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Go ahead, restore the family heirloom (12/16/07)Dear Tom and Ray: OK, perhaps life begins at 50 with a 55-year-old sports car. My brother Eddy (No. 3 out of six), acquired this wonderful chick magnet of a car back in 1964. My parents swear that the only reason they assented to the purchase of this risky vehicle was that Eddy had already been given a death sentence -- Hodgkin's lymphoma, diagnosed in early 1964, which would end his life just before Christmas in 1965. ...
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Husband is pulling a fast one (11/25/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2002 Daewoo wagon. (I'll pause here for your laughter.) I have owned it since it was new and have adequately maintained it, and it has just under 50,000 miles on it. Recently we took a trip, and because of an ongoing oil drip, my husband checked the oil, added a half-quart and then we headed home. ...
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A smaller engine is the smart choice (9/30/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I am in the process of buying a new Subaru Outback. My question is: Do I need to get the six-cylinder model, or does the four-cylinder engine in this year's models have enough get-up-and-go to be sufficient? I hate to spend the extra money for gasoline -- plus, it is supposed to be fed premium gasoline, so the cost continues after the purchase. Thanks....
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Reader needs second opinion (9/16/07)Dear Tom and Ray: My wife's car is a 2001 Highlander with about 54,000 miles. About two years ago it began consuming oil and has gotten worse. It has failed the last two emissions tests, the check-engine light comes on regularly and it produces a large plume of blue smoke in the morning. ...
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With two balding tires, it's best to buy a new set (9/2/07)Dear Tom and Ray: Hey, guys! I need your help doing the unthinkable: proving my father wrong. I drive a 2003 Chevy Tahoe. I live in Atlanta and go to Georgia Tech, so most of my driving is city driving. With the constant stop and go, bumpy pavement and having to drive around people who are in the "big city" for the first time, my tires have worn out. ...
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Keep toilet paper in the bathroom (7/13/07)Dear Tom and Ray: While I was attending the University of Oklahoma in 1960, a study was done by the petroleum engineering department. The question was: Is draining oil from a vehicle necessary? They worked with White Trucking Co. and tested their theory on long-haul trucks. ...
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Watch closely when your car burns oil (6/29/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2001 Dodge Intrepid with about 110,000 miles. I have the oil changed regularly, but recently noticed smoke coming from my tailpipe when I take off from a stop. This doesn't happen all the time, but it's enough to make me nervous. ...
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Fed up with slow fill-up (6/22/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1998 Nissan Altima, and every time I put gas in the car, the nozzle clicks off, or the gas splashes back out like it's full. What is causing this? It is so irritating! I have to pump gas into the car slowly, then stop and wait, and then slowly pump some more. I have taken it to the dealer and they said they didn't find anything wrong with it. What do you think the problem is?...
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Buying a car sight unseen is iffy at best (6/15/07)Dear Tom and Ray: We all know you should have a competent, trustworthy mechanic check out a used car before you buy it. This works fine when you, the used car and your mechanic are all in the same city. But how can you check out a used car in a city far from home, where you don't know anyone?...
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Clearing up confusion about new oil-change feature (6/8/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I recently bought a Honda Fit. I love the car, and the dealer even gave me a few hundred dollars for my Metro. I really like the Fit and want to take care of it. The Fit has a feature that shows the oil usage as a percentage. ...
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Old-car comfort versus new-car safety (5/25/07)Dear Tom and Ray: My 1985 Honda Civic Wagon, with a standard transmission and four-wheel drive, looks terrible but still drives beautifully and gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway (I'm elderly and rarely drive faster than 55 mph). My children don't think the car is safe to drive anymore. ...
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High speeds and bad tires can contribute to hydroplaning (5/18/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a history of hydroplaning. I slid and rolled over in a GMC Jimmy while making a sharp right turn during a rainstorm. I also have hydroplaned in a Jeep Cherokee while driving in a light drizzle and going in a perfectly straight line. ...
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Suction method for oil changes probably adequate (5/11/07)Dear Tom and Ray: Before I retired, I was ASE-certified in several categories, a member of SAE, and held technical and sales positions with Mobil and Dana. I also grew up in a large, full-service auto shop. I was taught that oil should be drained, rather than siphoned out of the dipstick tube, to enhance removal of sludge, metallic particles and other contaminants. ...
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Car talk (5/4/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I bought a 2003 Chevy S-10 for my stepdaughter. Today the truck has only 36,500 miles on it. The driver's door fell off! It broke off at the welds and was hanging by electrical wires. The dealership refused to do warranty work. How can a girl who weighs 100 pounds soaking wet tear a door off a truck? Is it possible to shame Chevy into making this right?...
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Don't cry over possibly scratched paint (5/4/07)Dear Tom and Ray: Does writing in the dirt/dust on a car scratch the paint? A teacher at my children's school today wrote "Clean Me" as a joke in the dirt on my new Suburban as I was parked in the school pickup line. (It was dirty only because we've had bad weather lately!) I had left it unattended while I was visiting another mother ahead of me in line while waiting for the children to come out of school. ...
