Car Talk
Try a flush first on plugged heater core
Dear Tom and Ray: Our mechanic states that the heater in our 2000 Ford Focus sedan is clogged. He says there is nothing he can do, since attempts to unclog...
Uniting tinkerers is tough to do
Dear Tom and Ray: I read somewhere that you started out with a garage that people could go to and work on their own cars. I've often thought that I...
Is there a way to replace car's interior?
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife has a 1999 Subaru Forester with low mileage (85,000), but the interior is not so good. She lets the kids eat in her car,...
Oil barrel needs to be disposed of properly
Dear Tom and Ray: Back in the '80s, when there wasn't anywhere he knew of to take used oil for recycling, my dad started pouring it into a 55-gallon drum...
This car has a mind of its own
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2001 Dodge Neon with more than 150,000 miles on it. Until very recently, it's been an extremely reliable vehicle, and I've loved...
Mechanic selling ceramic brake pads knew what he was talking about
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently needed to replace my brakes, and the shop sold me on ceramic brake pads. The pads have a lifetime warranty, which is very...
Flakey headlight probably just needs new bulb
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2000 Subaru Outback wagon. Recently, the passenger-side daytime running light and low-beam headlight stopped working. When I got out of my car...
Air deflectors help mileage some but aren't vital
Dear Tom and Ray: There once was a black plastic thingamajig hanging under the front end of our Mercury Grand Marquis, right behind the front bumper. We could almost...
Cause should be found when a new battery dies
Dear Tom and Ray: I live near the ocean, and my less-than-a-year-old battery died this week. My neighbor, who jumped the battery with his cables, said that my connections should...
Parking brake will wear out if used daily
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm looking to resolve a brake discussion between me and my dad. Do you think you two can help? My car is a 1996 Honda Accord,...
No debate: Cruise control is good
Dear Tom and Ray: I have an issue. OK, not so much an issue, more of an argument between me and my fiance. I just bought a 2008 Dodge Caliber....
Rough shifting in heat and on hills could be transmission problem
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and love my 2003 Nissan Maxima. It works fine, except for a problem we began to experience last...
There are better first cars than a Jeep
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm turning 16, and I'm looking at buying a 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport. Do you think this is a good car for me? A safe car?...
Minivan is good substitute for RV
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a dilemma. My retirement dream has always been to purchase some type of vehicle to travel in and live out of for extended...
Reader gets permission to junk son's car
Dear Tom and Ray: My son left for Europe to get married and live there. He left me his 2001 Chrysler Sebring convertible. It lasted three weeks before the engine...
Never ignore signs of overheating
Hi, guys: I drive a taxicab in Austin, Texas, and I'm feeling flummoxed! The 2008 Chrysler 300C that I drove blew its head gasket. Here's where I get confused. The...
Whining indicates loose belt
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer with about 90,000 miles. Several months back, I was driving home on a rainy night and splashed through a deep...
Reader wishes full-service stations would make a comeback
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm an old geezer with fond memories of when you could pull into a gas station and tell the kid to fill it up and check...
When idiot lights come on, you'd be an idiot to keep driving
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX wagon. Yesterday, while sitting in traffic, I noticed that my temperature gauge was all the way in the red....
Is Dad's 'foot off the clutch' rule too intense?
Dear Tom and Ray: One of my dad's many, many rules of driving is "Foot off the clutch when you turn a corner." And when he's with me and I'm...
Math does not add up for switch to diesel engine
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband's latest great idea is to convert our 2001 Ford F-150 truck from gas to diesel. I would very much like to know if this...
Is fallout from fluid faux pas coming?
Dear Tom and Ray: Bonehead move on my part: While changing the oil for the first time in my 2005 Toyota Sienna van, I could not locate what looked like...
A tirephobic driver airs her concern
Dear Tom and Ray: Yesterday I went out to put air in my tires, and I had the same problem I always do — I'm very afraid that the tire...
Groom: Let's vow to not decorate
Dear Tom and Ray: My fiancee and I were discussing our wedding plans the other day, and a question came up. We'll be driving away in my VW convertible (there...
Low coolant sometimes leaves you cold
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently I was driving my 2001 Ford Focus in cold weather on I-70 in the mountains west of Denver. There are two long, steep grades (10-15...
High tire pressure can cause bounce
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my 2002 Infiniti I35 to a shop to have the rotors and brake pads replaced on the front. While in the shop, the mechanic...
Corolla owner on the hunt to identify sound
Dear Tom and Ray: Something on my 2009 Toyota Corolla is running when the car is turned off! I have heard it at various times of the day and night,...
Traditional spare tires are being phased out
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife just bought a 2013 Kia Soul, and there is no spare tire. The salesman told us that spare tires are becoming a thing of...
Good old truck is a sound business move
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm 24 and about to start business school. The trouble is that I drive a '98 Ford Ranger with 110,000 miles -- not exactly a model...
Does this car just dislike drive-thrus?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have two things: a son who is a shade-tree mechanic and does a good business out of his backyard, and a 2003 Honda Civic that...
Corrosion signals battery's dying days
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2007 Kia Spectra EX that does not start all the time, and it is getting corrosion on the battery terminals. My husband cleaned...
It's wise to get to the root of gas smell
Dear Tom and Ray: For the past four to six weeks, when I start my 2004 Chevy Trailblazer first thing in the morning, the smell of gas and sometimes oil...
Look for the light at sea-level lag
Dear Tom and Ray: My 88-year-old mother has a 2005 Buick LaCrosse with 15,000 miles on it. It only gets driven to the grocery store, hair salon and church. But...
To be fair, you really should pay for diagnosis
Dear Tom and Ray: Although I like to do my own repairs whenever I can, I don't know enough about cars to make a reliable diagnosis. Is it ethical for...
Springs can wear out and affect ride height
Dear Tom and Ray: I've always done the "bounce test" to check my shocks. I also go by the feel of the ride. My '99 Taurus seems solid and rides...
How did crooks turn on light in locked car?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a prosecutor in Florida, and I've been stumped by a very interesting issue that's arisen in a case of mine. A team of burglars...
The annoyance factor of fuel efficiency
Dear Tom and Ray: If I bike up a steep hill, I have to slow down, since maintaining speed would exhaust me. Applying this to driving, I drive my VW...
Smaller engines are getting more powerful
Dear Tom and Ray: I am thinking of buying a new car, and I need to know if a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine would be the wisest choice. I live...
Adding weed-whacker gas mix to car won't hurt car
Dear Tom and Ray: Winter is coming, and I have two gallons of oil/gas mixture (40-to-1) for my weed whacker that I don't want to save for next year or...
It's OK to use snow tires from previous car
Dear Tom and Ray: I traded in our old Prius for a 2012 Prius last spring. I'm getting ready to put on the snow tires that I kept from the...
Will driveway scraping scrap Prius-buying plan?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a wonderful car, a '97 Saturn that gets great mileage and has been reliable all this time. But it's beginning to signal me that...
Sandy-soaked car probably totaled
Dear Tom and Ray: Can you help my sister's family? They were victims of Hurricane Sandy this fall, and although their cars are running, they did get saltwater up to...
This advice from hubby is bad news
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband tells me I should "wiggle" my steering wheel when I take a curve because it gives you better traction, especially in rain or snow....
Hubby is starting to become a slowpoke
Dear Tom and Ray: I am 65 and not yet ready to become a "geezerette." My husband is two years older, and although he may look like one, he is...
Source of shake not an easy fix
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a member of the military living in Minot, N.D. None of the mechanics in Minot, including the dealership, seem to know what is making...
Garages do make vehicles happier
Dear Tom and Ray: My boyfriend and I disagree on whether to keep the car in the garage. He thinks it cuts down on the life of the car (something...
Reflashing is a software update
Dear Tom and Ray: My local automotive-repair shop offers a service in which they will "re-flash" your car's computer. Is that helpful, or just an unnecessary service to generate profits...
AC problem might actually be a vacuum problem
Dear Tom and Ray: My name is Luke, and I am a musician playing double bass with a band based out of Norman, Okla. Our record label has thoughtfully provided...
Toyota should share cost of steering-wheel problem
Dear Tom and Ray: Help! My daughter-in-law purchased a new 2009 Toyota Corolla Type S in late 2008. The car has about 40,000 miles on it, so it has exceeded...
Which hybrid is the best for long commutes?
Dear Tom and Ray: I drive a long way for work — about 310 miles round trip. Fortunately, I only have to do that eight or nine times each month,...
Battery won't be drained by radio
Dear Tom and Ray: My 16-year-old son drives a 2008 Honda CR-V. He wants to play the car's radio while the engine is off. He wants to sit in the...
Dad's road trip idea will make many good memories
Dear Tom and Ray: My dad has a 1962 Studebaker Hawk that he bought three years ago, when he was in chemotherapy. He got it out of a barn in...
Cruise control has an on/off switch for a reason
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Honda Accord coupe. Like most cars, it has three cruise-control buttons: the main on-off cruise button, the Set button and the Resume...
When wife ain't happy, ain't nobody happy
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer with 178,000 miles. I have a wife who also has many miles on her. I love my car, even with...
What's the right way to rotate tires?
Dear Tom and Ray: I just spoke to two different tire shops and got opposite answers to the same question. The right-side tire on my pickup is wearing quicker than...
There's no easy fix for this oil leak
Dear Tom and Ray: OK, this is going to be a bit of a long story — sorry. As a college graduation present, my father got me a used 2004...
Mechanic is not just full of hot air on brake line flush
Dear Tom and Ray: After 25 years of faithfully patronizing my highly competent mechanics, I fear that they are getting nervous about their approaching retirement. I have always trusted them,...
Reader wants to build Frankenstein's car
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently I've been thinking of piece-mealing a car (aka creating a Frankenstein car) from the best parts of all the cars I can identify, the goal...
Temperature drops and speedometer goes nuts
Dear Tom and Ray: I've had this 2001 Chevy Cavalier for almost five years. It's been a fantastic car. I take care of it, and it takes care of me....
Maybe he'll get lucky and mistake won't be costly
Dear Tom and Ray: So, a co-worker needed a jump-start after leaving her lights on, and I thought I would be a good Samaritan and help her after work. Her...
Smoking turn signal should be fixed
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1998 Ford Explorer. A few days ago, I had the left turn signal on and suddenly, it just stopped blinking. Then a very...
