Edmunds Answers questions

TSBs and Recalls

witchywoman — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:16:40 GMT

What's the difference between a TSB and a recall? Someone told me there is no difference, but that can't be true.

How Can I replace driver, inside door release. Handle brokden. won't open from inside? on 2000 Corolla?

elizabethj — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:17:41 GMT

I need to see a diagram of how to replace driver's side, inside door handle release on a Toyota, 2000 Corolla The handle broke partly off and door won't open from inside. Can I do it myself and what parts do I get? Do I need any special tools? Or is this somthing I need to take to a dealer? (Heaven forbid.) Thank you.

remove scratches in hood?

ringa — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:08:23 GMT

Was washing, car (black exterior), grit must have been in wash cloth, very thin white scratches left behind.

Is there a website that lists specific make auto parts at the wholesale price before dealer mark up?

davethecarnut — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:17:23 GMT

We all know dealers and mechanics mark up the prices on the parts. They're not just making money on labor. Is there a "sneaky" website that knows the wholesale price of parts, say, for Hyundai or any other manufacturer? Thanks

What type cement or fiberglass should I use to repair crack in plastic type material on a front body panel ?

ace79 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:26:15 GMT

Japanese made auto. crack is about 6 " long.

Drove over parking curb, now hood won't close all the way. First latch engages. Straight push to close locks in first latch position

skyylerr — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:25:50 GMT

drove over park curb now the hood wont close all way first latch engages straight but when I push 2 close it locks in 1st latch position on all sides.

My car door got caught on something as I left the gas station and the door was pulled outward. I need to fix it. HELP!

carhelp88 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:38:02 GMT

I recently pulled out of a gas station and the passenger door got caught on something and the front part of the door got pulled outward.It is about a quarter of an inch outward and cannot be pushed in as it is a metal door. Mainly when I open but also when I close the door I hear a loud noise as the door is rubbing on the fender. I greased up the door and it sounds alot better however that won't last as it will return to the same sound once the grease rubs off. How can I fix this? If I go to take it to get repaired will it cost alot of money? The door shuts fine and the only problem is that its pulled outward and its not alligned like the other side and the sound it makes. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Hello, my car door got pulled outward at a gas station and it now makes a noise. How can I realign it? Please help!

carhelp88 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:33:38 GMT

I have 2 car windows with serial numbers on them. How do I correlate them to their vehicle? Thanks!

fildrill — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:30:36 GMT

I'm assuming they're old since the remaining glass in them is VERY thick and tinted a bit green. They have full chrome frames and are heavy. I'd hate to pitch them and am hoping to get them to someone who is looking for them.
Thanks for any help,
Phil

Hi Karjunkie, looks like you're "da man" for questions. Got an old window question for you...

fildrill — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:34:41 GMT

My wife and I bought a house and there were car parts in an outbuilding. I've given away or sold everything but 2 old car windows (I know they're old by the thickness [and greenish tint] of the remaining glass. They have full, thick chrome frames and I don't want to pitch them. How can I trace them back to their car? They do have serial numbers on them.
Thanks in advance for any help!

Phil

Washer fluid leak.

yanw — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:12:15 GMT

I fulled my car's washer fludi yesterday and just now I found the fluid level is lower than yesterday . How can I find the leak and to repair it.

Is there a difference between undercoatings?

nerthus — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:42:28 GMT

Let me start by thanking you for your reply to my last question about the codes on my transmission. We haved changed the oil and filter. Still running good. Thanks a bunch.

My question about undercoatings is, we have been told that some will prevent rust, some will inhibit rust that is already there and some will destroy any rust that is already there. How much truth is there to this and which would you consider to be the three best products, and in which order.

The driver's side wiper arm is loose. How do I tighten it?

rickcormier54 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:26:16 GMT

Loose wiper arm

2009 Honda CR-V rear window shattered. Is it replaced by dealer under warranty or insurance?

budagolfer — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:44:41 GMT

2009 CR-V rear window shattered when closing drivers door. Is this covered under warranty or insurance? Will the dealer replace it? The car is two and half weeks new. A loaner is needed for the weekend.

Does anyone know a site for VW Bug topics?

bob3060 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:38:47 GMT

a friend has a wwbug and wants to have some questions answered.

How can you dull the appearance of scratches on plastic chrome trim on a vehicle?

willowby — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:49:55 GMT

Hi There,

I have plastic chrome trim on my vehicle. There are some scratches that are noticeable. These scratches cannot be polished out, so i tried some wax to dull the scratches down, but that didn't work so well. Without replacing the trim, what would you recommend to put over the scratches to make them less noticeable?

Thank You Very Much,
D.S.

Repair manual for mirrors needed.

marvin0411 — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:19:33 GMT

Need to replace broken mirror on right side, need a pdf file. Can you help me?

Windshield noise

sugarrayhub — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:48:59 GMT

About a month ago I had a new windshield installed on my car (the previous one was damaged by a hard object). Since having the new windshield installed I can hear a slight vibrating/humming sound coming from the dashboard area near the windshield when driving my car. Needless to say this sound is very annoying.

