I have a car that cuts out or runs poorly intermittently, what's wrong with it?
It could be any of several things but we recommend starting with a tune-up.
This is a cost-effective approach which covers a lot of bases and eliminates the
"guess factor" of diagnosis. Please
be as specific as possible about when your fault
happens, ie. time in the drive cycle, warm or cold
engine and weather so we can focus on the items most
likely to cause your cars problem.
I have a car that vibrates or pulsates on braking, what's wrong with it?
The most common cause is brake disc wear but it
isn't enough to just check and replace the
discs. Suspension problems will cause
vibrations; so ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks, and strut bushings should all be checked.
I have an up arrow on the dash that will not go out.
It is quite common for the overdrive relay to fail in older Volvos and you will be driving in only the lower 3
gears. This also indicates winter mode in 850's.
I have a flashing up arrow on the dash and the car
feels sluggish
That is the warning light for a transmission fault on 93 to 99 Volvos.
Your car is
is in "limp home mode" locked in 3rd gear
and will remain so until the car is repaired and the
codes
cleared. In case of an intermittent fault,
simply turning the car off and on again may
temporarily fix it. If it must be driven with
the light on, you can shift manually to save strain
on the transmission.
I have oil leaks under my car and high oil
consumption
The first thing to check is the PCV system, it needs to be able to breathe
properly and vent the "blow-by gasses."
If you still have leaks, a dye can be added which
will help pinpoint the area. Once found it
will generally need a rubber seal nor a gasket
replaced, they do get hard over time .
Please feel free to ask if you have any other questions.