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Free tire program not all it's cracked up to be (2/16/07)Dear Tom and Ray: Am I being taken for a ride? I bought a brand-new Honda CR-V and was enrolled in a "free tires for life" program with my dealership. The catch (isn't there always?) is that I have to have my tires balanced every 7,500 miles and an alignment every year, plus routine oil changes and an annual inspection at the dealership in order to qualify for the free tires. ...
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Wife gets the OK to listen to the radio at gas station (2/2/07)Dear Tom and Ray: Does my husband know what he's talking about? When my husband fills up his car with gas, he always turns the car off and removes the key from the ignition, which turns the radio off -- even if I'm busy listening to "Car Talk" on NPR! It drives me crazy, but he insists that having current passing through the vehicle is a disaster waiting to happen while filling up the gas tank. ...
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Dealer took reader for unnecessary service (1/26/07)Dear Tom and Ray: We purchased a new 2005 Jeep Liberty for our daughter last year and have faithfully taken it in to the dealership where we bought it for routine maintenance. At the time of the last maintenance checkup (11,784 miles), the repair shop performed rear and front differential service, at a cost of $240. They said it should be performed every 12,000 miles. I've never had routine differential service performed on any car I've ever owned. Is this legitimate?...
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Blue smoke is signaling a pricey problem (1/19/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2001 Toyota Avalon that I bought in January 2006 with 88,000 miles. Within the first week of owning the car, it started blowing blue smoke. By the time I brought it back to where I'd bought it, they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. ...
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Add vapor lock to problems faced by military (1/5/07)Dear Tom and Ray: I'm a soldier in Iraq, and I have a problem with what I suspect is vapor lock on a 2005 Polaris Rover all-terrain vehicle. Frequently (although usually occurring during the hot parts of the day and after driving two to four miles), the Rover stalls. ...
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High speeds are possible but bring many dangers (12/15/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I am having debates with my friends. One friend claims that her dad's Infiniti (I think that's the car) was going 140 mph for a minute or so on I-35. For some reason, I don't believe her. I also don't believe my friends when they say they drive that fast on the highways. ...
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Quick fix caused more problems (12/8/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I lost my oil cap last time I changed my oil. While I searched for a new oil cap, I stuck a rag in the opening as a temporary fix. While driving on the highway, my car started making an awful noise. When I stopped to look, I saw that the rag was sucked halfway into the engine. ...
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Style vs. versatility (12/1/06)Dear Tom and Ray: We are looking to purchase a used car for around $7,000. Are we doomed to choose the utterly styleless but ultra-reliable 2000 Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla? We have two boys, 4 and 6, and are concerned about safety. We loved the safety ratings of the 2000 Jetta and Passat but hated the horrendous maintenance reviews they received on the Web. ...
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Can't judge car's value sight unseen (11/24/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My 1963 Dodge Dart four-door sedan was an old-lady car when I bought it in late 1963. I have now become an old lady and changed to another, newer old-lady car, a 2001 Buick Century. My Dart and I drove from one end of this country to the other several times -- both west to east and north to south. ...
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Don't stop hubby from pursuing his life's work (11/10/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My husband has a 1992 Nissan Maxima with almost 300,000 miles on it. He has taken rather good care of it and kept up all the regular maintenance. However, it now needs a new transmission. He wants to spend $2,000 to $3,000. I would rather invest it in our next used car. ...
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Baby doesn't need a new set of wheels (9/15/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter and son-in-law drive a 1996 Acura Integra (two-door). It has had little need for repairs other than ordinary things and regular maintenance. The odometer reads 178,340. They have a 15-month-old child who is regularly stuffed into her car seat in the back of this car. I want to get them a new car. I am concerned that this vehicle is past its prime and is asking for an accident. My son-in-law thinks I'm being neurotic. What do you think?...
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Tips for privately selling a used car (9/8/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I am planning to buy a 2006 Subaru Forester this year and don't want to deal with the trade-in hassle and rip-off, so I'm thinking about selling my five-speed Subaru 1997 Impreza Outback Sport privately. But I've never done it before. ...
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Parenting advice from Tom and Ray (9/1/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Am I a jerk or a genius? My son is now 18, and when he was 15, I wrote him a check for $1,500, postdated three years. I told him that if he managed to reach the date of the check without (1) receiving any tickets, (2) being involved in any accidents or (3) breaking any of our house driving rules, I'd cash the check for him. ...
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A five-star car is what mom needs (8/25/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My mother was in a single-car accident in a Buick Century that happened because she passed out. She had never been in an accident before and is not given to passing out. She hit the beginning of a guardrail. The rail hit the engine, proceeded through the glove compartment, passenger seat, back seat and out the trunk. ...
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Automatic air conditioner causing marital disharmony (8/18/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Please settle an argument between me and my wife. We have a 2005 Toyota Highlander with an "automatic air conditioner." You set the temperature, and it maintains it. My wife contends that the AC works like a house AC, so that the temperature of the cold air is constant and the compressor cycles on and off. ...
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Elvis has entered the garage (8/11/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My wife and I own a 1996 Ford Explorer with 101,000 miles on it. We found out yesterday that the freeze plugs are corroded, on both sides and the back side of the block. We do not know if there is corrosion throughout. It was like the doctor telling us that our child has a disease. ...
