Why would I ever use sport mode in my automatic transmission car? Will this increase fuel efficiency or is it simply a feature that makes for more fun when driving?
Engaging sport mode basically encourages the car's powertrain to favor acceleration and power over fuel economy and smoothness. For instance, if you are accelerating from a stop in sport mode, the car will hold each gear a bit longer than it would in regular mode. This helps the engine reach its maximum power output, which, for your car, falls roughly between 4000 and 6000 RPMs.Fuel economy will likely suffer somewhat when using sport mode because the engine will spend more time at higher RPMs than it would in regular mode at the same speeds.In theory, the car should be more fun to drive in sport mode, though that of course depends on what you think of as fun. One practical application would be when you are traveling in the mountains and want to have ample power available going uphill and also to hold gears longer going downhill to provide some engine braking.
How much does a rear differential cost to get replaced?
As everyone here says, you dont give enough info to answer accurately. To start though, for every model car there has been published a suggested time for a competent mechanic in a shop to r+r (remove and replace) or otherwise service all the parts in a car, that information also gets collected and put into aftermarket books available online. You can start by calling a dealer for the car you have and asking the book time to do the job- that will be a number of hours- that you multiply by the hourly rate to get a cost. I see 4 hrs mentioned, that is by no means standard across all models!As differential gears usually last the life of a car, buying the assembly used is likely a reasonable option, swapping out the whole unit is usually a much less technically demanding job that can be accomplished by casual mechanics, correctly assembling and shimming the internal gears should be done by an experienced shop.I see some have answered assuming it is a solid axle car, lots of modern cars have IRS (independent rear suspension), so the hours of required labor needed are all over the place.
What are the symptoms of a bad inner tie rod?
Symptoms of tie rod failure can include clunking or clicking when turning the wheel or while traveling over a bumpy surface, noticeable steering slack (moving the steering wheel left to right when the wheels are straght), vibrations when driving, reduced turning radius either left or right and a simple way of checking for wear is to turn the wheels to the left of checking the left wheel and to grab the tie rod with both hands and to move it about. If it moves freely then it needs replacing, if not fixed soon complete tie rod failure would release either wheel from any steering input leaving you stranded and in a dangerous situation if it fails at higher speeds.
How long does it take to replace a wheel bearing?
How long does it take to replace a wheel bearing?To get to and replace a wheel bearing on one wheel on a car or light truck is probably less than a 1 hour job in most cases for someone who knows what they are doing and does this kind of work regularly. They will have the correct parts, the tools, the right lift, a well lighted and roomy place to work. All of his tools will be the correct tools for the job and he will know where all of his tools are.If he gets in there and finds damage to the hub, it will take longer. For one thing, he probably won’t have a new hub handy and will have to see if the local parts shop has one in stock. If they don’t, then they will have to get one from their warehouse, which could take a day if they have it in stock. Then more time, if they have to bring it in. If you have a common vehicle, the parts should be in stock at the distribution warehouse. Depending on where the vehicle is, this could take a day or two to come in. Faster parts availability if your car is in Chicago vs a little town in NW Montana.Even if there is damage to the hub, the extra time to replace the hub is minimal. The time to get parts could be days if the car is not common. A hub for a Ford Crown Victoria is going to be readily available in most places and could be overnighted to just about anywhere in the US. A hub for a 959 Porsche, a Ford GT, or a DeLorean is going to take longer to source.
What are reasons your steering wheel won't lock?
I assume that you are referring to your steering wheel not locking in position after you stop the vehicle and take out the key?There are several possible reasons for this.1. The cog that fits into the detent on the steering column is broken and needs to be replaced.2. The detent on the steering column is worn or broken3. You have not turned the wheel far enough for the cog to find a detent. Pull the wheel first to the left, and then to the right to find the spot.4. The actuator from the solenoid to the cog is broken.To repair this will require the cover on the steering column to be removed, and probably need to have the steering wheel removed as well. Take it to a qualified shop or dealer for this. Incorrect actions could result in damage to the parts, or even the deployment of the air bag on the steering wheel. The exact disassembly required will differ for each manufacturer and possible model of vehicle. If you have a Chilton's manual for your vehicle, you can look up the repair to see what is involve.
Why does the steering wheel lock up while driving?
What Causes the Steering Wheel to Lock Up? | eHow Losing control of your car's steering is a terrifying experience, one that can lead to a crash with horrific consequences. If this happens to you, then you must try to bring your vehicle to a stop at once and determine the cause of steering wheel lock-up before you drive your car again. There are a number of reasons why your car's steering has suddenly locked up including:Key MechanismNot every steering wheel problem occurs when you have the transmission engaged and are heading down the road. Sometimes, drivers report that their steering wheel stays locked even after inserting the key into the ignition. When that happens, the car probably cannot be started let alone driven. More than likely the key assembly has worn out and needs to be replaced. However, before calling your auto mechanic, try to move the wheels to the left and to the right as sometimes the steering column "catches," a problem that can be resolved if you jiggle the wheel.Lock PinGeneral Motors issued a pair of recalls for the C5 Chevrolet Corvette (1997-2004 models) due to problems with locked steering. In addition to being locked while starting, owners complained that in some cases their cars could be driven but with no control of steering. This problem is due to a lock pin that fails to withdraw fully, allowing contact between the pin and lock plate. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) website (see Resources) for information about recalls #04006B and #04006C or call your Chevrolet dealer.ConclusionWhile the three causes mentioned here are among the top reasons why a steering wheel may lock up, there could be other reasons. Contact an auto mechanic for assistance, or if you are handy with repairs, consult a Haynes or Chilton repair manual (or anything similar) for guidance.
How many axles are there on a car?
In automotive parlance, an axle is deemed to be a solid structure connecting the wheels on both sides of the vehicle. Most modern cars have actually no “axles” but independent suspensions composed of several parts. But, as someone else has noted, for tolls and the like, a car is deemed to have two axles.Old time, cars, up to the late 1930’s had two axles - a front and a rear.Ford Model A Chassis - note the front axle is a transverse beam connecting both front wheelsThen, independent front suspension came along, such that each side at the front had the wheel spindle mounted on wishbone shaped struts, with a shock absorber and, generally, a coil spring. At this point, the terminology changed, and “front axle” was no longer used with respect to cars thus equipped. Though most trucks carried on with a solid front axle, and medium duty ones to this very day.1941 Chevrolet front suspension - the wheels hang off the side of the frameThis pattern for rear wheel drive cars carried on for decades, with a solid rear axle and independent front suspension. The shape and general design of rear axles carried on pretty much the same until the advent of front wheel drive cars.When FWD cars made the scene, there was not longer any imperative to have the rear wheels connected, as no driving axle was needed at the rear. Although in the early days of FWD, a solid rear axle was often employed, which looked much like the front axles of the early cars. There were handling and weight advantages to going to independent rear suspensions, just as there was for the same applied to the front suspensions.2012 Chevrolet Impala rear suspension