I use Odyssey ’95 model. Recently, I discovered that ‘D4’ was blinking, while ‘DRL’ appeared on the dashboard. What is the implication and solution?
—+23480668873
The only implication is that it could cause a serious damage to the transmission. Please, run a scan on the transmission with an OBD1 scanner as soon as possible.
I’m about to bid for a car being offered for sale online in the United States. It’s a Toyota Highlander 2003 model. The issue with it is that it has been submerged in flood (not salt water), so the engine doesn’t start, and nothing shows on the dashboard. Should I go ahead, bid for it and have it shipped to Nigeria?
—davpraise@yahoo.com
It is not advisable to buy a flooded vehicle; albeit, they are sold very cheap abroad, but they come with all the frustrating electrical/electronic problems that can be imagined. It’s therefore imperative to encourage people wishing to buy US-imported vehicles from January to do history checks on the vehicles, so as to guide against buying hurricane Sandy-flooded vehicles brought into Nigeria by unscrupulous car dealers.
I drive a manual 1995 Mazda 626. Some months ago, it had overheating issue because the fan failed. The auto electrician that worked on it changed some connection on the fan, promising it would never fail again. Now, the car drives rough and stalls on idle. What can I do, because it also consumes fuel a lot and the acceleration is very slow? If I have to run a scan, can you recommend a place in Lagos for me?
—fataiabiona@yahoo.com
The only place I can recommend will be closed till January 7, 2013. And I will advise you to let the electrician go over his job again. The mistake could have been from the electrical job done on the car.
‘Maint Req’ has been flashing on the dashboard of my Toyota Sienna 2004
model. What does it mean?
—+234805466459
The ‘Maint Req’ means it is due for service, and it has to be reset manually after the lube service by the technician.
Please, refer me to a good mechanic in Abuja for my Nissan Pathfinder 2008 model.
—Funsho, +2347058518512
The Automedics is opening a facility in Abuja on or before February 2013.
I reside in Surulere and I have a 2001 Toyota Camry. I discovered recently that the car does not move as expected when accelerating and the RPM goes higher, sometimes almost reaching the red alert. What could be the problem and can you recommend anybody that can help solve the problem?
—Folorunsho Abiodun, follyabbey2002@yahoo.com
The problem you have has to do with your transmission. It does not shift when it is supposed to. I believe you will need to replace the transmission. But you should do a scan before you start spending any money.
Could you kindly advise me on the durability/ruggedness of this vehicle and what to check out for before buying a second-hand car used in Nigeria, with mileage of about 137,000 km to date, which does not appear to have been involved in an accident before?
—Sunny, nmesufat@yahoo.com
You did not mention the brand and model of the vehicle. But if the vehicle is well maintained, you can buy it.
My Honda CRV 2000 model was scanned and this is the result: P0420 Catalytic converter system efficiency below threshold. Bank 1. What should I do?
—+234703551300
Anything could have caused this code to be triggered. P0420 the heated O2 sensor between the engine takes a wave form (voltage reading to determine the air/fuel mixture), then the mixture travels through the catalyst and is cleaned and comes out to the second O2 sensor. The computer checks these to make sure they are different and that the catalyst is doing its job by changing (cleaning) the exhaust flow.
The reason you are having this code is because both sensors are reading the same, which means that the converter isn’t doing its job. This means that the catalyst is bad, the heated second O2 sensor is defective, or the second O2 sensor circuit is open/shorted. The answer to your problem would be first to make sure that this is the only code that your car is throwing (to make sure another problem isn’t causing this one). If P0420 is the only code showing, you will want to check through the entire exhaust system from the engine exhaust manifold back to the muffler, to make sure you have no exhaust leaks. If no leak is found, I would still go over the wiring of the sensors to the ECU to make sure they are not shorted. Rerun the scan and run a data stream to make sure your fuel trims are where they should be also.
I bought a second-hand Nissan Xterra 2000, but ABS light is on. Again, the fan will not work until it is increased to the highest (4). What can I do?
—Aladejebi Olanrewaju, aladejebiolanrewaju66@gmail.com
For the ABS, the only way to find out the problem is to run a scan on the ABS system. As for the fan, the fan control switch will have to be replaced.
How many kilometres must a 2002 model Highlander undergo before it is due for servicing?
—Gani, Gwagwalada, +234805358306
I will say between 3,000 and 5,000 miles.
I can fix some little stuff in cars and do some wiring too. But I want to learn more and advance in automobile repair. Do you have any contact number through which I can reach you? I would be glad if you can take me under your arm to train and groom me.
— timiajibade@yahoo.com
You can enroll for the Foundation or the Auto Electrical Classes of the Automedics Mechatronics Training Institute that’ll be commencing on January 15, 2013.
I came across a post detailing the setting up of automobile service centre. I have been nursing this dream for a while and I think this is the right time for me to do that. Also, I believe your advice will be of great help.
—Olumide Taiwo, creativemide@live.com
We mentor many auto-maintenance and repair workshop owners/entrepreneurs nationwide. You must e-mail Mr. Gbola Oba at info@automedicsafrica.com for a one-on-one mentorship meeting.
I need advice concerning my Primera P11 wagon that I’ve just purchased. I noticed that the radiator fan is always working whenever the car is operational and the car temperature does not exceed 32 degrees centigrade, which I feel is not good for the optimum performance of the car. How do I resolve this issue before it affects the engine?
—Opeyemi Asaolu, opeyemiasaolu@yahoo.com
The only way out is to reverse the way the fan operates to the manufacturer’s specified format.
I drive a Toyota Sienna 2002 and it seems to consume much fuel. When I had a scan, I got the following codes: P1135 and P1155. What is the solution?
—Biola, +234802353314
The P1135 is a low current malfunction on the A/F O2 heater circuit of Bank 1 sensor 1. Ideally, you need to test the voltage at the computer PIN A/F O2. It should read 12 volts. Within a minute or two, the voltage should drop to 0 to 2 volts when the computer turns the ground circuit on to energise the circuit and heat up the sensor. Then it will toggle between 5 and 10 volts, depending on the heater circuit demand. If the voltage is not 12 volts, then you need to check the voltage at the sensor. If the computer never drops the voltage, then the driver is bad in the computer. Ninety per cent of the time, the AFR/O2 sensor is bad; but in some rare cases, I have seen them take out the computer also. Bank 1 Sensor 1 is the sensor in the manifold by the firewall. Make sure you check the 25 amp A/F heater fuse. This code could also trigger the P0325 if it is allowing the engine to burn excessive fuel; which will cause detonation in the engine and trigger P0325. The two codes are pointing to your Oxygen/Air fuel sensors, which will negatively affect the fuel consumption of the vehicle. You will need to replace all the O2 sensors with new ones.