10/24/2009

Car Doctor: Pacifica is using too much oil
Q. My friend has a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica with 75, 000 miles on it. The problem is that the vehicle is using oil. The last time the oil was changed, the mechanic told me the engine was at least a quart and a half low. The previous time, the oil was down three quarts. The service manager told me that oil consumption is common in Chrysler products. What do you know about this?

10/17/2009

Car Doctor: Windstar power steering does make noise
Q. The last time my 2001 Ford Windstar went for normal maintenance, it was suggested I replace the power steering pump. I did have the pump replaced, but when I drove home the power steering was “whining.” I returned to the garage and they told me it was air in the system and it should go away in about 500 miles. What is wrong; was I scammed?

10/10/2009

Car Doctor: Have used car evaluated before you buy
Q. I’m considering buying a 2005 Chevy Equinox. The car has about 80,000 miles on it and the seller is looking to get $8,000. Do you think this is a good price and should I be looking at price, mileage, the year of the car or some combination?

10/03/2009

Car Doctor: It might be time for a new fuel pump on ’05 LeSabre
Q. Each time I start my 2005 Buick LeSabre, I hear the fuel pump running for 10 to 15 seconds. Occasionally, I hear the pump after stepping on the accelerator following a stop when driving. Is this a concern? Can the fuel pump be tested?

09/26/2009

Car Doctor: Paying for premium gas is often a waste of money
Q. I’m hoping you can settle an argument between me and my wife. She is convinced that if we use premium gas in our car we will get better fuel mileage. I think it is just a waste of money. What do you think?

09/12/2009

Car Doctor: Overheating Buick may need a new thermostat
Q. My 1999 Buick with a V-6 engine is discharging antifreeze when it gets hot, especially when idling. I removed the thermostat and it is still happening. Do you think installing a new thermostat may help this problem?

09/05/2009

Car Doctor: Rpms on ’95 Ram pickup suddenly jump on the highway
Q. I’m writing about my 1995 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel dual-wheel pickup truck. It has an automatic transmission with 127,000 miles on it. This problem has gone on for years and nobody has a clue why. When I travel down the highway at about 60 miles per hour the engine speed will fluctuate about 150 to 200 rpms. It doesn’t make a difference if the cruise control is on or the truck is in overdrive, sometimes the engine speed changes. One day this can happen several times, other days it doesn’t happen at all. I have tried different speeds when this occurs and it seems to frequently be between 58 and 67 miles per hour. When this is happening I don’t lose or gain power, the rpms just rise 100 to 200 then immediately drop back over and over again.

08/01/2009

Car Doctor: Replace water pump along with timing belt
Q. I have a 2004 Hyundai XG350 and, according to the maintenance schedule, it is time to change the timing belt. One dealer told me I need to change the water pump. A second dealer told me it is not necessary. What is the correct thing to do?

07/25/2009

Car Doctor: That’s not smoke coming from the AC, it’s water vapor
Q. When I turn on the air conditioning in my car, smoke comes through my vents. The smoke has no scent and is fresh and cool. What would cause this; is something wrong?

07/18/2009

Car Doctor: Rain gives VW the shakes
Q. I drive a 2001 VW Jetta with about 95,000 miles on it. Whenever it rains, the check engine light comes on and the car shakes very noticeably. It stops after I have been on the road for 5 to 10 minutes. This has been going on for about a year. A friend said this used to happen to her VW Golf and it’s nothing to worry about. Should I have it checked out? Will there eventually be damage?

07/11/2009

Carbon build-up may cause motor to burn oil
Q. I have a 2000 Toyota Corolla with 115,000 miles on it. I have always changed the oil every 3,000 miles. The last time it was in the shop, the garage told me the oil was very low. Now every time I check the oil it is low. The engine doesn’t leak and I don’t see any smoke coming out of the tail pipe. What is wrong?

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.