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A clean car won't get better gas mileage (8/4/06)Dear Tom and Ray: A friend of mine says I am wrong, and I was hoping you would have the answer. Whenever I go on a long trip, I always wash and wax the car before I start, and as the bugs collect, I hit carwashes as needed along the way. Besides, it is great driving a nice, pretty car. ...
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Neighbor's car sounds like a clock (8/4/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I am writing to you regarding my neighbor's car. I think it's about to break down. Now, normally I wouldn't care, but I don't have a car and my neighbor gives me a ride down to the bus stop every morning. I really don't want to walk four miles every day at 6 a.m. ...
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A breakdown of maintenance costs (7/21/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I listen to your radio show almost every week and have learned a lot. But right now my life is going through a great change, since my husband wants a divorce. I need to know how to plan for car maintenance and its costs. I have a 2004 RAV4 (in his name), and I love it. It has 31,000 miles on it, and I have kept up with the oil changes. But I haven't a clue as to how to budget for its maintenance. Can you help me?...
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A safer alternative to sleeping on exhaust gases (7/14/06)Dear Tom and Ray: This is a family relations/exhaust gases type of question. When camping, I use the exhaust gases from my Bronco II to inflate our queen-size air mattress, which would require about a month to inflate by blowing in it. I duct-tape an unused plastic gas-can nozzle to the tailpipe, and then hold the other end tightly to the mattress's air opening. ...
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Tom and Ray discuss ethanol (7/7/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I've always wondered about ethanol. Seems too good to be true -- you just plant some corn, harvest it, and in no time you have fuel for your car. So I Googled ethanol on the Web. There are tons of Web sites extolling the great benefits of corn-based ethanol as a fuel. ...
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Highway route longer but better for cars (6/30/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I live in Vermont, and I have two possible ways to go to work. The first way is what people who don't live in Vermont would call "quaint," but what I would call "lousy." The road winds through the hills and is dirt for part of the way. ...
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Upset drivers should rely on car-ma (6/23/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Today I was involved in an accident. I was happily cruising along at the speed limit (35 mph), in the right lane, when someone came up behind me. He was clearly upset that I was doing just the speed limit, and he could not stand being unable to get around me because of a line of cars in the other lane. ...
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Denying the need for vans to speed (6/16/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I bought a Ford E350 XLT SD Extended Van, a 2006 model with a 5.4-liter engine. The engine quits at 84 mph, and the service manager says it was made that way and all is well. I called Ford's national customer-assistance line, and they said it was set that way from the factory, and that they do not have to disclose this fact to the public. My complaint is, I would have bought something else had I known. Question: Do I have any recourse? Or am I stuck with this $35,000 thing?...
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How to tell when it's time to junk a car (6/9/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Please define "driving a car into the ground." I realize I'm on the downside of my '93 Toyota 4Runner's lifetime. I crossed 200,000 miles a month ago but would like to keep it for at least a year more. But in the meantime, little things are starting to go wrong. ...
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12 volts, two engineers and one ignorant teacher (5/5/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I am a junior in high school. In my physics class, the teacher claimed that you could be electrocuted by touching a car's battery terminals. I started laughing and said I know from experience that there is no way you could die from a car battery. ...
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The ins and outs of tire inflation (4/28/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I am having a dispute with two of my three sons, and I would appreciate seeing what your solution is. Specifically, they claim that in order to increase traction on snow and ice, and even sand, one should remove air from the tires to increase the amount of rubber that touches the road surface. ...
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Help needed in finding replacement tools (4/21/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter needs a lug wrench and jack for her 2003 VW Jetta. I don't want to give an arm or a leg to a VW dealership for these items, but I can't find them anywhere. Can you give me some particulars on these items, such as size needed and where I might purchase them at a reasonable cost? Will a jack from Wal-Mart work, or one from an auto-parts store? Are they called something else besides "hard to find"? -- Tommy...
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Extended reverse driving is funny, but not harmful (4/14/06)Dear Tom and Ray: For years, a friend of mine has been on me about something I did as a young man, which he says is harmful to any car. Many years ago, on the second day of the state of Georgia bar exam, I drove my old beat-up Chevy Vega (I know I am dating myself with this vehicle) to the civic center, where the exam was administered. ...
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Driver afraid of ending up in the ditch (3/17/06)Dear Tom and Ray: We traded in a '97 Chevy Tahoe for a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. I told the salesman that we live on a ridge, and in the winter I sometimes had to put the Tahoe in 4-Low, First gear and let it "walk" me down the steep, gravel driveway to the main road. ...
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Punishment due for abusing new car (3/12/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Recently, I purchased a new Honda Accord coupe with a four-cylinder engine and manual transmission. This is the first nice car I've owned, and I baby it so it will last forever. In fact, in the first 8,000 miles, it has never seen 75 mph or gone over 4,000 rpm. ...
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Fuel mix powers with less harm to wallet, environment (3/3/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Last May, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in biophysics. Being a poor graduate student (and a cheapskate, to boot), I was wondering if there is any way I can use my chemistry knowledge to increase my gas mileage? In college, a chemical engineer named Mike and I created a super still in the back room of his house. ...