The trade-off of technology
Dear Tom and Ray: I am about to buy a car. I've been advised to buy a new or newer car so as to avoid breakdowns, but I'm running into...
Gas-can spout in gas tank can be left alone
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1964 Mercedes 230 SL. While I was adding gas, the detachable plastic spout from a five-gallon gas can fell into my car's gas...
What to do if you find yourself in too deep
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm an authentic Chinese citizen writing to you guys from China. Did you imagine you would ever have faithful listeners and readers across the Pacific? Well,...
Advice for a future auto-parts worker
Dear Tom and Ray: I am hopefully starting a retail job at an auto-parts store as a part-time associate/part-time driver. Could you please provide a primer on what every parts...
Is there hope for this doggone stinky car?
Dear Tom and Ray: I need your help. My car has an odor that will not go away. My car, now known as "The Farm," smells like a barn. Basically,...
Tom and Ray have to give this one to the husband
Dear Tom and Ray: I have enjoyed reading your help for car owners for years. Now I need your help. When I was working and had my car, I took...
Off-center steering wheel worth a trip back to mechanic
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently had my car's front end aligned by a mechanic whom I have trusted for more than 10 years. The problem is, to keep the...
Extended periods of sitting won't harm engines
Dear Tom and Ray: Are car engines damaged if left on dealership lots for weeks without running? My automotive instructor told me that letting a car sit for more than...
Grandson's driving almost certainly contributed to engine failure
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Mazda Protege with 103,000 miles. The problem started while my 20-year-old grandson had my car one time. My engine started getting hot,...
There's a snake in his manifold
Dear Tom and Ray: My mechanic found a 4-foot-long boa constrictor in my manifold, in Boonton, N.J. It cost me $310 to get it out. It was barbecued, of course....
The right order: brake, then park
Dear Tom and Ray: On a recent visit to my home, my "wonderful" mother expanded her range of "helpful" advice-giving to the manner in which I park my car on...
Older cars can take used computers
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter has a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse four-cylinder RS model. Everything electrical died, and she was told that the computer is no good. Since the car...
She's itching to get rid of fleas
Dear Tom and Ray: Help! My mechanic has fleas! My mechanic has a "garage dog," who is very old and droopy. I think he has fleas, because after I got...
Options for replacing an older engine
Dear Tom & Ray: I have a 1993 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with a 4.9-liter V-8 engine. It has 123,000 miles on it, and I want to keep it forever. My...
Tips for hiding valuables in a car
Dear Tom and Ray: After some locker break-ins at the gym, I started leaving my wallet and phone in the glove box of my Volvo S60. The other day, there...
Shop's charge for battery installation is legit
Dear Tom and Ray: Our 1986 Honda Accord needed a battery. My wife took the car to a local auto shop. She bought a five-year battery that cost $91.95. They...
Dispelling myths about manual transmissions
Dear Tom and Ray: When I first learned to drive, a million years ago, my father (who knew nothing about cars) advised me to always drive a manual transmission because...
Add oil anytime engine's not 'full'
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife has an '89 Toyota Camry with a four-cylinder engine. Her dad says that you should add engine oil as soon as the oil drops...
The problem with classic cars is finding a good mechanic
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1966 Ford Mustang 2+2 (289-cubic-inch) V-8 engine with four-barrel carburetor. It has more than 170,000 miles on it. It starts right away, but...
Is a 1992 Saab worth losing the love of your life?
Dear Tom and Ray: A few years ago, I purchased a 1992 Saab 900 turbo from a friend of mine. This car was in beautiful condition, with 230,000 miles on...
Here's the deal with self-adjusting clutches
Dear Tom and Ray: What's the deal with nonadjustable clutches? I have driven manual transmissions my whole driving life. I own a 2007 Toyota Matrix, and when I started stalling...
Don't replace shocks based on mileage
Dear Tom and Ray: I was watching a baseball game, and an ad on the backstop said to change your shocks at 50,000 miles. I realize this national shock-replacement company...
Tires can't self-inflate, so what's going on here?
Dear Tom and Ray:The tires on my wife's 2005 Infiniti FX35 are about six months old. We had no problems with them, until three weeks ago. When driving down the...
AC's effectiveness not affected by car's speed
Dear Tom and Ray: Nearly 40 years ago, I was told that it was a bad idea to turn on the air conditioning when driving at highway speeds. I was...
He's steaming mad about wife's AC reasoning
Dear Tom and Ray: As I write this, I am still fuming. This past week, the temperature has been in the high 80s to low 90s. I hate the heat...
Ways to get hot engine to run a little cooler
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a rural mail carrier and have a question about engine coolants. As a mail carrier, I spend a tremendous amount of time on hot...
Man-made shade the best sunblock
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband and I recently purchased a hacienda in Tucson, Ariz., where we just arrived for the summer and will be spending all our future summers....
Should Del Sol driver worry about his 'chick car?'
Dear Tom and Ray: I just learned that I might be driving a chick car. I own a red Honda del Sol, and I really enjoy driving it. Do other...
Can you tell if a frame has been bent without taking car apart?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am in the Air Force, and last week when I was driving through the gate at the base, the security forces troop accidentally raised the...
How do you know when to replace brake rotors?
Dear Tom and Ray: This morning at the gym an acquaintance (Fred) told me that he took his car to a mechanic for some brake work, and the mechanic replaced...
Is constant fog-light use a cause for concern?
Dear Tom and Ray: I need your help to settle an argument I have with my no-good brother-in-law from Illinois. He always drives at night with his fog lights on...
What is this part and does it really need to be replaced?
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife, while driving her 2011 Cadillac CTS coupe, ran onto a tree limb that fell off a truck in front of her. She stopped, backed...
Jackrabbit driving does have consequences for a car
Dear Tom and Ray: My son is driving a 2001 Chrysler Concorde, and it's now on its last leg. He drives fast — he just got a speeding ticket for...
Is small, new car safer than big, old car?
Dear Tom and Ray: Please settle a marital dispute. I currently drive a 2001 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 with 165,000 miles. She ain't what she used to be. I would like...
Are there really risks to always running on empty?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a 76-year-old woman, recently engaged to an 80-year-old man. We are truly best friends and agree on everything, except one thing. He drives a...
Does use of synthetic oil mean you're stuck with it forever?
Dear Tom and Ray: I was buying oil for an oil change and was planning to use a coupon from the manufacturer. The auto-parts store was out of stock of...
Is a generator the cure for range anxiety?
Dear Tom and Ray: Say I have an electric car (one that runs on nothing but electricity) that can be charged by plugging into any outlet. But for cross-country trips...
Should mechanic be responsible for critter eviction?
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my van in for an oil change, wiper blades and general inspection. When the hood was raised, I discovered that some animal, probably a...
Reader is right that dealer's oil offer is a bit slippery
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife and I just purchased a brand-new 2012 Nissan Juke SL, with a CVT transmission and the 1.6-liter "turbo" engine. It came with a bonus...
What to get the man who has... an old VW bus?
Dear Tom and Ray: My boyfriend is turning 40 this year, and I really want to get him something special, something that will surprise him and that he never would...
In this case, a discontinued car sounds like a good fit
Dear Tom and Ray: My fiancé and I are planning to buy a new car that fits our lifestyle and our budget. We are currently looking at the Honda Fit,...
Any need to fix hail damage if paint isn't broken?
Dear Tom and Ray: We have two cars that got dinged up pretty badly in a recent hailstorm. Although none of the dents actually cracked the surface paint, our insurance...
Try not to lose any more sleep over who is at fault
Dear Tom and Ray: We recently purchased a 2003 Honda Civic with 80,000 miles. The previous owner was very fastidious about maintenance, and had replaced several major items within the...
Do Prius tires have to be purchased at dealership?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2007 Toyota Prius. I was hoping you could help me with what I suspect is a cheap sales tactic by my Toyota dealer....
There are only two things that could be making old tractor stall
Dear Tom & Ray, Do you ever address questions about old farm tractors? Our 1945 Farmall-A starts well and runs well for about 10-20 minutes, but then it starts to...
What to get a mechanic who does you a favor
Dear Tom and Ray: When your auto mechanic offers to help sell your '97 Subaru, what percentage of the sale is appropriate to give him as a thank-you? If I...
Should they trust garage that caused a near disaster?
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife drives a 2003 VW Passat GLX 4Motion Wagon with just over 47,000 miles on it. She took it to a local dealer for service...
Choice is obvious: You prefer your cars to your wife
Dear Tom and Ray: I collect cars from companies that have gone out of business. So far, I have a 1950 Studebaker, a 1950 Hudson, a 1950 Packard, a 1960...
Prognosis is dire for doctor's station wagon
Dear Tom and Ray: My boyfriend drives a 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon with 112,000 miles. He's an MD and specializes in palliative care medicine, which is to say he...
Absolutely, car engine can be used to cook snacks
Dear Tom and Ray: When I pick up my teenage son from school, he is so ravenous that I worry he'll eat one of his younger siblings when I'm not...
Why is car burning through clutches so fast?
Dear Tom and Ray: I purchased a Kia Forte Koup in March of 2010. After I received the car, it blew three clutches in an eight-month period. I have been...
Should he repair catalytic converter or dump car fast?
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently got a 2001 Audi A8L that now has 130,000 miles on it. The only other owner was my dad, and he took extremely great...
Try easy fix first on car's time-traveling clock
Dear Tom and Ray: My car time-travels into the future. I have a 2004 Volvo XC70 station wagon that for some reason does not keep proper time. I can set...
Dogs belong in the back seat — for everyone's safety
Dear Tom and Ray: My son has a 2006 Jeep that he uses to carry around tennis equipment and his dogs. His youngest dog, a 10-month-old, 60-pound male golden retriever,...
Are dual exhausts for looks, or do they enhance performance?
Dear Tom and Ray: I really like the look of the prominent chrome dual exhausts seen on so many cars and trucks these days. To me, they give a look...
Does gentle braking have any positive effects?
Dear Tom and Ray: I always brake by lightly touching the brakes — not jerkily, so that any rider would notice, but sort of gradually coming to a stop. My...
How many diagnostic readings does one car need?
Dear Tom and Ray: The dashboard of our 2004 Honda lit up like a Christmas tree. We had the car towed to our local Honda dealer. When we were presented...
