CAR DOCTOR Q&A
Q. I read your column every all the time. My wife and I are leasing a 2020 Hyundai Palisade and took possession last August. I receive emails from the dealer regarding service appointments, but due to COVID travel restrictions and working from home, we have not driven much, and the vehicle’s mileage is still under 2000. We love the vehicle and want to take care of it, but what service if any should we have performed now?
A. Hyundai isn’t tied into time when it comes to maintenance as much as other vehicles. The recommendation according to the owner’s manual is an oil change at 7500 miles or 12 months whichever comes first. This is the same information I found in AllData, the online data base that I use. Perhaps if Covid changes and you find yourself driving more going into summer, changing the oil and filter, checking all the fluids, tires and tire pressure before the summer heat is money well spent.
Q. I read your section in the paper every week and I am hoping you can help me. I have a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS with a manual transmission and 109,000 miles but it still gets me around to my local stores. Lately, the check engine light has been coming on. I brought it to my local established (1933) mechanic and after he checks with a code reader to diagnose the problem, he resets the computer. He says that he doesn’t understand the code but tells me it’s running too rich, may be an oxygen sensor or bad fuel injector. I believe I changed the oxygen sensor years ago but don’t see it in my saved receipts. Any ideas you may have would be a big help. I intend to start by replacing the oxygen sensor and see what happens. Your thoughts on this would be a blessing!
A. Reading the code without performing a repair is guaranteed to have the check engine light coming back on. At 21 years old the problem could in fact be an oxygen sensor, leaking fuel injector or even a catalytic convertor at the end of its life. If next time the light comes on and you can get the fault code, perhaps together (email me the code) we can come up with an answer to keep your car’s check engine light off permanently.
Q. I have a 2009 Volkswagen Beatle convertible as a summer car. It’s a great little car but it has an oil leak. The leak isn’t bad and only puts a couple of drips on the driveway. I looked into getting it fixed and the repair shop said it needs a new vacuum pump. When he looked up the labor rate, he was shocked that the repair involves separating the transmission from the engine. There will be an entire days’ worth of labor to fix this leak, well over $1000. I like the car, but this seems crazy to spend this much money on a minor oil leak on an old car. What do you think?
A. The vacuum pump is a pretty common leak but there may be an easier fix. In many cases it is just the outer cover of the pump that is leaking and although awkward to get at there are only four Torx bolts that hold the outer cover of the pump to the pump assembly. You do need to do a little disassembly to get access, but it isn’t too bad. If the entire pump needs replacing, then it gets tricky, but the internet did offer a solution. If you remove the outer cover of the pump you can wiggle the assembly around the transmission shifter selector and remove the pump. When installing the new pump, take off the outer cover wiggle the new pump into place and reinstall the pump cover. Good luck and let me know how you make out.
Q. I keep seeing hybrid power as options in many cars these days. I remember that buying a hybrid meant saving gas. Today it seems to be for all kinds of reasons, better gas mileage, better winter traction and less air pollution. I understand some of this, but what is the reason for having something like a hybrid Porsche or Ferrari?
A. Hybrids use electric motors to add instant power (torque) and in some cases extra traction. Some vehicles today use electric motors to provide allwheel-winter traction, other use all-wheel-drive for better on road performance. I have never driven a Porsche or Ferrari hybrid, but I did evaluate an Acura NSX sports car which is allwheel-drive hybrid. The combination of V-6 engine power and electric motors develops 500 horsepower and over 400-pound feet of torque. The ride was sports car firm and the handling reminded me of a wheel engineered go-kart. The NSX just exuded engineering excellence. Most new vehicles today have idle-stop, that shuts off the engine at a light or when stuck in traffic-this saves fuel and helps with tailpipe emissions. Hybrids, even mild hybrids allow smoother, seamless engine restarting and instant torque after a stop. Then of course, in general hybrids are kinder to the environment due to lower emissions levels and better fuel economy than the non-hybrid equivalent. As someone told me once who owns their fifth hybrid “I want to drive green and save green”. Today more than ever, we are fortunate to have so many great choices in new vehicles.
— John Paul, Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Traffic Safety, AAA
Northeast