1996 Chrysler Sebring the key is stuck in the ignition

Question:

I only had 1 key to my 1996 Chrysler sebring, so about a month ago I went to a local locksmith and they made me a copy of the original key. I am not for sure, but I am guessing that my original key has a chip in it because it is a factory or dealership key w/ black top. My sebring is equipped with the anti-theft system, of which when I purchased the car used, I did not receive the key-less remote to. Anyways, my question or problem is this: I have been using the copy key for the entire month with no problems until a week ago...the key is stuck in the ignition on acc. and will NOT turn all the way to lock so I can get it out! It is STUCK and WILL NOT COME OUT!!!! What could be causing this and how do I get it out? Is it because it isn't the chip key and if so how could I use it before now without any issues? HELP!!!!



ANSWER:

Any Chrysler's keys with a black top do not have a chip, they are usual blank keys.
Keys with a chip ( transponder) have a gray top, like this one:




Your anti-theft system contains the switches that are located inside the front doors and when you turn your door lock cylinder ( driver or passenger) a switch send an ON or OFF signal to the Body controller.
Your problem with the stuck key is only mechanical failure of the ignition lock cylinder.
There is nothing related to a "chip" technology.
You should replace the ignition lock cylinder.

theft system has locked my car down can't start it. took battery

theft system has locked my car down can't start it. took battery cables of for a few minutes, but did not help. 97 Cadillac Deville. let sit four hours, took positive cable off battery for a while, now my battery is dead used another car and booster cables for battery no luck

Answer:

There is a problem with the "passkey ll " system. The best way to diagnose that would be the "interrogator" tool. Most lock smiths will have that. There are 13 different resistance values in the diodes, (in the key) and most times it is a problem with the ignition switch sending the correct information to the decoder module.

The best thing to do would be to get a lock smith to come and check it. They will normally charge about $65, which is less than the dealer, minus the tow charge. They will pinpoint what part is needed.

I have a 1996 GMC truck that has a p0154 code

Question:

I have a 1996 GMC 350 truck that has a p0154 code replace the o2 sensor.It was bank 2 sensor 1 replace. The code came up the same what could it be?

Answer:

The computer is not seeing any action from the drivers side front oxygen sensor. Either you changed the wrong sensor or the wire from the sensor to the computer is damaged somewhere.

I have a 2002 Chevy Silverado Reg Cab 1500 and I changed the battery but it still doesn't start.

First determine what it is or isn't doing.

1) Engine turns over, but will not start
2) Engine does not turn over when attempting to start (nothing Happens except the lights do come on)
3) Clicks Once
4) Clicks repeatedly
5) No lights, no noise.... nothing
6) Starter motor spins, but does not engage

Then diagnose properly. Car won't start Diagnostics

How to change rear brake pads on a 2001 Mazda Miata

Question:
How to change rear brake pads on a 2001 Mazda Miata. I can't get the caliper to fully retract so I can put on the new pads.

Answer:
Sometimes you need to remove the brake fluid reservoir cap. This will allow the fluid to move so the caliper piston can be compressed. This happens when fluid has been added at any point.

Brake Replacement Step by Step with Photos

I have a 89 ford escort that has been setting for 10 years.

Question:
I have a 89 ford escort that has been setting for 10 years. want to get it going again but am having brake problems. Replaced brake booster. both rear wheel cylinders and shoes, both front calipers, master cylinder and cleaned the lines and I still don't have good brakes. I have to stand hard on the brake pedal to stop but it will not stop as fast as it should. Could it be the brake pressure control valves locates on the bottom of the master cylinder or is it something else. It just doesn't stop like it should in case of need to.

Answer:
Below is are quick diagnostic steps for hard brake pedal. You have done most everything but we need to take it a step further. Either the new booster is bad(it happens) or you do not have sufficient vacuum at the booster most likely caused by an engine vacuum leak. Since the car has been setting for some time it is more than possible for there to be cracked hoses, etc that are creating a vacuum leak. A higher idle than normal is a classic description of a vacuum leak.

