Q: I own a ’97 Ford Explorer 4x4 with 146,000 miles. At speeds more than 45 mph, I hear a loud roaring noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The faster I go, the louder the noise gets. I’ve had the tie rods, ball joints and brakes replaced.

I’ve also had the right-front wheel bearing and hub replaced. I was told that this noise could be a bad leftfront wheel bearing. What do you think? – W.D., Country Club Hills

A: It’s quite possible that the left-front wheel bearing is causing the noise. I wouldn’t recommend continued driving with the noise. You should have your truck inspected immediately.

If the bearing is going bad and you keep driving, it could fail – possibly causing a loss of directional control. Most repair shops, and those that specialize in brake repair, should be able to determine if the wheel bearing is the source of the noise.

Q: My 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC had some running problems. After replacing the spark plugs and coils, the car now runs fine. However, the check engine light is on. Could the oxygen sensors be bad, causing the check engine light to be on? – R.A., Maywood

A: There are many things that could cause the check engine light to be on. Some auto parts stores will read the codes for you free of charge. Take your car to one of these retailers to see what fault codes are active.

Keep in mind that the fault code doesn’t necessarily tell you what part is bad. Each fault code is associated with a diagnostic test procedure, or flow chart, that needs to be followed before replacing any parts.

Q: I recently purchased a used 2008 Chevy HHR. I like my car, but when I was installing the front license plate I noticed a lot of movement in the front bumper. I went back to the dealer and asked if this car was in an accident. They told me it was not in an accident. They told me that all HHRs are like this because the front bumper is held on by plastic clips, not bolts.

The dealer showed me other HHRs and they had movement just like mine. I believe this is a lack of quality and I’m worried that those plastic clips may eventually break and my bumper could fall off on the highway. What’s your opinion? – S.C.

A: The HHR is not the only vehicle with plastic clips holding the front fascia on. My experience with plastic clips holding fascias and trim panels on is that they don’t usually break until you try to remove them. Of course, they can break if the vehicle is involved in an accident. But if you’re still concerned about the bumper falling off, you could take your HHR to a body shop and have an auto body technician check to make sure the bumper is secure.

Q: Do you know the horsepower rating and trailer towing capacity of my 2002 Chevy S-10 Blazer (4.3-liter) four-door? – K.B., Chicago

A: Yes, the engine is rated at 190 horsepower and the towing capacity is 5,200 pounds.

Questions for Ira Siegel? Call the Auto Advisor Hotline at (708) 633-6839 or e-mail autoadvisr@aol. com. Siegel is an automotive instructor and an automotive service excellencecertified master auto technician.