THE CAR DOCTOR
Buying advice and expert solutions for your car troubles from AAA "car doctor" John Paul.
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Can't find that part you're looking for? Looking for tips on the latest models? E-mail John your car questions.

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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.

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First look: 2010 4Runner fixed onto fading SUV genre
(Toyota)The 2010 4Runner makes its way up the Rubicon Trail, with some bruises. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick can be credited with making the...

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2009
- 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)







