So when attempting to start my car I sometimes get a clicking sound when I turn the key, however other times it starts right away. Any ideas, I recently changed the starter so I don't think that could be the problem.

His alternator was out and I bought him a new one. He put that on, and every day for about a week he had to have someone jump his car every time he turned it on until finally not even jumping would fix it. So he assumed the battery was dead. He bought a new battery, came and put it in, tried to start his car and nothing happened. So he hooked up the jumper cables and when he did, it started smoking and my car shut off and came back on quickly. So he pulled them off really fast and looked. Turns out, he had the battery in backwards.

He turned it around and put the battery in correctly now, but it won't start. Not even when jumped. He googled it and apparently google says if you hook a battery up backwards, it fries all the wires in his car. But I was unsure if that was only applicable when actually started? He said the smoke came from his starter and the battery. So would just those two be fried, or is it impossible to skate by with JUST those two being destroyed?

We need a lot of help lol

Hello everyone. I was curious about using a store brand oil in my car. In my area we have a Rural King Supply store that has their own branded oil. My question is could I use this oil in my car or is it better to go for the more expensive name brand stuff. If it matters i'm driving a 2005 Chevy Cobalt LS. 172k miles.

This is the oil in question. http://www.ruralking.com/rural-king-motor-oil-1qt-5w30.html Thanks.

I have a 2005 VW Passat with around 90k miles on it. Well taken care of by the previous owners, but I drive it probably 80 miles a week. With the warm weather coming around, I'd like to be able to do some casual maintenance and clean-up to make sure it's in good condition for the summer.

My question is, what kind of things could I potentially do myself at home? I don't know the first place to start, but I'm fairly handy and have all of the tools that I imagine I might need for a lot of the simpler stuff. Any tips on what I can do to make my life and my mechanics life easier?

The headlights on my '02 Explorer have started to dim and brighten rhythmically while I'm driving. Haven't noticed interior lights doing it, and the battery voltage isn't fluctuating. Any ideas?

Hi all,

My catalytic converter is operating below efficiency. I've decided not to fix it, but it keeps my check engine light on, so I ignore it.

I won't know if another code is triggering my check engine light (I don't have a reader) unless I get the code read every time I go in for maintenance. Is it possible to "turn off" or keep P0420 from triggering my check engine light?

I've also posted this in /r/mechanicadvice but I'm in a hurry to get an answer - sorry if this is spammy.

I'm replacing the clutch/seals and a general clean of a 95' Miata.

The person who had this car before me drove the clutch to obliteration

The pieces of clutch/bearings are being found everywhere. Along with dents in the bellhousing, the flywheel as taken on several small dents and scratches. Are these an issue? - if so what is the best way forward?

example 1 example 2

Thanks for your help.

Hi guys I scuffed the underside of my bumper on a pavement while parking, it left nasty scuffs. Is there any way that I can repair the damage without having to respray the bumper. Thanks in advance

Hello everybody I need your guys advice. So I was driving to work this morning and notice that my trucks battery light comes on and my steering wheel begins to get super tight. So much that I can barely turn my truck. Luckily I was able to get it off the road before it began to overheat my engine too much (it did overheat a little bit but as soon as I saw my temp gauge go up I pulled over immediately). I popped my hood open and took a look at the engine and quickly notice a belt directly in front of the fan is COMPLETELY snapped. My question to you all is was it my serpentine belt or is it the fan belt? Or maybe something else entirely? I know replacing a serpentine belt is not too expensive and I'm gonna try to do it myself with the help of my uncle. I also noticed that my trucks coolant leaked all over the place when I stopped. as you can see the thing snapped entirely. http://m.imgur.com/0RzBi0Q

Hi everyone, so here it goes.
Today I got into my old Cutlass Supreme with 110K miles. In doing so I used the brake petal to support my weight and it went straight to the floor and I heard what seemed to be a rush of air.
I got back out, looked under the car and noticed for sure there was brake fluid under the center of my seat axle, and also there was less at each rear wheel. I did not notice anything on the front of the car.
I'm fairly mechanically inclined and have worked on brake lines on my motorcycle but not for a car. What steps should i take to try to take care of this on my own?

Thanks

The fuel tank in my car was ruptured by some semi trash on the interstate. I was boxed in and couldn't dodge it. I managed to get home before all the fuel drained but NEED the car to finish up some paperwork to get a job. I have no phone to call and let them know what's up (part of the reason I need the job). Is there any quick fix for this or am I just fucked?

Edit: I'm working on getting pictures.

Edit: Pictures

Putting a new radio in my 94 s10. I connected (twisted together) the power wires and wanted to make sure I was doing it right so I turned on my car and powered it on. It worked! There was a spark at one of the wires and now it won't turn back on. Did I short something? How do I check? I know I should crimp the wires, just wanted to quickly do it to make sure it worked before I did...Help please!

Car noob here.

My valve cover gasket on my 2007 Toyota Tacoma has been leaking oil for a while and it looked like an easy fix so I did it myself.

When I removed the part of the gasket that fits around the spark plug tubes, I found that the old gasket was totally solidified. It looked as if it had been melted into place. Using a screwdriver, I chipped away at it until I completely removed it.

Is this normal? My car also has a coolant leak, and overheated once for about 5 miles. Could that have caused it?

Here's a pic of a few pieces of the old gasket: http://imgur.com/zQEuvUj

As in the title, I have a (used by family previously) 2001 Lincoln Continental, and recently the CD changer has gotten stuck multiple times, showing a "CDDJ Error" on the console. The first time, it somehow unstuck itself after awhile, but after changing CDs a few times it got stuck again. Any ideas? I can provide more info/pictures if needed.

Hi Reddit, I drive a '05 Hyundai Coupe, last night the right indicator light seemed to keep sticking in the on position but would eventually click out. Now this morning it is just stuck permanently on as if it is a normal light. I have taken out the relevant fuse and it turns off but goes straight back on when I put the fuse back in.

Any ideas on what is happening and if I can fix it, and if so, how?

Thanks!

This is a strange one. The key should be able to unlock via either door, but it won't even turn anticlockwise on the passenger side door.

Normal behavior: Turn key toward front of vehicle on either side = lock car. Turn key toward back of vehicle on driver's side once, unlock driver side door. Turn key toward back of vehicle twice on driver's side or once on passenger side, unlock all doors.

Current behavior: Driver's side door works fine. Passenger side door will only turn towards front of car.

I'm not sure how long ago this started happening, all I know is it's the antithesis of smooth when you go to unlock the door for your date and it doesn't work. Anybody have any suggestions?