Is there is a way to downshift on hybrids with CVT?
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently my husband and I rented a Toyota Prius in California — which we enjoyed driving, by the way. While driving in our many national parks,...
Garage's zip tie repair is incredibly dangerous
Dear Tom and Ray: I've been a fan for years. I had a great 2000 Ford Crown Victoria, which I always had serviced at a local muffler/repair shop. Last year,...
Could pine needles in the engine do serious harm?
Dear Tom and Ray: When I was filling my engine with new oil, pine needles fell into the oil and are now in the engine. The little stem that went...
Is urea additive really needed in diesel car?
Dear Tom & Ray: Can this be true, or are my wife and I just gullible? Our dealer claims that we need to add "urea" to our BlueTec 350 Mercedes...
Sunroof on older car is worth replacing in this case
Dear Tom and Ray: The sunroof on my 1998 Toyota RAV4 doesn't close anymore. The Toyota repair guy says it will cost $1,700 to replace the motor and cables ($1,400...
Why would car start in the cold but then shut itself down?
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a Wisconsin transplant who still believes her father (me) can help with anything. I need your help to...
Is fuel consumption affected by use of car's electronics?
Dear Tom and Ray: My son staunchly states that in newer-model cars (like his 2003 Lincoln Navigator), gasoline consumption is not affected by turning on the lights and/or the air...
Could fall from lift have caused truck's frame to bend?
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my GMC ('06 K2500 Extended Cab) to the purchasing dealer for service. My truck has only 20,000 miles on it. It was up on...
Will hitch used for bike rack affect car's resale value?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2007 Subaru Outback. It's the perfect vehicle for driving over hills and curves during winter storms, hauling garden supplies and toting around Theo,...
Cars are not once-in-a-lifetime purchases
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm 35, and I would like to purchase a diesel SUV that will last the rest of my life ... ideally, into my 90s. My idea...
What is causing brake failure?
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm the "keeper" of my 25-year-old daughter's 2004 Nissan Maxima. It has a serious problem. On any cold winter morning, the power brakes are NON-EXISTENT. If...
Traction devices work, but they have some drawbacks
Dear Tom and Ray: Do those clamp-on or strap-on devices that go on your tires help with winter driving traction? Or do they just clamp on my wallet? — James...
Driving technique may strain tires, but not that much
Dear Tom and Ray: I need your opinion on whether something the driving instructor is teaching our daughter to do is hard on the car. When parallel parking, he has...
Unfortunately, tires really do have an expiration date
Dear Tom and Ray: I just bought a new Jeep, and the owner's manual says that all tires, including the spare, should be replaced after six years, regardless of condition...
Is induction service really worth the money?
Dear Tom and Ray: The local Honda dealer charges $120 for a fuel-induction service every 30,000 miles. I can buy a can of BG 44K injector cleaner as a gas...
What do I do about parts for an old Saab?
Dear Tom and Ray: My 80-year-old father owns an '03 Saab. About two months ago, the electric locking mechanism on the driver's door stopped working. Now the door cannot be...
There are many better options than an old bug
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm hoping you can assuage my fears. My 24-year-old daughter told me today that she is buying an old VW bug. She spoke with her father,...
Don't buy this explanation; garage likely made a mistake
Dear Tom and Ray: I had a heater core on a '99 Dakota Sport replaced, and I now have heat all the time without it being turned on. I was...
Why is idle car going through batteries so fast?
Dear Tom and Ray: My 88-year-old mother has a 2005 Buick LaCrosse with 15,000 miles on it. It only gets driven to the grocery store, hair salon and church. But...
Leaky strut isn't disaster, but should be fixed
Dear Tom and Ray: We have a 2009 Toyota Camry. When our local mechanic was checking the brakes, he noted that the left rear strut was leaking fluid. He informed...
Take great pains for safety if using a trailer to move
Dear Tom and Ray: My son is taking a new job in Sioux Falls, S.D., about 850 miles away from our home near Detroit. The old man promised to help...
Using pebbles as tire studs has a couple of flaws
Dear Tom and Ray: The other day, I installed winter tires on my car (I have those tires on separate rims, so I can do this myself). Prior to attaching...
Do motor mounts really need to be replaced?
Dear Tom and Ray: The Toyota dealer where I have my car serviced recommended that I replace the motor mounts. Since I had never heard of motor mounts breaking, except...
Could his baby have been saved from an early sale?
Dear Tom and Ray: What went wrong with my baby? Years ago, I owned my favorite car ever: a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in Triple White (white paint, white top...
Is there a way to make a sports car ride smoother?
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently purchased a 2006 Mazda MX5 with 48,000 miles. When I test-drove the car, it seemed great, and since I always wanted to own a...
Try run-flat variety when tires keep getting punctured
Dear Tom and Ray: Between yesterday afternoon and this morning, I have had three flat tires. The tire that was flat yesterday had a screw in it, and the tires...
Lower revs, higher gear is definitely more efficient
Dear Tom and Ray: A friend and I are having a running debate that I was hoping you two would be able to settle. We each recently bought ourselves pre-owned...
Gliding on ice in neutral is never a good idea
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband is 68, I am 72, and the following has been a lifelong argument. We have a small, graveled hill leading to our driveway. When...
Mystery may be solved with a new gas cap
Recently, I started getting a "check fuel cap" message on my dash. How serious a problem is this? Is this going to cost my life savings to fix?
Switching between regular, synthetic oil is no big deal
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2009 Nissan Cube. I take the car to the dealer for oil changes. I always use synthetic, but at the last oil change,...
Will gas gauge read correctly after the tank was dented?
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm sending this anonymously because I don't want my friends to know what a bonehead I am. I went out to the driveway to replace the...
Try junk yards, websites when selling car for parts
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a beloved 1998 Plymouth Voyager minivan with only 83,000 miles. It has new tires, and was recently serviced (new plugs, leaks plugged, tuneup, etc.,...
Mistakes happen, but shop should pay for repair
Dear Tom and Ray: My "check engine" light illuminated a few weeks after a Jiffy Lube oil change. I took my 2008 Subaru Impreza in to the dealer, and they...
Front-wheel-drive trucks might be on the way
Dear Tom and Ray: Hi, guys! I've always wondered why there aren't any front-wheel-drive pickups. I would think they'd be a nice alternative to more-expensive four-wheel-drive pickups, and a lot...
Turn signals can fail intermittently
Dear Tom and Ray: I currently have the misfortune of needing to drive a beat-up 1995 Volvo 850, which I share with my husband, who fancies himself an expert on...
What could be the cause of the disappearing fire?
Dear Tom and Ray: Driving down the road in my '89 Nissan pickup, I smelled smoke. I assumed it was outside and rolled up the driver's-side window and turned off...
Husband's shifting method shouldn't hurt the car
Dear Tom and Ray: My 53-year-old husband drove like an old man in his 1997 Camry, but then he gave the car to one of our kids. He bought a...
The mystery of the missing air filter
Dear Tom and Ray: A couple of months ago, I bought a used 2007 Tacoma truck from a Toyota dealer. The truck had 53,000 miles on it. After driving it...
Portable potties: New fuel source?
Dear Tom and Ray: When I was younger, I had a friend who had an early-'80s Pontiac Firebird. It was in rough shape, and it had the 305 small-block engine...
Tom and Ray crack the case of a fuel pump gone bad
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in Houston, and on a typical 104-degree day this past summer, I took my son's car to run some errands and stopped first to...
Recent question sparks old debate
Dear Tom and Ray: I heard a caller on your radio show a few weeks ago ask whether passengers are obligated to pay for speeding tickets, and this prompted an...
Soon-to-be ex wants to cash in on tools
Dear Tom and Ray: My fiance is an auto mechanic working at a dealership. He owns his tools. Now, here's the rub: His current marriage has not yet been dissolved,...
Quick-thinking wife saves the day
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband was driving our Yukon on the highway (cruise control set on 70) when he passed out. He was in the left-hand lane of four...
The geese weren't hurt, and neither was the car
Dear Tom and Ray: I was driving on a rural road and rounded a bend where there was a family of geese crossing: Mama, Papa and five goslings. I successfully...
Where to start when car falls off tow truck?
Dear Tom and Ray: I had the "opportunity" to watch my car fall off a flatbed tow truck last night in the middle of Brooklyn. Nothing like waiting two hours...
Why are stick shifts so prevalent in Europe?
Dear Tom and Ray: My fiancee is European, and they all drive stick shifts over there! When I visited, I had to pay more to rent a car with an...
Broken dipstick may not hurt engine
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1993 Subaru Loyale 4-wheel-drive wagon. The transmission-fluid dipstick has broken off the cap. The stem is down the fill tube beyond where I...
Duct tape is good, but not for brake lines
Dear Tom and Ray: So, my 2003 Kia Rio has a brake-fluid leak. A reeeeally bad brake-fluid leak. So bad that the floor of my back seat is fully littered...
Boss should bite the bullet and get AC in this car
Dear Tom and Ray: I do not have an air conditioner. "So what?" you say. "There are many cars on the streets without any air conditioning, most of them old,...
Water in gas tank likely due to rusted filler neck
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1996 Subaru Legacy L wagon. Four mechanics in and around Boston can't figure out how (twice now) in excess of three gallons of...
These mechanics were full of hot air
Dear Tom and Ray: I was told today at an auto-body-repair shop that the temperature dial on my car (the one that is half-blue and half-red) is NOT a thermostat...
Is VW feature helpful or harmful?
Dear Tom and Ray: I observed in a recent VW commercial that the car has a feature that automatically unlocks the doors at the time of a collision. I was...
On air conditioners and hair styles
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife and I live in the northwest corner of Georgia, and she insists on running her car's air conditioner at all times -- winter, summer,...
Diesel versus gasoline
Dear Tom and Ray: What is the difference between diesel and regular gasoline? My boyfriend thinks that diesel is mixed with oil, and he can't explain what is in regular...
Old part might save the day for old car's AC
Dear Tom and Ray: I drive a 1994 two-door Honda Accord (140,000 miles or so) with a lot of personality. One of her "quirks" is that she doesn't have a...
Even a novice can do this replacement
Dear Tom and Ray: My mechanic asked for $99 to replace the cabin air filter on my 2003 Subaru Outback. Apparently, this needs to be done every year. I decided...
