Toyota Corolla & a 2003 Ford Focus

This weekly Q&A session answers your questions about cars and trucks. This week explores a 1992 Toyota Corolla with a brake light problem and a 2003 Ford Focus that has no guts and no mirror.

Question: 1992 Toyota Corolla

I have a 1992 Toyota Corolla sedan. The right side brake light box contains two 1157 bulbs for brake and tail lights. The outer one is very dim when I brake without the lights on. The bulb is not the problem. The bulb lights normally for tail lighting. When I hit the brake with the tail light on, the tail light goes out and the brake filament does not light either. All three other 1157 bulbs in the back work fine. My mechanic says that it is 99% the master light switch in the steering column. I'm skeptical. What do you think?

Thanks!

Answer:

When a brake and/or tail lights act in such a manner as this it is almost always due to a bad circuit ground. What you will need to do is check the ground side of the circuit for that light socket, you can run a temporary ground wire to confirm or deny this as the cause of this problem. But you can rest assured it is definitely not the main head light switch.

Question: 2003 Ford Focus

When I take off, my 2003 Ford Focus sputters, and so of course, I floor it to make it go. I have tried gas treatments, and it worked for that one tank of gas and then it started again. I put it in neutral and it doesn't sputter. I also need instructions on how to replace the passenger side mirror. I have the mirror but what tools do I need? Help me please!

Thanks,

Liz

Answer:

My... my... my... those Ford Focus mirrors are dropping like flies. Read this article for instructions on how to replace the mirror.

The most common cause of this kind of "sputtering" problem is either a bad fuel pump or a clogged fuel filter. The best thing to do would be to replace the fuel filter first and see what happens. If that doesn't work then you will need to do a fuel pressure test to see if the fuel pump is putting out the correct fuel pressure and fuel volume. Less common causes can be a low transmission fluid level, a clogged transmission fluid filter or a slipping transmission.

That's all for this week. Feel free to browse the archives for past topics. And, as always, if you are stuck and need an immediate answer you can always call Vince on the phone.

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