****PRIOR TO POSTING****

[RJC]

When asking a question or seeking guidance from our helpful friends here in the problems forum, please include the following:

Vehicle Year
Date of production (located in frivers door jamb)
Engine designation
Options the vehicle has and aftermarket add ons....
Approximate mileage
Purchased new or used

Describe the problem accurately and thoroughly.
*Tell us when the problem occurs e.g. Cold start up, warm start, driving at a given speed, pulling up to a stop sign, going over a bump, etc...
* Describe any noises, e.g. Banging, thumping,whining, squeaking, rattling, crunching, explosion, etc...
* Is there an associated vibration or shaking? How severe?
* Are any malfunction lamps illuminated? Blinking perhaps? What exactly does the instrument cluster display say? Red screen, yellow, white?
* When the vehicle is started, does it crank at a normal speed, a slow speed, or a fast speed? (remember cranking refers to having the key turned to the start position, the engine is turning but has not started yet)
* In case of engine not starting, tell us if the engine will crank, or if nothing happens at all when the key is turned. Do the lights dim? Do you hear a loud clicking sound?
* What gear is the transmission in? e.g. P, R, N, D, L, 1, 2, etc...
* Is the transmission in S mode, M mode etc
* Is there an unusual odor present?
* Did the item in question stop working suddenly, or did it get worse over time?
* What color is the fluid leaking out of your car? Watery or oily? Odor? (apply fluid to white paper if in doubt about color)
* Is it leaking from the front, middle, or rear of the car? Which side?
* Have you made any changes to the car recently? Has it been serviced or repaired recently? What did they do?
*What was the weather like when you experienced this problem? Has there been a sudden change in weather? 98 degrees? farenhieght or celcius? Raining, snowing, clear? Catastrophic hurricane?

If you can, use the search feature and see if there was a previous thread re: your problem/question.

Obviously the more info you share the better we'll be able to help each other.

[4x4s]

You forgot the most important prerquisite - try to search the forum for your problem first. So many of these issues have been discussed and have known solutions.

While the vast majority of us here want to be helpful, it begins to be tedious answering the same question over and over agian every couple of days. I know that many times I will often ignore and not respond to some of the questions that have been asked so many times that I just don't care to discuss it again.

[RJC]

Good point but I'm guilty of this too from time to time...I'll edit the post and include this. Anyway we can make it a sticky?