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Cars > Past Chats
AAA CAR DOCTOR
JOHN PAUL
12/05/2003 |
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February Chat
Winter car care
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On February 6, 2004 at 2 p.m. . . .
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:59PM The "Car Doctor" is in
madra
02:04PM Sometimes, I hear a faint "chugging" sound in my front right brake, and I don't know if something's wrong, or if it's making that sound because it's cold. The brakes seem to work all right, but I don't want to assume it.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:05PM madra, brakes should never make noise (some times a slight squeak). Bring the car into a shop and have them remove the wheels and check all the brakes
ZekeMowatt
02:05PM Can studded snow tires wreck your alignment?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:06PM zeke, studded snow are a little hard to balance but hurt an alignment no
new car
02:06PM i just bought a new ford explorer and after only having it a wk the check engine light came on. I was told one of the cylinders had a faulty fuel injector and it will be repaired at no charge. Do you think that cause any long term damage? Thanks
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:07PM new car, It should be fine, but take a look at the oil. It it looks contaminated from gas I would insist they change the oil.
netizen
02:07PM Hello, My Civic used to go like 37 miles per gallon in summer. It's now doing 30 miles/gallon. Is this normal ?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:08PM netizen, It is not that unusual to see a drop in fuel economy in the winter and especially during very cold weather. 5-10 percent drop can sometimes happen
netizen
02:11PM but drop from 37 to 30 is more than 10 percent.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:12PM netizen are you doing anything else longer warm ups etc.
CatPower
02:12PM Hi Jon! I have a great 94 Mercury Cougar with a winter problem. When it gets really cold out, it wont' start. I have to turn the ignition 10-15 times over the course of 10 minutes for it to "catch". The battery is new. It only does this when it's really cold and has been going on for 3 years. No one can solve this.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:14PM CatPower, the very basics of starting are you need spark, compression and fuel. Missing one of those causes the car not to start. My guess is your car is losing its fuel charge when the engine is very cold, combine this with a weak ignition coil and this could be the problem
madra
02:14PM I've heard that one should get "winter wipers" for your car to deal with all the crud and slush. What makes them better than the ones I have? Are they worth it?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:16PM madra, winter blades have a rubber covering on the fingers of the blades this keeps the ice from forming and keeps the blades flat against the windows--they work pretty well
92TaurusGuy
02:16PM I have a '92 Taurus w/ 160k miles. just had the car serviced by a ford dealer and had the heater hose replaced. now there is an odor that smells like something is burning when i have the front defroster or heat on. What might this be?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:18PM 92 Taurus It may be that by replacing the hose it caused a leak at the heater core. What you need to do is get the car on a lift and check for oil or antifreeze leaks.
netizen
02:18PM I don't normally warm up.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:19PM netizen, have a repair shop do a quick check up to see that all the sensors are within range and the plugs are firing correctly.
CatPower
02:19PM To follow up, once the car warms up, it starts great all day long.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:20PM CarPower, a weak ignition coil still could be the probelm or a coolant sensor that didn't allow enough fuel when the engine was cold. Scan the computer and check the sensors and check the coil for a good dtrong 40K volt spark
Squidward
02:21PM Hi John- I'm curious. How does AAA make any money if they charge $45 for 2 years but towing without AAA costs at least $75?
theo
02:21PM Hi John: I have an 1998 jetta. It runs funny when it's wet outside. Jerks and seems to lose power or misfires. Every once and a while it will stall when I down shift or slow down considerably. Could his be a bad spark plug? The wires and distributer cap are fairly new. Thanks.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:22PM theo, sounds like faulty spark plug wires or a bad ignition coil or dist cap
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:23PM Squidward, send me an email at jpaul@aaasne.com and I will try to explain
328ci
02:23PM Hi John, My problem is as follows. I have a 2000 bmw that had regular halogen bulbs. I had 7000k HID xenon headlights put in aftermarket what would be a reasonable life span for those? Can the cold cause them to malfunction?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:24PM 328ci, factory HID lights will usually outlast the car. Aftermarket it is had to say
Kowloonatic
02:24PM JohnPaul, it seems like my windshield has been cracked like a zillion times. Is there any type of protective coating that I could use?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:27PM kowloonatic, I have never seen anything. 3m and others have developed a paint film but I have never seen anything for a windshield
pmow
02:27PM I have a 1976 Chevy Vega that emits a funny smell when the engine gets hot, it's almost a bitter smell. What could this be ?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:28PM pmow, vega you must have the last one. Since this car had so many headgasket problems maybe a oil or antifreeze leak
EGAONTHENORTHSHORE
02:28PM JP — Thanks for taking questions today this has been helpful. 328CI — I think I know a little something about headlights and those are good ones.
