Q. The roof on my 2008 Cadillac CTS has two glass panels. One is the sun roof, the other is stationary. The stationary panel has some give to it and lets in water. It leaks on the head of the right rear passenger and the water stain continues from the roof down by the passenger's shoulder and puddles in the right rear floor well. I have taken it to the dealer twice with no positive results. Help!
A. Since the dealer has had two tries to repair the car, I would suggest to them they ask to have a Cadillac field technician or water leak specialist come out to evaluate the leak. Many technicians will check for water leaks with a high pressure stream of water; unfortunately this is not the best method to find a water leak. Water leaks should be diagnosed with a low to medium spray of water. Some technicians who specialize in water and wind leaks are also using smoke machines and ultra sonic noise generators to find water leaks.
Q. I have a 2007 Chevy Cobalt that has had the driver-side airbag light on for a few weeks. I need to get an inspection sticker this month and I'm worried that it won't pass with the light on. How do I resolve this? Is it possible to have the airbags removed? Are there fuses that just may need to be replaced?
A. In Massachusetts, a vehicle will not pass annual inspection if the airbag light is on. The airbag light is on because there is a problem with the airbag system. Like just about every part of a car today, there is a specific diagnostic routine to find the cause of the light. A technician will use a scan tool to find the trouble code. Once they have the code they should be able to repair the problem and turn off the warning light.
Q. We have a 1988 Cutlass Supreme. It starts fairly easily when it is cold, but after it gets warm it will not run unless it is speed up to about 3,000 RPM. We have replaced all the usual plugs, wires, and ignition coil pack. In addition, I have had two General Motors technicians work on the car. The check engine light is out but the original hard starting problem remains. I have been working on cars and trucks for almost 40 years, but this one has me stumped. You solved the problem on my Toyota pickup about two years ago. If we can fix this car it is going to my grandson.
A. I would start by looking at the basics including fuel and ignition. Two common fuel problems are that the fuel pump gets weak as it gets hot and the fuel pressure regulator can leak and cause the engine to flood. The other issue is the ignition system can lose a ground once it gets hot. Certainly there can be problems with the ignition module and the computer but look at the basics first.
Q. I broke the hood release cable and now my hood is stuck shut. Can you tell me how to open it?
A. It depends on where the cable has broken. If it broke at the handle, you may be able to get under the car, find the cable, and cut it to get it out where you can strip away the sheath and pull on the inner cable with locking pliers. If the cable broke at the latch, you may be able to get under the car and unbolt the latch or manipulate the latch with a long screwdriver.
Q. I have a 1995 Pontiac Trans Am. My low coolant light goes on after the car warms up. The antifreeze level is fine when cold and the overflow is where it should be. Otherwise the car runs fine. Any suggestions?
A. If the coolant level is full, then the problem is with the fluid level sensor. Some of these sensors will get contaminated over time and read improperly. A test with an ohm meter should reveal the problem.
Q. What is the best way to increase the rear suspension for heavy load on my 2004 Tundra without affecting the ride under no load conditions?
A. Stiffer/heavier springs will increase the payload capacity but will most certainly affect the ride quality. One solution might be an airbag system (Firestone makes one kit). This system can be inflated to increase payload capacity and compensate for heavy loads. The beauty of this system is that they are easy to install and have very little impact on ride quality.
John Paul is the public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England. He can be reached at jpaul@aaasne.com or on Twitter @johnfpaul.
