THE CAR DOCTOR
Buying advice and expert solutions for your car troubles from AAA "car doctor" John Paul.
- |
- Archives


ASK JOHN A QUESTION
Can't find that part you're looking for? Looking for tips on the latest models? E-mail John your car questions.

VIDEO


DISCUSSIONS




About John
John Paul is public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England and a columnist for Boston.com. A certified mechanic, Paul tests dozens of new cars each year and also hosts a radio show.

BLOG

Confessions of a plowman
Yesterday, Jalopnik expressed appreciation for Esquire's feature on driving in North Dakota, praising the writer's "short-form poetry" on the subject. Today, after a slush-caked morning, we've got our own Peter DeMarco, who writes the "Who Taught You to Drive?" column......

NEW/USED DEALS


GUIDES

- New models and redesigns
- Search by manufacturer
- Search by price and features
- Match cars to your lifestyle

PHOTO GALLERIES

ARCHIVES

2009
- THE CAR DOCTOR Use low-pressure spray to find water leaks (Boston.com, 10/7/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Skunk smell won't leave car (Boston.com, 9/23/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Look away from the Pontiac G3 (Boston.com, 9/14/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Can shops add supply fees? (Boston.com, 9/2/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Battery TLC ensures long life (Boston.com, 8/25/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Stained seats are a pain (Boston.com, 8/11/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Not that crazy to call Focus a budget BMW (Boston.com, 7/28/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Used Jaguar or late-model Corvette? (Boston.com, 7/16/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR High service cost for PT Cruiser (Boston.com, 7/3/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Low-maintenance used cars (Boston.com, 6/22/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Stopping brake noise (Boston.com, 6/15/09)
- New torque converter should solve high RPMs (6/8/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Racing for the mid-life crisis (Boston.com, 6/2/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Tighten oil filter, but never too much (Boston.com, 5/26/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR License plate frames are illegal, technically (Boston.com, 5/20/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Peugeot parts in the Boston area (Boston.com, 5/11/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Unfiltered air shouldn't be reason to trade car (Boston.com, 5/7/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Good buys for $6,000 (Boston.com, 4/27/09)
- White smoke means water leak (Boston.com, 4/14/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Shady trade-in tactics (Boston.com, 4/13/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Fuel economy gadget shows money per mile (Boston Globe, 3/31/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Animal fat-based 5W-30 is a green oil choice (Boston Globe, 3/23/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Can a car be mouse-proof? (Boston Globe, 3/16/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Drive less, change oil more (Boston Globe, 3/9/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Torque converter may be draining overnight (Boston Globe, 3/2/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Would you buy this Pontiac G6? (Boston Globe, 2/23/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Best car for daughter and 100-pound dog? (Boston Globe, 2/17/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Get past the gauge to fix oil pressure drop (Boston Globe, 2/9/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Few nods for X6 (Boston Globe, 2/2/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Winter mileage drops, but not this much (Boston Globe, 1/26/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Voice recognition still a 50-50 shot (Boston Globe, 1/20/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Don't sacrifice safety for fuel economy (Boston Globe, 1/12/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Reader update: More tire pressure tips (Boston Globe, 1/5/09)
2008
- THE CAR DOCTOR Do-it-yourselfers still can (Boston Globe, 12/31/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Switching tires causes pressure monitor headache (Boston Globe, 12/24/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Gifts for new drivers (Boston Globe, 12/18/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Best all-wheel drive sedans for winter (Boston Globe, 12/11/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Best convertible for big budget (Boston Globe, 12/4/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Slow down before you start fixing computer bugs (Boston Globe, 12/1/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Used luxury sedans with poor reliability (Boston Globe, 11/20/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Have a hotrod to rent for the day? (Boston Globe, 11/13/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Cleaning up aftermarket radio static (Boston Globe, 11/6/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Hey, I'm not really braking! (Boston Globe, 10/30/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Jetta lost two fan speeds (Boston Globe, 10/23/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Spotting leaks in cylinder-head gaskets (Boston Globe, 10/16/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Don't trust aftermarket headrest (Boston.com, 10/9/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Air stuck in Subaru steering pump (Boston.com, 10/2/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Address Galant's peeling paint with Mitsubishi (Boston.com, 9/25/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Read the odometer before you sign off (Boston.com, 9/17/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Tackling that pesky check engine light, again (Boston.com, 9/11/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Computer scan tools for cheap (Boston.com, 9/4/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Is synthetic oil worth it? (Boston.com, 8/27/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Changes in state emissions testing, oil warning light, hydrogen add-ons (Boston.com, 8/21/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT No-name gas, hybrid Camry, staying in low gear (Boston.com, 8/14/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Jaguar's Indian owners, fuel injector cleaners, bygone tune-ups (Boston.com, 8/7/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Smelly Ford, vague Corolla steering, axle leak (Boston.com, 7/31/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Cheap oil filters, clicking drivetrain, worn wheel bearing (Boston.com, 7/24/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Inaccurate speedometer, tune-ups, overheating in traffic (Boston.com, 7/17/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Bleach in the gas tank, brake service, weak HVAC fan (Boston.com, 7/9/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Unfiltered air, timing belts, transmission overhaul (Boston.com, 7/3/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Siphoning gas, rotten egg Sunfire, good old English electrical faults (Boston.com, 6/26/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Narrow width cars, mushy brake pedal, red hot Audi (Boston.com, 8/25/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Gas additives, aftermarket parts, bad clutch (Boston.com, 6/19/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Storing your car, carburetor specialists, intermittent starts (Boston.com, 6/4/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Best speed for fuel economy, power steering fluid, copying keys (Boston.com, 5/29/08)
- CAR DOCTOR Senior citizen cars, old Fifth Avenue, premium gas (Boston.com, 5/22/08)
- Coolant leak, Oldsmobile shutdown, Chevy HHR Panel (5/15/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Third row seating, idle air control valve, stalling Sentra (Boston.com, 5/9/08)
- THE CAR DOCTOR High idling, Northstar coolant leak, troublesome turbo (Boston.com, 5/1/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Removing a vinyl roof, air bag light, stalling Saab (Boston.com, 4/24/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Best ad rep car, Neon trunk leak, surging Malibu (Boston.com, 4/17/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Honda ignition switches, booster seats, upcoming diesels (Boston.com, 4/10/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Racing shoes, master cylinder, Chevy Colorado reliability (Boston.com, 4/3/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Rusty windshield pan, intermittent no-starts, battery-draining radio (Boston.com, 3/27/08)
- Battery voltage, classic Benz 450SEL, keeping old cars (Boston.com, 3/20/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Road tripping to Arizona, steering wheel shimmies, oil lights (Boston.com, 3/13/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Safety switches, bearings, and body panels (Boston.com, 3/6/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Check engine lights, gas additives, do-it-yourself timing belt change (Boston.com, 2/21/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Slow gas pumping, airbag deployment, windshield defrosting (Boston.com, 2/21/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Trailer towing, hydrogen power, smart car safety (Boston.com, 2/14/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Rear-only ABS, radio static, flooded S2000 (Boston.com, 2/8/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Premium fuel, narrow winter tires, Cadillac CTS (Boston.com, 1/31/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Freezing windows, moaning van, fast blinkers (Boston.com, 1/24/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Battery drain, blower resistor, all-wheel drive (Boston.com, 1/17/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Bucking Jeep, Mopar fluid, and power brakes (Boston.com, 1/17/08)
- ASK THE EXPERT Air flow sensors, remote starters, and fuel caps (Boston.com, 1/7/08)