Four weeks after installing new windshield I returned to the auto glass shop. I told the technician of my concern. He agreed that he would take a look at it. About an hour later he approached me and said that he had applied more sealant/adhesive to the affected area of the windshield.
He apologized for the inconvenience. Not more than a minute later after leaving the glass shop I hear the same sound coming from the dashboard area again. Can you tell me why I would be hearing the vibrating/humming sounds after having a new windshield installed? Thank you

Engine undercover dragging

ashera1 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:46:25 GMT

The cover under the front of the engine is sagging and frequently scrapes the ground. Does it have a purpose? Should I have it fixed or replaced?

i cant figure out how to pop the hood on my 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood...HELP!!

nolson — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:30:08 GMT

i cant pop the hood for the caddy, where is the latch button

Is there any harm done to paint when a clear bra is removed?

lenshoesss — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:08:21 GMT

The bra will be on about a month. I am taking a cross country trip.

What's the HP of your ZZ 502 Crate Engine in your Chevy Chevelle?

bandit10 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:48:21 GMT

Sandman, I loved looking at your photo album. A lot of Blood, Sweat, and Tears went into that beauty. Plus a lot of money too say the least. I noticed your Welds, you draw a nice smooth bead. Have you ever Dyno-Tested her for rear wheel HP? How long in time did it take you to get from the trailer to where she is now. Ben

I have a '86 Pontiac Trans Am. Are there other folks with a passion for these cars?

gingermc — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:22:00 GMT

My car is needing some "loving care" to fix superficial problems. Where do I go to find folks who specialize in older cars.

What constitutes a light vs. a heavy repair? Where can I find mechanic ratings?

shehaam — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:12:00 GMT

What the best sites for mechanic ratings?

Books or manuals for a 1972 Chevy Chevelle?

jreal — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:29:50 GMT

I need to replace the inner & outer quarter panels. I need a book or dvd. Where can I get this?

Is it best to take BMW's to the dealership for paint work?

lizh1 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:19:51 GMT

i have a major scratch on the trunk- my mechanic gave me a great estimate- he specializes in german cars and does both body work as well as engine repairs. I trust him and think he always does a great job. However my friends are telling me I need to take it to the dealership so they can be sure to use BMW paint- and if I don't it will lost re-sale value. I know dealerships are a rip off - but I also know sometimes you do get what you pay for. Thoughts?

Is there a website that shows various vehicle bumpers so I can identify a piece left in my car in a hit & run?

sharonlpk — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:17:35 GMT

A piece of black plastic bumper was found hanging from my left rear light when I came out of work. Another piece that 'connects' was also found by my van. It looks like the flat 'top' of the bumper (which was stuck in the rear light) is 1-1/2 inches wide; the piece it connects to has rounded edges 5-1/2 inches apart (width), but I cannot tell how long this piece/the bumper is. Hard to describe...!

This definitely had to have been a higher vehicle, for example SUV or truck, based on the damage to my van's left rear side.

Being able to put these bumper pieces together, I am pretty sure I would recognize it if I saw it, which is why I'm wondering: what is the best reference for this sort of identification ? Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know of a good source of 1963 Pontiac Tempest parts? I am desperate.

jradloff — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:27:44 GMT

i REALLY need the half moon type ring that bolts to the header panel around the driver side headlight. any info would be great. car is almost done and ready for paint.... I'm out of ideas

Installation of '91 Buick passinger side mirror.

pogash — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:48:24 GMT

I have a '91 buick and someone took a baseball bat to the side mirror. Picked up a replacement but am confused on how to install. Need instuctions.
Thanks, Paul.

How come SUV's don't utilize the sliding rear door, like a minivan for easier access?

dont_get_it — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:37:46 GMT

Sliding rear door, like the Mazda 5

How can I untwist my truck bed?

ecofeco — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:42:40 GMT

My truck bed is slightly twisted where the one rear corner is lower than the same side front corner. Is there a relatively easy way to fix this?

Hello, I live in Canada and own a 1967 Austin Princess Van Den Plas 4 Litre R. Do you know where I can get parts?

lepreau — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:09:25 GMT

Iam looking for all types of parts as the car is a ground up restoration.Electrical,fuel system,wheel bearings,interior panelling.

I have a 71 VW Beetle. My question is about adjusting my door hinges so my door fits correctly.

beetle1971 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:52:22 GMT

my door drops to the running board when opening I'm not sure if its a wornout hinge pin or just needs to have the hinges adjusted, if possible.

My parked car got rear-ended. How much damage was done?

intakegra — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:30:39 GMT

My compact sedan was parked in a lot and some lady backed into it. I wasn't in the car at the time. Evidently she never saw my car and had her foot on the gas, so she accelerated her SUV into my bumper. In addition to a cracked and displaced bumper, I'm concerned my car may have suffered additional damage to other components.

