Q. My 1985 Toyota 4x4 pickup has only 67,000 miles and I'm the original owner. Recently, the truck has become hard to shift between first and second gears. I had the gear oil changed and that helped but sometimes it is still balky. I have been told it is big job to fix what is wrong. What should I do?
A. It depends what the problem really is. Start with an inspection of the shift linkage. If this has become worn over the years, it may be the problem and shouldn't be too expensive to repair. If the problem is internal to the transmission, this would be quite expensive since the transmission will need to be removed, inspected and repaired.
Q. I have 1998 Toyota Corolla sedan and it runs great. I just had the 180,000-mile scheduled maintenance done and replaced the battery. This morning when I started car, it didn't idle well. I started driving and car seems to want to stall and didn't shift as smoothly as normal. I drove for a few more miles and the car seemed OK. Did this happen because the engine was cold or is the car just getting old?
A. Everything you've experienced could be a result of the battery being replaced. When batteries are replaced in many cars, the car's computer needs to go through a relearning procedure. With some cars, this may take just minutes; other may take a few miles of varied driving conditions. If the car continues to give you trouble, return to the repair shop that did the service and let them have the car overnight for evaluation.
Q. I will be doing a drain and re-fill on my 2003 Honda CRV transmission. When I am refilling the transmission, should the engine be running or turned off?
A. The transmission in your Honda CRV has an estimated refill of 3.3 quarts of fluid. When refilling, add three quarts with the engine off; start the engine shift from park to reverse to drive; recheck the fluid level; and add to the full mark, being careful not to overfill the transmission. The transmission fluid in your Honda is unique. When refilling the transmission, I would use only Honda fluid.
Q. I just needed to replace a tire on my 2001 Volvo XC70 wagon (I hit a curb), and the dealer told me I needed to replace all four tires. I replaced the tires and now my friends tell me I was ripped off. Was I?
A. No. Volvo and some other all-wheel-drive carmakers recommend replacing all four tires if one is needed. This is done to eliminate any chances of damaging the all-wheel-drive system. Volvo does make one exception to this practice by stating that if only two tires are purchased and they are the exact same type and size, those tires can be mounted on the front axle. If the tires on your Volvo were original, you made the right decision to replace all four.
Q. I am having a problem with the blower motor on my Ford Taurus. Every nine to 12 months, the heater only works on the highest setting. I go to the repair shop and they replace the heater blower resistor. What is causing the short life of this part?
A. The resistor could be failing for several reasons, including a faulty blower motor itself. But the most common cause is a blockage in the air flow across the resistor itself. This could be due to a clogged cabin air filter or a "mouse-house" that is restricting the air flow. The other possibility is water is collecting in the duct work and causing the resistor to short out.
