07/04/2009

Car Doctor: When storing a car, top off all fluids
Q. I own a 2005 Honda Accord Coupe, standard transmission, with 85,000 miles on it. It’s going to be off the road and garaged for the next three months. I just had the oil changed. Do you have any other maintenance and/or storage tips while it’s stored? I do have someone who can periodically start it up and “drive it around the block” on occasion. Also, do you have any advice on treatment when I begin to drive it again regularly?

06/27/2009

Car Doctor: Did engine blow because of a lack of maintenance or a defective part?
Q. The engine blew in our 2001 Kia Optima on Route 95 south while my husband was driving the car. Oil leaked from the car causing a small fire that was attended to by the Warwick Fire Department.

06/20/2009

Car doctor: Different type of oil could end stalling problem
Q. I have a 1999 Mercury Mystique with 80,000 miles. It runs well and has no problems until I have the oil changed. As soon as I get an oil change, the engine stalls while driving. This stalling will happen sporadically while driving and lasts one to two days. After a couple of days, everything is fine. I am due for an oil change; any suggestions?

06/13/2009

Car Doctor: Driver seeing red over brake warning light
Q. I have a 2000 Dodge Neon with only 55,000 miles on it. Recently the red brake light started coming on. I checked the brake fluid and discovered that it was low; I filled it with the proper fluid. The light is still coming on and there is an electrical burning smell under the hood. Do you have any idea as to what the problem could be?

06/06/2009

Car Doctor: Faulty starter could be the cause of clicking
Q. I have a 1995 Ford Aerostar with the 3.0 liter V-6 engine. From time to time nothing happens when I turn the key. It has been checked by several dealers and an electrical specialist. When I turn the key, the engine doesn’t turn over, it just clicks. If I let the car sit overnight, it starts fine and will keep starting fine throughout the day until the problem reoccurs. Do you have any ideas what could be causing this problem?

05/23/2009

Car Doctor: Check the neutral safety switch on your Kia Spectra
Q. My 2003 Kia Spectra will not start sometimes in park. When this happens if I force the shifter into neutral I can get the car to start. The repair shop replaced the range switch for $140 and it was okay for a week. Now the car is acting up again. A new mechanic checked the car and couldn’t find anything wrong; now what?

05/16/2009

Car Doctor: Leaking dipstick is easily repairable
Q. I have a 2000 Ford Taurus and after sitting in the driveway for a week this winter I came home to find transmission fluid leaking from the dipstick. I started the car and the level in the dipstick tube went down. I drove it and it shifted ok. I’m afraid to drive it and I don’t want to damage anything. I added more fluid because it was low. I drove it and then parked it. I seemed OK for a few days and then started leaking out of the dip stick again and continue to leak. I made several phone calls but haven’t spoken to anyone who has ever seen this before. I’d like to take it someone who knows what is causing this. Do you have any idea what the problem is?

05/09/2009

Car doctor: Vacuum leaks can affect AC and heater
Q. There is a problem with the heat in my 1999 Ford Crown Victoria. When driving to Florida this year the heater stopped working. I stopped at a Ford dealer and they thought it was a motor in the heater. At that time I chose not to repair the problem. Now the heater blows full blast out of the dash vents. What is wrong? By the way, I consider this car to be the best car I have ever owned.

05/02/2009

The Car Doctor: Missing splash guard on truck should be replaced
Q. I have two questions for you. I have a 1989 Ford Escort and the “door ajar” light is on, which makes the shoulder belt not work. Also, I recently had brakes and wheel bearings replaced on my Ford Ranger. When I was looking at the truck I noticed the left front splash guard was missing. I went back to the shop and they said they would replace it. How important is this part and what is wrong with my Escort?

04/25/2009

Zinc additive not necessary to keep classic Corvette’s engine in shape
Q. I have a 1966 Corvette and just heard from someone that these old engines need zinc in the oil to prevent wear. The problem, from what I understand, is modern oil does not contain zinc. I want to do the right thing for my car. What should I do and what should I buy? I have also heard of people adding a ZDDP additive to prevent wear, is this a good idea?

04/04/2009

Car Doctor: Maintenance costs create hardship for senior couple
Q. My wife owns a 2003 Toyota. In late October 2008, she took it to her Toyota dealer for maintenance. The bill came to over $700. She was very upset over the bill and had to pay by her credit card. On Feb. 12 of this year she had to take it back for more maintenance. The bill came back (three pages) for $1,300. They worked on the car for 3 1/2 hours and the labor portion of the bill came to $926. This had to be paid on a credit card, which now exceeds $2,000 in less than six months. It has created quite a hardship for both of us. We are both senior citizens on limited income. We don’t know what to expect for the car in the future; it could break down at any time. This is not saying too much for Toyota or the dealer. We would appreciate your thoughts on our problem.

