How much would it cost to repair/replace the roof of a 1988 BMW convertible? [more inside]
posted by gilgamix on Dec 9, 2009 - 7 answers

While performing routine maintenance on my car, my mechanic noticed a hum coming from the (standard) transmission. He then changed the transmission fluid and noticed pieces of metal when draining the old fluid out. Crap. This car only has 85,000 miles. How many more can I realistically get out of it? [more inside]
posted by Rewind on Dec 4, 2009 - 11 answers

Should I bother fixing my catalytic converter? [more inside]
posted by zvs on Nov 17, 2009 - 10 answers

Why are there separate repair places for foreign cars? [more inside]
posted by madcaptenor on Sep 24, 2009 - 14 answers

Decision procedure, method for getting rid of old car? [more inside]
posted by paultopia on Jul 13, 2009 - 10 answers

Currently in my 2005 Chevy Malibu the driver seat frame is cracked. Underneath the seat I can see a metal bar going across (not IN the seat but under) and it has a huge crack/hole and the other piece is hanging off. This causes my seat to tilt back some and rock. I know eventually when that breaks completely my seat will forever tilt back. Is there a way I can fix this by DIY? [more inside]
posted by dolemite01 on May 6, 2009 - 7 answers

Shady auto body shop in Toronto. Help me prepare myself... [more inside]
posted by reformedjerk on Feb 23, 2009 - 3 answers

How long can I wait to replace a purge valve in my '98 Toyota Corolla? How much is a reasonable price for getting this done? [more inside]
posted by lblair on Dec 15, 2008 - 3 answers

The heater core in my 2001 Ford Taurus has just failed for the third time in less than 18 months. The car has about 90K miles on it. What could be causing these repeated failures? [more inside]
posted by maurice on Nov 6, 2008 - 6 answers

VW "Customer Care" isn't exactly screwing me, but they're not doing me any favors, either. What should I do next? The part was poorly designed and faulty, but I didn't get my car to the dealership until two weeks after the expiration of a warranty extension I never knew about. Full story follows: [more inside]
posted by booknerd on Nov 3, 2008 - 9 answers

Somebody loaned me their car for a week. I managed to ding the bumper. Help me figure out if this is something I can fix myself or if I need to take it to a body shop. Pictures inside. [more inside]
posted by floam on Nov 1, 2008 - 19 answers

I've a false engine temperature indication on my 98 Ford Contour. [more inside]
posted by Mblue on Sep 19, 2008 - 2 answers

Is it true that it is good for a car to fill it up with higher grade gas once in a while? I usually fill up at Shell, and there is 87, 89 and 91 kinds of gas, with 87 being the cheapeast and 91 being the most expensive. I usually get 87. However, I heard that if you own a car and want it to last longer, it is beneficial to fill it up with the most expensive gas, to "clean the engine". Is that true? If so, what is the explanation behind it? I drive a 2002 Kia Rio, if that makes any difference.
posted by esolo on Dec 22, 2007 - 22 answers

Help me figure out what's wrong with my old crappy van. [more inside]
posted by ludwig_van on Nov 1, 2007 - 9 answers

car question: timing belt replacement on Hyundai 2003 Accent at 60k? [more inside]
posted by advil on Sep 5, 2007 - 13 answers

Convertible Top Repair: Possible? [more inside]
posted by trinarian on Jul 29, 2007 - 6 answers

Autofilter: Should the windows on my '05 Volkswagen GTI roll all the way down? [more inside]
posted by wmeredith on Jun 12, 2007 - 2 answers

When buying exhaust flex pipes like these, to fit over an H-pipe with a diameter of 2.5", would you buy the flex pipes with the 2.5" outlet diameter or do you need something bigger? [more inside]
posted by Venadium on Jun 2, 2007 - 1 answer

I've always liked cars, but I'd really like to learn how to repair them and get some hands-on experience, if possible. How can I do this? [more inside]
posted by Oobidaius on May 15, 2007 - 26 answers

My 1991 Jeep Cherokee automatic seems to be "trembling" while it idles. The shaking decreases once it's moving, but persists- albeit in a much reduced state. On top of that, the engine just sounds like it's working harder than it used to. Help! [more inside]
posted by Waffle_King on Feb 21, 2007 - 7 answers

Car makes an Odd Sound [more inside]
posted by slowtree on Jan 18, 2007 - 12 answers

Sometimes when I try to start my car, it doesn't seem to "catch". This only happens sometimes, and when I took it to the shop, they couldn't find anything wrong. [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects on Jul 3, 2006 - 17 answers

My car's engine heat indicator suddenly began soaring anytime I idle. This can't be good. What is the cause, and how do I fix? [more inside]
posted by donmayo on May 21, 2006 - 12 answers

Mechanics: I've got a 1964 chevy bel air which is my daily driver that needs some work. I'd like to do it myself, but I'm sorta a car newbie. What online communities and resources will be useful to me? Do you have any specific anecdotes, tips and tricks for working on old cars? [more inside]
posted by fishfucker on Dec 7, 2005 - 25 answers

Any good online references for finding an auto repair shop? Reports, reviews, horror stories? [more inside]
posted by intermod on Oct 24, 2005 - 9 answers

At what point is it not worth putting any more money into keeping an old car running, and just going out and getting a new one? What's the equation? [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky on Aug 29, 2005 - 15 answers

Anyone develop 'stuck window' on their Honda Accord? How did you fix it? [more inside]
posted by clord on Aug 6, 2005 - 6 answers

Does anyone have any experience with DentPro for removing/fixing dents on a car? Why are their estimates so much cheaper than an autobody shops, and do they really do as good a job? Any additional info is welcome.
posted by ruwan on Apr 26, 2005 - 4 answers

How can I figure out what's leaking from my car? (And other maladies...) Does anyone know of a site -- like WebMD, but for cars -- where I can type in symptoms and narrow down what might be wrong with a car? I know that I can go to a mechanic, but sometimes the first question is whether it's even safe to drive the car to the mechanic. [more inside]
posted by xo on Mar 31, 2005 - 10 answers

Apologies for CarFilter, however: some weeks ago my car stereo began behaving badly before finally dying. [mi] [more inside]
posted by mcsweetie on Jan 29, 2005 - 5 answers

ClickandClackFilter: My car will not start in wet weather. [+] [more inside]
posted by spicynuts on Jan 8, 2005 - 24 answers

Can someone recommend a good, trustworthy, American-car auto mechanic, preferably near my work in Berkeley/Emeryville?
posted by fandango_matt on Dec 15, 2004 - 4 answers

My headlights are out! [M to the Izzo] [more inside]
posted by nicwolff on Aug 28, 2004 - 10 answers

My truck failed an emissions test for the first time (in No. Virginia). It's a 1993 Toyota pick-up, 2x4, 2.4L - 4cyl. (ext. cab). I just turned 200,000 miles on it last month and replaced the muffler and tailpipe the day before the inspection. The failure is with the NO ppm test. It failed at both 15 MPH and 25, but not by much. Am I looking at a converter problem for sure or is there something I can do first before replacing it? What's the best way to approch this problem?
posted by Witty on Jun 10, 2004 - 5 answers