FrostClassLemon
02:28PM John: I've had my windshield busted about a bazillion times. Any suggestions for preventing breakage?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:30PM FirstClasslemon, Not much you can do avoid following too closly behind gravel trucks. I know what you mean last year I had my share of windshied breaks on several different test cars
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:31PM Thanks on the north shore
Steven
02:32PM Greetings — My check engine light periodically comes on — is that typical? My car does not seem to have any problems, though. It is a 97 Hyundai Elantra.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:33PM Steven could be as simple as a loose gas cap. Next time the light comes on have the car checked for codes. This will help narrow down the fault. But gas caps can be a major issue
Kow-Pow Subaru
02:33PM My son borrowed my Cadallic (he still lives off his old man) and now my door won't shut correctly, he said he bumped it on a drive through window. I see no physical damage, any ideas?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:35PM Kow Pow Subaru, bumped it on the drive through????. Try lubricating the lock and striker plate it may help. If not a trip to an auto body shop for an adjustment should solve the problem
George Takei
02:35PM JP, believe it or not I will be going on a Star Trek cruise this weekend. Since my car will be idle in my drive way for 2 weeks, are there any special percautions I should take?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:37PM George Takei, two weeks is nothing. Fill the gas tank and lock the car and that is all you need to do. Live long and prosper
Mazda626
02:37PM Hi-I have a 99' 626Mazda. Whenever I hit rough patches in the road the back-end of the car makes a thudding sound-someone said it sounds like a ball-bearing problem. could this be my shoks as well?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:40PM Mazda626, sounds like a worn strut. Try bouncing on the back of the car. It shouldn't bounce more than 1 and a half times
FrostClassLemon
02:40PM John: Any suggestions for getting stains out of car seats (specifically soy sauce)?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:42PM FirstClassLemon, I just got an email froma website www.goclean.com perhaps they have a good answer. I have had good luck with a product called simple green.
Hands of a Fisherman
02:42PM John, my dad isn't very car savy. He rather buy a new car than pump his own gas. Can you recommend any good basic car care books? Thanks.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:43PM Handsofafisherman, send me an email at jpaul@aaasne.com and I'll send you one---I only have a couple
lalala
02:43PM Hi John -- I've got a 98 escort. New battery, and the battery light comes on. Repair shop tells me I need a new alternator, which they install. Two days later, and the battery light comes back on!! Any ideas? it does flicker on and off at times, but then the lights dim et al. . . thanks.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:44PM lalala, sounds like it could be a wiring problem. But I wouldn't rle out a new defective alternator. Have the charging system rechecked
jafo
02:45PM hi john paul. I have a 2003 sentra. I used to have no problems starting my car, I have tried cranking it several times. this doesnt work. All the gauges seem fine. The oil pressure, voltage and temperature gauges are all in the middle. there is one gauge with the arrow poiunted to E, is this normal? thankis.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:46PM jafo, yes fuel will help
Fred Burt
02:46PM My mechanic, Ozzy told me that the margin of performance for my 91 Acura is slim. Should I try higher octane gas?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:48PM Fred burt, higher octane fuel will not improve the performance. If you really want to improve performance, try an new air intake and an exhaust header with a low restriction convertor
The Fabulous Judy
02:48PM John Paul, is it possible to Scotchguard/protect leather seats? My husband insists on eating hot dogs in our new Cadillac, and I've got mustard stains everywhere.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:50PM The Fabulous Judy, Try a professional detail shop for cleaning. It is possible the mustard has stained the leather. Not much you can do other than use a leather conditioner it may help. Eating and driving is not a great idea.
madra
02:50PM I've got a couple of minor paint scratches. Is there a product I can get to fill them in myself without going to a professional detailer?