Battery options for a Prius
Dear Tom and Ray: I just got word that my 2005 Prius, with 110,000 miles, needs a new hybrid battery. I got the car new, and it's been well-maintained, but...
What does a coil wire actually do?
Dear Tom and Ray: Hi! My name is Eli, and I have a quick question for you. I live in North Carolina, I'm a teenager and I am a mechanic's...
How often to change oil on differentials?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a general maintenance question for you guys. Every time I go to get the oil changed on my 1998 Toyota Tacoma, the service man...
A crash course in contaminated cylinders
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm an idiot. I just poured synthetic motor oil into my master cylinder. Am I destined to crash? -- Lisa Ray: Well, not unless you drive...
What's the real story with the timing-belt claim?
Dear Tom and Ray: About a year ago, I had the timing belt replaced on my 2003 Subaru Outback. Then, last week, I had the head gasket replaced at a...
Only you can decide if reusable air filters are worth it
Dear Tom and Ray: I just found out that cars can use reusable air filters! But that's all I know about them, except that they're more expensive and claim to...
Slow is best on speed bumps
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in a gated community with lots of speed bumps to deter speeding. I am always amazed at the ingenious techniques people use when they...
Fog in car is not a good omen for air conditioner
Dear Tom and Ray: I own a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser, which I purchased new. Since I live in Hawaii, air conditioning is a necessity. My PT has never given...
Can you unstick a stuck tire cap for less than 71 bucks?
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my 2008 Audi A4 for routine maintenance. The dealership informed me that they could not check my tire pressure, because I had "aftermarket valve-stem...
Reader distrusts mechanic
Dear Tom and Ray: I just paid more than $1,000 for a major 60,000-mile service on my 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse (4-cylinder), which included, among other things, replacing the timing belt...
Don't mess with a shaking car
Dear Tom and Ray: Hi! My husband and I now live in the Dominican Republic. We have a secondhand 1998 Toyota Corolla LE. We live in the mountains, which we...
Smug husband thinks 'towed miles' don't count
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband just bought a 2004 Chevy Tracker with a smidge over 60,000 miles on the odometer. We think the prior owner might have hauled the...
Commuter turns vigilante
Dear Tom and Ray: I need to know if I'm being a jerk. Every day, I use a left exit ramp on the highway that starts out one lane wide....
Low-rolling resistance tires explained
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm writing for my brother, who never reads your column. He has a 2010 Toyota Prius with all the bells and whistles. He was told that...
Tips for pulling off a horn prank
Dear Tom and Ray: My boss and I are in a never-ending prank war. I really want to hook up one of those horns to his car that plays the...
'Oil hinges; replace belts'
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a high-pitched noise coming from the engine of my 2000 Chevy Blazer with 150,000-plus miles. My husband told me it was a belt, and...
Shop is responsible for damage from botched oil change
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife had the oil changed in her 2010 Camry at Wal-Mart. One week later, as she was finishing her 25-mile morning commute, she noticed a...
What to do when thieves steal your car's seats
Dear Tom and Ray: Last night my daughter's 2000 Acura Integra was broken into, and they stole the front and back leather seats, and nothing else. The car had been...
Mythical benefits of hard acceleration debunked
Dear Tom and Ray: I am writing to you to settle a disagreement that my dad and mom had when I was a kid (in the 1970s) and my wife...
Want a midlife crisis car? Try a Miata
Dear Tom and Ray: My lovely wife has always said that I could have any car I want to satisfy my midlife crisis. I am turning 50 this year and...
Stinky smell is due to bad battery
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife's car is an '08 Toyota Sienna all-wheel-drive van with almost 70,000 miles on it. In the past few months, the whole garage has been...
Do all Mini Coopers make this banging noise?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2009 Mini Cooper that has a weird, intermittent problem. When I am idling -- like at a stoplight -- I hear a slight...
It's time to say goodbye to the Fiat
Dear Tom and Ray: My mom is great. I love her, and I need to know how to help her. She has a '74 Fiat Spider convertible. It's adorable and...
No need to fix bumper if the damage is purely cosmetic
Dear Tom and Ray: So, I drove my car into my house. That's not the opening line of a joke, I really did do that. I got the house fixed...
Failed inspection presents what seems like a catch-22
Dear Tom and Ray: Goofy problem here: We were loaned a Jeep Cherokee by our daughter and son-in-law while our vehicle is being repaired. With a catch, of course: It...
Dad's on the right track with chugging engine
Dear Tom and Ray: I drive a 1995 Buick Regal two-door custom coupe. In the past week or so, I have noticed that while I am accelerating around 55 to...
This transmission problem isn't the wife's fault
Dear Tom and Ray: Something my wife does drives me crazy, and I want to get your support before pointing it out to her. Our driveway is approximately 60 feet...
Are low profile tires just as safe?
Dear Tom and Ray: When shopping for a new car, we favored the Mazda5, but my wife had one major concern: the low-profile tires. The dealer assured us they were...
Overseas reader needs mechanic for her father's final ride
Dear Tom and Ray: My terminally ill father has just given me his 1961 Lincoln Continental. The car is in a storage unit in Michigan, and although it was mostly...
What's going on with tempermental car?
Dear Tom and Ray: I drive an art car named Ophelia. She is a '91 Honda Accord with 250,000 miles on her. When I bought her, 11 years ago, the...
The sad story of early spark-plug changes in Fords
Dear Tom and Ray: I own a 2005 Ford F-150 truck with 31,000 miles that I purchased new in May 2005. A backyard mechanic told me that I should replace...
Dad can't hear turn signal clicks
Dear Tom and Ray: My dad is older (87) but is still a good driver. However, his hearing is not very good. When he uses his turn signal for a...
Being polite on the road is not always a good thing
Dear Tom and Ray: I read your column all the time and value your opinion (especially if you side with me!). My husband (whom I call Bubba, if you are...
Reader with rebuilt transmission has a case
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my vehicle in to a local mechanic shop for a timing-belt replacement. After the repair, I drove approximately 75 miles, and the transmission burned...
Husband's extreme caution is causing wife to overheat
Dear Tom and Ray: Tom: My husband and I recently purchased a new car. My husband refuses to run the air conditioning in heavy stop-and-go traffic or if we are...
Proceed with caution when cleaning headliner
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently purchased a '99 Chevy Suburban. It's replacing an '87 Suburban (which I call my "Sanford and Son" truck, and my daughter simply calls "Rusty")....
Slippery belt is common to van -- but there's a fix
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan with the six-cylinder engine. Whenever I drive through a puddle, the belt slips off. All of the...
The 'Smoke Test,' demystified
Dear Tom and Ray: I've been driving for more years than I care to say, but this is the first I've heard of something called a "smoke test." Recently I...
Vodka to the rescue -- as a spark plug cleaner!
Dear Tom and Ray: Setting the scene: Six middle-age guys cruising the Caribbean in a 40-foot catamaran, mooring and anchoring at a variety of harbors, bays and coves in the...
Which is the best way to approach potholes: fast or slow?
Dear Tom and Ray: Every year we face the pothole issue. However, this year seems to be the worst in recent memory. Potholes are so big this year where I...
Brake-line problems probably not the only problems with their older car
Dear Tom and Ray: We have a 1996 Plymouth Voyager with more than 130,000 miles on it that I use to transport our kids everywhere. On four separate occasions, the...
Service goes on, even if car won't
Dear Tom and Ray: I drove a 2010 Mercury Mariner as a rental in Tucson, Ariz., last winter. I'm a snowbird now from the Chicago area and need a car...
The easiest on-stage cars are probably cardboard
Dear Tom and Ray: Here's my challenge, for which I'd welcome help and/or suggestions. Our theater company soon will open its latest production. Almost all of the play takes place...
Even recirculating setting brings in some outside air
Dear Tom and Ray: Can you please tell us which vehicles recirculate all of their inside air, rather than pulling in outside air? My wife is extremely allergic to smells,...
A burning car is a potential explosive
Dear Tom and Ray: Last week, my fiancee's father was driving his 1987 Buick from the farm into town. A couple hundred yards away from the house (and about 0.1...
Recommended services are recommended for a reason
Dear Tom and Ray: I own a 2008 Honda Civic with 33,000 miles. I have regularly changed the oil and rotated its tires. I also have replaced the air filter...
When a passive-aggressive neighbor gives unsolicited advice
Dear Tom and Ray: My neighbor, who does not impress me as having an IQ above that of a Neanderthal, told me the other day that while he didn't want...
Why is excessive idling considered severe duty?
Dear Tom and Ray: Why in the world is "excessive idling" defined as "severe duty" in all owner's manuals? I read in one column that idling is harder on the...
'Start-stop' feature for non-hybrid cars is on the horizon
Dear Tom and Ray: I wonder if it is possible to take one feature from a hybrid car and use it on a regular car to save gas. When stopped...
Human error is likely to blame for car wheels that keep falling off
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a '97 Honda CR-V that has a persistent problem: The front wheels keep falling off. First the left front wheel fell off while turning...
How did chunks of ice get in the tailpipe?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a question about something that happened to one of the vehicles our company uses. We have a 2005 Ford Explorer that is not used...
What to do when your winter truck hates cold weather
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1993 Dodge Ram Charger that is currently in the shop, where it spends most of its time. Since it's big, has four-wheel drive...
The ins and outs of low-profile tires
Dear Tom and Ray: I bought a used 2007 Nissan Maxima SE last June. I love my car! The problem is the tires. I knew nothing about "low profile" tires...
What to do when your car has no tow hook
Dear Tom and Ray: I have an all-wheel-drive 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor, and I was wondering if there is a good place to hook a tow rope so I can help...
Is it better to read the manual or wing it?
Dear Tom and Ray: OK. I have two sons of opposite disposition, but who are great friends anyway. We do as much work on cars as we can to save...
Her dog's not a junkie -- he's carsick
Dear Tom and Ray: My dog is addicted to getting his lips on the air ducts on the dash of my car. He licks the vents feverishly, and he drools...
A little oil in your gas is probably no big deal
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband and I had to go out of town for work for a few weeks, so we left our 14-year-old daughter with an 18-year-old girlfriend...
Is parking on dirt bad for new car?
Dear Tom & Ray: At the age of 48, I am buying my first brand-new vehicle. I really would like it to last for a good long while. I've heard...
