SHE’LL BE RIGHT
IAIN CURRY GETS ANSWERS WRITE TO MOTORING AT CARS@NEWS.COM.AU OR PO BOX 2808, GPO SYDNEY, 2001
About six months ago my 145,000km 2014 Mitsubishi ASX started making a whining noise when accelerating. My mechanic listened to it on a test drive and said it’s the CVT transmission and it often happens, nothing to worry about. Is he correct?
Frank Collum, email
If the noise is new and it wasn’t happening before you certainly can’t ignore it. CVTS have a reputation for whining, but this may be separate or a sign the transmission isn’t in good health. Have it properly diagnosed by an auto transmission specialist as it may just need a good service.
TIME’S UP
Re Mr Turner’s Mitsubishi Triton, the document you looked at may not have noted a timing belt replacement age, but five years is when most belts reach their use by date. Timing belts are cheaper than heads. Mr Turner should do the belt before it does the motor.
Perry Larsson, email
Wise words. It was Mitsubishi’s own service document that stated the timing belt should be changed every 90,000km, with no mention of time. Mr Turner’s Triton’s low use means it’d take 18 years to reach 90,000km, so a savvy move would be a new belt now. Similar applies to ‘sealed for life’ transmissions where the oil apparently never needs changing. Car companies seem to deem ‘life’ as ten years. My 20 year-old BMW has just had its ‘sealed for life’ gearbox oil changed for the second time. It’s now shifting gears far smoother – the old oil looked filthy.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
Why are modern cars, especially automatics, fitted with tachometers (rev counters)? Most drivers don’t have a clue what it’s telling them, or use it for engine/performance management. Auto transmissions do the engine management for them.
John Drumm, email
Because it looks cool to have a needle fly to a redline? Tachometers display engine speed in revolutions per minute, and you’re correct, most drivers don’t pay attention to it. It still has relevance, even in auto cars, especially if you’re towing, driving on a steep hill, on snow or sand or track driving – good drivers will use revs to maximise performance or economy. Modern customisable digital dashboards still offer a rev counter, but most drivers will prioritise information more relevant to 2022: Spotify playlists, vegan cafe locations and speed camera points.
KEY CHANGES
Re the Holden Cruze owner with problems, ours had its dashboard lighting up and flashing, gears locking and the engine revving while on the freeway. Our simple solution was to buy a new key. The program from the key to the engine is disrupted when there is movement within the key chamber, caused by wear and tear and having weighty objects on the key ring.
Sue Henderson, email
Good Cruze-owner intel there – if only all such problems were solved by a simple key replacement. I fear most Cruze transmission dramas are oily bits related and crushingly expensive, but if others can find a solution as cheap and effective as you did then it’s cause for celebration.
CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Re Holden Cruze transmission problems, there was a considerable improvement when they were built in Australia from March 2011. They got better again from 2013 – I know several people who’ve owned later versions and been happy with them.
Trevor Smith, email
Adelaide-built Series II Cruzes have a better reputation than 2009-2011 South Korean-built ones, but that’s like saying a cricket ball in the abdomen’s better than one in the face. Really, neither is good. Australian-assembled Cruzes’ engines and gearboxes came from Europe or Korea, and it’s these – transmissions especially – causing most issues. I’m happy some people enjoy their Cruzes, but personally I’d never recommend one.
NAVIGATION AID
My daughter’s car’s GPS no longer has updates available; the last one ended in 2019. She needs accurate GPS for her new job travelling around Sydney. Can she use her phone as a GPS – that’s the cheapest option – or would she need a new in-dash system or a standalone GPS? Not having lifetime map updates is a huge downfall of GPS systems.
Mark Steel, email
No map updates for older GPS systems is an everincreasing issue. In NSW, if a phone’s secured in a cradle and fixed to the vehicle it is legal to use the phone’s GPS. It’s not as ideal as having a new headunit running Apple Carplay or Android Auto, but it’s certainly a cheaper option. Make sure the mount is good quality. I’ve used a $60 Quad Lock one and it’s impressively stable.