Car Doctor Q& A

Q my 2011 honda Civic runs great once you get it started. Normally you turn the key and it would start quickly. Now, I turn the key and it will not start without turning the key 5 to 10 times. In coldweather it takes even takes longer to get it to start. If I hold the key in the start position about 5seconds itwill start after many attempts. Once the car is started, I can turn it off and it will start on thefirst turn the rest of theday. But after 10 hours or so, itwill take several tries. Please help!

A from your description it sounds as if the engine is not getting enough fuel to start when it is cold. Years ago, when engines used carburetors, the choke provided more fuel to get the car to start. Today sensors read the engine and air temperature and adjust the fuel for easy starting. Iwould leave the car overnight so the shop can lookat the computer data as well as fuel pressure and volume. It is possible that the coolant temperature sensor is weak and not providing the correct information to the car’s computer.

Q SO manyweb sites are so enamored with the Kia Telluride, claiming itwill bemuch more reliable than ahonda Pilot, to use one example. I remember when Volvo first introduced the newer generation Xc90in 2016. It was hype dassuv of the year by various sources at the time but has since been revealed as a very problematic vehicle. Without a real history of extended miles driven, what are these claims of new introductory cars really worth? The same goes for rates of depreciation aswell, itwould seem. What do you think?

A you are correct that without repair/ owner satisfaction data you are only looking at part of the newcar equation. The Kia Tell uri de is a very good vehicle and functions extremely well. From its ride and handling to it well designed infotainment system the tell uride is a well thoughtout vehicle. Still the vehicle is too new to know how that same vehicle will perform five to ten years downthe road. Regarding depreciation, Kia vehicles do depreciate faster than a comparable Toyota or Honda but I believe that has more to do with ( perhaps unfairly) perception of the brand than the actual vehicle quality.

Q I purchased a used 2013 ki a Optima in 2017. Itwas never a good financial deal formeasi am upside down and owe $7000 more than the car is worth. There have been at least three recall son this turbo engine and nowthere is nowa class action suit regarding faulty engines that have caught on fire. The car has a burning oil smell and i want to trade the car in. You have been referred to as the car doctor online and I am seeking advice Iwant to get rid of this car and I am looking for a small economical SUV. I have been lookingat then is san kick and Toyota Rav4. Will you make suggestions of some good SUV for reasonable prices?

A I think you needmore financial advice ( not my aera of expertise) more than car repair advice. Trading a car in and taking a $ 7000loss and rolling that dept into another car loan will only make a bad situation worse. My suggestion would be to repair the car you have now and keep it. I spoke with Ted Lyons of AAA Financial services department and he suggested refinancing your existing loan and trying to pay it down as quick as possible and keeping the car after the loan is paid in full. If you did want to trade the car in, he would not consider trading the car in until the value is no more than 120 percent of the loan. Some other financial experts recommended cleaning up the car, selling it privately- to maximize incomeand paying off the loan with additional savings.