Hitting brake and gas is bad move
Dear Tom & Ray: I can recall quizzing my dad about car stuff and asking a question that has remained unanswered for 35 years now: What happens if you press...
Do all four car wheels stop at the same time?
Dear Tom and Ray: I was ticketed recently for not stopping at a stop sign. I was sure I stopped. When I questioned the officer, he said all four wheels...
Tom and Ray warn: Don't take car safety tips from TV commercials
Dear Tom and Ray: Love your show and your column! I'm sure you have seen the Viagra commercial on TV in which the intrepid driver notices that his muscle car...
Pets need seat belts, too -- for their safety and for yours
Dear Tom and Ray: I travel with a guide dog. When we're in our own car (driven by my husband, not by me or the dog), I have a harness...
Did driving without an oil cap do any damage?
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently drove about a thousand miles without my oil cap. It's a 2005 Toyota Sequoia, and I was off-road for about 10 days at the...
Don't skip the antilock brakes for young drivers (or anybody else)
Dear Tom and Ray: My 17-year-old niece is interested in a 2007 Toyota Matrix, but it does not have antilock brakes (ABS). She may be heading to college in a...
Do garages cover 'malpractice'?
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently had the timing belt replaced in my son's car (a '97 VW Passat) by a local mechanic in southwest Michigan. The next day, my...
Do tires need to warm up before driving at highway speed?
Dear Tom and Ray: When I was learning to drive in the '50s, there was a rule to not drive above 40 mph on the highway for 10 minutes in...
Though the timing belt ain't broke (yet), you should still fix it
Dear Tom and Ray: Our 2001 Subaru Forester (93,000 miles, we're the only owner) has been an excellent, essentially maintenance-free vehicle. Recently, when a front axle was replaced for a...
Buying a used car? Always get a second look first
Dear Tom and Ray: I love your show and column, and am a longtime listener and reader. After all these years, I finally have a question for you. I know...
Is an oil change at 10,000 miles too late?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2009 VW Passat with about 6,500 miles. I called to set up an appointment to get the oil changed, and the dealership said...
Can malt liquor be used as a coolant in an emergency?
Dear Tom and Ray: Last summer, I was commuting home from work on the highway, and my 1998 Nissan Maxima started to overheat. The temperature outside was 90+. The engine...
In driving, two feet aren't better than one
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband, a dear, loving Englishman, drives with one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas. At a red light, the poor car...
Rear-window glass shattering theory is not all it's cracked up to be
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a great, wonderful, sweet co-worker who may be as wacky as a loon. It was 0 degrees Fahrenheit last week, and she refused to...
Her engine exploded! Is a broken connecting rod to blame?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1999 Camry CE that is maintained on a regular basis. Since I am a senior citizen, the annual mileage is about 3,000 miles...
Car oil: Change it while it's hot -- but be careful
Dear Tom and Ray: I always change my own oil on my cars. I let the car sit overnight and change the engine oil the next day. My daughter said...
Is it worth the cost of replacing aging air bags?
Dear Tom and Ray: My third, black Mercury Grand Marquis, "Batmobile," is a 2002 with 80,000 miles on it. Yesterday my dealer told me that the air bags have aged...
Is it really OK to let your gas tank run down to empty?
Dear Tom and Ray: You recently answered a question about whether it's harmful to let your gas tank run down to empty. You said it's not harmful to the car,...
Take precautions before changing a tire with passengers on board
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a Peace Corps volunteer in eastern Madagascar, and somehow I've been able to download you guys in my small bamboo hut in the middle...
How to prevent hydroplaning: tips from Tom and Ray
Dear Tom and Ray: We recently bought a 2005 VW Beetle and love it. Our one concern is its tendency to hydroplane in the rain. Is there any way to...
Her car is overheating in the Philippines
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my 2001 Saab 9-5 2.3L Turbo from Minnesota to the PHILIPPINES. This car has always been like a bad boyfriend -- he treats me...
Does a car radio get better reception?
Dear Tom and Ray: My father is a HUUUGE fan of your NPR radio show. Every Saturday, he is a devoted listener. At their weekend cottage up north, the reception...
Spinning your wheels in the snow can damage the tires
Dear Tom and Ray: Last week my boyfriend and I went backpacking in Montana and woke up to more than a foot of fresh heavy snow. My 2005 FWD Pontiac...
Will 'organic' brake pads stop the squeaking?
Dear Tom and Ray: What are organic brake pads? A chain shop recommended them, because my current metallic pads have been de-squeaked twice but are still squeaking badly. I said...
Did the engine fall out of her car while she was driving?
Dear Tom and Ray: The engine on my '97 Pontiac Bonneville FELL OUT while I was driving 55 miles an hour yesterday! Luckily I am fine. Had it happened mere...
Her car is 'sneezing.' Tom and Ray's diagnosis: engine misfire
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Subaru WRX that has recently been "sneezing" at irregular intervals. The sneezing sound is accompanied by what feels like a loss of...
Help! Her sunroof is leaking... or is it?
Dear Tom and Ray: A few years ago, our 1998 Camry started to leak water inside. This is a problem in Oregon, so we took it in for repair, and...
Shift lock fix will be worth the cost
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2 with 110,000 miles and an automatic transmission. It starts fine, but I cannot get it out of park unless...
Removing car seats to increase gas mileage takes frugality too far
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband insists that taking the center seats out of our Toyota Sienna will increase our gas mileage and save us a lot of money over...
Pay to clean the car your kid threw up in: Etiquette from Tom and Ray
Dear Tom and Ray: I have an etiquette question. Consider the case of three families, all friends. Family A gets a new Escalade with all the bells and whistles. It...
Should we replace the battery ourselves, or leave it to the pros?
Dear Tom and Ray: We have a 2006 Chrysler Town and Country van. Is it OK to buy and replace the original battery ourselves? Or is this a job for...
When she cranks the engine, he gets cranky
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband always gets mad because I immediately crank the ignition of our 2005 Honda Element. He tells me that I should wait a few seconds...
Her car hates her husband. Tom and Ray investigate why.
Dear Tom and Ray: My 2003 VW Jetta hates my husband. Granted, he deserves it. He drove my car over a traffic island and messed up the wheel rims; he...
Tom and Ray try to speed up geezer car's electric window
Dear Tom and Ray: I've got a Buick -- a geezer car because I'm a geezer. It's wonderful at eliminating road rage, because it is completely incompetent at driving aggressively....
Shaking steering wheel is serious and must be fixed, pronto
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1999 BMW 323i that I love. My husband wants to trade it in because it has 207,100 miles on it. He's afraid of...
Tom and Ray settle a bet -- but not in the reader's favor
Dear Tom and Ray: Please help me settle a bet with my father-in-law ... the winner will buy the loser his next battery. My father-in-law claims that even though car...
Tom and Ray caution reader against bad advice from her mechanic
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2002 Subaru Forrester. Upon my monthly check of fluids, I was shocked to see that there was no cooling fluid in the reservoir....
Can worn-down tires get you out of a speeding ticket? Tom and Ray do the math
It occurred to me the other day that as a car is driven and the tires wear down, each tire's circumference decreases. How much does tread wear affect the speedometer reading? Is it significant? And can I use this argument to get out of a speeding ticket?
Should his transmission fluid need a second flush, or is he flushing money away?
I have a 2006 Toyota RAV4 that was due recently for the 60,000-mile maintenance. Toyota recommends that the transmission fluid be checked, but I told the independent shop that since it had never been changed (I bought it with about 20,000 miles), they should go ahead and change it. They called me later that day and stated that although they had flushed it with 12 quarts of Toyota fluid, it was still coming out brown, and recommended flushing it with another 12 quarts at just over another $100. I said OK, as I hope to keep the vehicle for many more years. I have used this vehicle only as a commuter car, no off-roading. Does it seem reasonable that it would require this second flush?
Key fob theft warning is just an urban legend
I got an e-mail this morning from our company's internal security department about locking your car with the remote key fob. It says that car thieves have a device that can capture the frequency of your key fob, and then use it to unlock your car while you're in a store. The woman claims that this was explained to her by the police. Is this true or an urban legend?
Noise from ceramic brake pads is not a cause for alarm, just annoyance
Dear Tom and Ray: My son-in-law, whom I love like a son, just replaced the brakes on my '07 Camry. It was fine for a day or so, and then...
Why would anyone ever turn off traction control?
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in Michigan, where Mother Nature constantly tries to do me in with her lake-effect snow and black ice. I recently purchased a 2010 Jeep,...
Sugar in gas tank is followed by problems that aren't so sweet
Dear Tom and Ray: So ... I'm pretty sure my ex put sugar in my gas tank. I'm positive about the sugar; can't prove that he did it. But he's...
There's a hole in the exhaust pipe, dear Tom and Ray
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife has a 1994 Toyota Camry with a very loud exhaust. I figured there has to be a hole somewhere causing this. So, when I...
Did Mr. Fix-It break the ABS wheel sensor on his car?
Dear Tom and Ray: In my infinite wisdom, I woke up early one Saturday morning and decided I would do something productive with my weekend. Even though I've never attempted...
Was the old penny trick with the car battery just a dream?
Dear Tom and Ray: I may be dreaming, hallucinating or even suffering from dementia. I seem to remember something from my childhood that other people my age do not. When...
A dealership can't take you for a ride if you're an educated consumer
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a mechanics' ethics question for you. I drive a 2009 Nissan Rogue. I love this car. I was getting ready for a road trip,...
Why is his new car battery cost so high?
The BMW dealer told me that it is going to cost $445 to replace the battery on my 2006 330i BMW. Are they ripping me off?
How to stop the car if your brakes fail
Dear Tom and Ray: I just saw a few minutes of "Worst Case Scenario: Brakes Fail" on TV, and it seemed like they were suggesting the opposite of what I've...
The right way to start a tractor... just don't tell the boss
My boss swears that putting the tractor in neutral with your foot OFF the clutch lessens the strain on the starter. I say it's easier to start if you press down on the clutch while starting. Who's right? I think he is wrong, but you can't argue with the man who signs the checks.
Is this radiator cap test just a scam for cash?
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife went to a quickie oil-change place, and they told her that her radiator cap needed to be replaced because it wasn't holding pressure anymore....