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The upsides and downsides of hybrids (2/24/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I am currently living in Taiwan, and I don't have access to your radio show. But I can get your column! I'm hearing a lot of hype about how great hybrids are, and since I love road trips and hate expensive gas, I'm considering the purchase of one. However, no one seems to be talking about the downsides of hybrids. If they are so great, wouldn't we have had them 20 years ago? So, what are the negative aspects of these vehicles? Thank you for your always expert advice!...
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No heat in car makes for miniscule savings (2/17/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My neighbors have decided that they shouldn't use the heaters in their cars this winter so that they can save gas. (Really, I'm not making this up!) Since the heater is basically using waste heat that the engine is producing anyway, it doesn't seem to me that there could be any gas savings, other than the minimal amount of power needed to run the fan. ...
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Shop should be held accountable for cut brake lines (2/10/06)Dear Tom and Ray: My local repair shop is trying to get me to pay almost $900 for a new brake line on my Volvo S80. The brake line failed because the transmission cut it. I lost my brakes and ended up hitting a bush in my driveway -- thank goodness that was it! A month prior, the shop had forgotten to put back four large bolts that hold the engine, transmission and front suspension to the unit body. ...
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What's p with car making sounds like gunfire? (2/3/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a new 2005 Chevy Tahoe LS that I just purchased, and the entire time that I'm driving -- and even after the car has been shut off and I'm no longer in the vehicle -- there are very loud bangs that come from somewhere under the car. ...
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Can radiator be tested ahead of big blast? (1/27/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I drive a 1994 Toyota Celica with 111,000 miles on it. About six months ago, I had the radiator replaced, because it was cracked and leaking. Today it exploded! I took it back to the same mechanic who installed it, because it was under warranty. ...
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After the fire, who fixes Vanagon? (1/20/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1984 VW Vanagon (yes, it does break down a lot!). Anyway, I recently had a rebuilt engine put in it. However, the mechanic loused it up, but tried to convince me that that was as good as those engines could get. Not believing this, I eventually had to have another mechanic fix the problems. ...
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The pros and cons of power drain plugs (1/13/06)Dear Tom and Ray: Well, it happened again. When I took my 2000 Honda CR-V into the local quick-oil-change place, they extolled the virtues of their "Power Drain Plug" and said I really should get it. The literature that they handed me states: "... ...
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Do the math on commute route (1/6/06)Dear Tom and Ray: I have two routes I can take to work, both along interstate highways. The more crowded, direct route is 20 miles and takes me 40 minutes because of stop-and-go traffic. My average speed is only 30 mph if I take the shorter route, but I'm on the brakes a lot. ...
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Pressure is on in tire debate- Let the maker be your guide (12/30/05)Dear Tom and Ray: When looking for the correct tire pressure, you say to check the recommendation by the manufacturer of the car, not the manufacturer of the tire. But how does the car manufacturer know what kind of tires I bought? I have no idea what kind of tires came with a '98 Volvo, but I'm pretty sure I haven't bought that type. Wouldn't the tire manufacturer know better what the pressure should be for its specific tire? Please clarify. I get different answers from different mechanics...
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Buyer may have been taken for a ride (12/23/05)Dear Tom and Ray: Please, please help! When my single daughter wanted to buy a car two years ago, I advised her to buy a manufacturer's certified used car. She bought a 2003 Toyota RAV4 from a Toyota dealer in Maryland. Fast-forward to today -- she is getting married in three weeks, and she wants to sell the car. ...
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Traffic calming does not harm cars (12/16/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I'd like to gauge your opinion about the installation of traffic-calming devices such as speed humps, chicanes, traffic circles, raised crosswalks, etc. Speed humps, as you probably know, are the most ubiquitous traffic-calming devices. ...
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Reader sounds off about touch screens (12/9/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I've been looking around for a new car, and I noticed that touch screens are becoming more common as part of the dashboard controls (e.g., Toyota Prius, Acura MDX, Lexus 330, etc). I HATE them. I think they are unsafe and, moreover, just tacky. ...
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Air bag should be fine, even after 10 years (12/2/05)Dear Tom and Ray: My 1995 Honda Prelude has warning labels that say the car's two air bags need to be inspected after 10 years. Well, it's almost 10 years later. Is this really needed? Or was this a warning that was put in before air bags were really understood?...
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Car recommendations for flood-prone areas (11/4/05)Dear Tom and Ray: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I'm rethinking my requirements for a new car. I live in the barrier islands off the coast of Georgia. Several times a year, when the tide rises exceptionally high, I can't get home (or leave) at high tide. ...
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Check for pinging before giving up (10/28/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I drive a 1995 Ford Probe with roughly 138,000 miles on it. According to my mechanic, the rattlelike noise I hear as I drive is the result of valve tap. My mechanic indicated that it would be too expensive to repair. Can you please explain to me what valve tap is, and what causes it?...
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Tom and Ray answer flood questions (10/21/05)Tom: Since the two big hurricanes, we've had a flood (ha ha) of questions about flooded cars. Here is one of the most common: Question: How do you know if a car you're buying has flood damage? Tom: Assuming there are no obvious signs like fish in the back seat, you might see mineral deposits or discoloration on the seats, seat belts or door panels. There might be droplets of moisture on the inside of the instrument cluster, warped or misshapen door panels (if they're made of fiberboard)...