CatPower
02:51PM John, another question. With all the snow and ice, door handles sometimes freeze (the type you pick up or push the button to open from the outside). What's the best way to prevent this. I use silicon spray on the rubber gasket but I can't very well oil/spray a door handle.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:53PM madra, duplicolor makes a touch up kit that may work. It should be available in any of the bigger parts stores. I little sanding and you build up the scratch a little at a time and that should do it, but do it in light coats
Fuddruckaz
02:53PM How long can you really go when the "E" light comes on? I know a little something about being full, but not so much about how long I can go on "E."
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:54PM Fudd, not far, Usually you have only about a gallon left. Driving with the low fuel light on can actually cause a problem with a lean fuel condtiton and cause short fuel pump life
EGAONTHENORTHSHORE
02:55PM How come you won't tow on the Mass. Turnpike? What about the Sturbridge speed traps. I put three boys thru Union and got stopped there two times a month and what about the winter? I hate the winter
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:56PM egaonthenorthshore, we do tow off the Mass Pike but a second tow is required. the pike is a private road and has its own share of rules. I also hate winter
stannley steamer
02:56PM Hi. My local gas station failed my car for inspection because he said, "I had 4 bologna skins." He didn’t go any further, any idea what he meant? Thanks.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:57PM StannleySteamer---four bald, worn out tires would be my guess
Fred Burt
02:57PM John- Is it possible to have a crack in my radiator and then not have a crack?
saturnSC2
02:58PM I have a 2001 saturn, every once and a while the idil will spontaniously raise while I am stoped at a light. I can not find a paturn to the occurence either, any sugestions?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:59PM Fred burt, sort of you can have a seam the opens up when cold and seals when the engine and coolant get hot.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:00PM saturn SC2. Two things a faulty TPS throttle position switch or a vacuum leak and the engines computer is reacting to it keeping the engine from stalling
eesnas
03:00PM my rear license plate light went out. Not worried about the bulb, fuse, or circuit, but I am worried about being puulled over. Should I bother getting it fixed to avoid being pulled over, or is this a no worry thing?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:01PM eeanas, cheap money get it fix--you need to do it for state inspection, Faulty eqquipment is a moving violation and is surchargable
Martini Deano
03:01PM John, have you heard of, crossed paths with, or ever thought about buying a car at Autolines in Whitman? It's the world's only used-car Superstore, and it's fantastic. Tell them Deano sent you.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:02PM MartiniDeano--autoline is one of my advertizers on my radio show great place to buy a car
starofdavidandLman
03:02PM My dad is heavy-set. After many years the car seems to be sagging to the left (driver's side) How can I straighten it back out ? Thank you !
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:03PM starofdavidandlman, new spring may be the answer. On alevel susface you should have more than one half inch of difference left to right in ride height
92TaurusGuy
03:04PM Last quest from me-- when the car hits a bump i get a very loud squeeking noise from the back right tire. I have bounced the car and get the same noise, albeit it not as loud. Warm/cold weather does not affect this noise very much. Could this be a worn-out strut or something else? I have been told this could be a bad bushing.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:05PM 92TaurusGuy. there are the struts, several bushing and the spring and they all could make noise. Have your garage put the car on a drive on style lift and have someone bounce on the car. It should be easy to identify the problem
Shank Glen
03:06PM Here's the problem: I recently bought a used car. When I took it to a mechanic (not my normal one) he said "If you knew what I knew about this car then you would trade it as well". Should I trading mechanics?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:07PM Shank Glen, get a second opinion about the car. A typical used car inspection should cost $75-100.00
car
03:07PM while driving, I can really feel every bumps and grooves of the road.. I don't think this is normal. I bought new tires and it is still like this.. what do you think is wrong? Could it be the shocks??
