CAR DOCTOR Q&A
Q. I own a 2005 Corolla. The rear brakes are drum brakes and I have to periodically have rust blown out of the rear brakes as they make a distinct noise when I slow down and stop. Since the brake drums are very rusty, I was wondering if I could replace the rear brake drums without replacing the brake shoes as the shoes are fairly new. Also, the headlights on the car are not as bright as I would like. I have replaced the halogen bulbs with original equipment bulbs and cleaned the haze off of the headlight assembly with little improvement. I was wondering if there is an aftermarket bulb that you could recommend that would improve the efficiency of the headlights.
A. I prefer to match new drums with new brake shoes. Using new brake drums and old brake shoes or vice versa old brake drums with new brake shoes can cause brake squeal. One option is having the current brake drums resurfaces to clean up any accumulating rust. Regarding headlight bulbs, some people have added LED replacement bulbs as a bright whiter alternative. The issue is that these bulbs are not Department of Transportation compliant. You could add a brighter DOT compliant bulb (Sylvania Silver Star Plus is one). These brighter bulbs add more light but are designed not to offend oncoming drivers. The one downside, similar to high performance tires is a shorter lifespan. Where a typical headlight bulb might have a usual life of four to five years, performance bulbs might only last two years. For some drivers the tradeoff is worth it.
Q. I have two general questions for you. The first is can E3 brand spark plugs be used with an aftermarket electronic MSD ignition system. The second question is a power steering oil cooler beneficial for an older car?
A. Holley (parent company of MSD Ignitions) recommends using regular spark plugs with their MSD ignition rather than specialty hotter plugs. Based on what I have seen this means stay away from platinum and multi electrode spark plugs like E3. I would use traditional copper plugs and maybe gap them a little fat and after running them for a while check the plug condition. Some people will run a slightly cooler plug to somewhat offset the hotter spark. Regarding adding an aftermarket power steering oil cooler, unless you are auto crossing a car and really exercising the power steering system, I don’t see the need.
Q. I’m considering a hybrid sedan. I have a couple of questions are they worth the extra cost and between the Toyota Camry hybrid and the Honda Accord hybrid which do you like best? Also is there another fourdoor hybrid sedan I should be looking at?
A. The biggest benefit of a hybrid is fuel economy and lower vehicle emissions. If you don’t drive much, there isn’t the advantage of the fuel savings compared to someone who drives 25,000 miles or more per year. As an example, according to several price guides you will pay about $4000 more (base price) for a hybrid sedan versus a conventional Camry. In my testing I averaged about 15 miles per gallon more with the hybrid model. Now if you drive 15,000 miles per year and gas averaged about $2.50 per gallon you would save about $400 per year. Based on this rough calculation it would take about 10 years to offset the extra cost of buying the hybrid. The more you drive the more you save. Of course in addition to the cost savings, hybrids are kinder to the environment. Both cars you are looking at are solid choices. There is one more worth a look, the Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The fuel saving of the Sonata are about the same as the Camry. Using the same pricing guides the Sonata hybrid carries a $3000 premium over the non-hybrid. This would result if a little quicker return on your investment. To me the Sonata as an overall package edges out the Camry by a slight margin.
Q. I got a remote car starter for Christmas and went the Volkswagen dealer to have it installed. They told me that unless it was a factory unit, installing it will void the warranty. It was a gift from my parents who live in Florida and I don’t want to send it back or go there to have it installed. What should I do?
A. This is a common misconception about aftermarket accessories. Items like remote car starters and alarms can be installed without voiding any warranty, providing they are installed correctly. In fact, as a consumer, you are protected by the MagnusonMoss Act. The act prohibits manufacturers from basing a warranty on using factory equipment/parts. The act goes on to state that if this is a requirement that part must be provided at no-charge. At this point I would take the car and remote starter kit to a qualified repair shop or automotive electronics store and have it installed.