Answers to your auto maintenance/repair questions

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Can I do it myself look over the gearbox fluid? So drive the car cold and warm it up quickly by driving slow? Not a problem with the snow and ice.

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

Can I do it myself look over the gearbox fluid?

I recommending changing the gearbox fluid if it has never been done before. I don't know about the Focus but on most manual gearbox there is no dipstick. You check it by opening the filler plug and topping off fluid until fluid runs out.

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

So drive the car cold and warm it up quickly by driving slow? Not a problem with the snow and ice.

Yes, this it the best way to bring the engine up to temperature. You can warm it up in about 5 minutes of easy driving, as compared to idling for 15-20 minutes.

Get that shifting problem looked at ASAP before you damage the gearbox.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I just had an oil change about 2 weeks ago. Should it have been topped off at that time? If I top off the gearbox fluid should it run fine?

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I just had an oil change about 2 weeks ago. Should it have been topped off at that time?

No, gearbox fluid is not part of the normal oil change procedure.

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

If I top off the gearbox fluid should it run fine?

Maybe. I don't know unless I diagnose the problem myself.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

My husband said where is the gearbox fluid? He does the other four fluids regularly. What should I be looking for?

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

My husband said where is the gearbox fluid? He does the other four fluids regularly and started making fun of me about it. What should I be looking for?

In the gearbox: Transmission (mechanics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

"Gearbox" is a more precise term because "transmission" can mean anything between the engine and the wheels, exclusively.

"Gearbox" means a box of gears, literally. By this, I mean what's commonly referred to as "transmission" by lay people.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Got it. And we changed the fluids and top it off regularly.

Another question, my 99 corolla the lights on my dashboard went out. Is it easy to replace?

I guess I should take DH's car to a mechanic.

[InDebtInDC]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

Got it. And we changed the fluids and top it off regularly.

Are you sure? It's not like oil where you can just check a dipstick and pour in more oil. You have to get under the car and unbolt a filler plug and use a pump to pump fluid into the hole.

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

Another question, my 99 corolla the lights on my dashboard went out. Is it easy to replace?

Yes and no. If it's just the lights themselves, then you need to pull the gauge cluster and replace. It's not too bad and is pretty simple if you just look at how things are bolted on.

But lights all of a sudden don't usually go bad. I would suspect that you have another elctrical problem.

Do a quick check of all your fuses in the underdash fusebox and underhood fusebox. Most likely you have a short somewhere in the system.

Put in a radio lately? Did something else in the elctronics stopped working?

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I guess I should take DH's car to a mechanic.

Get the hydraulic clutch system checked out.