Sorry, kid, Armenian import car won't pass US road test
Dear Tom and Ray: I just returned from visiting my daughter, who is a Peace Corps volunteer, in Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. Now, my daughter is an adventuresome gal, and she's become...
Shouldn't his new car battery last more than four days?
Dear Tom and Ray: I purchased a new 2010 VW CC, and the car has 5,000 miles on it. During a long weekend, I left the car unused for four...
Is driving with the headlights on all the time a bright idea?
Dear Tom and Ray: I enjoy your column every week. In our cars, the headlights turn off automatically when we exit the vehicle, so there's no danger of leaving the...
How do you jump-start a lawn mower with your car? Very carefully.
Dear Tom and Ray: This question isn't about a specific car, but is a general equipment question. Of course, during the winter, my riding lawn mower has gotten no driving...
Is light-weight motor oil OK to use in summer?
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently was advised to use a much lighter weight of oil than I am used to using. I was told I should use 5-20 weight...
Is it worth it to make his 1963 dream car a reality today?
Dear Tom and Ray: I graduated from high school in 1963, and my dream car was the 1963 Studebaker Avanti. Well, life got in the way, and I never realized...
Does driving count as exercise? Tom and Ray weigh in.
Dear Tom and Ray: I wonder if you can settle an ongoing dispute that I have with my wife. She is an avid walker and an exercise freak. She wants...
Deal with that stuck brake light before making a move
Dear Tom and Ray: I remember listening to your radio show, "Car Talk," with my parents when I was a little kid, and hearing my mom say about a billion...
What to do when Auntie puts washer fluid in the coolant reservoir
Dear Tom and Ray: My aunt called me the other day and said she had trouble trying to find the place where you put more windshield-washer fluid. She told me...
Does purchasing a vintage ice-cream truck make her as nutty as a sundae?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am interested in purchasing a vintage/classic ice-cream truck such as the Divco for a new, gourmet-ice-cream truck venture. I have found rusted, inoperable trucks for...
Why are drum brakes less expensive than disc brakes?
Dear Tom and Ray: All of the cheapest cars these days seem to have drum brakes on the rear instead of disc brakes. But drum brakes have more parts than...
Driving cars hard will wear them out, but let Dad have his outlet
Dear Tom and Ray: Could you please settle an ongoing discussion that my family has had for years? On one side is my mother, my six sisters and me (that...
How bad will it be when the transaxle breaks?
Dear Tom and Ray: The transaxle differential bearing on my '98 Toyota Sienna van is growling like a cat in the vet's office. This has been going on for about...
Air bag surprise? When the dealer won't help, file a complaint with the Feds
Dear Tom and Ray: I hope you can help me. My rear passenger side air bag deployed, along with the passenger side mid bag and the window shield. There was...
More safety ideas, like apps that freeze the cell phone while your teen drives
Tom: A few weeks ago, we answered a question from Blair, the mother of a 16-year-old girl, who wanted to find a device that would help her keep track of...
Is revving the engine harmful, or just annoying?
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife and I live out in Southern California and have some ... well, to be polite, interesting neighbors in our condo complex. One couple in...
Do I really need a new timing belt? Tom and Ray weigh in.
Dear Tom and Ray: A few months ago, our local Subaru dealership determined that our Impreza needed a new engine, and that it would be covered by the factory warranty....
All in the family: Buy back Grandma's antique car while you can
Dear Tom and Ray: My grandmother once owned a 1963 Rambler. It was the only car she ever had -- my grandfather bought it for her the year I was...
Safety precaution is a bit unsafe -- never mind that it's driving him crazy
Dear Tom and Ray: With all the news about uncontrolled acceleration, my wife has decided that she wants to be prepared in case it ever happens to her. We know...
Is a post-repair diagnostics charge fair, or a rip-off?
Dear Tom and Ray: We recently took our 2001 VW Jetta to the dealer because the Check Engine light was on. After guessing at the solution (something about the code...
Keep the dressing on your salad and off your car's serpentine belt
Dear Tom and Ray: Belt dressings? Yes or no? I heard on your radio show this week not to spray belt dressings on serpentine belts. I recently was told TO...
Mom seeks advice on car-tracking device for her teenage new driver
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm a concerned mom. Our spirited 16-year-old daughter will soon have her driver's license. We subscribe to the Reaganesque philosophy of "trust but verify" when it...
Is it OK to ditch a broken air dam? Tom and Ray weigh in.
Dear Tom and Ray: So the air dam on my '91 Chevy C1500 has taken a beating and is starting to come off. Rather than try to rig it back...
Why would her wheel suddenly come flying off?
Dear Tom and Ray: Two weeks ago while traveling down a city street, my car, a Volvo S80, suddenly swerved and almost flew into a lamppost. A man driving behind...
There's hair in my tailpipe! Tom and Ray explain.
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently while looking in my tailpipe, I noticed a small amount of what appeared to be human hair sticking out. I began to pull on it,...
Solving the case of the stuck distributor
Dear Tom and Ray: It was a rainy afternoon ... I had driven a couple of miles when the car stalled. I opened the hood and stared at the engine....
Tom and Ray revisit an old physics problem -- and stand by their earlier answer
Dear Tom and Ray: In a recent column, you got the wrong answer to the "hummingbird" problem. Fifty years ago, my boss in an Air Force research laboratory used this...
He won't press shift-lock button, which pushes her buttons; Tom and Ray intervene
Dear Tom and Ray: We are Americans living in England, and have a 2000 VW Beetle automatic that I named Betty. I hope you can settle a domestic argument for...
How does her car magically know when the spare tire is low? Tom and Ray explain.
Dear Tom and Ray: I have enjoyed your column for years and have always admired your bottomless knowledge and advice for car owners, abusers, know-nothings and BYMs (backyard mechanics). I...
Brake sensation may be normal, but it still calls for a fix
Dear Tom and Ray: Every time I am braking and go over a bump in our 2008 Prius (a frequent occurrence in hilly San Francisco), the anti-lock braking system kicks...
How does gas burned by a car turn into so much CO2? Tom and Ray explain.
Dear Tom and Ray: I've heard that each gallon of gas burned by a car releases about 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. I'm not a chemist, but even...
Should she buy the neighbor's car that looks great, but doesn't run?
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm 17 years old and trying to buy my first car, without fiscal help from my parents. I have about $4,500 to spend, but I'm trying...
What's causing poor mileage? Only an emissions test will tell.
Dear Tom and Ray: When I was a kid doing my own tune-ups, I understood that the color of the deposits in the very end of the tailpipe was an...
Can flushing the engine make up for missed oil changes, or will his luck run out?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am really bad at keeping up with timely oil changes on my 2005 Ford Windstar. When I do change the oil and filter, I write...
How to fix a punctured gas tank -- without breaking the bank
Dear Tom and Ray: My company has a '93 Ford Club Wagon equipped for wheelchairs, as our company provides services for people with developmental disabilities. Some jerk punctured a hole...
This teacher's car-cooling theory is all wet
Dear Tom and Ray: There is a teacher in our community who regularly can be found pouring buckets of cool water over his vehicle before starting it on warm days....
Sputtery when wet: Why did my car lose power after a wash?
Dear Tom and Ray: I bought a '72 Porsche 914 a few weeks ago. It was running great for about 10 days. Then I took it through a carwash. When...
Can slamming on the brakes freeze my car -- in the middle of the highway?
Dear Tom and Ray: A scary thing happened to me yesterday on the highway. I was driving a 1999 Nissan Altima that I bought last year. It has about 90,000...
Does charging my phone in my car use "green" energy?
Dear Tom and Ray: Oftentimes, I charge my mobile phone or iPod using the cigarette lighter in my car. Does that do any damage to the battery, like limit its...
Re-refined oil can be as good as new, as long as it's certified
Dear Tom and Ray: I stopped at a "Quickie Lube"-type joint the other day and asked them what type of oil they use in their least-expensive oil-change service. The answer...
Do quick stops really make brake pads last longer, or is Grandpa crazy?
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife's grandfather drives like an idiot. Specifically, he never touches the brake pedal until the very last second, at which point he slams on the...
Brave son turns off racing engine in stranger's crashed car -- but could it blow?
Dear Tom and Ray: Yesterday a vehicle crashed into some trees near my house. The driver apparently had passed out while driving and was not conscious, but his foot was...
Should Dad let daughter pick her own car? Tom and Ray say yes.
Dear Tom and Ray: My 24-year-old daughter is moving to Los Angeles from New York City and will need a car. She is in love with the Jaguar XJS Coupe....
What's shaking, baby? Her Subaru, on left turns. Tom and Ray decode the mystery.
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a manual-transmission 2000 Subaru Forester with 126,000 miles that I've had since it had 12 miles on it. I also have a one-month-old baby....
Tom and Ray settle family debate: can 'plopping' into car seat really harm shocks?
Dear Tom and Ray: Hello! My older sister has a 1996 Saturn SC2, and she is constantly yelling at my sister, my mom and myself for supposedly "plopping" into the...
Are pricey professional tools worth the splurge? Advice for an automotive student
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a question that doesn't involve a car problem. I am currently going to school to earn an associate of applied science in the automotive...
What to do when the car battery's dead and jump-starting it sets off the alarm
Dear Tom and Ray: I am trying to jump-start my husband's 2008 Honda Accord. It's been sitting for a few months since he was deployed to Iraq, and I need...
Something fetid this way comes: How to get a vile substance out of your car door
Dear Tom and Ray: A passenger in my son's Toyota Tacoma truck did not get his head all the way out of the window prior to vomiting. The exterior and...
Because they store data magnetically, electronic odometers can't easily be reset
Dear Tom and Ray: Everyone knows it is illegal to change an odometer reading, and I wouldn't do it even if I knew how. My 1999 Chevy Malibu (the best...
Should she let her wannabe boyfriend try to fix her car? Tom and Ray think so
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm a busy, poor veterinary student with an old, 1989 Volvo 240 DL. I have a wannabe boyfriend/mechanic who likes to tear into things and see...
A blanket won't keep your engine warmer in the wintertime, but a block heater will
Dear Tom and Ray: I need your help! My significant other has been placing a blanket over her engine for years now. During spells of extreme Minnesota winter weather, she'll...
