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Cars > Past Chats
AAA CAR DOCTOR
JOHN PAUL
07/29/2004 |
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August Chat
Problems under
the hood?
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On August 20, 2004 at 1 p.m. . . .
JohnPaul (Moderator)
11:55AM The Car Doctor is in to answer your questions
PG
11:59AM I have a 1994 Camry with 90,000 miles on it. If I remember correctly, the last time I had a major tune-up was around 65,000-70,000 miles. Is it time for another tune-up or can I wait till 100,000 miles? Also, how oftern should older cars have tune-ups?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:04PM PG, Even though Toyota says a tune up every 60K is normal I like to do things a bit more often. Every two years to look at the plugs, wires filter etc is really a good idea and generally money well spent.
AcuraTL
12:04PM Also, I'm looking for a good 4WD vehicle for the snow. My criteria is mainly reliability and an an ability to handle offroad trails that I travel on somewhat frequently when going hiking. I've been looking at 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokees with about 100,000 miles, are these good vehicles? The only problem I'm aware of is that (especially with the increased torque of the V8 engines) the transmissions tend to die around 100,000 miles.
AcuraTL
12:04PM Hi JP, I have a 2000 Acura TL with 75,000 miles on it, last month my transmission died out of nowhere. It was replaced under warantee by an Acura dealer, but is this normal? Should I expect more expensive repairs that might not be covered under warantee in the future?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:08PM Acura TL, Acura products are some of the best in the world, that said any thing could have happened. I wouldn't expect any more than normal maintainence. As for the Jeep I would stay away from high milage. These then do by vehicle that can have a very expensive track record.
steve
12:08PM whenever I pull my car out of my parking space, I always hear a screetching sound. It only happens when I turn my wheel. Why do you think this is happening? Do I need to let my car warm up longer maybe?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:09PM Steve, no need to warm the car up. Have the drive belts looked at as well as the pulley and tensioner
BostonBean
12:09PM Hello I have a 2000 Honda Civic. Love it. The headliner is starting to come down, just a little bit, near the back window. What can I do? How does it happen?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:11PM BostonBean, A seat cover, convertible top shop should be able to fix it, If you want to try it yourself you can use a spray adhesive 3M makes a product that works very well. You need to pull the headliner down, spray in the glue and quickly smooth it back in place
AnneM
12:11PM my 97 Nissan Sentra has its' check engine light on. It failed emissions inspection. I brought it to my local mechanic who got the light to go off, but the very next day the light was back on again. what usually causes these "check engine" lights to go on? I have about 30 more days or so to have the car re-inspected.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:13PM AnneM, Check engine lights go on when one or more of the sensors that control the engine detect a problem, You need to follow the "code" that caused the light to come on and make the repair. Something light an oxygen sensor could be the problem.
Chevy
12:13PM Hi. I have a 2000 Chevy Cavalier with 60,000 miles on it. The engine starts and runs perfectly fine, but should I still start planning to change the spark plugs anyway?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:14PM Chevy, At 60K and 4 years old changing the plugs is money well spent. Think about replacing the fuel filter as well.
BaldBumper
12:16PM Hi, I have a 96 Honda Civic Coupe with a beat up rear bumper. I've had the bad fortune of parking in front of some of the WORST parallel-parkers in Boston and now have a cracked and bald drivers-side. What is the best route to replacing it, and can I do it myself?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:19PM BBumper, you actually maybe able to plastic weld it. This is something that a good auto body shop can try. There are also some scratch and dent repair companies that might be able to fix it.
