AUTO HISTORY

Bill Vance fondly recalls General Motors’ heyday in the 1950s, when the General ruled the sales and style sheets!

QUESTION

I am writing to you today on behalf of my daughter. A few years ago, she purchased a 2008 Kia Rondo with a 4-cylinder engine. I recently learned that the 4-cylinder Kia engine used in the Rondo has a reliability problem and is prone to early failure. I have three questions for you regarding this: 1) What is the usual cause of failure of these engines? 2) Is there a typical life expectancy of this engine? 3) Is there anything that I can do to extend the life of the engine?

I presently do oil and filter changes every 5,000 km using synthetic oil of the viscosity recommended by Kia on the filler cap. My daughter really likes the car (station wagon) and really can't afford to replace it if the motor should expire. I would like to thank you in anticipation of your response. Ron from Simcoe

ANSWER

I also have, in the past, heard about problems with the 2008 Kia Rondo engines but my investigations have found that most of the engine complaints were from people who never or very seldom changed the engine oil at proper intervals.

There have been some discussions about the oil pans having rusting problems but, again, I have not seen any of the rusted oil pans so I tend to think that there are other factors associated with the early failure of the oil pans.

No one can predict the failure of an engine that is working properly so I would not worry your daughter and just make sure that she maintains the vehicle well and has regular oil changes.

READER’S COMMENT

Good morning Dennis. I hope all is well. You receive a lot of bad garage stories so I would like to share a good one, if I may. I drive a 2004 Mazda 3 with 4-speed automatic. This past July, my AT and check engine lights came on and my transmission was clunking into reverse and shifting erratically. My local garage (a real good one in Stoney Creek) directed me to Danny’s Transmission in Hamilton. A solenoid was replaced as well as filter/fluid, etc. The quote was for $600 but it was done for a little over $400 so I was happy.

Anyway, last week it started again. I brought the car back to Danny’s and waited a few days, as they are always busy. I was expecting the worst news about the transmission. Well, Ron (the owner) called me up and said there would be no charge as the solenoid was defective.

I felt obliged to do something so I gave him a $20 for lunch and he was reluctant to take that. Great garage, great guy – just want it put out there. Sorry the email is so long. Maybe you can chop it down and include it in your column. Take care, Al from Hamilton

MY COMMENT

There isn’t any need to chop anything off a good email. It is always refreshing to get an email about the good service that a garage has given since many garages get a bad rap because of a few that do not value their customers as they should. I am happy that everything worked out well for you.

QUESTION

My son, who has some difficulties in communicating, has gone and purchased a car that he cannot afford from a used car bandit – my son doesn’t even drive! When he brought the Bill of Sale home, I immediately called the used car dealer and told them that just because my son signed a Bill of Sale, it does not mean that he is going to purchase the car. The immediate response that the used car dealer gave to me was that a Bill of Sale is a contract and that he has bought the car. He has now gone to live in another city with his father, who, by the way, does not help support our son, just so that the used car dealer cannot force him to buy something that he cannot afford.

If a sales contract for a car is signed what options are there to get out of the deal? Can you help me with this, as my son wants to come back home?

Please do not use my name if possible

ANSWER

I am not going to use your name and there isn’t any reason why you have to worry any longer. You asked the salesperson at the used car dealership if a signed Bill of Sale meant that one bought a car and he told you yes, which was right. You did not tell him the name of your son nor about the paper quote that you had and were referring to. What you emailed to me was not a Bill of Sale but the retail price of the car and the price that they would sell the car to your son. Nowhere on that paper did it say that it was a Bill of Sale nor did I see anywhere that your son had signed the paper quote that you were referring to.

I also found out that there are other issues that are at play here and you have to work out those issues with yourself and your ex.

QUESTION

I think that Winter arrived a bit early this morning! There have been a few frost days so far but no snow and freezing until last night.

I have a new (for me) 2012 Chrysler 200 that I have not driven through a winter yet. It has been a great car so far but can you remind me what to do when the power side windows are frozen and will not open? Getting my coffee from the drive through this morning was a small problem.

I am thinking that maybe I should invest in the purchase/installation of a "remote auto start" so I can warm up and defrost the car before I use it. Are they reliable? Carla from Dundas

ANSWER

Before you go to the expense of installing a remote starter, I would do this before you park your vehicle for the night – especially if you are expecting freezing rain. Lower your driver’s window down just a little and use a dry rag to wipe the top of the glass. Then put your window back up and there shouldn’t be any problem with putting the window down in the morning. Yes, you can install a remote starter but the times that you are going to need it are few and if it is to just get rid of the few times ice has accumulated in the morning, I find it hard to justify the cost.

Dennis O’Sullivan can be reached by email at: dennis.osullivan@cogeco.ca or by regular mail at Box 10019 Winona, ON, L8E 5R1. Be sure to mention where you reside when writing to Dennis.