http://cartalk.com/content/columns/ The twice-weekly nationally-syndicated automotive Q&A column from America's funniest car mechanics, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. 2009, Dewey, Cheetham and Howe 2009, Dewey, Cheetham and Howe http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/November/03.html Dear Tom and Ray: My husband actually said this: "If you ask Click and Clack, and they say I did something wrong, I'll stop doing it." So here we go: When my husband backs my new Toyota minivan out of our driveway (he's backing it down a hill), he doesn't use the brakes. He just shifts it from reverse into drive as the minivan is still rolling backward, and then goes forward. I gasp when he does this, and he says, "What?" I tell him he's going to ruin my transmission. He gives me a list of excuses why I shouldn't worry about it. When he almost has me convinced, he says: "And by the way, I'm not even sure I did anything. But IF I DID, I'm sure it won't hurt the car." How's that for covering his bases? But I think he made a crucial mistake in agreeing to abide by your decision. Give me some hope, guys! I need to know the correct answer, because my newly driving teenagers are often in the car with us, and I want them to learn to drive correctly. -- Darlene Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/November/03.html 2009-11-10T05:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/November/02.html Dear Tom and Ray: About a year and a half ago, my dad bought a white '92 Volvo station wagon off Craigslist for $500. I'm turning 16 next spring, and he expects it to be my car. He thinks it's fantastic because it was so cheap, but the car is older than I am, and it's a piece of junk. We went over a speed bump once, and the fan for the air conditioner fell out of the bottom. And I hate to be picky, but it's pretty embarrassing to ride in. I was hoping that you might have a good excuse as to why I shouldn't have to drive it, because my dad loves your show. Thanks so much. -- Emily Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/November/02.html 2009-11-05T05:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/November/01.html Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2002 Nissan Altima that for the past six months has been losing oil at the rate of about a quart per month. I thought that it might be either leaking oil or burning oil. However, there are no drips under the car, and it recently passed emissions testing during inspection (I would have thought it would have failed if it was burning oil). Anyhow, I'm perplexed. What's happening to the oil? Otherwise the car runs fine, and the gas mileage is as it always has been. When the oil starts to get low, I notice a slight metallic fluttering sound in the engine. When I top off the oil, that goes away. Is this a sign of serious engine problems? Thanks! -- Mike Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/November/01.html 2009-11-03T05:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/10.html Dear Tom and Ray: So I'm thinking of getting my car detailed, and an associate gives me a referral. While perusing the service sheet, under "Options" is listed "Claying, add $30-$40." I'm thinking, "Holy spa treatment, Batman!" The other side of the service sheet explains the process: "Why clay your car? Claying your car produces dramatic results. Using a lubricant spray, clay is slid alongside your paint. It picks up microscopic pollutants, which a car wash cannot remove. The result is stunning! Your paint looks cleaner and feels much smoother to the touch. With a coat of wax, your car will look the best it ever has." So my multipart question to you: Have you ever heard of this; what do you think; is this for real? -- Claudia Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/10.html 2009-10-29T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/09.html Dear Tom and Ray: We have a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Whenever we hit a big bump in the road or a pothole, the Jeep starts shaking uncontrollably, and the steering wheel is next to impossible to hold straight. We have to slow down, pull over to the shoulder of the road and come to a complete stop before starting back up again. Then it's fine. This doesn't happen all the time, but it's becoming more and more frequent. Can you please help us determine what might be the problem so we don't become a flaming ball of wreckage? -- Tracy Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/09.html 2009-10-27T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/08.html Dear Tom and Ray: I've got a 2009 Toyota Prius and recently managed to run out of gas. In my defense, the gas gauge is pretty finicky. In the past, it's allowed me to go for 50 miles after the fuel signal comes on, while this time it gave me only about 10. However, to my surprise, the car continued to run for another mile and a half on battery power, enough time for me to get to the next gas station. Did I do any harm to my battery by driving all that way without any fuel? Thanks, guys! -- Matt Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/08.html 2009-10-22T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/07.html Dear Tom and Ray: I really need an answer soon! There is a possibility that I have a 5- to 6-foot, 2-inch-diameter snake living in my engine compartment. It was slithering under my car, which was parked on the street in Muenster, Texas. Some men from the local electric company tried to shoo it away. But it never came out from underneath the car. I had two screaming grandchildren with me, plus a less-than-happy spouse, so after a thorough search