This week's question comes from Amy in Kansas.

Q:  Hi Ryan,
My warranty is about to run out on my 2005 Jeep Liberty.  Previously, the dealership worked on my vehicle and broke off the crank shaft bolt in the crank.  They had to rebuild my engine.  About a year later, my engine started running poorly and was misfiring badly.  I took it back to have the dealership check it out, and they found a piece of shop towel they had left in my fuel rail.  The shop towel was keeping fuel from getting to my number six injector.  Now that my warranty is almost up, what should I have them check to make sure I don't have any more issues?  I am thinking about having them do a compression check.  What else should I have them do in your opinion?
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                Thanks!
                                                                                                                    Amy

A: Hi Amy,
A compression check is a good starting point, but I would recommend a cylinder leak-down test.  The leak-down test will be more helpful in pinpointing mechanical issues with your engine.  This test does a better job of measuring the sealing ability of your engine and will tell you if you have a) leaking rings, b) leaking valves or c) other valve issues.

If the valves are leaking, the shop will have to take off the head to replace the valve and seat.  Normally, this is costly so you want the dealer to catch the issue while it's still under warranty.  If they find the piston rings are leaking, they will have to rebuild the engine.  The leak-down test can tell you this as well.  Besides checking the health of the engine, I would recommend a comprehensive vehicle inspection.  This should catch any other issues the Jeep may be having.  We recommend having a comprehensive vehicle inspection done by your mechanic about once a year to help track the health of your vehicle.  From my experience, Jeep Liberties also have issues with the front drive shaft joint. Because it isn't able to be rebuilt, you would need a whole new front drive shaft which can cost several hundred dollars.  So have them check that as well, as is it an easy part to inspect. 

                                                                                                            Thanks for your question!
                                                                                                                        Ryan

Our question this week is from Sam in VA:

Q: Hello Ryan
This is for a 1991 Toyota Camry DX 3sfe J-Vin with about 180k miles. After replacing the driver's side tie-rod and having a professional wheel alignment I've noticed some vibration in the steering wheel while making sharp turns, like a slight "shimmy" in the steering wheel. The axle-shafts need replacing(they're clicking in turns) and I do not know the condition of the ball-joints or wheel bearings.  With this limited information, at which components do you think I should take a closer look?  I'm thinking that the CVs are causing the vibration, but I would like your professional opinion.

    My name is Ryan Bascom.  My wife, Angelle, and I started On The Road Again Mobile Mechanic (OTRAMM) in 2011 in Northern Virginia. 

    I have been working on cars as my profession for 12 years, however I did my first oil change 18 years ago.  Growing up my father worked on his own vehicle so when I turned 16 and bought my first truck, a blue 1986 Toyota Pick-Up, I did the same.  I learned by doing, with my Dad at my side guiding me along.  From the first time I changed my own oil I was hooked. My life as a mechanic was born.

    Saturday mornings, while in the car with my parents, we listened to Click and Clack on N.P.R.  I thought it was amazing how much they knew about vehicles.  I wanted to know as much about cars as they did.  For the past 18 years I have been learning all of the tools of the trade that I can.  I've worked on every facet of vehicle repair and modification from painting to body work to working as a mechanic and a fabricator for specialty off-road vehicles.  Now I can't claim to know as much as Click and Clack, but when my wife and I listen to them on Saturdays I have a good track record of being able to correctly guess what they are going to say.

    When we heard that Click and Clack would be airing their last new show in June, we decided someone had to keep answering questions! And that is where the concept for this blog, Ask Our Mechanic, came from.  I want your quirky car questions from A to Z.  So write me at Otramm@otramm.com with your question and I'll try to answer it on this weekly blog.  I can't guarantee that I'll always be right, but I'll try my hardest to give you straight, honest and easy to understand answers.  So write us today and check back every week to read the answers to your most pressing and odd car questions!