I had the parking brake on and the car couldn't roll, so the force of the impact may have transferred stress to other areas like the transmission, brakes, suspension etc. I noticed my car makes a grinding noise when turning and it never did that before. Can anyone with knowledge about cars gimme some advice? What other kind of damage can be done to your car it gets hit while parked? I want to get the insurance to cover these potential repairs. Thanks again.

The cable that opens the hood is broken. How do I open the hood?

dgoffe — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:18:35 GMT

The cable that conects to the lever inside the car to open the hood is broke.

Saturn door won't latch.

chief24 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:47:57 GMT

it locks and unlocks but wont latch

I have some overspray damage on the windows of my vehicle. Would it be safe to use a razor from a boxcutter?

srki — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:19:41 GMT

I had a major paint overspray problem on my vehicle and I took it to a detailer and there were literally 3 guys working on my vehicle for 8 hours trying to get this stuff off my car. They did a great job on the body but I still notice some on the windshield and some of the side mirrors. So I was just wondering if i could use a razor blade or something like that with some hot water and remove it myself. Would I do any damage to the glass? Please Help.

Front shield around the headlights needs replacing on my Saturn.

gabillh — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:43:41 GMT

I have a 2003 saturn and the plastic molded shield surrounding the lights in front is badly pitted by bugs and rocks.....can it be replace fairly reasonable?

How can I fix slight oxidation on my car? It has black paint.

tsullivqn — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:38:41 GMT

The paint is showing white on hood and roof

How much it will cost to pull the frame and straighten it on my car? Olds 442.

christmas13 — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:25:28 GMT

I have a 1986 442 and it was stolen and then crashed down the block from my house and the crash bent the frame on the front passenger side just enough to where I cant put on a new bumper and I have to pull the frame to fix it. I was wondering around how much it might cost.

How do you reattach an exterior side mirror housing which has been snapped off?

emmabess — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:37:03 GMT

The black plastic housing snapped when I hit the post on my neighbor's fence as I was backing out of my driveway. The housing seats back in and the wires are all still connected. I have taped it together by wrapping tape around and through the mirror housing through the driver's side mirror. I would like a more permanent solution without buying and installing a new mirror ($250 at the Saturn dealer).

How can I safely remove outside door molding on my new car?

auggie1 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:12:47 GMT

I put door trim, molding, on my new car but on one side the front door trim is slightly curved, I have extra trim, but don't know how to remove the old trim. It has some type of 3M adhesive, tape I believe, on the back.
Can the trim be removed without damaging the paint?

My rear hatchback won't open. Checked fuses. Any advice?

cpittsley — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:23:59 GMT

My rear hatchback won't open. Checked fuses. Any advice?

What are my rights if I found crash damage after the purchase of a used car from a dealership?

angry_squirrel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:45:59 GMT

I bought a used car from a dealership in Los Angeles. They indicated that the car hadn't been in a crash and the CarFax was clean (which it was).

I unfortunately was backed into (low speed, only very minor damage) and took the car in to have an estimate done. As the shop began to do the work, they discovered that there was previous damage that had been professionally repaired as well has crash structure damage (an indication of a more severe front end collision then a fender bender).

It's been close to 6 months since I purchased the car but I've been told that this car wasn't safe and should have never been sold due to the "hidden" damage.

I'm not sure at this point if there's anything that can be done or what rights I have since 6 months have passed. Any advise from anyone that's experienced something similar this would be appreciated.

How do you get listed on here as a repair facility?

grow — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:22:53 GMT

We are a vehicle repair facility and would like to see if we can be listed on your website.

How do I fix rust holes but save as much of my custom paint job as possible? '90 Chevy G10 van.

logikal — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:57:48 GMT

I have a 1990 Chevy g10 van that is painted as the mystery machine. My problem is that I have rust holes running all the way down from front wheel to back wheel on both sides about 2 inches high. I was wondering what would be the best way to fix it and save as much of the paint job as possible. Please help

Have an early 70's Jaguar that I'm restoring. Can't get into trunk. What's the secret? Don

djschuh — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:21:48 GMT

Restoring car and can not get into trunk. Is there something we are missing? Have searched everywhere in the car for something that would release the trunk and find nothing.

Are there any new suv's that have a rear window that opens without lifting the tail gate?

fnamowicz — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:19:59 GMT

Are there any new suv's that have a rear window that opens independent of the tail gate?

What are the driving advantages of spoilers?

jkop — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:03:33 GMT

Are there any driving advantages that spoilers offer?

Car accident with unibody damage to a 2008 Ford Fusion.

catsams — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:15:51 GMT

I was recently in an accident and my car has significant damage. I browsed a lot of the FAQ and see a lot of information on DV claims mentioning frame damage. I was told my car does not have a frame it is a 2008 Ford Fusion it has a uni body. Is this considered the frame for sake of the discussions? Since I already know that I have damage to the uni body is it something that is going to effect the trade in value considerably. I am thinking that most reputable dealers would not want to re-sell a car that has had repairs that they would have to disclose as mentioned above.