Brake pedal feel is firm, but brakes lack sufficient stopping power or fade
1) Check the operation of the brake booster and brake booster check valve. Replace worn or failed parts.
2) Check brake linings and brake surface areas for glazing and replace worn or damaged parts.
3) Check for seized hydraulic parts and linkages, and clean or replace as needed.

how to change spark plugs on a 2000 Ford Taurus

Question:
I have a 2000 Ford Tarus and want to know how to change the spark plugs myself, I am a single mom and i don't have a lot of money, can you help me?

Answer:


remove plug wire
use a 5/8 sparkplug socket and ratchet
turn counter-clockwise
install in reverse order
If this is a coil on plug set up, remove each coil assembly and then the plugs underneath

my 93 F250 is warmed up, it will stall on heavy acceleration

Question:
after my 93 F250 is warmed up, it will stall on heavy acceleration and heavy brake more often. Check Engine light is on. Already Tried: I have replaced the following: fuel pumps, fuel regulator, fuel filter, ignition module,distributor, stator, plugs, wires, cap and rotor

Answer:
The first thing to do would be to check for codes. This can be done without a scan tool. Here are the instructions.

Let me know what codes come up and we will move to the next step.

Do I need a code for the radio after I change the battery

Changing a battery in my 2005 Chevy Avalanche. Do I need a code for the radio after I change the battery? I had to have one in my Pontiac Grand Prix.

Answer:
No. The radio is Serial locked with the vehicles BCM. So there is no need to worry, this is a Chevy not a Honda!!

passenger side window just froze and wont go back up or go down

Question:

I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado. Last night my passenger side window just froze and wont go back up or go down either. I was thinking its a fuse or something like that, but when I do press the button for the window to move, all it does is click on that side. Drivers side window is fine. Would you be able to help me out?

Answer:

Since the other window works , it is not a fuse as they are not separate. Most likely your regulator has failed you and will need to be replaced. The window motor and regulator are sold as an assembly to be replaced at the same time.

My girlfriend has a 2000 jaguar XJ. She had one burned out low beam

Question:

My girlfriend has a 2000 jaguar XJ. She had one burned out low beam, and when the mechanic replaced this one bulb, both low beams barely threw any light. She drove a few days with the high beams on to compensate, but now they aren't working. Could the mechanic have screwed things up? Installed the light wrong? etc. He claims she now needs a new part which will be hundreds of dollars...all for a burned out headlight. The rest of the lights were fine until he replaced the one bulb. The other low beam was plenty bright. In fact, it was brighter by itself than the two low beams combined after he replaced the one bulb. I wondered if it could have been a ground issue or something to that effect.

Answer:

If all the mechanic did was replace the headlight that went out for some reason and the lights did not work correctly afterwards, then i would say the part was probably bad to begin with or the replacing the bulb would have fixed it the first time.

It is possible, You should have had him remove the bulb after noticing that it did not fix it right but you probably would ave found it needed the same part as what the mechanic is telling you that you need now.

wrangler is overheating and has an entire new cooling system.

Question:

wrangler Jeep 4.0, my 94 wrangler is overheating and has an entire new cooling system. it now is idling rough and stalls out. whats wrong? replaced the entire cooling system. was fine for a month now it overheats again and idles rough and dies

Answer;

This is a classic sign of a blown head gasket. To confirm this, have a compression test done. All cylinders should be within 20 psi of each other. If not, you have a blown head gasket. Have the head check for cracks once removed to be on the safe side.

Overheating Diagnostics

fuel pump assembly out but cannot figure out how to get the fuel pump out of the plastic assembly

Question:

I am trying to replace the fuel pump in my 2000 hyundai accent. I have the fuel pump assembly out but cannot figure out how to get the fuel pump out of the plastic assembly.

Answer:

This is a complete module unit and is replaced all in one piece. You do not remove it from the plastic module.

4 New tires, front ball joints, frt rotors and pads, rear brake rotors and pads

I have a 2004 Ford Mustang. Just had the following work done: 4 New tires, front ball joints, frt rotors and pads, rear brake rotors and pads; $2200. Was this a fair price?

Answer:
Depending on what kind of tires and size. The front pads and rotors and rear pads and rotors at "brake shops" run around $1200.00 usually less at a local car repair shop and could be more at a dealer. Ball joints could run around $450.00 installed. and tires can run from $100-$250 each depending on what you got. So if the tires where good ones then you got a fair price.

