weather. It only stops when the car gets to a certain rpm. The sound is loud and drives me crazy. How can it be the belt when it’s new? What else can it be? Help!
Debbie from Portsmouth, NH

Debbie,
Nissan issued a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on your truck for noisy drive belts. The culprit was an improper pulley alignment or a faulty belt tensioner pulley. Get the truck into a Nissan dealership and have this TSB performed. It should solve your problem. Success to you.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
My Lexus uses premium fuel. Can I use 87 instead of premium? Can my engine management system compensate?
Joel from Sacramento, CA

Joel,
Continued use of low octane fuel (87) in this engine will result in internal engine damage over time. Low octane fuel will pre-ignite, which causes hammering on the tops of the pistons and cylinder heads and valve faces. The small savings you will realize from using lower octane fuel will come back to bite you with major engine damage and repairs. Your call, penny wise or pound-foolish.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
I own a ‘95 Dodge Spirit with a 2.5 engine. I installed two new struts in the front end, and now there is a loose-sounding noise in the front end on the right side when I hit bumps. I checked the front end and everything seems tight. I did notice that when I changed the struts I forgot to change over the lower isolators. Do you think lower isolators are the cause of the noise problem?
George from Honolulu, HI

George,
Aloha! I am not sure what you are referring to when you say “lower insulators.” There are no “lower insulators” to speak of. The strut bolts to the steering knuckle and the spring seats in the lower part of the strut. Did you change the upper bearing plates? They could be the source of the banging (this is common). That car is equipped with sway bars. The sway bar insulators could be bad causing the bar to bang on the underside of the car every time you hit a bump. Go over your work. I’m sure you will find your problem on one of these areas. Good luck.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
I own a 2005 Ford Excursion with 72,000 miles. It had one front-end alignment at about 36,000 miles. The vehicle tends to float or “wander” on the highway at 65 MPH. Two tires are original and the other two are about one year old. Any suggestions?
Shade from Pomona, CA

Shade,
Wandering occurs as a result of: bad shocks, loose steering linkage, low tire pressures, and worn suspension components such as ball joints or control arm bushings. Get the truck up on a lift and have the front end looked over by a good tech. They will find your problem in one of these areas. Make sure you take the tech for a ride (make them drive it so they feel the wandering) before putting the truck up on a lift to help in the diagnostic process.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
How do I clear the error codes out of the ECM on my 2003 Chevy S10 Pick Up w/4.3 V6 automatic?
Thanks,
Dave from Kalamazoo, MI

Dave,
With a hand held scan tool and a drive cycle. The hand held will go into the system, interface with the vehicle’s computer, and clear the codes. The drive cycle (a predetermined set of driving and operating instructions as outlined by the carmaker) will clear the readiness monitors that have flagged as a result of the malady it sees in the system. You will need to access professional auto repair info for this vehicle to perform the drive cycle. I wish you success.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
Does a fuel-injected engine have a choke? Why or why not? Thanks.
Mandy from FL

Mandy,
Yes, I suppose you could say that an injected engine has a choke. It’s electronic. When the performance system senses that the engine is cold (via air and coolant sensors) it richens the fuel mixture automatically. When the engine comes up to operating temperature, the system leans out the fuel mixture to running mode. There’s no manual or automatic choke like in the old days; it’s all controlled electronically now.
Tom

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‘Til next time…Keep Rollin’

For more articles by Tom Torbjornsen, visit AMERICA’S CAR SHOW web site: www.americascarshow.com

Tom Torbjornsen is an automotive expert of 37 years. An automotive journalist in good standing with the IMPA (International Motor Press Association), Torbjornsen is the Repair and Maintenance Editor for AOL Autos, At Home Portals, and many other websites. Hear his radio show AMERICA’S CAR SHOW, on the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel – Stars Too – Sirius 108 and XM 139; Sunday nights – 10PM – Mid EST. You can hear the live stream of the show at www.americascarshow.com Saturdays at Noon EST. Send your car questions to his website at: www.americascarshow.com.

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Filed under: Americas Car Show, Auto News, Car News, Consumer Affairs, Driving Tips, Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle reliability, Vehicle repairs, Warranty Direct

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