Saturday mornings at 9, tune into John Paul The Car Doctor at PT Cruiser was a unique looking vehicle that struck a cord with some. Answers will appear in a future Cars section. Or, email Be sure to put “Car Doctor” in the message field. Write to Car Doctor, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. He will answer readers’ car repair and maintenance questions of general interest every Saturday. He has over 30 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Add in optional all-wheel-drive and the new EcoBoost engine that delivers six-cylinder fuel economy and eight-cylinder performance and I think the Flex is a winner.
I also like the seating and versatility of the cabin. The ride is smooth and the handling is actually quite good for a large vehicle. It is my opinion that in recent years, Ford products have had a better than average repair/reliability rating. Do you any comments on repair history, safety or general drivability?Ī: The Flex has been rated by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with their top scores. I would bring the car back to the dealer and have them repair or replace the headlamp while the car is still under warranty. It is also possible for the inside of the headlamp assembly to build up with mold and mildew, dimming the output of the light. Is this something I should worry about?Ī: It is possible the seal for the bulb assembly is allowing some moisture into the headlamp capsule.
Q: My 2009 Caddy CTS has some moisture inside the headlights. I would also try online sites as well as salvage yards. At this point, I would take a picture of the tensioner on your car and try to match it up. What should I be looking for?Ī: There are actually three possible belt tensioners.
How many styles of tensioners were made for that car? Is it possible the engine is not a 1992? I was told I needed the one that has the tensioner attached to a bracket. Each time I buy one, the mechanic tells me it’s the wrong one. Q: I’m having trouble finding a belt tensioner for my 1992 Pontiac SE Grand Am with a four-cylinder engine.
Pt cruiser timing belt replacement manual#
The internal bands and clutches of an automatic transmission in your 11-year-old-car are not designed for manual down-shifting. Can you tell me if I am damaging or incurring excess wear on my transmission by shifting down and letting the engine do the braking rather than using (and saving) the brakes?Ī: In my opinion, it is much cheaper and more efficient to uses the brakes rather than the transmission to slow the car. Q: I drive a nice 2003 Buick Century that only has 50,000 miles on it. When buying any six- to eight-year-old used car, my advice is that no matter where purchased, have a used car inspection performed before buying the vehicle. The advantage of new car dealers is that they may get a low-mileage trade-in from a previous customer and this could be a better car. Am I correct in believing that buying this car from a Honda dealer is a safer bet for a better quality car than buying from a neighborhood used-car dealer?Ī: Many times, the local used-car lot and dealers all buy vehicles from the same place, a used-car auction. Q: I am in the market for a six- to eight-year-old Honda CR-V for my son to take to college in Vermont. If the timing belt fails, the engine will be badly damaged and will cost much more than $915 to perform the necessary preventative maintenance. What’s the real scoop? Should I try to push it or give up and get the work done?Ī: You should certainly get the timing belt and associated components replaced. The dealer says I am due for a new timing belt for $915. Q: I have a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser with 112,000 miles on it.
0 kommentar(er)