Honda civic that when it is cold it shifts slow into high gear

2002 Honda Civic

Question:
I have a 2002 Honda civic that when it is cold it shifts slow into high gear. the rest of the gears are OK, and it shifts fine when it gets warmed up. Already Tried: Changed the fluid

Answer:
Now you are referring to your car having an automatic transmission? If that is the case, I would recommend letting you car warm up a little before driving it. What most likely is happening, is when driving the car cold, not all the fluid has a chance to move around enough & warm to proper operating temperature. If it is only the top gear, you may not have enough fluid pressure &/or the torque converter is not engaging yet like if the car was at normal operating temperature. If you feel you have a much larger problem you can contact your local Honda dealer &/or Honda to verify that your transmission is not under a recall. That would help also.

2004 BMW X5 and the sat nav is showing an error

Question:

I have a 2004 BMW X5 and the sat nav is showing an error. Have cleaned the laser, cleaned the disc, tried the DVD unit in another BMW and it works fine! But I still have an error message pop up when I try and access the sat nav.

Answer:

Try performing a battery disconnect. You have to remove the spare tire and the cover over the battery. Wait at least 5 minutes after the key is shut off before disconnecting battery negative. Once you have disconnected the battery leave it disconnected for about ten minutes. This will re-set all of the modules. Once you have re-connected and started the vehicle turn the steering wheel lock to lock and the abs lights will go out. Now check the function of your Nav system.

controls on the steering wheel are not working

QUESTION:

2003 Honda pilot the controls on the steering wheel are not working. the horn the cruise control buttons and the volume buttons for the radio. they all stopped working at the same time. all the fuses are good. is there are any common problems with these SUV or what could it be?

ANSWER:

If all the fuse are good in all the fuse panels, under dash & under hood. Do you have brake lights? The only thing that shares in common it the cable reel. This helps make electrical contact for the items on the steering wheel to the steering column. Look for part#1 in the above diagram.

how do I remove drivers side window on 1999 Saturn SC2?

Question:
I have removed both the interior and exterior door panels on the driver's side. I can't seem to figure out how to remove the two clips that hold the bottom of the drivers window in place on the roll-up mechanism. My windows are the manual roll-up type, not powered.

Answer:
You are almost there. all you have to do now is push the window glass back towards the car( also with the window about half way up so the 2 white tabs that hold the window to regulator is visible) then the tab that is closer to the back of the car push down on the tab. you will see there is a tab with a lock on it just push down on the tab and push the window glass back this will make the front tab butt up against the window glass. do the same thing to the front tab now. push down on the tab and then push the glass back and up now. the glass comes out in between the inner and outer door panels.

hatch release suddenly popped and went weak, now the trunk will not open

Question:
My 2001 Explorer XLT back hatch release suddenly popped and went weak, now the trunk will not open. What can I do to open the trunk and fix the broken handle? Already Tried: key doesn't work, the squeeze latch stopped working today and has no tension on it to pull the door mechanism open.

Answer:
Basically the only option that you may have is to try to remove the interior trim piece from inside the truck and then turn the latch with your hand to open the hatch. Most of the time it is not very easy to remove the whole trim piece but I think on the Explorer you can pop the back glass and get in through the top of the trim piece once you pull it over the window latch. This is the way you are going to get to the inside to manipulate the latch in order to open and fix the handle.

I was driving and all of a sudden the car started to shake violently.

QUESTION:
1997 Nissan, I was driving and all of a sudden the car started to shake violently.The car started to reduce speed to about 20mph even though my foot was on the accelerator the car would not go over 2000 rpm's and would not go over 20mph. I have visually inspected the timing belt and there seems to be no rip or tears on it. I tried to add oil just in case the car was running low on oil.

ANSWER:
If your car has a timing belt, it is enclosed within the timing covers and you would not be able to see it. Most Nissan's have timing chains, so I don't think you saw the belt. Being said, I don't think you have a timing issue. I think you have a misfire on one or more cylinders giving this reduced power and violent shaking. If a check engine light has come on, you have to find out what codes are in memory. That is the first step. That will lead us to the offending cylinder if this is due to a misfire. Once we find the bad cylinder, we have to confirm, spark, fuel and fuel injector pulse, along with compression. One of these things is missing causing the misfire.