I have a question to ask you about my 1994 Mazda B-3000. The engine intermittenly does not start. When you turn the key you never know what you're going to get. The starter turns but sometimes the engine does not start. If I'm lucky enough to be parked on a hill (it's a standard) in first gear or reverse, once you get it rolling and pop the clutch it starts without much trouble. It seems to have plenty of power from the battery, (lights, etc. all work). Someone told me it's a flywheel problem but my mechanic said he didn't think so, and is unable to diagnose the problem. He said he took the starter out and checked it and found nothing wrong. What do you think? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Very Frusterated, Joe D.

The fuel pump and injector are vital to keeping your car running well. If your fuel pump and injector don't operate properly then you will issues with driving and emission. A fuel pump that is simply weak during operation will cause issues with the calibration of your fuel system. As a result you will have problems such as hard starting, poor idle quality, hesitation or stumbling when you accelerate and a loss in the high speed power of your vehicle.

So, how is your car's timing belt doing? Have you changed it lately? If, ever? If not, you must make certain that the timing belt hasn't been driven too many miles or you could be driving on borrowed time. Typically, a timing belt will last anywhere from about 60,000 miles to just over 100,000 miles; your owner's manual will spell that information out for you. A failed timing belt can occur at any time, but if you are on top of things you can avoid being left stranded. A timing belt is used to turn the camshaft at precisely half the speed as the crankshaft. The camshaft causes the intake and exhaust valves to open and shut in time with the pistons as they move up and down in the cylinders. When the timing belt breaks, you aren't going anywhere as the engine can no longer run. In some cases a timing belt failure could damage or even ruin a car's engine. Unfortunately, too many motorists do not replace their timing belt until it has broken. This can be a real problem when you are miles away from the nearest help!

As you're driving down the turnpike and approaching the tollbooth, you reach for the switch to lower your window and nothing happens. The switch moves but the window does not budge. Not even a noise from the window motor can be heard which strongly suggests to you that the device is not functioning. You must stop your car and open up the door to pay the attendant before continuing on your trip. Thoughts of an expensive car repair bill are dancing through your head, putting you in a foul mood and tempering the anticipated fun of your getaway weekend. Don't despair: you can repair the power window yourself and save a bundle over expensive dealership charges. Let's take a look at the steps you can take to fix the problem yourself and save a lot of cash in the process.

Here I will give you the right and up to dated way to jump-start a car safely. Of course this is if you are stranded away from home. When you are at home the best thing to do is use a charger, not a booster or cables. First of all I don't recommend jumping cables to the motorist, second the best options are to use a booster or just call (an expert mobile service) or take the vehicle to an expert shop. If the battery is older than 3 years or so, it could be bad. If you must use jumper cables then here I will show the right way to do it.

This is definitely air conditioner weather. I had a customer in here last year with his a/c not putting out cold air. I raised the hood, that always helps, and looked at the compression. The clutch wasn't turning. I disconnected the switch at the low pressure cut- off valve and took a bent paperclip, in the shape of a horse shoe, or a "U" for those of you that never bought your horse any shoes. I inserted both ends into the slots in the plug, and, wooden, the compressor clutch started turning. I hooked the gauges to the a/c lines and opened the valves to read the pressure. Pressure was fine. I replaced the low pressure cut-off valve and the a/c cooled the vents inside the truck down to 39o. The customer looked at me rather oddly and said, "I had it checked last week and they wanted $1200 to make it get cold." I hope they were just giving him an estimate for a complete rebuild job, just in case it needed it.

You can do some maintenance and minor repairs on your own vehicle. To check the brake fluid level, raise the hood. The master cylinder (mc) is located on the driver's side near the firewall, just under the windshield. Most master cylinders have two small round caps that you can twist off. Some have one rectangular cap that either snaps on or has a metal bar that clips over the cap. You can remove the metal clip by inserting a screwdriver under the clip and lifting up on the handle. The plastic rectangular cap can be removed by popping it off with your thumbs.

An important device that is standard equipment on vehicles built since 1975 is the catalytic converter. Thi s part, when properly working, will significantly reduce pollutants from your engine before they leave your exhaust. A catalytic converter is essential toward promoting overall environmental cleanliness; most state auto inspection stations will check to see if yours is working as part of their regular inspection of your vehicle. If your vehicle fails inspection your catalytic converter may need to be replaced. Let's take a look at what a catalytic converter does and how you can save money in replacing one should it fail.

One of the most dangerous things you can do as a driver is to neglect your vehicle's suspension system. When it is time for you to swap out your shocks or struts don't wait or you could cause significant safety problems for you, your passengers, as well as for pedestrians and other drivers and their passengers. Taking your car to a shock replacement store is always one way to solve the problem, but if you want to save yourself some money as well as take pride in a job you finished yourself, there is nothing more rewarding than saying to yourself, "I did the work!"

Virtually every car produced since the early 1980s contains a sensor that regulates oxygen flow to your engine. The oxygen sensor works by sending information to your vehicle's engine management system to help your car fun efficiently as well as to reduce noxious emissions. When an oxygen sensor fails your vehicle will run less effectively and devour more fuel. Thus, when oxygen sensor failure has been determined the sensor must then be replaced, a costly proposition if you rely on a garage to do the work for you. However, replacing an oxygen sensor is a task that you can do yourself, thereby saving you precious time and money. Let's take a closer look at just what an oxygen sensor does and the steps you can take to do the work yourself.