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:08PM car, worn shocks and weak spring can be the problem. Have a good tech measure the ride height and ckeck and the suspension parts
FrostClassLemon
03:09PM John: There's a mechanic out in Middleboro, I think, who specializes in foreign cars. I believe it's called Joe Jaeger Motors. He doesn't advertise, and they say he's pretty quiet. I've heard great things about his work. Have you heard ot him?
FredinWaltham
03:09PM JP — I own a 1987 Monte Carlo in Mint condition — however there are a couple of minor problems that I need to address. The first one is whenever I get Pachy (that's what I call it) going fast it stammers and stutters. Also, on the drivers side the floor boards are nearly complete rotted away (unfortunately, I sort of look like Fred Flinstone driving around).
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:11PM FredinWaltham, I think pachy is skipping. Have someone chack the fuel pressure and if all the cylinders are firing . Have the floor repaired before the carbon monoxide does you in
Cavalier
03:11PM When I try to start my 95 Cavalier, it will crank but not catch (especially when it's been raining/snowing). Could there be a crack in the distributor cap? Any suggestions. Thanks.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:13PM Cavalier, faulty spark plug wires a crcked cap could easily be the problem. If they are more than a couple of years old and you can do it yourself just replace them
bostonlou
03:13PM howdy my wife has a daewoo (i know i know) and her shifter won't come out of park. So i took the dashboard apart and I think it's the Solenoid which releases the shifter from the P position. Are Solenoids pretty basic or are they car specific? I could manipulate it so that the Solenoid is always in the open position but I wasn't sure if this would be a bad thing?? i.e. the loop is going to be closed all the time... is this bad? also... i'm not positive what a solenoid is ... fyi ;)
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:17PM bostonlou, you could bypass the switch--just like the old days when the car makers thought we were responsible enough to step on the brake before shifting gears. If you want to replace the solenoid try a Suzuki dealer the new one are Daewoos.
car
03:17PM a few months ago, I had my tires replaced. Shortly thereafter, one went flat.. I filled it and it was ok for another month. It then went flat again. My tire has not gone flat since (and there doesn't seem to be less air pressure).. why do you think that happened?
92TaurusGuy
03:17PM Thank you JP-- most helpful. Enjoy the rest of the NE weather this winter.
FredinWaltham
03:17PM Would carbon monoxide poisoining lead to brain damage?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:18PM Fred, yes
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:18PM Car, perhaps a tire/rim bead leak. Filling it sealed the leak--maybe
bug
03:19PM i have a 93 acura integra with 100,000 miles. I've recently had to put a few thousand dollars of work into it--timing belt, radiator, carborator... i've had the car for 4 years, and these are the first major repairs. do you think this is a downward slope, or are these isolated things? I'm wondering if I should start shopping for something new....
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:20PM bug, I periodic once a year checkup to see how the car is holding up my be a good idea. Most of what you have done is just normal age.
ian
03:20PM think the chevy chevette will come back in one form or another?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:21PM ian. It sort of has in the form of the Chevy Aveo. Basically a Daewoo
Cavalier
03:21PM Appreciate the help — I want to replace the wires/cap myself, but I'm having a problem. I follow the spark plug wires, but can't seem to find the distributor cap. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.
GiantGlass
03:22PM Hi JohnPaul, I have been cursed by the windshield gods. My windshield keeps breaking and I have to dial up Dennis Drinkwater way too often. Any preventive tips.
BUBBA
03:22PM I have a 2001 Camry. The problem I'm having is that the brake light stays on even when the emergancy brake is released. This only happens in frigid weather. Any idea why?
NAOP
03:22PM ian, I think my old chevy chevette came back as a toaster.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:23PM Cavalier depending on the age of your car, it may have a coil pack and no distributer cap. Two coils four wires and four spark plugs --if it is a four cylinder
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:25PM GiantGlass. Winter time sand salt and gravel on the roads are the major cause. Try keeping as much distance between you and other traffic a possible.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:27PM That is all for now. See you next month. You can always send me your questions at jpaul@aaasne.com and tune in to the Car Doctor radio program Saturday morning from 9-11 on WJDA am 1300 and WESX am1230
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