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

Catch John Paul live Saturday mornings on WROL AM 950 at 9 a.m., or listen afterward here on Ustream.

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.


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 on AM 950 and 550.
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Race a Ford Focus in the Gillette Stadium parking lot
Yes, you read that correctly. On July 21, Ford is bringing a trailer full of Focus ST hatchbacks, the rally-inspired version enjoyed by Europeans for many years, to the parking lot outside Gillette Stadium. ...
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2012
- Will changing the tires on my car affect the speedometer?
- Should I buy a used Volvo or a new Subaru?
- Will an aftermarket remote car starter void my cars warranty?
- When should I change my cars transmission fluid?
2011
- Can a tire valve really cost $75?
- Solution for static electric shocks
- What Would The Car Doctor Do?
- My Car Stinks, Help!
- Buying a car with a salvage title can spell trouble
- Hose clamp headache!
- Why doesn't my wife's Prius like Ohio?
- Speedometer error: Will it affect the re-sale value?
- Is replacing the brake fluid necessary?
- 2010 Subaru shakes on the highway
- Mercury headlights go out while driving
- Right to Repair law won't increase thefts
- Whiny Ford is driving me crazy
- I've never driven the Nissan GT-R
- Recycled oil may prove popular
- Used Prius models have OK battery
- Flushing automatic transmission fluid may be temporary fix
- Pay attention to tow ratings
- Spend money on high-quality bulbs
- Don't carry cement blocks for traction
- Keep wipers down when parked
- What's the difference between 4WD and AWD?
- Radar, XM radio on the fritz
- Perhaps you saw a T-Rex?
2010
- Don't buy bigger mirrors, adjust them properly
- THE CAR DOCTOR Touching up car scratches is all about preparation (Boston Globe, 12/7/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR More ethanol, more problems (Boston Globe, 11/6/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Leaf looks like a winner (Boston Globe, 10/20/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Safe driving for short people (Boston Globe, 9/8/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR What Hyundai needs to sell luxury (Boston Globe, 8/6/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR At same price, buy the car you enjoy driving (Boston Globe, 7/23/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Wagon indecision (Boston Globe, 7/12/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Taking liberty with regular maintenance (Boston Globe, 6/23/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Resetting check engine light can take 100 miles (Boston Globe, 6/9/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Beating brakes won't fix rusted drums (Boston Globe, 5/28/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Mechanic can't finish a repair? Join the club (Boston Globe, 5/20/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR With license plates, it's personal (Boston Globe, 5/7/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Keep the change? Not when it's under your car (Boston Globe, 4/20/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Stumped on Isuzu with wild tach, speedometer (Boston Globe, 4/13/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Simultaneous accelerator, brake failure hard to believe (Boston Globe, 3/29/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Battery corrosion washes off, but may indicate replacement (Boston.com, 3/17/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Engine needs repair after being 'upside down in a ditch' (Boston.com, 3/3/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Paint rust, but consider the damage (Boston.com, 2/18/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Trading in will keep you in a rut (Boston.com, 1/27/10)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Winter warm-up? Just drive (Boston.com, 1/14/10)
2009
- THE CAR DOCTOR Mazdaspeed 3 vs. VW GTI (Boston.com, 12/24/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Gifts for the car lover (Boston.com, 12/15/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR What to buy after Volvo is Chinese (Boston.com, 11/30/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Burnt-out bulb? You'll need an app for that (Boston.com, 11/16/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR An S4 over an M3? (Boston.com, 11/5/09)
- THE CAR DOCTOR Low rolling resistance tires do save fuel (Boston Globe, 10/26/09)
- 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)