For a car with larger-than-average wheels, tire-pressure sensors are a necessity
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in Albany, N.Y., and I own a 2009 Dodge Journey, all-wheel drive, with 19-inch wheels and tires. I didn't realize it at the time,...
Despite conventional wisdom, cars don't really move faster in cold weather
Dear Tom and Ray: Was it just me, or did my Jeep really seem faster this morning in the cold, -15 F air? I've always heard that the colder the...
Could a mishap at the dealer cause hidden damage? A second opinion couldn't hurt
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Toyota Prius, which has gone 67,000 miles. I always take it to the dealer, and recently had it there for its 65,000-mile...
What's the best midlife-crisis car? The one that turns back the clock just enough
Dear Tom and Ray: Guys -- you probably have been asked this before, but here it goes anyway. I am 46 years old, divorced for two years, recovered financially, and...
What to do if your gas pedal sticks: Shift into neutral gear and coast to a stop
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently, there was a large recall of Toyotas because the gas pedal could get stuck on the floor mat and cause the car to keep accelerating...
California may get the lead out (of its wheel weights); Tom and Ray are all for it
Dear Tom and Ray: It turns out that lead wheel weights are the biggest source of lead in California's waterways. There is a bill that would ban them in favor...
The dealer's diagnosis -- 'unknown foreign object' -- sounds fishy to Tom and Ray
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter bought a 2005 Kia Sorento nine months ago, and was given an extended warranty by the dealership. A week ago, it started running badly,...
Watching sports on TV and driving don't mix, unless you want to do hard time
Dear Tom and Ray: My problem is my 1995 Chevy High-Top Conversion Van model G20. I am a fanatical sports fan. I never miss a football or baseball game. I...
Olive oil: excellent for cooking, not so good for keeping snow off the windshield
Dear Tom and Ray: We had a big snowstorm this week. Not wanting to scrape the ice off my windshield, the night before the storm I looked around for something...
In interior Alaska, there's no need to turn the block heater off during the winter
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in interior Alaska, and it gets cold. How cold, you ask? It's been -40 F (that's negative 40) for the past week or so....
When your hub covers aren't aligned, is Marisa Tomei to blame? Tom and Ray say no
Dear Tom and Ray: I live in New Hampshire, and have a 2002 Saab 9-5 Aero. About 10 weeks ago, after putting on the snow tires, I personally put the...
Warming up your car in winter does no harm -- as long as gas money is no object
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a valet at a local country club in Wisconsin. As you well know, it gets very cold here in the winter months, and that...
Technical Service Bulletins alert dealerships to mechanical problems
Dear Tom and Ray: I've heard you refer to "bulletins" ("maybe there's a bulletin on it") in addressing repair problems. My question is this: If there is, in fact, a...
The communal car: Shared convenience, but the problems will belong to the owner
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm living with a bunch of poor, just-out-of-college/sometimes-in-grad-school folks who are planning to share my car. I don't want to sell it. I'd like to come...
A simple seat cushion can interfere with sophisticated air-bag technology
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently purchased a 2009 Chevy Traverse. My wife, who is a vertically challenged 5 feet 1 inch, likes to sit on a cushion to...
Kids can't resist playing with power windows, but will the switches wear out?
Dear Tom and Ray: When I was a kid, my siblings and I loved to play with the power windows -- up a little, down a little, up some more,...
Do you need the higher ground clearance of an SUV to negotiate heavy snowdrifts?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a doctor living in an area that typically can get 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground at some point in the...
Apples to oranges: Several factors account for U.S., U.K. fuel-economy differences
Dear Tom and Ray: Can you explain why equivalent cars sold in Europe get much better fuel economy, compared with those sold in the U.S.? As an example, I was...
Do hubcaps serve a functional purpose, or are they simply an aesthetic touch?
Dear Tom and Ray: I am having a philosophical debate with my father that I hope you can offer some closure on. About two years ago, my 2007 Toyota Matrix...
Creativity and lots of experience help Cubans keep their vintage cars maintained
Dear Tom and Ray: I have often wondered, when I see a street scene in Havana, how they've managed to keep those '50s vintage cars operating all these years. Of...
Turn signal is subject of first marital argument
Dear Tom and Ray: I just got married, and last week my new husband and I got into our first disagreement in the car! He doesn't put his blinker on...
Brake light malfunction may be a simple case of the wrong bulb
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1997 Plymouth Breeze with 110,000 miles on it. I changed the brake light bulb in the passenger-side taillight, and now none of the...
Show your gratitude to a great mechanic with loyalty and referrals, not with a tip
Dear Tom and Ray: So, should you tip your mechanic? Would it be insulting? Would it be appreciated? How do you know how much you should tip if, indeed, you...
You can jump-start a car without cables -- but you'd better know what you're doing
Dear Tom and Ray: We had a dead battery and called for a jump start. The service agent could not jump-start the battery with his cables. He then proceeded to...
Lean condition may have led to backfire that blew out manifold gasket
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter was going to soccer practice in our 2001 Mercury Sable Wagon. When she turned the key, there was an explosion that apparently blew the...
Minister's unconventional tire-deflation ritual is based in faith, not science
Dear Tom and Ray: I once knew a local minister who completely deflated all his tires twice annually, then reinflated them with fresh air. He claimed the procedure prevents bumpiness...
Rapid depreciation: Accident on the used-car lot gives buyer a sinking feeling
Dear Tom and Ray: Last week I bought a used 2007 Mazda 3 with 43,000 miles for $10,800 at a dealership. I went through the financing process, signed the final...
Accessing overhead console requires elbow grease -- or professional assistance
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife's 90-year-old aunt recently allowed us to take her 1995 Dodge Caravan with 55,000 miles. She said it needed to be driven, as she hadn't...
Just get rid of locking lug nuts, which cause one problem after another
Dear Tom and Ray: Recently, we had our 2005 Toyota RAV4 taken in for its regularly scheduled maintenance, which included rotating the tires. Each tire has a locking lug nut,...
Oil can make a mess sometimes, but forget bad advice to start car without it
Dear Tom and Ray: Is it ever safe to start a car with no oil in it? I have a 2004 Honda Civic, and when I change the oil filter,...
Riding the clutch is fast track to a chain reaction of premature, pricey repairs
Dear Tom and Ray: A friend of mine at work and I have a disagreement regarding using the clutch on a standard-shift car. He says that keeping the clutch pressed...
Husband is right: Truck can't handle those rocks
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband inherited a 1974 Ford F-100 from his dad, and I would like to use it to pick up a load of rocks for landscaping....
Why should I pay a lube shop to recycle my oil filter?
Dear Tom and Ray: I notice that car businesses that lube and change oil for passenger cars are now charging for recycling oil filters. Is this a scam, since I...
Bad battery or ailing alternator? Car is flatlining despite jump-start efforts
Dear Tom and Ray: How does one tell the difference between a bad battery and a bad alternator? My car will not crank, but has some power (the dome lights,...
Tom and Ray put the brakes on husband's habit of using transmission to stop car
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...
A sensible, safe, ugly car is a smart choice for your teenage driver
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...
Step up maintenance regimen, and you can keep driving car that's burning oil
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....
Exfoliate your car to extend the life of its finish? Tom and Ray demystify claying
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...
Rattling and rolling Jeep needs a mechanic -- and possibly a new steering damper
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...
His Prius keeps on going once gas runs out, but driver shouldn't push his luck
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,...
Could stowaway snake in the engine compartment make its way further inside?
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...
It bears repeating: Antifreeze is dangerous for pets and people alike
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...
If your camper's rocking, try these simple tests to check for worn shocks
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...
Buff your way to better mileage? Tom and Ray wax academic on aerodynamics
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...
Pushing car to breaking point before warranty expires lacks both ethics and sense
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...
What long-term environmental impact might result from used hybrid batteries?
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...
Upper range of speedometer numbers is a marketing tool -- and one big tease
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...
Junkyards can save you time and money in tracking down a replacement seat
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 --...
The need for speed? Throttle blasts do little more than waste fuel in today's cars
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...
Plastic bumper is major bummer for Dodge Dakota driver, but metal options exist
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...
Move along, nothing to see here: Tom and Ray steer driver away from used cop car
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...
The less you drive a car, the longer it lasts -- but what's fun about that?
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...
Pry, pry again: Lubricate gasket when changing oil to keep filter from sticking
Dear Tom and Ray: 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...
Tom and Ray spin tangled web of hypotheses for Fiat Spider's headlight failure
Dear Tom and Ray: I thought I would offer to be the butt of your jokes by asking about my Fiat Spider. I know one of you guys owns one....
Dealer's high-pressure response to tire blowout may be full of holes
Dear Tom and Ray: My friend has a fancy-shmancy 2007 BMW 3 Series. Recently, one of his tires blew out through the sidewall and left a gaping, scary-looking hole. That...
Texas tea brewing in the radiator may lead to an oil baron's fortune -- in repairs
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1991 Chevrolet S-10 with the four-cylinder mill. I bought it because I had to park my Ford F-350 Dually when diesel fuel went...
Slow-moving armadillo didn't make a dent in Hyundai's air-bag system
Dear Tom and Ray: I drive a 2004 Hyundai Elantra that was bought used, and I don't know the history of the vehicle. Last evening, I unavoidably ran over a...
Couple engages in noisy debate over replacing muffler on superannuated Honda
Dear Tom and Ray: Please help settle a debate between me and my boyfriend. We share a 1994 Honda Accord with 212,000 miles. Last summer while driving it from Iowa...
Adding organic waste to the gas tank: It's natural, it's chemical -- can we do it?
Dear Tom and Ray: When I was in college during the late 1980s, I remember one of my chemistry professors telling me that he disposed of organic chemical waste...
Mom needs to shake VW nostalgia bug when considering cars for her teen son
Dear Tom and Ray: We're buying a car for my 17-year-old son. I've found two cars locally that appeal to us -- a classic 1968 VW with a few thousand...
Submersion in water may have fried air-bag system -- and who knows what else
Dear Tom and Ray: I live here in England (my wife is from New Jersey, and she introduced me to you guys). Recently my wife and I drove our "eBay...
Side-impact air bags can't do their job if they're trapped underneath seat covers
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter has an '07 Honda CR-V with side air bags. I gave her a set of cloth seat covers to protect her seats, and she...