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Garage should disclose storage fee upfront (9/16/05)Dear Tom and Ray: Last winter, my dad got an itemized bill from a garage repair shop that included charges for storage and for moving his vehicle when it snowed. The truck was outside, in the garage's parking lot, because they were waiting for a part. ...
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This clunk sounds like a transmission problem (9/9/05)Dear Tom and Ray: My son owns a 2003 Silverado 1500 4-wheel-drive Regular Cab Chevy truck. We hear and feel a loud clunk from the rear of the vehicle when starting from a stop. If you concentrate and go very slowly, nothing will happen, but if you take off from a stop normally, you feel as if someone has hit you from behind. ...
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Heat shields aren't completely useless (9/2/05)Dear Tom and Ray: One of the exhaust heat shields fell off my Honda Civic Hatchback (2001) a while ago. The dealer told me not to bother putting it back on or replacing it, because I don't need it anyway. (1) Why does Honda (or any manufacturer) install the dang things if all they do is rattle and fall off? (B) After the heat shield had been gone for nearly a year, my exhaust manifold cracked. Could the missing heat shield have hastened the failure of the manifold?...
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Fifth gear 101 (8/19/05)Dear Tom and Ray: Whenever I am driving, my dear husband and I have an argument about fifth gear. I was taught not to use fifth gear unless I am going to be driving on a long stretch of road without traffic lights or I am on the freeway (we have a 1998 Volkswagen Passat). ...
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Car with locking steering wheel cannot be driven (8/12/05)Dear Tom and Ray: The steering wheel on my 2003 Acura RSX has locked on me while driving three times now. I took it in to the dealership, and they could not find anything wrong and thus were unable to fix it. I have to quickly stop the car and turn off the ignition, and then when I restart the car, the steering wheel unlocks. The last time, I almost hit a tree. Help before I kill myself or, even worse, someone else...
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When a car won't start on its own (8/5/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I am a student in Boston with a car that is originally from Texas. I have a 1996 Chevrolet G Van that has more than 150,000 miles on it. The car had been working really well until last fall. This was its first real winter. Basically, I have to jump-start my car every time I want to turn it on. ...
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Scientists studying effects of glaring HID headlights (7/29/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I'm writing about overly bright headlights. I have been calling them halogen headlights, but I saw in another response you gave that they are technically xenon or high-intensity discharge headlights. Well, I'm writing to let you know that when a car is coming at me with those lights, it feels like lasers are piercing my retinas! I detest those things. ...
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What to do when you've got a short fuse (7/22/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I have run into a problem with my 1993 Jeep Cherokee Sport. Something is causing the fuse that serves the power door locks, radio, cigar lighter and dome light to blow. You put in a new fuse, and it blows before you can even test things out. ...
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Whose fault is damage caused by a speed bump? (7/15/05)Dear Tom and Ray: Please respond ASAP! A late-'90s special edition Porsche was driven down a ramp. At the end of the ramp are two speed bumps, 2 feet apart. The first bump is made of concrete and the second one is hard rubber. Neither is more than 2.5 inches high at the center. ...
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A second opinion on stop-and-go (6/24/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I was reading a book about cars in which the author stated: "Stop-and-go rush-hour traffic is a prime candidate for spawning high automatic-transmission temperatures. Placing the transmission in Neutral during long stops will help dissipate some of that internal heat, because the clutches and other components aren't generating the necessary friction to keep the car at the ready. ...
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Some safer sports-car options (6/17/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1992 Mazda Miata. I'm the original owner and have driven 80,000-plus miles without a repair, if you don't count the electronic antenna getting stuck. I love my Miata. However, out here in Southern California, I figure I am living on borrowed time and will soon get squished by one of the many Hummers, Expeditions and oversized Ford trucks that everyone seems to drive around here (clearly necessary to navigate the daily commute on the freeways!). ...
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Charging 'book rate' is standard practice (6/10/05)Dear Tom and Ray: This has been bothering me for years. Back in 1996, I took my 1985 Toyota Tercel in to a Toyota dealership to have the timing belt replaced. They told me it was a 12-hour job, but they'd have it done for me to pick up after work, eight hours later. ...
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Hybrids' highway mileage differs from that in ads (5/6/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I'm considering buying a hybrid car, but someone recently told me that because I do a lot of highway driving, I will not get nearly the mileage promised in the ads. The reason I was given is that on the highway, the gasoline portion of the engine is used rather than the electric portion. Is this true?...
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If in doubt, get a second opinion (4/29/05)Dear Tom and Ray: We recently had our family's 2003 Honda Odyssey in for the 30,000-mile service at a Phoenix Honda dealer. During the visit, the service adviser counseled us that the coolant system contained acid and would require a complete flushing, at a cost of $199. ...
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Get embittered about your coolant (4/22/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I'm not a rocket scientist, just a veterinarian, but I can't figure this one out. I have a 2000 Subaru Outback. The owner's manual tells me that I should only use ethylene-glycol-based antifreeze. But I know that stuff kills so many animals, and I want to use the animal-friendlier propylene glycol. ...