BostonBean
12:19PM Hi, same 2000 Honda Civic. I've just recently reached 70,000 miles on my car, I've had to replace all four tires in the last month as well as have some brake pads replaced. This is fine as it is just maintenance to me, but, it cost me about 650.00$. I went this time outside the dealership for the first time since I've had the car. When it comes time to have the muffler done, or just generaly maintenance, is it better to go outside the dealership or stay within?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:21PM BostonBean, both can do a good job, In some cases you can build a personal relationship with the independant shop that yoo can with a big dealer. As for the muffler --any shop can provide a good quality muffler for your car.
jm
12:23PM I just replaced the rear brakes on my 00 mitsu galant. They were working fine for about a week and they still operate in good order, but they have started to squeel when coming to a stop. Anything I can do to aleveate this?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:25PM jm, good back to the repair shop they shouldn't make noise. If they didn't replace the brake hardware they should have and this may be part of the problem, Sometimes, with some cars you do need to stay with the factory parts
BostonBean
12:25PM Now, some seat questions. My drivers seat can adjust just fine, except it seems to have a very slight rocking motion. The passenger seat can not adjust forward or back at all. but the back of the seat can be moved forward with the lever on the side of it.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:27PM BostonBean, the seat may be lose or the track may be worn, The passenger seat lever may have become detatched. Look under the seat and move the lever, look on the driver side and see what move then look on the passenger side and see what doesn't
cool running
12:27PM I have a 2000 Infinit QX4 and always use 93 octane gas, but it seems to have no pickup at all. Is this a known problem with the QX4? Any idea how I can give it a boost?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:31PM cool running, If this performance is new take it to the repair shop and have them look for a problem. It could be related to any number of things. If it has been always this way its the problem of to much truck and not enough engine. this engine only makes 170 hp and does 0-60 in 11 seconds
CamryChick
12:32PM I have a '96 Camry with a broken retractable radio antenna — any ideas on how to replace it without bringing it back to the dealer? The coat hanger idea just doesn't work for me!
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:35PM Camrychick, It doesn't look like you can replace the mast, only the entire antenna. The price for a new one is $130 plus labor. A cheaper alternative might be repalce the antenna with a non-power one this would be $40-50 and the same labor.
jm
12:35PM I did the brakes myself. I have done brakes on numerous cars for several years (i do most of my own repair work if it is manageable) I used NAPA pads- I replaced the front with the same brand and had no problems. I used new hardware as well. Could the pads be defective?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:37PM jm, NAPA makes pretty good stuff. I would pull the pads out and look for something hanging up --did you use the anti squeal on the back of the pads?
bsprtsgrp
12:37PM I'm shipping a Jeep Grand Cherokee to my home on Maui and I wanted know if there was anything special that I needed to do to prepare the vehicle for the trip. It's going by truck to Long Beach and then by ship to Honolulu and then by barge to Maui.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:38PM bsprtgrp, I could take it for you? Not really the shipping company probably has special rules. Other than that maybe do any repairs and maint. now even if a little early just to get it done.
whit
12:38PM I have a 2000 Cirrus & 2000 Cherokee. I would like to rotate my own tires as opposed to taking it to a shop. I also need to buy new tires for the Jeep and would like to buy them on-line and install them. Is this a bad idea to do this type of work?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:41PM whit, Buying on line shouldn't be a problem. Tire Rack is on of the big companies who do this and will even give you the name of one of their local installers. As for rotating your tires, for me this is just too much work to do home in the driveway. I would rather spend the little bit of money have the tires rotated and the brakes checked at the smae time. Just make sure the wheels are tightened correctly
vw
12:41PM I have a 2002 VW Passat and my brakes squeek. Actually it stops when I do brake and the squeek returns as soon as I take my foot off the brake. I thought I just needed new brakes ( about 33,000 miles) but when I goe them checked they said they were fine and that it was just the friction of the two smooth surfaces. Does this sound right? The squeeling gets very loud on the highway.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:44PM vw, sometines if there is a hot spot on the pads it will cause a noise. Im thinking that it may be a caliper starting to stick, I don't like the idea that the noise is constant until you step on the brake--I would have the brakes rechecked
BostonBean
12:45PM When should I have my AC looked at? I noticed when I first bought my car, the AC automatically comes on when I turn on the defrost. I don't use it all that much ,but, still would like to keep it working in tip top condition for as long as I own the car. And I plan on owning it until atleast 100,000 miles
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:46PM BB, When A/C service was cheap we use to say have it rechrged every year. Now with the higher costs, have it checked if the performance is off and its not cooling like it should.
