Ray Magliozzi
Click or Clack
Finding the Best Fit Means Getting In, Out and Behind the Wheel
I have always driven a sedan but want to switch to a midsize SUV. I am an elderly lady (79) and have never driven an SUV but want something practical ...
Miata Owner Not a Fan of Metal Music
I have a 2010 Mazda Miata. It now has almost 40,000 miles on it. Ever since I bought it (with 18,000 miles on it), I have had a problem when I go over ...
Prius Catalytic Converters the Target of an Unfortunate Trend
The other morning, I went out to start my Toyota Prius and go to work. The car started up fine (just the electronics come on), but as soon as the gaso ...
Skip Spark Plug Replacements at Your Own Risk
How important is it to change spark plugs? I have a 2012 Toyota RAV4 V6 with 100,000 miles on it. I was thinking of having the plugs changed until the ...
What Pushes Brake Pads Away?
What moves the brake pads away from the brake rotor when you remove your foot from the brake pedal
Modern Seatbelts Lock and Load for Safety and Ease
Why is it that my driver’s seatbelt always locks up when I pull it out, and then I have to let it go back in again and try again?
Driving in the Time of COVID: Can Gas Go Bad?
These days I’m only putting about 3,000 miles per year on each car. I drive each car at least once a week. If I fill up both cars, I can probably go t ...
Subaru Forester Issues May Start with the Clutch
It sounds electrical to me, Connie. Based on your description, I assume that, when it doesn’t start, there’s no current getting to your starter. The f ...
A Pontiac by Any Other Name ... May Be the Same Car
Car names are a mess, Jeanette. Manufacturers slap them on and remove them at will. So it almost takes a Kremlinologist to figure out what was what. B ...
Hot Weather, Long Drives Can Lead to a Temperamental Honda
What happens is that in hot weather, an older fuel pump relay can overheat. The conditions under which it typically overheats are after a long drive, ...
Buick’s Silent Horn May Not Be a Big Honking Problem
I drive a supercharged 1994 Buick Park Avenue Ultra with 123,000 miles. The horn quit working, and I took it to a Buick dealer who ran a diagnostic te ...
What’s the Sweet Spot When Buying a “New” Used Car?
When should a person move on from a car? And what is the sweet spot between price and age of a car when buying a “new” used one?
The Story behind Our Pixar “Cars” Characters
Is there a story behind the cars Tom and Ray were depicted as in the “Cars” movies?
Saab Heat Problem Takes a Turn for the Worse
You might have a bad check valve or a cracked or leaky vacuum reservoir. Or you might have a small vacuum leak somewhere else in the engine that’s dra ...
Did I Set the Van a Rockin’?
It’s so possible that a “rockin’ van” is a cliche. When we test shocks on a customer’s car, the way we do it is by simply pushing down on each corner ...
Savings Pennies Isn’t Worth Risking the Safety of You and Others
My wife thinks I should use the turn signals on my 2018 Ford Explorer Platinum every time I come to an intersection, even if there is no one else at t ...
RAV4 Owner Needs a Break from Annoying Squeaking
My 2013 Toyota RAV4 has a very loud and annoying rotational squeak coming from the front passenger wheel. The noise stops when I apply the brakes.
Stick with Dealer for Oil Changes on European Cars?
If your owner’s manual says to use 5W30 oil with a particular European specification, the ideal thing to do is follow that requirement. Especially whi ...
Carburetor Concerns Are a Thing of the Past
The idea of “blowing out the carburetor” is an old-husband’s tale that’s been handed down from father to son over the years. It used to have some vali ...
Rear-Seat Safety Improving but Still Lagging Behind
I have never seen any data on a car’s safety in a rear-end collision. Are there standards? Are modern cars like this safe?