03/28/2009

Car Doctor: High cost for repairing coolant leak
Q. I bought a new Infiniti QX4 in 2002. Since the beginning, I have been diligent about regular maintenance. The truck has 112,000 miles. The past few years I have been dealing with repairs such as brakes, front and back calipers, exhaust system, and on and on it goes . . . I am now facing another hefty bill. I have a coolant leak that concerns the rear coolant bypass. I was told by the dealership the coolant bypass is located behind the engine up against the firewall. I was advised that they recently replaced this hose on another QX4 and the only way to access this part was to drop the engine. Twelve hours and $1,800 later they fixed it. I am trying to avoid this situation and have called Infiniti’s consumer affairs office. The person I spoke to in that office said they could not help me, as they stand by the dealer. I have not yet placed a call to the general manager of the dealership, but that is next. I suspect that conversation will end badly! Do you know if this repair can be done another way? It would seem to be a design flaw if that is the only way to repair the rear coolant bypass.

03/21/2009

Car Doctor: Smoke machine may help find vacuum leak
Q. I have a 2008 Ford F-150 with a 4.6-liter engine. The truck has only 4,000 miles on it but already seems to have a problem. At certain times when I push on the gas pedal, I hear a hissing noise. The dealer replaced the power brake booster but the problem still exists. Is this a normal condition or a problem?

03/14/2009

Car Doctor: Cabin air filter is one of the most overlooked things in a car
Q. My wife has a 2007 Toyota Solara Convertible with 26,000 miles. I brought it to the dealer because the headlights were not working properly. As part of their check-up they wanted to replace the cabin air filter for $140. I’ve never heard of a cabin air filter. Is this service necessary? Is $140 reasonable?

03/07/2009

Car Doctor: Try a decal to beautify your faded woody
Q. I bought a low mileage Chrysler LeBaron convertible with the “woody” kit from Florida. The elderly lady who had it hadn’t driven it in the past few years. The problem is that one side of the wood decal is blistered and faded. I have searched everywhere trying to find the wood kit, but have had no success. I finally used contact paper, but it just doesn’t stand up. Do you have any suggestions?

02/21/2009

Cars: Check fuses and relays on Infiniti climate control
Q. My 1997 Infiniti J30 is equipped with automatic climate control. Today I noticed that when I use the heat, the fan doesn’t seem to work. I don’t get any air or heat out of the defroster, vents, floor, etc. I do not have an owner’s manual, so I’m somewhat limited as to what I can do myself. Before I go to the shop, what should I expect?

02/14/2009

Car Doctor: Catalytic converter could be the noisemaker
Q. I have a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 liter engine. The exhaust was normal for the first 15,000 miles; it then became loud and sounds like a hot rod. I had the muffler replaced, which toned it down some but it is still loud. The dealer has no answer or solution. Have you heard of anything like this?

02/07/2009

Car Doctor: A Subaru will do fine for college-age kid
Q. Can you help us to select an all-wheel-drive car, preferably a used model? Is there a sedan that you would recommend? We are researching to buy for our college-aged daughter. We want something that will handle well in inclement weather as well as in good weather driving conditions.

01/31/2009

Car Doctor: Leaky head gasket may interfere with the heater
Q. My ’94 Plymouth Grand Voyager has been without heat for some time. After replacing the thermostat without success, I was told the problem was the heater core. I had that replaced, again without success. Next, they replaced the vacuum tubes. The temperature gauge maintains a normal reading. After many trips to the shop, and hundreds of dollars, I am still without heat. They tell me the heat works when it is idling in the shop, but when it is driven the air turns cold. They want to replace the water pump next. Do you think this could be the problem and if not what is it?

01/24/2009

Car Doctor: What’s with the upright wipers?
Q. I often see cars with the wipers up during a sleet/snow storm. Is there a reason for this? If it is to help with snow removal, does it damage the springs by being left in the air?

01/17/2009

Car Doctor: Heater fan spewing odors
Q. When starting my 2001 Grand Am on cold mornings, I smell a gasoline odor when turning on the heater fan. The odor is strongest during the first 5-10 minutes the engine is running; then it tends to dissipate as the car “warms up.” My mechanic could not find any fuel leaks. Overall I haven’t had any problems with the vehicle for 104,000 miles. If the temperature is mild outside, I don’t smell the fuel odor. Any ideas that you would have as to the cause of this problem would be appreciated.

01/10/2009

Car Doctor: You can replace the cabin air filter by yourself
Q. I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander and on a recent trip to the dealer they suggested replacing the cabin air filter. How often should it be replaced and would it be difficult to replace myself? The dealer wanted $75 for a new filter.

01/03/2009

VW with sunroof is chronically foggy
Q. Since the cold weather began, the windows (and sunroof) in my 2007 VW GTI 5-door keep fogging up. It was taken to the dealership and after they spouted some nonsense about “off-gassing” mentioning that I left some rags in the hatchback, they departed from those avenues and were able to recreate the problem. Basically after the car has been running if the windows start to fog the only way to see usually is to turn on the defroster. The problem is when I turn on the defroster, it almost instantly becomes worse to the point I can barely see out of the front window and almost not at all out the side windows. The car has been checked for leaks and the sunroof collection tray was not full. The dealership says next step they say is to leave the car overnight while they install a heater . . . not sure what that will do. Can a defroster actually be introducing moisture into the car? Might I have bad window seals? There is a rust spot forming above the “b” pillar on the passenger side, but the VW district manager has to approve repair of this problem. I know this sounds complicated, but do you have any advice?

