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.

A. The filter is located behind the glove compartment. The cost of the filter is about $20. It is not complicated to replace the filter and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.

Change wipers as needed

Q. How often should I change the windshield wipers on my car?

A. As a general rule, changing the wipers on your car every six months is a good idea, but it really depends on how well they work. The wipers on my own car are over one year old and work fine. You may find that you can extend wiper life by cleaning the blades with an alcohol swab. On the other hand, if the wipers on your car chatter or skip it’s time to replace them no matter their age.

Good cars for seniors

Q. I’m a senior; do you know of a list of senior friendly cars? Specifically, I’m looking for cars that are easy to get in and out of.

A. You want to look at vehicles with doors that open wide and seats that have a “command” seating position. By command seating, think seats with a fairly upright angle (kitchen chair). The Ford Focus is one to look at in a basic economy sedan, the Honda CRV or Element in a small SUV, and the Toyota Avalon, Ford Taurus, or Buick Lucerne in a full-sized sedan.

How Rover should ride

Q. What is the safest way to carry my pet in the car?

A. Depending on the size of the pet, if it is a small dog or cat, a carrier on the rear floor between the front and rear seats or secured with the seat belt would be best. For larger dogs, look for specific harnesses designed for animals that work with the seatbelt system in your vehicle. These are now available (in various sizes) in pet stores as well as on the Internet. Ruffrider.com is

one of the many sites on the Internet that specializes in these harnesses.

Reader response

 I was just reading your article in the Saturday, Dec. 20, edition of The Providence Journal . Dave asked a question about the TPMS system on his 2006 Toyota Tacoma. Tell him to check the spare tire before he starts trouble shooting individual sensors. (He didn’t seem to mention it in his letter.) I had the same issue with my 2007 Tacoma when it dawned on me that the full-size spare also has a TPMS sensor. Sure enough, I checked the tire pressure and it was down a few pounds. I brought it up to the proper pressure and it took care of the problem.

 Well, Peter, you were correct; Dave e-mailed me and checked the air in the spare tire. He added a little air and the light went out. Although not all spare tires have TPMS sensors, the lesson learned is “never forget to check the air in the spare” — sensor or not!

projocars@projo.com