Q & A #19 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #19 With The Auto Specialist
I read a recent report that suggested people are continuing to stay away from dealership lots. That may be due to lingering fears of unemployment or waiting to see whether the car industry suffers any blowback from the automotive bailouts. Whatever the case, one thing is clear: folks are willing to drive their vehicles longer rather than upgrading to newer models. And that means their parts are more susceptible to developing problems, which fits perfectly with this regular column.
In this segment of the Auto Specialist, we’re going to address a reader’s issue with her car’s constant pinging. We’ll also help a gentleman get to the bottom of the smoke coming from his Diamante’s tailpipe. Without further ado…
Question: I have a problem that’s more annoying than anything. My 2004 Ford Escape (69,000 miles) has been making this pinging noise. It started right after I had a repair garage near my house clean out the gas tank. They found some dark slime in it and recommended that it be drained. I’m not an expert with this stuff, so I wanted to ask you about it. What’s causing the pinging and is it expensive to get it fixed?
Answer: Thanks for writing, JoAnn. There are a few things which might be causing the pinging sound you’re hearing. The first thing I’d do is ask your mechanic to test for engine codes. They might provide a valuable clue. If your mechanic doesn’t find any, take a look at your spark plugs. You’ll need to pull them out and look closely at the portion that goes into the cylinder. If they’re damaged or corroded, they might cause a timing issue. If the plugs look fine, ask your mechanic to look for carbon that may have accumulated on the cylinders.
The last thing I’d check is the fuel injection system. Sometimes, the injectors can get clogged, which may lead to pinging. Let me know which of those items eventually fixes the problem.
Question: I bought a 2001 Mitsubishi Diamante last year. It has about 100,000 miles on it. When I bought it, I’d occasionally see little wisps of white smoke coming out of my exhaust. It mostly happened whenever I started the car in the morning. I always figured it was due to normal condensation, so it was nothing to worry about. Now, the wisps have been replaced by thick clouds. Do I have a problem? If so, how can I get it taken care of?
Answer: Hi John. My guess is that you’re either dealing with a broken head gasket or a crack has developed in the engine head. The clouds of white smoke could also be caused by the intake gasket, but in my experience, the first two are more common.
As for whether you have a problem on your hands, white smoke isn’t good. It could mean that antifreeze is getting into the cylinder (the gaskets are supposed to prevent that from happening). I suggest that you take your car to a repair garage and ask them to take a closer look.
That’s it for today. In the next segment, we’re going to help a reader solve his problem with his car’s cooling system. We’ll also take a look at a reader’s issue with his sedan’s charging system. Should be an interesting installment, so be sure to join us next time. Until then, drive safely.
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Tags: Car Q & A, Car Q and A, Car Questions