12/27/2008

Dried-out, cracking tires should be replaced
Q. How many years are tires safe to use? My wife’s car is five years old and the tires have about 20,000 miles on them. I brought the car in for service and the dealer recommended new tires. He said this was due to the original equipment tires appearing to have “dried out,” with visible cracks on the sidewalls. Is this a recommended practice; will most tires need replacement after five/six years even with low mileage use? How can someone tell when it is time to replace tires even if there is very little tread wear?

12/17/2008

Car Doctor: Leave ‘good’ transmission fluid alone
Q. My 1994 Ford Ranger “Splash” which I bought new, just recently went through the state inspection program. My truck passed with flying colors. The truck has 85,000 miles and in fact it still has the original tires, brakes and shocks. When should I change the transmission fluid? The owner’s manual doesn’t have a recommendation.

12/06/2008

Car Doctor: Looking in vain for grease fittings
Q. I usually change the oil on my personal cars. Recently I bought a 2001 Ford Escape. When I crawled under the truck with my grease gun to lube the front end, I didn’t see one grease fitting. Why is this?

11/29/2008

Car Doctor: Buick has faulty intake manifold gasket
Q. I own 2003 Buick Century with 37,460 on it. Since I have owned it, service has only been performed at the Buick dealership. Recently I was told a gasket is leaking and causing the coolant light to come on. The service manager told me the repair will be just over $1,100.00. My question to you, has there been any kind of bulletin or recall issued? The garage tells me this is a very common problem.

11/15/2008

Car Doctor: Bucking 4-wheel drive needs a look
Q. I have a question with reference to the “Drive Types Explained” portion of your Car Doctor column in the Journal. My 2003 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck has 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive controlled by a push button on the dashboard. When I am in 4-wheel drive, there is no slip between the two front wheels. This makes for some bucking when turning the car, forcing me to switch out of 4-wheel drive for anything other than basically straight ahead driving. Shouldn’t there be some limited slip? I assume that AWD cars have some sort of limited- slip front differential.

11/01/2008

Car Doctor: Replace the water pump along with the timing belt
Q. My 2001 Nissan Quest is approaching 105,000 miles. According to the maintenance chart, I should have the timing belt replaced. Should I have the water pump replaced as well? I’m not sure if this is a $500 job or $2,000 job.

10/18/2008

Fan may trigger Blazer’s dash lights
Q. My 2002 Chevy Trail Blazer, which I’ve now driven for 55,000 miles, is experiencing a problem. When the “service engine” light comes on, the “engine low power” light illuminates as well. This has happened a few times. The throttle body has been replaced, and then the accelerator pedal with electronics was replaced, as well as the spark plugs. There were no concerns reported on the emissions test. When this problem occurs, I turn the engine off and restart it again. The “service engine” and “low engine power” lights then go out for an undetermined amount of time, and then the problem reoccurs. What do you think?

10/11/2008

How to get best gas mileage
Q. I own a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder V-6 with 32,000 miles on it. It runs great, but gets about 18 miles per gallon. About 75 percent of our driving is on the highway. Because I plan to keep this vehicle for a while, I would like to try to squeeze a few more miles per gallon from it. I am sure that there are a lot of people who have SUVs but cannot trade them due to the trade-in values right now. I wanted to know how to improve the mileage on this type of vehicle. I was thinking of the following, and wanted to know if it is worth it: switch to a low-restriction K & N air filter. I have read claims that this type of filter can return up to 4 more mpg, using synthetic oil and switching to a less aggressive tire. Do you have any specific recommendations? Will these individually, or taken together, give me more miles per gallon? If so, how much?

10/04/2008

Car Doctor: Leak could explain Chevy’s fast idle
Q. I have a 2001 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, with a 2.2L engine that’s logged 71,000 miles. My problem is that recently it has begun to idle much too fast when fully warmed up. If I shut it off and restart the engine, it idles fine. I would like to have some idea of the cause before I bring it to the repair shop.

09/20/2008

Sometimes time — not mileage — dictates replacing timing belt
Q. I own a 1998 Honda Accord with a four-cylinder engine. The car has been driven only 38,000 miles, but when I went in for my last maintenance visit, the mechanic at the Honda dealership told me that I should replace the timing belt, because he says the belt tends to dry out over time. I am interested in your opinion regarding this. Do you recommend that I change the belt? All the other belts appear to be in very good condition.

09/13/2008

Car Doctor: Bead sealer prevents corrosion on tires
Q. I had a set of four tires put on my wife’s 1998 Honda Accord about 17 months ago. They have been driven about 10,000 miles since installation. For a while now she has had a slow leak that requires re-inflating to normal pressure. We need to do this about once a month. I suspected a leak around the bead rather than a nail. I took the car back to the tire dealer where I had bought the tires. When they advised me the car was ready, they presented me with a bill for $50 to buff the wheels. I did not get to see the wheels before or after this was done, so cannot comment on the work. Is this a necessary procedure to ensure adequate sealing? Is it a common and necessary practice? Or is it just a way to get more money from the customer?