Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Minivan’s air vents run hot and cold
Q: I have a 2006 Honda Odyssey with driver and passenger temp controls. When the A/C is turned on, the passenger vents put out cold air; the driver’s side vents put out heat. If the temp controls are turned down to the lowest setting, the dash reading is “LO,” then cold air comes through both vents. The system will now work normally for a while. The system has been checked for leaks, evacuated and recharged. No change. Any ideas?
—H.M., Orland Park, Illinois
A: A restriction in the A/C evaporator core is a common cause, but because your car has a dual control system, a failure of the blower motor for the left side is probably the culprit. Scanning for a body control trouble code usually reveals it.
Q: I have a 2010 Honda Odyssey with about 55,000 miles on it. I have done all my service work as well as the recommended work at the local Honda dealership. At my last oil change in December, they said I was due for a timing belt change. The guidelines I believe are 100,000 miles or seven years. I am over on years but under on mileage. I’m in my mid-80s and drive very little, as noted by the low mileage. I realize the consequences of a broken belt is a severely damaged engine but wonder if it is worth or necessary for estimated $2,200 to do the work this at this time. Any thoughts?
—R.W., Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
A: I have a hunch you drive gently, traveling only about 6,000 miles per year. As such, I would gamble on leaving the original belt in place. But that gamble pits a $2,000 service against an engine rebuild or replacement. Only you can determine your risk tolerance.
Q: We are trying to find a replacement for our 2007 Envoy, which has 270,000 miles. In our prolonged journey to find a vehicle with a CD player, we have found frustration, as the only new vehicle with a CD player is the Subaru Ascent. One of the dealers emailed me back and blamed it on the millennials. Any suggestions?
—L.N., Elburn, Illinois
A: Millennials? I get this question regularly, boomer, and have suggested buying a standalone CD player that connects through the
USB port for the car’s entertainment system. Another option is a Bluetooth player that can be paired with your car’s system. I suggest one with an anti-skip feature.
Q: I wholeheartedly agree with your response in the Chicago Tribune to S.P. from McHenry, Illinois, to follow the manual rather than the dealer’s recommendations about when to change the oil. I have a slight variation to this question, though. We recently purchased a 2019 GMC Acadia, which has a feature called DIC (Driver Information Center). While the manual states that the oil should be changed every 7,500 miles, the DIC signaled that we should get an oil change after only 4,500 miles. And of course, the dealer was notified by the car through, I assume, GM OnStar. We promptly started receiving nag emails. Because the first oil change was free, we took it in, but in the future should we go by the manual or the DIC?
—M.P., Oak Park, Illinois
A: The oil change monitor on the Driver Information Center should be your first choice. An algorithm based on such things as the number of cold starts, engine reaching full operating temperature and other factors determines the oil change interval. If the warning does not appear before 7,500 miles, change the oil and filter. Do it at least once a year.