of the cabin, I drove 40 miles home. I called the Honda dealer (it's a 2008 Honda Fit), and they said it was possible for the snake to enter the passenger compartment through the air-conditioning ducts. My car is parked outside in the Texas heat right now. What are the chances the snake is in the car, and how do I get it out? Am I being paranoid? This happened yesterday. Help! -- Mary Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/07.html 2009-10-21T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/06.html Dear Tom and Ray: You mentioned in a recent column that ethylene glycol (antifreeze) is toxic to animals. Is it also toxic to humans? I'm a doctor, and I prescribe a medicine for my patients that cleans out their colon called Go-Lytely (which makes a person do anything but go lightly). The main ingredient in Go-Lytely is polyethylene glycol, which sounds an awful lot like ethylene glycol, or antifreeze. So, when I prescribe Go-Lytely to prepare my patients for a colonoscopy, am I really prescribing antifreeze? If so, could I just tell my patients to down a gallon of Prestone and save themselves a trip to the pharmacy? -- Dan Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/06.html 2009-10-16T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/05.html Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2001 Toyota 4Runner with 160,000 miles. I also have a pop-up camper that I pull on occasion with the 4Runner. I just made a trip from Colorado up to Minnesota pulling the camper. The last 20 percent of the trip, when traveling on the interstate, the 4Runner started bouncing pretty good -- so much that my daughter thought she was riding the horsey ride at the grocery store while riding in her car seat in the back. I jumped up and down on the hitch to the 4Runner, and it continued to bounce a couple of times before stopping. Do I need new shocks? -- Keith Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/05.html 2009-10-13T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/04.html Dear Tom and Ray: Can you help settle a bet with my dad? He has an SUV, and he frequently goes and gets it buffed and waxed. It runs about $100 each time. I asked him why he does that. He said because it gives him "better gas mileage." I mean, come on! He says "it is a proven fact." I don't believe him. So my question is: Does it improve your mileage, and is it a proven fact? Thank you for your time. -- Ken Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/04.html 2009-10-08T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/03.html Dear Tom and Ray: I know this is ethically questionable, so you guys are the only ones I can ask. My BMW is still under warranty -- barely -- for the next 400 or so miles. I was wondering if there is a way, assuming that there is some underlying condition waiting to break, to push my car to its breaking point, thereby allowing me to take it to the dealership and have whatever inevitably would break 20 miles after my warranty is up break now. My goal is to break stuff that's going to break anyway, under warranty, and get BMW to foot the bill so that I don't have to cough up the ridiculous amount of money it would take to fix anything on this car. Any tips for pushing my car to the breaking point in the next 400 miles would be immensely appreciated! Thanks! -- Lisa Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/03.html 2009-10-06T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/02.html Dear Tom and Ray: In looking at "green" options for the future, I have a question about the environmental impact of disposing of hybrid car batteries. We live on the Big Island of Hawaii, and currently -- to our knowledge, anyway -- they do not have a site here that will accept these large car batteries when they are used up. So the question is, Will hybrids really help the environment, or are they just creating another mess of a different kind? I would be very curious about your take on this one. Thank you, and love you guys! Aloha. -- Ginny Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/02.html 2009-10-02T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/01.html Dear Tom and Ray, My 9-year-old son asked me why the speedometer on cars indicate speeds much higher than legal driving speeds. If it is illegal to drive 100 mph (or faster), then why indicate that the car can travel that fast in the first place, not to mention the fact that most cars can't reach these speeds in the first place? I didn't know the answer, so I thought I'd ask a car company. Toyota wrote back with: Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We appreciate this opportunity to address your inquiry. Some states within the United States have higher speed limits than other states. We hope you will find this information helpful. Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your inquiry. Sincerely, Toyota Customer Experience Which was a stupid response. Nissan wrote: Thank you for taking the time to contact Nissan North America, Inc. and allowing us the opportunity to read and respond to your e-mail inquiry. All vehicles are designed in this fashion, regardless of make or model. If you are seeking an exact reason as to why vehicles are designed this way, no further information can be provided. I apologize if the response given is not satisfactory. Unfortunately no further information regarding vehicle/speedometer designs can be offered. Sincerely, Nissan North America, Inc. An equally dismal response. GM and Ford did not respond at all. Can you help answer this question? -- Robert Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/October/01.html 