You can mix windshield washer fluids
Q . My wife’s car, Kia Soul 2019, uses an orange windshield washer liquid, mine uses a blue one; can I mix them, if not what should I do? Also, with cold weather on its way, is there cold weather fluid?
A . All windshield washer fluid has the same basic makeup, soap, alcohol and water. Some fluids have chemicals that bead water, others are better at removing bugs. Yes, you can mix the different fluids, but you may lose some of the “special” features of certain fluids. And yes, look for washer fluid that will be good to minus 20 degrees.
Q . My 2011 Chevy Cruze has a code for a catalytic converter issue. I have replaced two sensors, but the code still appears. What can I do?
A . If it is a PO 420 code and you have checked for; engine misfire, high engine oil or coolant consumption, weak or poor spark, lean fuel and rich fuel mixture as well as a damaged oxygen sensor or wiring harness Then this code typically means the catalytic converter needs replacement.
Q . I was driving behind a GMC Sierra pickup yesterday on the highway and it had four tires on the rear axle. Why would that be?
A . Adding dual rear wheels to a pickup truck adds to stability and more importantly to load and trailer towing capacity. Chances are the driver may have a large fifth-wheel trailer and needs the extra trailering capacity. In the case of the GMC and using a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer the single rearwheel configuration can tow 21,500 pounds, and the dual rear-wheel setup can tow 35,500 pounds.
Q . The bushing near the control arm on my 2007 Ford Edge is loose and makes noise. I just wanted to know if the bushing for the left side could be replaced. My cousin checked it out and says he can fix it.
A . If you buy the part from Ford only the control arm is available. There are suspension suppliers that sell just the bushings. If you or your cousin is doing the work yourself, for simplicity I would install a complete control arm. This will come with new bushings and a ball joint and if you use an aftermarket part is quite reasonable.
Q . In central West Virginia, I saw a truck dropping gas at an Exxon station and then saw the same truck right across the street dumping in a convenience store. And I’ve heard people say their car won’t run on that cheap gas and I only buy Exxon. It’s all the same. Comes from the same barge. Some might argue but I know better.
A . There are multiple compartments in the tanker truck and although the base stock is the same the additives are different. So, in one way all gas is the same because it starts with the same basic ingredients, but it is the additives that make it different. It’s a little like baking, the basic ingredients are the same. What is added to the mix is what changes the flavor.
Q . My question has to do with electric cars and batteries. With all the electric and hybrid cars when after time and the batteries have met their maker what happens to them when they no longer can do their job? Is there a battery heaven?
A . Sort of. Batteries can be rebuilt and have just the bad cells replaced. The other option for vehicles with giant batteries like Tesla, the batteries can be repurposed for other devices like power walls and battery backup systems. The last option is just recycling them. As an example, the lithium-Ion in the spent battery can be reused and it is actually better than the virgin product. From what I have read lithium-ion recycling will grow to be a multibillion-dollar business.
Q . My 2012 Ford Escapes rear tire had a sidewall cut and went flat. It’s a 70,000-mile Continental with only about 10,000 miles on it and it’s less than two years old. I was told I would have to replace all four tires because it is all-wheel-drive. Is that true?
A . The easy answer is yes. From what I have seen and read as an example, a new tire has about 9/32nds of tread. If the three tires on the vehicle are 7/32nds or better, you should be okay. That 2/32nds difference in tread shouldn’t make
a difference. The other option is since your car is front-wheel biased you could replace just two tires and so at least they would match. Normally you would put the best tires in the rear but in this case in the front. The other option and Tire Rack and perhaps other tire stores is to buy one new tire and shave it down to the tread depth on the other tires. This is a common solution with all-wheel drive performance vehicles that need just one tire.
Q . I have a 2010 Toyota Prius in Southeast Florida with approximately 125,000 miles. For about two to three years the dashboard lights for all gauges; speed, gas, etc. did not work when the car got wet. When it dried out in about 1560 minutes, the gauges worked. Now the gauges do not illuminate at all. It was taken to a Toyota service facility originally when the problem was first manifested, and they indicated the dashboard would have to be removed and it was so costly that the car was not worth the fix. The major hybrid battery was replaced about two years ago and the smaller battery was replaced within the last six months. What’s your opinion, is there a fix and is the car worth a fix?
A . The dealer is correct is a pretty expensive repair taking about six hours to remove and replace the dash, plus if needed another $600 for the instrument panel. There are also at least three computers in that area, but I’m guessing the circuit board for the cluster just got wet too many times. Once repaired or before you need to find the water leak. You could easily spend $2,000 or more to get everything working properly. Is it worth it. Looking online, a similar car still has a retail price of $9,000.