Q: My Buick Roadmaster failed its emissions test due to high hydrocarbons (HC). The dealer took my car through the emission test lane and it passed for them. Do you have any ideas? -- W.W. e-mail

A: W.W., hydrocarbons at the tailpipe indicate unburned fuel. It’s normal for hydrocarbon emissions to be fairly high when the engine is first started. Once the engine and catalytic converter warm up, HC emissions should diminish. If you drove your car to the emission test lane without giving the engine and catalytic converter a chance to warm up, the HC emissions could be high enough to cause a fail. Also, if you had to wait in line and allowed the engine to idle too long, the catalytic converter could cool down causing a failure. I’m sure the dealer made certain the engine was fully warmed up before taking your Roadmaster for its emissions test. And maybe there wasn’t much of a line when they ran the car through.

Q: I own a 1998 Ford Escort. I bought it secondhand and it doesn’t have the owner’s manual. The problem is my dome lamp and map lights don’t work. I’m wondering if it could be a fuse. If so, do you know where the fuse for the domes lamps is located in my car? -- S.G., Chicago

A: S.G., yes, it could be the fuse. The fuse for your Escort is located in the instrument panel fuse box, which is just above the left-side kick-panel. The fuse is a 10-amp fuse marked “Room”. If the fuse is blown, try a new fuse. Make sure to only use a 10-amp fuse. If the fuse is good, or if it blows after installing a new one, you’ll need to have someone who specializes in electrical repair check the wiring.

Q: There’s an unusual clicking noise coming from the driver’s side front of my 1998 Honda Civic whenever I’m making a sharp turn, such as pulling into a parking space. An alignment shop looked at my car and said it needed struts, ball-joints, tie-rods and an alignment. Still, after all that work, the noise remains. What do you think it could be? -- D.K., Chicago Ridge

A: D.K., it’s probably a worn outboard constant velocity (CV) joint. The CV joint allows for the driving axle to operate at different angles as the wheel turns. If the CV joint is badly worn, it can break, leaving you stranded. Take your Civic to another repair facility for a second opinion. If the CV joint is bad and the car has high mileage, you may want to replace the entire axle shaft, which contains two CV joints, one mounted inboard and one mounted outboard.

Q: I own a 1989 Chevy S-10 truck. The check engine light is on and someone told me that I could jumper two terminals to flash the codes out with the check engine light. Is that true? Could you tell me how to do it? -- L.H., Matteson

A: L.H., yes, it’s true. Just turn the key on without starting the engine and jumper terminal “A” to “B” at the diagnostic connector. Terminal “A” has a black wire with white stripe and terminal “B” is right next to it with a white wire and black stripe. The codes will be displayed in numerical order, always starting with Code 12 which indicates that the self-diagnosis system is operating properly. Trouble codes, are displayed in the following manner: Code 12 is displayed by one flash, a short pause, then two flashes and a longer pause. Code 12 will be displayed 3 times in this manner. Then, any additional codes stored will be displayed 3 times each in a similar manner until all codes have been displayed. Once you’ve determined the code or codes stored, you’ll need to follow a diagnostic test procedure to determine the actual fault.

AutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician. If you have auto-related questions for Ira Siegel you can call and leave your questions at the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708-633-6839 or e-mail a question to Autoadvisr@aol.com.