Bought car new in June 06, had it ever since, religiously change oil and stuff, has 73k miles now. Three questions: 1) went in for 60k service a while ago and was told that the fuel filter is in the tank and therefore cannot be changed. Is this true? It seems like I should be able to change it. 2) went on a mini-road trip this weekend. after driving for several hours, needing gas, getting gas, then cranking the car up again, the engine did this weird shaking thing. both times. it felt like it was going to jump out of the hood! (but it only did it for a few seconds). i'm wondering if it is related to above question, or why it would do that ONLY after driving for a while, cutting it off, then restarting it. Or maybe something about getting gas is the issue? 3) when it's really cold, if i turn the wheel all the way one way or the other when backing up or going forward, something in the wheels or suspension or something makes a loud thumping noise. it doesn't do it when it is warm...when it snowed the other week it did it even when i didn't have the steering wheel turned all the way. thoughts? Thanks guys. Sorry to be such a n00b. :/
greetings! 1. yes 2. get back to us after the next tank if it does it again. If possible, go to a different station/company (shell instead of Texaco, etc...) 3. odd...at first I was thinking torn CV boot, but with it only doing it cold...I dunno.
check your front axles and boots. giving a tug on the wheels to check the wheel bearings might not be a bad idea either
K. wheel bearings are fine (autocrossed on the 8th and it was fine), will check boots and axles again (have checked them a few times--I always get funny looks when I lay down in parking lots lol). When I checked them before nothing looked wrong, made a friend check them too. I used Amoco for both tanks...the only thing is, I don't know when I'm going to be driving for hours upon hours, stopping, and putting gas in...it doesn't do it when I am running errands, even if I stop somewhere for a short time. Might have to get the hubby to go with me for another mini-road trip on Saturday. I'll try Exxon or something next tank. Thanks guys.
73K in less than 3 years?! Holy crap! 1- yes, as Matt said 2- I don't think you need to worry about it unless it happens again. could just be a fluke thing. I think I remember that happening to me once a long time ago... 3- I'd say bring it by and I'll take a look but you're really far away. I bet it wont be hard to figure out what's going on. Maybe swing it by a shop that has a lift and see if they'll help you out. And welcome to the board!
Yeah...when I first got the car, I lived in Athens, worked in Auburn (GA) and had lots of family in Carrollton. Hence the insane miles. about 2...it happened twice...but only under those circumstances. I'll keep an eye on it. 3...I'm about to need new tires anyway; do you think GTE would be ok with looking at it when they do that? Do they do anything other than tires such that they'd know what was wrong? And thanks for the welcome! I've been a longtime lurker but usually found answers to questions by searching...guess the posting frequency is directly proportional to the age of the car lol.