Business

Auto Scanner: Bad ground could cause bad bearing

By Larry Rubenstein
Staff writer
Published: August 24, 2008

Q: I recently had the left front hub assembly replaced for the fourth time in three years. It is acting up once again after just one week. What happens is as soon as I put the car in gear, the low track off and anti-lock brake lights come on after dinging three times. Do you have any idea what might be causing this? This started last fall and when the cold weather came it did not do it again until the warm weather again. Also the battery light comes on, dings three times and then goes off. This only happens after the car has sat for a few hours. It only does this when I have driven about a hundred yards. I just replaced the battery as I was told the battery was only working on 50 percent power. What could the matter be? We are really baffled over these problems.

A: I would begin by looking for a bad ground in the car. The missing ground would cause the bearing to fail early, add itself together when it is spinning, because it is missing a ground. I have to assume the installer of the bearing is using the factory torque specifications on the hub bolt and not just cranking it down with a half-inch gun. As far as the battery light coming on and a warning bell, I would have the charging system checked and look for excess ripple in the alternator pattern.

Q I have a 1993 Honda Accord with 112,000 miles on it. I've had it for 1 1/2 years. Both last summer and this summer, the car won't start at times. It happens either when it's hot outside or after driving it a short distance. It happens every few weeks although more frequently this summer. At first when I try to start it I hear a rush of air blowing through the engine. I sometimes rev the engine when I first start it so it continues to run. A few times it chugged out then I was unable to start it after that. By waiting 20-30 minutes I can then start the engine.

I've brought to my mechanic a few times, and it always starts when he's had it a few days. It's had a tuneup recently and the fuel filter replaced. Last summer I tried to jump-start it, but that had no effect. Maybe you've run across this before and can advise me.

A: From the sounds of your letter, your idle air control motor is not doing its job. To diagnose this, next time the car won't start, give it just a little bit of gas pedal. If the car now starts, you can be pretty sure that the problem repair will be a new idle air control motor. If that doesn't help, have a competent technician scan the computer controls while the problem is present.

Car Care Tip: In every owners manual, there is a list of the proper fluids to be used in your vehicle. If you take your car or truck to an independent repair facility, you may want to go over these fluids with the repair technician.

Larry Rubenstein is a master technician who owns a North Shore service station. His column appears Sunday in WheelsNorth. Write to Larry c/o The Eagle Tribune, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover MA 01845, or send e-mail to scanauto@aol.com.