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Compromise between a truck and car (4/15/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I recently bought a house, and now find myself constantly needing to haul things: large amounts of yard waste, old furniture, scrap metal, etc. I have been thinking about getting a small pickup truck, but whatever vehicle I get will become my main, everyday vehicle, so I'm being very careful about this decision. ...
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Possible causes of unintended acceleration (4/8/05)Dear Tom and Ray: Do you know of any sudden-acceleration problems with Subaru vehicles? My 2004 Outback suddenly accelerated, on its own, while my foot was on the brake. I had to stand on the brake to avoid surging ahead into traffic. It continued at super-high revs when placed in Park, then subsided on its own. ...
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Germans have different oil needs than Americans (4/1/05)Dear Tom and Ray: Here is an odd thing: My brother, who lives in Germany, was shocked when I told him that here in the United States we change oil in a car about every 3,000 miles or three months. He told me that is crazy, crazy, crazy. In Germany, he says, NO ONE changes oil more than once a year, if even that. ...
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SUVs are not invincible (2/20/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I recently drove from Mississippi to Oklahoma. I made my trip one day after a winter storm moved through the area. I saw several vehicles off in the ditch, which I presumed were accidents that happened the day before, when driving conditions would have been much more hazardous. ...
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Price gouging is unscrupulous (1/21/05)Dear Tom and Ray: I have been trying to buy a new Toyota Prius. Recently, two Southeast Florida dealers have told me they're in short supply. They both say they'll put me on the waiting list if I give them a deposit of $1,000 and agree to pay $5,000 above the sticker price. Frankly, that ticks me off. Why is doing right by the environment becoming so difficult? I do need to buy a car soon. Please answer before I do something crazy, like buy a Hummer!...
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Mom dumps minivan, wants SUV (11/5/04)Dear Tom and Ray: Here's my dilemma: I'm a fun, sporty, active 46-year-old mom of three. I've been driving a minivan for 14 years now, and I need a change! I'm interested in the smaller sport utility vehicles, and recently test-drove a Hyundai Santa Fe. ...
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SUVs- Hey, you asked (10/29/04)Dear Tom and Ray: You mentioned in a recent column that you are often critical of people who don't need SUVs or other behemoth trucks but buy them anyway. I consider you two to be reasonably intelligent, but what's with this liberal wackiness? Isn't this America, where one can drive any vehicle desired? By the way, I drive a Mitsubishi Eclipse. ...
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Which car is good if you're not in Kansas anymore? (10/22/04)Dear Tom and Ray: Hi, guys. I figured you might have an answer to my dilemma: I am moving to Turkey (that's the country, not the bird) and have to decide what kind of car to buy there. The options are a pickup truck, like a Nissan Frontier crew cab, versus a compact car, like a VW Golf. ...
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Can GPS units be added to car? (10/1/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I just bought a new Toyota Corolla last year, and I love it. I'm a visiting nurse and have to find the homes of new clients all the time. I'd love to have one of those new-fangled navigation systems that tell you how to get to specific addresses. ...
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Conserving gas during a crisis (9/24/04)Dear Tom and Ray: Living in Colorado, I wonder about being stuck in the snow in a blizzard. Let's say I have a full tank of gas and keep the tailpipe clear. Is it better to start the car every few minutes to run the heater before the car cools again, or to get as cold as I can stand before starting it again? Wouldn't the time it takes to warm the engine waste more gas than starting it every few minutes? Please let me know, just in case...
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Help for cloudy lenses (9/10/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1997 Caravan, and the plastic covers for the headlights are becoming cloudy from the debris, salt and road dirt that get thrown up at them. To me, this is a safety problem, and the manufacturer should have known that this would happen with time. ...
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To rotate, or not to rotate? (9/3/04)Dear Tom and Ray: The owner's manual for my 2000 BMW 328i says in the interests of safety and handling, I should NOT rotate my tires. And it implies that tire rotation will not extend the life of the tires in a meaningful way. But the instructions with my new tires (not to mention those from the tire reseller and the mechanic who services my car) all suggest periodic rotation. To rotate, or not to rotate?...
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Carmakers are starting to be anticompetitive (8/27/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I don't know if you've ever commented on the "proprietary software" being installed by automakers these days. I'm presently shopping for a newer, used Volvo, and I fell in love with the S80. However, when I bounced this off my trusted independent Volvo mechanic, he told me he cannot work on these models because they are filled with proprietary software designed to drive owners to Volvo dealerships for service and repairs. ...
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How to choose a floor jack (8/13/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I am looking for a floor jack for my personal use and need some advice on how big a jack I need to get. I know that a two-ton jack would be plenty to work on a regular car -- e.g., a Civic, Altima, etc. However, we also happen to own a Chevy Suburban with a gross vehicle weight of 7,000 pounds. ...
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If you love her, you won't make her tow furniture (7/30/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I am writing to you on behalf of "Bookie," my low-mileage 1988 Acura Integra. Although she has spent all of her life in the happy confusion of Southern California, Bookie has less than 40,000 miles on her and, to her credit, remains in excellent health. ...
