Car repair and maintenance frequently asked questions

A: If the heater fan works only in high speed position, the heater fan resistor is the first part to check. There could be few other reasons for this problem, but from my experience, the heater fan resistor is the most likely culprit. Usually either the connector or the resistor itself gets corroded causing this problem. The heater fan resistor is not very expensive part and on the 2001 Camry is fairly easy to replace. You can buy the part from your local Toyota dealer or have them installed it for you; it shouldn't cost a lot.

A: Many of problems can cause the vibration you describe. For example, it could be because the engine misfires or because the idle speed is too low. It also could be because of a bad engine mount, which is quite common. Have your mechanic check all the basic stuff and the engine mounts.

A: First, I'd recommend changing the rear differential fluid. Use only original Honda rear differential fluid. I think, it's called "Dual Pump fluid". It's common for Honda CR-V and Element - when the fluid gets old or when wrong fluid is used, the rear differential can make this type of noises on sharp slow turns. Of course there could be other reasons for this noise, so I'd recommend to have your vehicle checked out.

A: As of my knowledge, the 2003 Sienna has 3.0L V6 engine with a timing belt; of course, you can double check with your Toyota dealer. According to Toyota website: "If your vehicle is a 1999 model year or newer and is equipped with a timing belt, you should replace it every 90,000 miles or six years, whichever comes first".

A: Brake pedal pulsation is usually caused by warped or unevenly worn brake rotors. The vibration in the steering wheel also could be caused by bad brake rotors, although there could be some other reasons. As with any brakes-related problem, I'd advise to take your car to a mechanic and have it checked out to be safe. If the brake rotors need to be replaced, I'd advise to install original Acura brake pads and rotors, because this problem could also be caused by inferior quality parts.

A: Usually there is no recommended interval for the timing chain replacement. It only needs to be replaced if there is a problem with it. For example, if it stretches and makes noise. If the engine oil is changed regularly, the chain can last very long. If in doubt, you can check with your local Nissan dealer.

A: As of my knowledge, the paint color code should be on the sticker inside driver's door opening. You can order touch-up paint from Mazda dealer; they can find your color code by the VIN number or simply look it up on the car. There is also a number or websites that sell touch-up paint online and some of them list the locations of the paint codes for different cars. You can just search Google for 'order car touch-up paint'.

A: the brake warning light usually indicates that either the brake fluid level is low, or the parking brake is not released completely. The brake warning light could also come on because of low hydraulic pressure in one part of your vehicle's brake system or as a result of few other problems, including an electrical malfunction. You can check your owner's manual for more information.
Again, as with any brakes-related problem, I'd advise to have your car checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible to be safe. The brake fluid level could be low because of worn-out brake pads or brake fluid leak and in either case your car could be unsafe to drive.

A: Most likely there is a short somewhere in the wiring. I know, in these trucks, the wires going from the Overdrive button on the shifter sometimes rub through the insulation at the base of the shifter. You might want to check this.

A: Front and rear tires wear at different rate and have different wear pattern. On a typical front-wheel drive vehicle, for instance, the front tires would wear out a lot faster than the rear ones if not rotated regularly.
By rotating your tires regularly, you are making sure that your tires wear more evenly and last longer. Some manufacturers recommend to rotate tires at every oil change, others may recommend to do it at different intervals. Tire rotation pattern is also different for different tires. It's best to check your owner's manual or call your local dealer for exact recommendations for your tires.