Interior light system has burned before its time
Q: I own a 2003 Buick LeSabre with 47,000 miles. Many of the interior LED lights have burned out, such as on the steering wheel, climate controls and radio panel. I'm wondering what would cause the light failure since I don't do much night driving. I was under the impression the LED lights use very little power and last a long time. The dealer said they have to replace the panels as needed. The cost will be about $1,000. What caused the premature failure of the LED lights?
Sam A: There are only a few reasons for light burn out: alternator overcharging, poor connections that will cause the light circuit to overheat, or poor quality Light-Emitting Diode components.
Q: I own a 2002 Chrysler Concorde. The engine runs fine, however the "check engine" light occasionally comes on. I have heard that ethanol causes a problem with the oxygen sensor and is the cause. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Frederick A: The first step is to take the car to a repair shop and have the technician scan the computer for trouble fault codes held in memory. Once the code is identified a repair can be made. As for ethanol causing oxygen sensor problems, there have been a few import vehicles with oxygen sensors effected by some gas additives. This was on a few import brands that require premium unleaded gas only.
Q: My daughter is thinking about buying a new VW Jetta hardtop convertible this summer. Can you give me any information on the car?
John A: I have not been in the model yet, however, I have driven many VW's in the last year and all have been fun driving vehicles with good gas mileage. The idea of a hardtop convertible is the wave of the future. The retractable hardtop is a big improvement over the ragtop convertible. A retractable hardtop is much quieter and the rigidity is also much better. I would not hesitate to make a test drive appointment.
Q: I own a 2003 Toyota Corolla with 57,000 miles. The "check engine" light came on and the trouble fault code read "p1349." My local mechanic and dealer have tried to correct the problem. The dealer even replaced a valve assembly. The light came back on and then went off. Do you have any ideas?
Richard A: The variable valve timing solenoid is a very common problem with this car. Oil level is critical and sludge buildup is also another cause of solenoid failure. The trouble code can come back on if a small piece of sludge clogs the small oil passageway. I cannot say enough about frequent oil changes, even if the owner's manuals on most vehicles may differ from my opinion.
Q: I am the original owner of a 2003 Cadillac DeVille. At 18,000 miles it developed a vibration at speeds over 60 mph. My current mileage is 62,000 miles. I have had the tires balanced and rotated every 4,000 miles. I drive in Arizona where there are a lot of long open roads and highways. I have spoken with the dealer many times and they tell me there is not a problem. Do you have any suggestions?
Gene A: There should be no vibration in the car at all. I believe you are throwing money out the window by having your tires balanced and rotated every 4,000 miles; however your problem does sound like a tire and/or rim balance problem. I would like the dealer to use a set of tires and wheels from a used car in stock and let you go for a test drive on them as a comparison.
Q: I own a 1989 Toyota Celica GT with 131,000 miles. When I park the car on an incline, it does not start right up in the morning. It takes a lot of cranking to get the engine started. Why?
Richard A: Has anyone checked for computer trouble codes or fuel pressure? A common failure is the cold-start timer and/or the cold-start injector. I suggest you take the car to a qualified technician to check the car out. They can also raise the front end up to simulate the hard-start condition.
Q: After pulling out of my driveway and making two 90-degree turns in my 2003 Ford Navigator, I tried to turn left, but my steering wheel was in the locked position and I ended up in the ditch. By moving the steering wheel about one-half inch each way, going back and forth, I was able to get turned back around. I tried restarting the vehicle to see if it would come unlocked, but it did not. My dealer and Ford Customer Service suggested that I replace the entire steering column. The vehicle has 49,000 miles on it.
Lloyd A: For the steering wheel to lock as you experienced, something jammed. I would not just start replacing parts like the steering column. The problem could have been a stuck valve in the power steering pump from the two full, tight 90-degree turns, or some road debris could have got caught in the steering linkage. I recommend a complete front-end inspection.
Q: While at the shop for routine service on my 1994 Honda Accord the mechanic showed me a broken off portion of the cover for the timing belt. It was recommended that both the cover and timing belt be replaced, since dirt may have gotten onto the belt and pulley, which could make the car inoperable. I opted not to have the timing belt replaced, but to replace the cover only. These are the charges: W/AC Add timing cover ($46.45), Install lower timing cover ($18.58), one Lower Timing Belt Seal ($16.47), Replace Timing Cover ($343.69), for a total of $425.19. This bill seems very steep. Is it?
Jack A: The charges are correct. I have no idea why you did not spend the small additional amount of money to replace the timing belt. The labor to get to the timing belt was done replacing the lower timing belt seal. In fact, the timing belt has to come off in order to replace the lower crank seal.
Q: The speedometer light stopped working on my 2001 Buick Regal. The dealer said the repair would be $340. Is this a fair price for the repair?
Fred A: The cost is correct. The bulb is part of the instrument cluster. The repair is made when the instrument cluster is removed and exchanged for a reconditioned cluster. There are only a few factory Delco repair centers in the country. The GM dealer will give the repair center the mileage and vehicle identification number and a reconditioned cluster is sent overnight to the dealer, and your old cluster is sent back in the same shipping box.
Q: I own a 2002 Ford F-250 5.4-liter V-8 with 49,000 miles. Occasionally I notice blue smoke emitting from the tailpipe when I start the engine after it's been shut off for a few hours or more. The engine uses a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. My Ford dealer said the oil consumption is normal. Do you agree?
John A: The 1,000-mile oil consumption isn't unusual. Thin, free-flowing oil and hot-running engines are the perfect combination for oil consumption. Some engines will use more oil than others. You can try changing the oil viscosity to a slightly heavier one and also switching to either a synthetic blend or full synthetic. Do not use oil additives.
Q: I own a 2004 Monte Carlo. When I first back the car out of the garage with the radio on and then apply the brake, I hear a brief static sound through the audio speakers. I don't hear this again, unless I start the car and repeat a similar operation. What's causing the static?
Doug A: The static is from the radio's AM band. Radios have noise filters that are supposed to cancel the noise. Try putting in a CD and playing it to see if the static is still present. If it is, then go to a radio shop for help on static elimination.
Q: I own a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 77,000 miles. Is it time to replace the timing belt?
Jane A: Some manufacturers recommend timing belt replacement at 30,000 to 40,000 miles, while others go to 105,000 miles. Even low-mileage vehicles where the timing belt is five years old may need to be replaced. Contact the VW dealer and ask for the recommended timing belt replacement on your model. I suggest the use of factory original parts on these services.
Junior Damato is an ASE-certified Master Technician. E-mail questions to info@motormatters.biz. Mail questions to: Auto Doctor, 3 Court Circle, Lakeville, Ma., 02347. Copyright 2008, Motor Matters. The Auto Doctor