ynot
12:46PM My 98 RAV4 loses acceleration and feels like it will stall after car is turned off for short period of time. I remedy this by pulling over, putting car in park and pressing on gas pedal. this seemsto work. Any ideas as to what is going on? Thanks
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:48PM ynot, Sounds like a fuel, or even a spark plug starting to miss-fire start with a good diagnosis of the engine, computer and fuel system,
jm
12:48PM Yes, I used the anti squeel on the back. I am thinking maybe it rubbed of in installation
belts
12:48PM what is the deal with replacing your timing belt? is it a crock or somethign that really needs to be done???
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:48PM jm, could be
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:50PM belts, With some cars if you fail to replace the timing belt(Honda, Hyundai, Porsche) to name a few and the belt breaks it will cost you thousands. Other cars if the belt breaks it will just quit running but will not damage the engine
pete
12:51PM What causes crank shaft faliure?
Hank
12:51PM Is there a general rule as to when you need to replace your brake rotors?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:53PM hardly anything. If a bearing had worn badly that could do it. If at one point a bearing was replaced and the crank was scored the lack of oil pressure could have caused it. No matter what unless it is shear abuse the problem stems form lack of oil
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:55PM Hank, As rule replace rotors when they are scored or badly warped. With some cars the rotors are cheap enough that you can rwplace them with every brake service.
kenny
12:55PM Hello- I have a 2002 Maxima and there is a constant clicking sound coming from the front passenger tire (or that area) that stops when I brake. Any ideas?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:56PM Kenny, I would look to a brake problem. Bearing, C/V joints, and steering parts won't generally change noise when you brake.
Hondar
12:56PM Hi John — My car's horn just stopped working...any ideas? How much is that to fix?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
12:59PM Hondar, just with the basics, it could be just a fuse. The system is simple a button wiring, horn relay and the horn. If it is the horn $35.00 for the part and half an hour labor
mill
12:59PM my sunfire pontiac 2002 would not start is crank up.I took it to the dealer and they keep the car for 5 days and the dealer could not find anything wrong with it,but is stating now do you think i need a tune -up? i don't fill comfortable driving this car @ night .PLEASE HELP
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:01PM mill, If the car sits for a long period of time maybe it has some sort of drain on the battery. What do they do to get it going? Dead battery, bad fuel pump, there are any number of things that could be the problem
kenny
01:01PM Thanks- In our other car (97 Jeep Cherokee) there is a whistling under the hood (I assume a belt). I just got it replaced 3 years ago, so shouldn't it last longer? Or is something loose causing it?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:03PM kenny, could be a belt, here is a simple trick. with the engine running take a spray bottle with water, spray each belt until the noise stops. This way you can identify if it is the belt and which one if you have more than one.
Hondar
01:03PM Great...do you know a shop that could help me out in the Boston area?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:04PM Hondar, check out the AAA website--www.aaa.com and look in the automotive section for a AAA Approved repair shop
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:06PM Thank-you all chatters. You can call in your questions to the Car Doctor radio program on WJDA am1300 and WESX am 1230 Saturday morning from 9-11:00. You can always email me questions at jpaul@aaasne.com
Jay
01:20PM Hi, I have a 1999 Chevy Silverado with a 4.8L V8. This past winter in the really cold weather (below freezing) the check engine light would come on and it would idle roughly until the engine came up to full temperature. Any ideas? Midway through winter I replaced the plugs, wires, airfilter,and pcv valve, and it did start to idle a bit smoother when cold, but it did not eliminate the problem. Any ideas. I haven't seen the light on in months.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:21PM Jay sounds like the EGR valve maybe opening cold. That would be a good place to start
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