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Cars > Past Chats
AAA CAR DOCTOR
JOHN PAUL
11/11/2003 |
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November Chat
2004 Auto Show
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On November 11, 2004 at 2 p.m. . . .
JohnPaul (Moderator)
01:58PM Today we are chatting from the AAA booth at the Boston Auto Show
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:05PM The Car Doctor is In
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:08PM All these new cars and no questions
pumpkin
02:09PM John Paul, What's the most exciting car you've seen so far?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:10PM pumkin, most exciting the new Mustang is very nice---If money was no object Ferrari
zoooooom
02:10PM What are some of the highlights of the show?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:11PM zoom, the corvette, mustang and Lexus RX 400h hybrid.
jim
02:11PM I own a 1980 Pontiac Firebird Formula that I keep in my heated garage. It's not registered so I seldom even start the car . What would you suggest I do to keep the car in good condition so some day I can fix it up.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:13PM Jim the best thing you can do is drive it once every three weeks. If this isn't the case then you have to look at complete storage. Oil everything, drain and refill fliuds Jack up the suspension
minivanman
02:13PM I have a question regarding the check engine light on our 02 mazda mpv — I am told that if the fuel cap is not on tight that this light will come on. If I tighten the cap the light goes off in about a day? Is this normal? Thanks!
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:14PM Minivanman, this is normal. The system check for leaks. If the cap is loose or if you fill the tank with the engine running the computer system thinks there is a leak. Once the cap is tight and the system reruns the test and it passes the light goes out
minivanman
02:15PM Thanks for the explanation. I bet the new Mustang is a lot more exciting than a minivan! :-)
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:17PM minivanman, not if you need to carry more than kids in the back seat. But is does take alot from the 1967 Mustang and that is a very good thing
GoingUp!
02:18PM Paul, I have a 94 mercury with the high-speed up/down windows. The driver's side recently started to crawl up and down very slowly or only work when I was on the highway (not at a toll booth when it was needed). Do I need a new motor or just grease or something else?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:20PM GoingUp, It could very well be a faulty motor, But if you are a DIYer, take the door panel off and look to see if the window is binding. You may find that one of the wheels has started to bind. If it isn't fixed eventually it will burn out the motor
chevy driver
02:21PM I have a 1997 chevy cavalier and my fuel gage died on me 2 months ago. Any idea how expensive this is to repair and is this common in this type of car?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:21PM Chevydriver. The common item is a fuel sender, located in the tank. The last one I looked at was 200-250.00
Bob
02:21PM Good afternoon. I own a 1980 altima with about 40000 on it. I replaced the rotors and pads at about 25000. It now seems that the new rotors are out of round already. Seems to be a drivers side issue. Could I have a caliper problem?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:24PM Bob, perhaps a 2000 altima? IF the rotors were less than original quality that may be one problem. If a caliper or slide is hanging up the heat build up could cause the problem. Check are the wheel for excessive drag and make sure the rear brakes are working properly. If the rear brakes are weak then the front brakes will need to do all the work
Bob
02:27PM Sorry, yes a 2000. The rears are working fine. How do I check for that drag?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:28PM Bo with the wheels off the ground there should be very little drag. the wheels should turn freely
Bob
02:31PM Everything seems to move freely. I would think that after a long ride I would feel heat from that tire or even smell something and I don't have either.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:32PM Bob ,very slight drag can cause a problem The other major thing is if the wheels are over tighten or unevenly tighten. Wheel lugs should be put on with a torque wrench.
mr.magoo
02:33PM 2000 windstar with 58K... recently had the engine seals replaced since it wouldn't hold at idle, but only on rainy days. anyhow, whatever they did it fixed the problem. ... so after owning 6 cars, most over 100K miles I have never replaced engine seals. is this expected, typical of windstrar?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:35PM mr. magoo. The windstar has had less the a great repair record. Many power steering problems, transmission problems and yes cylinder head gaskets.
mr.magoo
02:38PM can you make my day any better.... also add to that suspension/ball joint.....
mr.magoo
02:38PM and further I've never liked the windstar when parked on a incline and getting out of Park... its not smooth.... a large thunking noise..... oh my windstar let me count the ways i love the
zoooooom
02:39PM what's up w/ the English Noble m12 gto-3r? Who makes that?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:41PM I believe it is made in South Africa. It is powered by a 3.0 liter engine and is very fast at least according to them. I have never driven one
Car Enthusiast
02:42PM John, What is up with the awful cars coming out of Detroit. What is your opinion of the new Ford 500? Looks like the bulky Chrysler 300M. Is it any wonder why the BMW< Toyota and Honda are enjoying great success?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:45PM Car Enthusiast. The new Ford has a lot of Audi VW style. I personally like the looks of thew Magnum and the 300. The Ford Freestar isn't bad for an AWD wagon. The Buick Lacross and Pontiac G6 are some of the best looking cars from GM in the past few years
mr.magoo
02:45PM comments on either the new ford hybrids or the accord hybrid
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:47PM mr. magoo. The Ford uses Toyota technolgy and really does feel like a V-6. The Hybrid Accord uses a motor that acts more like an assist to the V-6 although I havn't driven the Accord yet
Ceol
02:47PM What do you think about the 2006 Dodge Charger? Is it just a pretty Magnum?
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:47PM Ceol, to new to tell but I think it look good
frustrated
02:53PM Hi John: We have a 1999 Subaru Outback Sport (a trimmed Impreza). The drivers' power window started bouncing on the way down and misaligning when closed. I pulled the door panel and found two motor bolts in the door. I fished them out with a magnet and tried to reinstall them. They never tightened but began to get snug then loose again (I was very careful). I don't knoww how they lasted 5 years but what do I do now? is there some kind of oversized self threading bolt I can get? I can't go any longer because of clearance. It appears the part that is stripped is the motor and I really don't want to replace that if I don't have to.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:55PM frustrated. You may be able to tap out the treaded part of the motor to SAE rather than metric. You may find a bolt that is just slightly larger without stressing the motor frame
Hondaman
02:57PM Hi JohnPaul, I have a '02 Honda Odyssey that I bought "certified used" a little over a year ago and there's no illumination for the digital clock; can't see it in the dark. That can't be normal, can it?
frustrated
02:57PM Thank you.
JohnPaul (Moderator)
02:59PM hondaman, check that all the fuses are okay. If the clock is keeping time it may use power supply for a light. Check the fuses and then at that point the clock may need to come out. You will need to spend an hour or so for labor. It may be easier to live with it
JohnPaul (Moderator)
03:02PM My time is up. The AutoShow runs through Sunday.
Hondaman
03:02PM JohnPaul, Yup, clock keeps time fine and all other power/fuses are OK so I guess I'll live with it.... Thanks.
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