AAA CAR DOCTOR JOHN PAUL 11/20/2000

November Chat Winter Car Care

John Paul
The Car Doctor is in

dave
what does it mean to "winterize" your car, and about how much does it cost?

John Paul
dave, winterize means to get your car in shape for winter. check the battery, change or check the radiator coolant, all belts and hoses should be checked. don't forget the heater so you can be comfortable. tires should be checked and snow tires if you head north.

VW
My car dies easily when it gets really cold. Is this a problem with the battery?

John Paul
VW- the battery is the one thing that is most likely ok. have the fuel system checked. some cars have a problem with carbon build up at the throttle plate causing a stalling problem.

bjkeane
what is a "clutch slave?"

John Paul
bjkeane- a clutch slave cylinder is the part of the clutch that moves the actual clutch mechanisim. when you step on the clutch pedal, you are moving a part called a clutch master cylinder. this part moves fluid to the slave cylinder that in turns moves the clutch. when it wears out the clutch will grind.

sammy
I have 94 VW Jetta - my temperature light comes on at selective times. Once it came on as soon as I started the car and stayed on during the entire 12 mile ride and it was cold outside! Another time, it came on after a few miles of driving. There is no smoke/steam coming out from the engine. I checked the radiator/fan fuse and it was fine. I had my anti-freeze flushed about 2 months ago - could something have triggered my current situation?

John Paul
sammy, have a mechanical "test" gauge put in place of the current one. if the gauge is normal the problem is with the temperature gauge sending unit that attaches to the engine or radiator

Hacksaw
I've often used tire chains out in the western part of the US, where they're sometimes required. Are chains legal here in New England?

John Paul
hacksaw. tire chains are legal, but really not necessary. most cars and trucks perform just fine with all season tires or snow tires. studded tires should you feel the need are legal only during the winter months

lurker
My car -- like most city cars -- doesn't get a lot of use. Maybe 2 miles once a week. I'm about to drive to visit my folks through Thanksgiving traffic and I'm worried that my sedentary car will not like the sudden marathon. Any advice for getting it ready for Thursday traffic?

John Paul
lurker, a quick spin to the repair shop for a once over is not a bad idea. checking the tires and air pressure and all the fluids and belts and hoses should keep you out of trouble.

KenM
My 1990 Toyota Corrola stalls on idle, especially when it rains, and also often sputters and does not respond to pressing the accelerator. The car is otherwise fine, and I've spent thousands of dollars replacing parts (timing belts, head gasket, every part of the distributor but the distributor itself, temperature guage) but the dealer now has no clue. And when I leave the car, it tends not to stall! Any suggestions?

John Paul
KenM if it stall in the rain, try spraying the ignition components with water. perhaps the ignition coil is still being effected by moisture. this same test can be done on other computer parts. take a spray bottle and slowly spray each part and wait for a reaction. this is a simple test and works really well

homeboy
what is the average life of a clutch?

John Paul
homeboy, a clutch is one of those things that the driver has the ultimate control over how long it will last. a good driver can easily get 70-90,000 miles out of a clutch. if have seen clutches wear out in as little as six months if you drive hard or "ride" the clutch

kenrti
Where can I have my car "winterized" here in Boston? Do I have to go to my car dealer?

John Paul
kentri-almost any good garage can winterize your car. the dealer isn't necessary, although certainly skilled. for a list of AAA Approved shops go to aaa.com

cd
What could get damaged under the car if I hit a pothole?

John Paul
cd if you hit a pothole hard enough you can do $1000's of damage. a a minimum have the wheel alignment checked and all the tires. i have seen cases that engine and transmissions have been damaged from hitting a pothole. as a general rule if you can't avoid a pothole, slow as much as possible and release the brake as you roll in and out of the hole this may minimize any damage

Locolunch
This will be my first winter with the '68 Delta. I'm putting it in storage for the season. Do you have any advice for storage or routine maintenance during the winter months? Thanks

John Paul
locolunch, great car if possible drive it once a month(20 miles)this will keep everthing working. if you can't do that air up the tires, fill the fuel tank add a gas additive(Sta-bil) is one, top off all the fluids and change the oil, remove the battery and keep it charged, lube all the thing that move and cover it with a good car cover and if you have time a coat of wax is a good idea.

davidc
John, as I am driving, my car pulls slightly to the left and I have to turn slightly to the right. I rotated the tires, and there is no improvement. Should I have my alignment checked?