2009-10-01T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/08.html Dear Tom and Ray: I have an old 1995 Toyota Celica with 180,000 miles on it. It's in great shape, but the driver's seat has become worn and broken -- so broken that an upholstery shop cannot repair it. Buying new aftermarket seats is expensive, and probably requires drilling new mounting holes and other work that I'm not mechanically inclined or equipped to perform. So I'm thinking I should try to find an old, used seat to replace mine. My question is, How do I go about finding a used seat? I'm assuming I must go to an auto salvage yard. Is it possible to search online to find a local yard with the part I'm looking for or find a non-local salvage yard that will mail me the part? I have no idea how salvage yards work. -- Earl Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/08.html 2009-09-25T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/07.html Dear Tom and Ray: I know we are supposed to drive our cars gently ... accelerate gently, brake gently, etc. But is there any benefit from occasional and brief full-throttle blast, for, say, a mile or so? As a boy in the 1960s, I recall my dad and my friends' dads making reference to "blowing out the cobs," like it was something the family sedan needed every now and then. It may have been a reference to something else that sounded like cobs -- I'm not really sure. So, my question is multi-part: Are you familiar with this expression? Do you know the correct version and its origin? Was it ever good for a car? Should we be doing it today? I hope you can clear up this "cob" mystery. -- Terry P.S. As a teenage driver, I saw to it that the engine in Dad's car was completely free of cobs. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/07.html 2009-09-22T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/06.html Dear Tom and Ray: I am looking for a used vehicle for less than $10,000, and I was curious about used police cruisers. I have heard that they are built for durability. But how reliable are they as used cars? A company I am looking at sells them with 71,000 miles on them, at a year or two old. Are they going to be money pits, or does their build quality offset the beating they probably have been put through? -- Matt Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/06.html 2009-09-18T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/05.html Dear Tom and Ray: My rotten Dodge Dakota (2007) came with a PLASTIC front bumper. (I knew body panels were being made of that flimsy substance, but was horrified to find out that so were bumpers.) Now, this is a "work vehicle," which can be expected to bump into or push things around. But just rolling to a stop in a parking lot and barely touching a wooden post, I heard a sickening "cracking" sound. Drat! I asked our Chrysler dealership if Dodge or Mopar offered an optional steel bumper (they don't). So, then I checked a local off-road parts house. The best it could come up with was a "Bull Bar," which is even uglier than one of you guys (no offense). Do you know of anyone who offers a reasonably close to stock, steel front bumper? -- Dave Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/05.html 2009-09-17T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/04.html Dear Tom and Ray: My rotten Dodge Dakota (2007) came with a PLASTIC front bumper. (I knew body panels were being made of that flimsy substance, but was horrified to find out that so were bumpers.) Now, this is a "work vehicle," which can be expected to bump into or push things around. But just rolling to a stop in a parking lot and barely touching a wooden post, I heard a sickening "cracking" sound. Drat! I asked our Chrysler dealership if Dodge or Mopar offered an optional steel bumper (they don't). So, then I checked a local off-road parts house. The best it could come up with was a "Bull Bar," which is even uglier than one of you guys (no offense). Do you know of anyone who offers a reasonably close to stock, steel front bumper? -- Dave Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/04.html 2009-09-10T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/03.html Dear Tom and Ray: My sister and I recently had an argument. She drives only short distances, rarely more than five miles. She wants her '98 Buick Regal with 40,000 miles to last as long as possible. Therefore, she refused to drive the 350 miles to visit for the holidays. I believe that an occasional long drive actually extends the life of the car. Which one of us is correct, and why? -- Bill Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/03.html 2009-09-08T04:00:00Z http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/02.html I have a 2006 4.7-liter V-8 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 50,000 miles, and we change our own oil every 3,000 miles. We always have. This last time we went to change the oil, my husband and I battled for two and a half hours to get the oil filter off! We started with a cap-style oil-filter wrench, which started slipping. Then we used every wrench we could find, including a Channellock. A few hours later, the filter looked like a crushed beer can! The filter is in a tight spot, so we don't have a lot of room to work the thing. We got so desperate that we drove a screwdriver through it to use that for leverage. Didn't work. We finally realized we'd lost this battle, so now our car needs to be pushed out of the garage and towed to our mechanic. But for future reference, are there any other techniques or tricks for loosening stuck filters? -- Lasha Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Archive/2009/September/02.html 2009-09-04T04:00:00Z