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Counterman.com has a crack team of past Counter Professionals of the Year, editors and
and technicians at the ready to answer your technical and general business queries.
Our experts will tackle your questions and post the answers online.
Want to participate? If you have what it takes to be an Ask A CounterPro board member,
please email editor Mark Phillips, mphillips@babcox.com and tell him.
Ask the Counterpro isn't for questions that need immediate answers. (i.e. If someone's at the counter or on the telephone with you, we won't be able to respond that quickly.)
Recent Questions
Displaying 1 to 10 of 157
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I have a 1998 Cavalier with a manual transmission with 94,000 miles on it. I want to replace the timing components chain, gears, the works. Is this a job for an average Joe or should a shop take care of it? And what about replacing the clutch?
This question depends on
whether you have a 2.2 or a 2.4. If you have a 2.2, I think a
mechanically minded average Joe can handle the problem. If you have the
2.4, do not attempt it. It is difficult even for more the most
experienced mechanic.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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A customer has a 2002 Toyota Sequoia that needs an idler pulley, and all of the parts that I have looked up have grooves. But the customer’s part is smooth with one lip on each side. What’s the deal?
That is very common in our parts world. However, the manufacturer you
use should have a spec book that you can measure the old pulley and
find something that can be used. The lip on each side is not necessary
for most vehicles because the tensioner pulley will keep the belt from
moving around.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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I have a 1999 Z71 with the 5.3. On cold morning starts, it’s hesitant and you have to really mash on the gas pedal to go. I was wondering if this is a common problem?
The question is what is the operating temperature when you start off on
these cold mornings? If you do not let the engine get up to 210 degrees
it may be a false reading in the computer and that almost always can
lead back to the coolant temp sensor.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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I own an ‘05 Chevy 1500 pickup truck. The trans takes a Dextron III. Can I put in a synthetic fluid like Mercon V or similar?
It is not recommended to use anything but what the manufacturer has specified.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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How can you physically look at a motor and tell if it is OHV, DOHC or SOHC?
This is not always easy because there are so many components covering
what is considered the front of the motor. However, if you take all of
the other stuff off the engine and take the timing cover off it would
be very simple for anyone who has been around engines.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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The button doesn’t do this when I put the vehicle in any other gear. What could the problem be?
There is almost certainly a switch that is
attached to the brake pedal that allows for the gear shift to be
released when the brake is pushed and will not let it out of gear if
the brake is not being pressed. This is a safety feature that was
mandated for all automatic vehicles in the early 1990s.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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They want us to guess what they have, but later act irate when the part we order is incorrect. Any suggestions?
Just
continue to be kind. If you are going to stay in the parts business or
retail of any kind for that matter, there will always be those who take
away from those who really deserve the attention. Just remember we are
here to help and those who really appreciate us make up for those who
don’t.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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I have a 1982 Chevy Camaro. The rear driver’s side wheel keeps locking up. I have replaced the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder but it still does it. What could it be?
A question is the answer:
does the axle still turn when this happens? You may have a bearing
locking up especially if it is not a posi track rear-end.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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I have a 2005 KIA Sorrento that’s hard to start in the morning but runs fine after it runs for awhile.
A common problem in all fuel-injected vehicles is the coolant temp
sensor, which controls the computer temp that controls all functions of
the vehicle.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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We have a 2008 Ford Ranger. Brake pads and shoes have been replaced several times. The rotors and drums were resurfaced but after a few days, they start squeaking all over again. What could be the problem?
A couple of things come to mind. First, the rotors may be too thin. A
rotor has two sides. Sometimes the rotor can measure to be in tolerance
but if one side is worn thinner than the other, it can cause it to warp
very easily. Get someone to measure the width of the rotor on both
sides and they should be close to the same. If not, replace the rotor.
Cheap pads could be a culprit.
—Gerald Wheelus
Edgewood Auto Parts #253, Edgewood, Texas
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