When careless parkers box you in, a gentle touch can get you out of a tight spot
Dear Tom and Ray: It might have been the Red Sox sticker on my car, but I found myself in a no-win situation in New York City a few weeks...
Claims of enhanced gasoline aren't untrue, just not particularly useful
Dear Tom and Ray: Is there any merit to the claim that nitrogen in gasoline has any benefit for cleaning the engine? What's the chemistry behind it? Or is this...
Heroic measures may not be warranted to resuscitate old car's air conditioning
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1995 Volvo 940. Late last summer, my air conditioner seemed to lose some punch. Since summer was ending and the AC was blowing...
Toyota may still be the leader, but Ford is no laggard when it comes to hybrids
Dear Tom and Ray: Who is the real leader in hybrid technology? The last time I went into a Toyota dealership, the salesman told me that Toyota had just sold...
Is mechanic dispensing a lot of hot air about leaky hose? Get a second opinion
Dear Tom and Ray: I took my car in because the air conditioner wasn't blowing cold air. I was told there was a leak in the high-pressure hose and it...
A common mistake with the emergency brake probably didn't do any damage
Dear Tom and Ray: Last week, I was cleaning the interior of my '04 Ford Escape. To reach a part of the console between the two front seats, I had...
Let's twist again: After recalibration, dad's torque wrenches can live on
Dear Tom and Ray: My father taught me a lot about cars by having me do the work while he "supervised." I don't remember how old I was, maybe...
There's a fine line between early adoption and the wacko fringe
Dear Tom and Ray: I'm tired of waiting for the American auto industry to come up with an affordable all-electric car, so I'm looking seriously into buying a Chinese-made Flybo....
Hubby's Houdini act of removing gas cap won't conjure extra fuel out of thin air
Dear Tom and Ray: When my husband and I first got married (18 years ago), I noticed that when his car was low on gas, he would remove the gas...
The garage floor isn't to blame when a car battery loses its charge
Dear Tom and Ray: My son, who transports cars for a living, says that we should not put a car battery on the garage floor for more than a few...
Click and Clack give freshman a class on the art and science of the visual gag
Dear Tom and Ray: My name is Victor, and as an upcoming college freshman, in a fit of my newfound freedom, I want to add a comical touch to my...
Have mercy on your mechanic and identify oil leaks by steam-cleaning your engine
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1984 Nissan pickup with only 64,000 miles. It runs great, but the engine is so dirty that I am embarrassed to have it...
Bay City Roller: When parking on a hill, take multiple steps to secure your car
Dear Tom and Ray: In January, I visited the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. I parked on a slightly sloping street in Golden Gate Park, locked the car...
Battery charged but engine won't turn over? You might have to break new ground
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1991 Ford F-150. You could use up this entire section of the newspaper on this hunk of junk. But perhaps you can just...
None-too-slick mechanic may be to blame for expensive oil-pan problem
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2003 Infiniti FX45 that was due for an oil change. I had some time to kill, so I went to a Wal-Mart Tire...
Visibility outshines energy efficiency when it comes to using the rear defroster
Dear Tom and Ray: On one of the many frigid days this past winter, my husband and I had a discussion about using (versus not using) the rear defrost in...
Couple's stalling Saturn sedan is plagued by dark nights of the solenoid
Dear Tom and Ray: Our 2000 Saturn sedan has died twice in the same exact spot (stopping at the end of a highway exit ramp). The first time, it...
Cupped tires are real -- and a real danger
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe with 47,000 miles on it. Recently it developed an unpleasant rumbling noise. After taking it to the service department,...
Too close for comfort: Tailgating husband's theory is thwarted by reality
Dear Tom and Ray: I need help. I am married to a bonehead. My husband insists on pulling practically into the trunk of cars in front of him. Moving,...
Father doesn't always know best when it comes to starting off from a dead stop
Dear Tom and Ray: My wife and I recently bought a 5-speed Saturn VUE. Whenever she comes to a complete stop, she puts the car in second gear and takes...
Birdies, rest and motion: Tom, Ray and Sir Isaac Newton answer a humdinger
Dear Tom and Ray: Once, on a very long, boring trip, my passenger and I were reduced to asking each other dumb questions. We came upon one question that we...
Van driver vexed by tires that routinely lose air
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2000 Toyota Sienna van. My van tires lose air on a regular basis. The tire-trouble indicator on the dash is on most of...
There's something about Marvin: Reader still hung up on his long-lost Cherokee
Dear Tom and Ray: I am having a serious case of separation anxiety from my old car. In truth, I believe I am still in love with it. I thought...
Teen's venerable ride plagued by mysterious, recurring windshield haze
Dear Tom and Ray: Last year we bought our teenage son a 1989 Acura Legend coupe. It has been a great car, even though it's pushing 140,000 miles now. We've...
Kids' clay sculptures delight a grandma but wreck her Prius' multifunction screen
Dear Tom and Ray: I am a proud grandma and a disappointed and angry owner of a 2006 Toyota Prius. The proud grandma part is this: My precious grandchildren made...
No wedding ring on hot mechanic: Should she risk losing him by asking him out?
Dear Tom and Ray: If a mechanic is not wearing a wedding ring, is that a true indication of his marital status? I think my mechanic is HOT, but I'm...
Get a second opinion before spending big bucks on a popped plug
Dear Tom and Ray: Last night, my car, a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, was in perfect working order when I parked it at the movie theater. When I came out two...
Washing your brakes is harmless -- but probably won't silence the squeaks
Dear Tom and Ray: My daughter-in-law just sent her son out to wash her car's brakes. I told her I had never heard of that before. She said that when...
Cold-weather grill: Click and Clack settle kaffeeklatsch cardboard debate
Dear Tom and Ray: A group of us get together at a diner for coffee most mornings. Recently I made a critical error and told the guys that I had...
If you're in the market for a used SUV, you're in the driver's seat
Dear Tom and Ray: With the economy reeling, gas prices recently higher than ever, numerous dealerships in the area going under, talks of big mergers or bailouts or bankruptcies in...
Antifreeze in the crankcase may not necessarily be the kiss of death for an engine
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a soldier who mistakenly poured a gallon of antifreeze in his crankcase. He then started and ran the car for several minutes before he...
When a good deed results in scratches, consider learning to live with them
Dear Tom and Ray: My dear, beloved 15-year-old son offered to wash my 2008 Toyota Sequoia (silver). Of course, I jumped at this surprising and welcome offer. After about 30...
Antifreeze down the wrong hatch? Removing it is a low-tech, low-cost job
Dear Tom and Ray: I recently had my 2006 Chevy HHR worked on at the dealership where I purchased it new. Long story short, the mechanic put antifreeze in the...
Stocking up on cars as a hedge against inflation won't yield many happy returns
Dear Tom and Ray: Would you discuss the ins and outs of "stocking up" on cars as a hedge against future inflation? For instance, I just bought a 2009 Honda...
Duct tape can't stand up to the heat of pressurized, 800-degree exhaust
Dear Tom and Ray: My son, 16, bought a '77 Pontiac Grand Prix. It's loud, with a big motor (muscle-car-type motor, original everything). Anyway, he sawed off the exhaust pipe...
How long do cars retain odors? The answer is blowin' in the wind
Dear Tom and Ray: My problem began when I was driving down the road in our 2005 Dodge Caravan, packed full of our own kids and kids from the neighborhood....
Are new tires best in front or back?
Dear Tom and Ray: The other day, I went to purchase two tires for my Dodge Intrepid. I wanted to replace the front pair and move my old front tires...
You should really see a professional for that embarrassing honking problem
Dear Tom and Ray: Boy, do we have an embarrassing problem. My husband's 1997 Nissan pickup's horn honks every time the steering wheel is turned. There is no telling how...
Don't get overheated over cooling system -- and don't give up on a good mechanic
Dear Tom and Ray: Love the column, hate that I now have a reason to write to you myself! I have a 2001 BMW 325xi, which I have serviced regularly...
Whether rolling along or sitting pretty in the garage, tires do have a shelf life
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1995 Buick Regal that I purchased new before I retired. I drive the car approximately once a month. The car has 55,000 miles...
High mileage, low coolant: Workhorse Chevy may be nearing the end of the road
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1992 Chevy Lumina with 432,686 miles on it. I'm losing coolant. The "low coolant" light goes on on cold mornings and stays on...
Valves are running like clockwork: Will routine adjustment open a can of worms?
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2002 Dodge Ram diesel 2500 two-wheel-drive six-speed manual with 130,000 miles. It's primarily used as a commuter truck -- with a little bit...
Son can tackle routine repairs, but Mom's timing belt should be changed by a pro
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2002 Hyundai Elantra with 97,000 miles. During the state inspection this week, the mechanic told me that I will soon need to replace...
Is the dealer spinning me a yarn about spiders in the fuel line?
Dear Tom and Ray: I was driving my 2007 Forester the other day when the check engine light came on (it has about 15,000 miles on it). I brought it...
Will cheating on the dealer with an independent mechanic void the warranty?
Dear Tom and Ray: My husband and I have a 2005 Nissan Sentra, and it's time for its scheduled 30,000-mile checkup. Because we still have the warranty, I prefer we...
Driver doesn't know his own strength: Ruptured brake line raises a weighty issue
Dear Tom and Ray: I had a car accident. My vehicle would not stop because a brake line ruptured and the fluid leaked out. My wife says that it was...
Wild horses couldn't keep wife from pouring money into her old Mustang
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a fairly beat-up 1994 Mustang GT 5.0 convertible that has been sidelined since 2004 when it started becoming unreliable. I bought a Toyota Solara,...
Truck's incredible shrinking oil supply means it's time for a new engine
Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 1998 Ford Expedition with 150,000 miles. My wife takes the truck in every three months to get the oil changed. During the past...
It's a long and winding road to becoming a professional stunt driver
Dear Tom and Ray: I want to know how to get a job, a very specific job. It seems like every car commercial now shows the vehicle soaring through sand...
Owner of of bullet-riddled car may have bigger problems than cosmetics
Dear Tom and Ray: Although I am not currently participating in a witness-protection program, I think it best not to divulge my true name or whereabouts -- you'll understand. I...
Why don't carmakers offer an oil gauge that works like a gas gauge?
Dear Tom and Ray: I know you don't like old Beetles, but I own one, and I love it! I work for a federal agency where everyone drives brown...
