Car Doctor Q& A

Q MY best friend ( of almost 55years) and I have an ongoing disagreement and are turning to you for confirmation or denial. She stops at least one car length behind the car in front of her at a stop sign or traffic light, thinking that if hit from the rear, she won’t be sent careening into the back end of said vehicle in front of her because of that distance and her foot on the brake. I say poppycock, forward momentum is stronger than her foot on the brake. What say you? I am a faithful reader of your column!

A this is what we say at AAA - When coming to a stop behind another vehicle you should stop far enough back to see the vehicles rear tires plus some pavement. There are two reasons, the first is that if the car in front of you stops running, ( stalls and won’t start), or decides to go in a different direction you have enough room to maneuver around the car without backing up. The second reason is sort of what your friend thinks. In a low- speed collision that extra space may prevent you from hitting the car in front. Of course, if the car behind is really travelling fast, you are correct you will be pushed into the car in front. At the end of the day, the law of physics always wins out.

Q I am 76years old and own a Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Camry. I always read your column and often find an answer to an issue with one of my vehicles. My 2012Camry is a wonderful car but has recently let water into trunk after a heavy rainstorm. A former Camry had same issue. Is this a leak that the dealer may be able to locate and fix? I don’t mine replacing the trunk seal if it is not too expensive. I started keeping some trunk contents in a plastic container, just so they didn’t get waterlogged.

A IT would be good to get the leak fixed to avoid rust as well as mold and mildew buildup in the trunk. Unless the trunk seal is damaged, or the rear of the car was in a crash I wouldn’t expect the seal around the trunk to leak. Common water leaks with the Camry are the taillight lens seals and the rear window seal. A specialist that finds and repairs wind andwater leaks should be able to find the source of the leak and permanently repair it.

Q I enjoy your reading your

Q & A’s in the paper. My question is about emissions system cleaning. I have a 2017 Impala with 12,000on it, I only drive 3- 4000miles a year. When I had my last oil change the dealer toldme I should have the emission system cleaned. Itwas a bit pricey over $ 200, so I said at my next oil change. At what mileage should this be done? With only 12,000 miles on the car, it seems too early. He also said it should be cleaned yearly even with the lowmileage I drive. I appreciate your input on this.

A AS a general rule, emission systems don’t require specific cleaning. Some shops will use a additive that is run through the fuel injection system that removes deposits that can build up in the combustion chamber of the engine, fuel injectors and the back of the intake and exhaust valves. My suggestion which is also recommended by General Motors is to use Top- Tier fuel. Top Tier fuel has additional additives that help keep the fuel system free of deposits. For more information go to www.toptiergas.com