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A little diesel, a lot of trouble (7/23/04)Dear Tom and Ray: This evening, my overworked, overbooked, type-A wife accidentally put about 3.5 gallons of diesel into her nearly empty 1998 Honda Odyssey. Upon realizing her mistake, she filled up the rest of the 12-gallon tank with gasoline. At that point, she wisely decided to call me before trying to drive it. ...
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Dealers get no respect (7/16/04)Dear Tom and Ray: About two months ago, the Toyota dealer left a clamp off my radiator hose after servicing my car. After almost making it home (about 22 miles), the car began to steam. This was my first hint that the car was overheating. I pulled off the road and called for a tow truck. ...
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Take a chance on the fun car (6/25/04)Dear Tom and Ray: What's happening to the VW brand? I used to think VW cars were made to last forever and were built with incredible German precision and care. Now I find out that all of the small models they sell in the United States, like the Jetta I'm considering, are made in Mexico. ...
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Are Internet parts worth it? (6/11/04)Dear Tom and Ray: My son's 1993 Chevy Caprice Classic is leaking radiator fluid, and a local garage told us it needs a new radiator. The cost of an OEM radiator was estimated to be $288, plus two hours of labor. I looked on the Internet and found a seller of OEM radiators that would deliver the radiator for a total cost of $193, including sales tax and a lifetime warranty. ...
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Help for a stinky heater (6/4/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a problem. I recently bought a 1992 Subaru Loyale. I hope it will be the best $400 car I ever bought, but there is one small problem. The heat stinks! The smell is an alluring combination of cat pee, ammonia, rotting dead animal, dirty socks and the smell you could expect about three or four hours after the church bean supper. ...
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It's called 'power' steering for a reason (4/30/04)Dear Tom and Ray: My son has an '87 Ford Escort wagon with about 80,000 miles on it. His recent visits to two different mechanics read like an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." One said, "You went to that guy??" And the other said: "You went to that guy?? His dad sneaks over here to have me work on his car." Anyway, the problem is the power steering, which went out. ...
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Engine rebuild- Is the Internet the way to go? (4/23/04)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1989 Ford Bronco with a 351 Windsor engine. The engine needs to be rebuilt. I have three choices: rebuild it myself, pay a mechanic to do the work, or buy a remanufactured one on the Internet. If I choose to buy a remanufactured one, how can I tell if the company is a good one or not? Each company tells me how great it is and what super parts it uses. ...
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Car shopping isn't a popularity contest (4/2/04)Dear Tom and Ray: A friend of mine, Chris (his real name), is about to buy a U.S.-made car, brand-new, off the showroom floor. I suggested that he might want to consider buying a model of which lots of units are sold. It's my idea that the more popular a car is, the less likely he will be to end up with a lemon. Also, if a car is common, repairs and replacement parts might cost less. Is this a good strategy for buying a new car, or am I all wet?...
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What is a 'cold tire,' anyway? (3/5/04)Dear Tom and Ray: The car manuals all say to measure tire pressure when the tire is cold, but none defines the temperature (or range of temperatures) for "cold." What temperature defines a "cold tire?" Bill Ray: Good question, Bill. ...
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Forgo this skid-control device for now (1/23/04)Dear Tom and Ray: Hi, guys. We are in the market for a new sedan, and our priorities are safety and reliability, as well as good mileage and low emissions. Having been long-time Honda owners, we are seriously considering the Honda Accord EX four-cylinder, which, as you know, gets excellent ratings in all of the above features. ...
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How to keep Fido safe and cool in the car (1/16/04)Dear Tom and Ray: Like many dog owners, I often run errands in my car with my pooch in my vehicle. I also often leave my dog in the car when I have to attend an event or meeting -- especially if I'm en route to the local park afterward for a nice romp with Fido. ...
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What to do if you see an accident (12/5/03)Dear Tom and Ray: Driving on the highway at 12:30 a.m. recently, we are in the middle lane and we come over the crest of a slight hill. There is a car stopped at an angle across the left and middle lanes. Clearly, there has been an accident. I slow down, swerve into the right lane and dodge a piece of debris. ...
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What's wrong with slow car? (11/21/03)Dear Tom and Ray: My company recently moved, and I now have to drive a hilly highway every day. The drive is pleasant (no traffic), but my 1990 Honda Civic has a very hard time with the hills. I find I have to downshift to get up every hill, and I can't go over 50 mph. ...
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A truck-based SUV fits the bill for this reader (11/14/03)Dear Tom and Ray: As a biologist, I drive off-road throughout the United States and Mexico. My 2000 four-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma gets terrible mileage, but I have a motorcycle for my everyday (non-work) vehicle, so the mileage isn't a daily concern. ...
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Portable AC unit can keep car cool (9/26/03)Dear Tom and Ray: A few summers ago, the air conditioner on my 1993 Dodge Caravan went out. The cost to fix the unit (from two different sources) is $1,700 to $2,000. The car is not worth that much, so I have not fixed it. Last week, while walking through a Home Depot, I saw a portable, stand-alone air conditioner on sale for $595 (you can see where I'm going with this ...). ...
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Auto-repair business needs a few women (9/12/03)Dear Tom and Ray: Why is it, do you think, that there aren't more women mechanics? I'm asking for purely selfish reasons. I'm an art-history major and have worked in museums for the past decade, and I'm looking to change careers. I'm completely visually and hands-on oriented, and I've always been fascinated by car engines and how they work. ...
