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Retired old Gearhead

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Everything posted by Retired old Gearhead

  1. Coolant tank leaks are a known issue on some of the smaller Chevy's including the spark. Look for coolant around tank, but have it checked out for that issue. Coolant tank is a fairly cheap fix both parts and labor. Knocking sound on engine turn off sometimes indicated a hot engine...Have that resolved ASAP and keep checking the coolant tank and top off if required until you have that fixed. Tozzi has some xtra details that are to listen to as well.
  2. First off usually in a 'rear ender' you are not at fault. Second your insurance co. will send an adjuster to evaluate whether to fix or write off. Book value is about $6,000-$7,000. A bent frame will be expensive for them so they may do a write off and they get the car and you get a check.
  3. Axel nut real..140lbs...front is 145lbs.
  4. Engine off and in neutral or engine on and in neutral.
  5. Tozzi is correct about the initial oil change to get rid of the 'break-in' crap that ends up in the oil and filter on a new car. Synthetic will give you better mileage. Have you tried the 'roll' test to make sure a brake or brakes are not binding?
  6. Only the glass is the same from-2013 to 2015...Here's a link to the part. https://www.iamgmparts.com/auto-parts/2015/chevrolet/spark/lt-trim/1-2l-l4-gas-engine/body-cat/outside-mirrors-scat
  7. CVT working OK? Idle is smooth? Power OK? Using AC with the CVT lowers gas mileage so does a slipping tranny. Make sure your car rolls freely on a slight incline to check for brakes binding a bit. If engine idles smoothly and runs OK then my first guess would be slipping tranny or tranny running in the wrong gear. That, or brakes are binding. If neither, then engine is running too rich..might be a fouled MAS or other sensor. No warning lights?
  8. WARRANTY? Covered under your 3 year/50Kmi warranty..if past warranty replace the entire module and reconnect the remote cable. EV and conventional Spark exterior body components are NOT identical and..mirrors> unique to the EV.
  9. With a Prius your electric fill ups/charge will also be quite a bit longer..not sure but I think it takes at least an hour to get a partial charge at some far and few between charging stations. I can just imagine what would happen if you ever got a short circuit somewhere...Ouch!
  10. Welcome Ajstolz! Nice to have another "car guy" on this forum! We have a couple of 'car guys' here..some with professional experience in electronics, mechanics, lubricants and chemicals..others are very well schooled in various areas of car service and maintenance. I am a retired former pilot with a major airline with a background aircraft and car mechanical systems as I used to fly and maintain piston aircraft like DC-4's on down as well as rotary during the 'Nam conflict. Cars, boats and watches are my passion and I am good with mechanical stuff but kinda lost with electronics. I was able to
  11. Did you have the PCV recall done and if so at what mileage and what is the current mileage. Did you buy it new or used..need that info before we can help.
  12. Ya Bobby, I know how you feel..I'm not that old at 65yrs and retired at 50yrs old, but my warranty expired way back in the 80's some time as well. I pretty well think the CVT issues were all ironed out in the 2017's..Good long torque curve 1.4L aluminum engine helped that issue quite a bit. I also don't like manuals..specially in a small engine due to constant shifting in traffic..younger members like that the way we did back in the day of the V8..sporty. I have test driven the 2017 CVT and found it much improved and very smooth at all speeds..just had one rolling stop where it never dropped t
  13. Final words..My 2013 Spark auto tranny has about 130Kmi and I know 2 Pizza guys who have well over 175Kmi same 2013 auto tranny..none have ever has any issue..2014-2016 has had one CVT issue after another.
  14. OK..glad it worked....USB sticks are cheap and can store maps movies and music..best and most simple method. I have about 6 with maps, different music and a few movies. Formats that can be played are described in the owners manual..I know nothing about formats or computers and if I can do it..well..you get my drift... I will not be active on this forum each early morning as I usually am..working on the boat for a cruise to the Caribbean islands and maybe up to NYC so I need to get engines ship shape and have some fittings and furniture replaced as well as new fridge and maybe a .50cal for the
  15. Yup..Could be a short in the starter or even a bad starter solenoid..Still not thinking the key as anything to do with this, but could be the ignition switch (where the key is inserted. Have a trusted mechanic check it all out..nothing major..just a short somewhere or bad starter..nope..replacing the starter is exact work..have it done if needed or if BF can do it with correct knowledge...Just get it all checked out as any good mechanic can find the problem and fix it in one shot..don't fiddle around trying to save $$ as it may get worse..have it done properly and NOT by the dealer..electrical
  16. Welcome to the forum Andrew!..Wise choice on the manual with the very nice 1LT wheels. Drive it for 500mi..then get an oil change to Synthetic and that will get rid of all the factory/break-in metal shavings and synthetic is best for these little engines..better gas mileage and longer engine life..I know the excitement of a new car..drive it fast and hard after the first 10mi..good for beak-in and don't do any mods until you drive enough miles to get bored..any mods are really not needed with all that you have.
  17. Governor kicks in at about 105-107Mph. That speed downhill means very little..if you can get 105mph on a level road..well, lets just say your drivetrain is in very good shape..how many miles on the 2013?
  18. Ya..Just get a 'load test' on the battery..the only battery test that counts to eliminate that. Your fuel pump is obviously OK and in my previous post I thought you has a MyLink (Big screen on dash) but you don't making the issue even simpler..Once load test is done only thing left I can think of is the key or key programming itself since you bought the key from a private party after you bought the car from what I gather in your post..so if that is the case I suspect the key as it needs to be properly mated electronically to the specific vehicle..That's really my best guess on your whole issue
  19. Format the USB drive to 16 fat if it is formatted to Apple extended or some other format this is what to do..then as Tozzi said..just put the MP3's on it..works just fine and I use several smaller capacity USB drives that have different types of music as well as a bigger capacity stick with a variety of maps re-scaled to fit the screen. 3rd party player like yours are mostly not recognized by the MyLink the way Apple players and Phones are.
  20. Very kind of that man to offer to do that for you! Us older guys with daughters have a soft spot for younger people that are having issues like that. I have paid for groceries several times for young people having an issue at check-out where they are short $ and have no credit card..specially a single mom who can't pay for baby food or diapers. I can afford it and it makes my day and probably the younger person will walk away with more confidence that there are always people who are willing to help. I usually don't say anything because they will usually not accept it..so I just give the cashie
  21. Yes battery is covered by 3 year warranty on purchase. Problem with batteries are that some are made to spec but some are not as the internals make use of very inexpensive materials and some are not properly charged or filled to spec as well as numerous suppliers to the factory that makes the battery as well as the numerous suppliers of batteries to the factory..so.. a great range of the same GM label batteries go into a single model of car..I guess mine was to spec and properly filled and charged at the production stage. Best advise I can give is to buy a good quality name bra
  22. Our 2013 Spark has close to 130Kmi and the original battery is still 100% good...Just a flick of the key starts it and all functions like wipers, windows and lights work at full capacity at idle. I activate the power windows up an down several times per week to keep them from seizing that is possible after some years of not using them..particularly the rear..Do that on the Rover as well. Living in a warm climate helps as battery drain/use is much higher in colder climates since more battery power is used for cold starts and windows while the battery itself is at reduced power when cold as in 0
  23. What year is your Spark (Chevy Beat) and how is it holding up in the conditions in India?..Any issues you have had?
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