John Paul
davidc, get the alignment checked, a worn part could also be the cause and that will be checked during the alignment

audi
How does the car run if there is bad gas in the tank? and what should I do about it?

John Paul
audi, depending on the gas, the car will stall and have no power. if it is water contaminated use some gas line antifreeze, but the best method is drain the tank and refill with clean gas.

Alex
Consumer Reports says that with today's cars, you can go 7500 miles between oil changes. What do you think? Thanks.

John Paul
alex, i have even moved off the 3000 mile oil change for my own car. under the right condition 7,500 miles is ok. but for most of us 4-5000 miles best. but keep in mind changing your cars oil can't cause any harm, but not changing the oil can be very expensive

jen
is a plug on a car tire a permanent solution? I had a nail; I don't know where.

John Paul
jen, the best tire repair is a combination of a plug and a patch. many people use plugs only and have good luck. nails in the tread area can be repaired. nails in the sidewall should not be repaired

dj
what is the best way to clean a plastic convertible rear window? Is there a way to clear up one that is cloudy?

John Paul
dj once the rear window is cloudy, there isn't much you can do. they discoloration is actually mold the duild up in tiny scratches in the plastic. for future reference never put the top down while it is wet. p.s if have heard people try tooth paste, the abrasive can sometime help.

john
My car has no heat. I turn the heater on but only cold air comes out

John Paul
john, depending on the car, the thermostat could be faulty, the heater control could be stuck in the off position or not working or the radiator could be low on coolant

jate
Approximately how often should your have your brakes checked (I know it might differ depending on the driver). Also, what's a good way to tell how much tread you have left on your tires before buying new ones? Thanks

John Paul
jate, have your brakes checked everytime you rotate the tires6-7000 miles or twice a year. about the tires, the tread should be even across and if you take a nickle and put it in the tread you should be able to cover at least part of Jeffersons head.

jctrac
My warranty runs out in January, but I have another 8-9 months left in my lease. Where can I get an extended warranty for my car for such an odd time period, i.e. 9 months?

John Paul
there are some warranty companies that have one year terms. do you think it is really necessary? perhaps planning for some repairs would be more cost effective

PWOOD
Is it really necessary to "warm-up" a car on cold winter mornings?

John Paul
pwood, a car really doesn't care about the temperature. on most days the time it takes to get comfortable and put you seat belt on is plenty. on very cold morning a couple of minutes should be fine

Jeff
I went out to my car last night and I noticed that there was frost on the inside of my rear window. What could be causing this?

John Paul
jeff, moisture from the trunk, trapped under the mats or in the carpet could be the cause. perhaps a slight water leak at the rear window is letting some water in.

jpb
My Mark VIII has rear wheel drive and got stuck in snow several times last winter. Do you think 2 or 4 snow tires would help me get around this coming winter?

John Paul
jpb, with rear wheel drive two snow tires will generally work fine. but take a look at the owners manual, some cars with abs brakes recomend 4 snows. as a point of reference the rear drive fords used by most police deptments use just snows on the rear wheels

Richard Vee
I am looking to purchase a box or cover for a 2000 Town and Country. This after market product would allow me to place stuff inside or under it without being able to be seem from the windows. Do you know where I might find someting like this?

John Paul
richard vee try the back of some of the car buff books i have seen a custom fit box for that purpose. when i had a mini van i used a large rubbermaid box it stayed put you could see in it

Greta
How often should one get a tune-up? I have a 15-year-old car in great condition, but I put a lot of miles on this summer driving accross the country. What things should I have checked to make sure everything's still ok?

John Paul
greta, for a car like yours several trips to the repair shop once a year for regular checks and a special trip for a complete inspection before you go cross country. find a good repair shop who understands how you use your car and let them set up a schedule

Jim
I have pine tree sap all over my car, what is the easiest way to get this off.

John Paul
jim, pine sap is tough, try mineral spirits if that doesn't work very light rubbing compound. waxing will be necessary after you get the sap off. if you value the paint have a reconditioner look at it

AG
To go with Greta's question is it necessary to "Winterize" your car every year?

John Paul
ag, winterizing is as much of a check up as replacing stuff. a winterize on a new car may mean that everything is ok, but don't take it for granted that it is. i have seen new cars that didn't get the right amount of antifreeze at the factory. for antifreeze for the most part changing it every 2-3 years is reccomended