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The perfect car for man and beast (9/5/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I'm looking for a vehicle to be my "vet-mobile." I'm a mobile veterinarian and am looking for a used SUV/minivan with four-wheel drive that's durable for horrible, nasty roads, lots of snow and llama spit. I have a fiberglass vet box with drawers that I would need to fit in the back -- probably with the seats out. ...
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Safety rules apply to convertibles (8/15/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I have been lusting after a convertible for a number of years and recently found the car of my dreams: a 1994 Saab 900 turbo convertible. It has a driver's-side air bag and anti-lock brakes. However, my know-it-all friend claims that all convertibles are inherently unsafe, even going so far as to say that no convertible would pass today's safety standards. ...
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Balancing tire maintenance needs (8/8/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Nissan Maxima that my wife took to the dealer for a 7,500-mile checkup. The mechanic changed the oil, rotated the tires and balanced the wheels. My question is: Is it necessary to rebalance the wheels each time you rotate the tires? His explanation to my wife was that the tires would be in new locations on the car, and should therefore be rebalanced, since customers have complained of shimmying at high speed. ...
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The right way to buy a used car (8/1/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I haven't bought a used car since 1980, when my mechanic dad helped me buy a 1973 Nova. Here's my question: I want to have my choice vetted by my own mechanic before the sale is final. What are the logistics of this process? In order to take the car to my mechanic, do I leave a hefty down payment with a handshake and tell the seller I'll let him or her know? Pay the whole amount, with an understanding that I'll get it back if the car doesn't pass the inspection? How can this be done in a way that will protect the buyer and seller from each other?Teri. ...
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Changing an oxygen sensor (7/25/03)Dear Tom and Ray: This morning I went to my car to find that it had grown what appeared to be "hair" from the tailpipe. It was about 10 inches long and gray, with brown highlights. I had to get to class for a test, so I gave my car a haircut with my Swiss army knife. ...
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Don't fix this car's battle scar (7/18/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I live in Los Angeles. I have a '93 Honda Civic Del Sol with 127,000 miles. Last week when I was driving home from work at 75 mph on the southbound 405 freeway, someone in a passing car on my left or someone in an oncoming car fired a shotgun. ...
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Always investigate strange noises (7/11/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a '95 Oldsmobile Achieva with less than 64,000 miles on it. A rubbing noise that sounds like doves cooing can be heard (especially at parking-lot speeds) when I am turning the car. It sounds like it's coming from the dashboard area. ...
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If you want to save, fix CV boots quickly (6/27/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1996 Mazda Protege, and I have at least one cracked CV boot. Right now, I hear a clicking sound when I turn the wheel in one direction. My question is: If I don't replace the boot, what are the consequences?Emil Ray: Well, you'll start to hear a clicking sound when you turn the wheel in one direction, Emil...
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Some cars don't fit their drivers (6/20/03)Dear Tom and Ray: My husband and I recently purchased a used Honda Civic HX. Unfortunately, I'm having to reconsider our purchase because the comfort level is not what I expected. This is causing another conflict as well. My husband doesn't want to believe that this is a real problem! He claims that I've just lost my tolerance for sitting in a small car and need to "bite the bullet!" Here's the story: When I drive the Honda for an hour or so, the back of my leg just below the knee starts to get uncomfortable, like my leg is going to fall asleep. ...
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Breaking in brakes requires care (6/13/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I am about to change the brake pads on my car. I have heard that new brake pads need to be broken in, or "bedded." How does one do this? And if I don't do it, will I end up a smear on the road when I try to use the brakes next? Felix...
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School buses are still safe vehicles (5/30/03)Dear Tom and Ray: Boy, am I disappointed! I really enjoy you guys, and I always thought you knew a lot about cars. (Since I know next to nothing about cars, this is a leap of faith on my part.) But after reading your recent column, my faith is badly shaken. However much you know about cars, you clearly know next to nothing about school buses. I, on the other hand, know a lot about school buses and am willing, for the good of your readers, to enlighten you...
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An electrifying use for your car (5/16/03)Dear Tom and Ray: Here's a burning question that I have wanted to ask: Can a car be used as an emergency source of electricity for a short period? Here's the deal: You can purchase "converters" that turn 12-volt power into 110-volt AC boxes. ...
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Maximum power vs. maximum life (5/9/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I hope you can help settle an issue between me and my psychoanalyst husband. It's about how to drive my 1993 Saturn SL2. My hubby went out and bought a BMW motorcycle this past spring. Since then, he's announced that we've been driving the Saturn wrong for the past 10 years. ...
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Thinking of investing in a school bus? (5/2/03)Dear Tom and Ray: I, along with about 20 friends, am determined to go to the Burning Man festival in Nevada this summer. We would like to purchase or rent a school bus capable of making the round trip from Seattle. Is this feasible? Where should we go to find an affordable school bus? If the bus is not used for commercial purposes, do we still need a special license to drive it? Are we running a HUGE risk of breaking down, with no mechanic for miles, in the middle of the desert? How can we resell the thing after we buy it? Thanks. ...