AAA CAR DOCTOR JOHN PAUL 05/27/2005

May Chat Cars chat

JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:51PM Hello everyone, summer is almost here are both you and your car ready?

acuragirl
01:03PM Should I buy a the New Acura TL?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:04PM acuragirl, the TL is a great car. Its fun to drive has a certain amount of style and made by one of the best car companies on the planet

passatt
01:12PM i'm due for my 10K mile checkup for my 2004 passat. anything specific i shoudl ask them to look for?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:15PM passatt, the 10K is nothing more than a oil and filter change and tire roatation This is the time to note any unsual sounds and rattles.

CCurran
01:15PM i have a question... a screw came out of my glove compartment and it feel out of its spot... where can i go to have someone fix this?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:15PM CCurran, anywhere

DebS
01:15PM Would you expect Scions to be as reliable as Toyotas?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:17PM DebS, So far so good the Scions have been holding up as well as any other Toyota product. Keep in mind they are on the botton rung so materials and interior components may not be as solid as a lexus but mechanical have been fine

bobm
01:18PM Hello John, I am looking for a very safe auto. I was recently read ended and my car didn't do very well. I was looking at the Volvo s60 with AWD but was concerned that Consumer Reports says that Volvo's have had a lot of repairs in recent years. What are your thoughts on this car?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:20PM bobm, Volvos are solid and safe, but not quite as dependable as Toyota and Honda. The S60 offers a sporty feel with decent performance and the awd system is first rate. The car still deleivers a good combination of style and safety with a decent resale value

Sue
01:20PM not sure if this is applicable, but can you shed some light on the gas prices? It seems like they've leveled off - do you see any increases in the near future?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:21PM Sue, 60% of the gas price we pay at the pump are based on crude oil prices. With crude at $50.00 a barrel $2.00 a gallon gas is here to stay.

looking
01:21PM What do you think about the 2004 volvo xc wagon?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:24PM looking, the XC 70 offers a nice alternative to an SUV. The vehicle has been pretty good all around. I just checked my database (www,alldata.com) and there was almost no technical bullitens about the car--a good thing.

mpv
01:24PM My 2003 Mazda MPV seems to lose coolant, but not at a rate I can predict. What test or request should I ask of the mechanic to determine where I might have a problem?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:26PM mpv, the repair shop should do up to three tests. 1, they should do a pressure test of the cooling system, 2, they made add a dye to the coolant and look for a leak. The 3rd is a test for a possible cylinder headgasket leak. About an hour woth of labor should pinpoint the leak

PM622
01:26PM When I turn on my air, it seems to have a musty or moldy smell, is there anything I can do to get rid of the smell?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:29PM PM622, you can have the a/c system completely cleaned which may destroy the mold. (it is actually mold that build up in the a/c system and on the ducts) You can try using a product like Lysol and spray it into the heater/A/c air intake and though the ducts and this may help. The last thing is always use the a/c on the fresh air setting, this keeps the mildew and mold down.

buckman
01:31PM I have a question for you John

PM622
01:31PM Thanks, my car is a 2003 Hyundai Elantra, would this type of cleaning still be covered under the 10yr/100,000mi warranty. I may have been misleading, the smell doesn't exist when I use the AC, only when I use the fresh air.

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:35PM pm622, I still think it is mold, but Hyundai would probably consider this an adjustment and it may not be under warranty. In the bach of your cars owners manual there should be a number for customer service. I would give them a cal and ask the question

negotiate
01:35PM Any tips for negotiating for a used car? It seems like the car dealers price very close to online tools now, leaving the impression their is little room to negotiate. My thought was to negotiate from the trade in cost, not the retail cost.

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:38PM negotiate, the best you can do is know what the car is worth when you walk in the door. Most dealers buy at between trade in value and actual cash value. If you are looking for a specific model do your homework upfront as well as check listing to see what the street value is. Always low ball but be serious and remeber by with your head not your heart. Its just a car

buckman
01:38PM I have a 200 Ford Ranger. I changed the old Serp. belt about 6 months ago. The new belt started squeeling last week during all the rain. At least so I thought. It stopped on its own then started again. Someone suggested soap. I used soap and it stopped squeeling (until yesterday). Any suggestions

buckman
01:38PM AWhen the belt gets wet it stopps squeeling alos ...

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:40PM buckman, save the soap for washing the truck. Find the source of the noise it could be the belt, perhaps a different blet or the tensioner the hold the belt tight has started to fail.

buckman
01:40PM A service station guy said use powder ... like baby powder ...

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:41PM buckman, save the powder for the baby. A belt properly installed is quiet and doesn't need anything else

mzino
01:43PM I have a BMW 325is. I think the blower motor is died. I need to get a Timing belt change also. Do you think it is better to get it done in one shot

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:46PM mzino, the 325 (the 2.5 engine uses a chain not a belt so you should be okay. As for the blower motor if it is the motor the last one I priced out was $350.00 plus labor

buckman
01:46PM true ... I will check the tensioner ... maybe it is going ...

ldb735
01:46PM I have a 1998 Kia Sephia. It is not running. Before it died it was having problems starting. It would only start in neutral and took several tries. Now it won't start at all. Any ideas as to what is wrong with it?

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:50PM idb735, you have to do basic diagnostics. Start with fuel and sprk if you have both then you need to check for engine compression and timing. Perhaps the timing belt jumped

buckman
01:50PM I thought it may be the warmer temps ... I put the belt on in cold weather ... maybe I I pulled the tensioner harder than I would have had to in warmer weather

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:52PM buckman just recheck everything, if the belt is glazed it will still slip form time to time even if it tight.

leney
01:53PM I have a 1983 Z-28 Camaro that I have owned since it was new. I am look to sell it. Any suggestions on where to go to find a fair asking price for a "classic" car?

ldb735
01:53PM It is so frustrating. I keep paying the fees to have it checked out and no one can find the problem. Maybe that's why they no longer produce Kia Sephia's!

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:57PM Leney, the problem is with a modern classic the prices can vary alot. try www.kbb.com and other online service. Look at the cars section of this site and look for other for sale. The ideal thing would be to get an appraisal. Look at hemming motor news and maybe check with a local camaro club. It is just this combination that allow you to set a fair price

JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:58PM ldb735, although Kia's have improved greatly the Sephia just not a good car

JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:00PM My hour is just about up. You can always email me your questions and comments to jpaul@aaasne.com and join me on my radio program Saturday morning from 9-11:00 on WJDA am1300 and WESX am1230

buckman
02:00PM thanks

gwhittemore
02:03PM Hi John - I just had all 4 brake pads and rotors replaced on my 2003 Protege5 with 46K on it. Since then, I've noticed that I get a mild grinding noise from the front pads when the car hasn't been driven for a while, and a squeak from the rear pad occassionally on stopping. I brought it back to the service shop, and they say there's nothing wrong. Should I believe them?