Q & A #39 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #39 With The Auto Specialist
Thanks for joining me for another installment of the Auto Specialist. This past weekend, I spent a little time going through the archives of this ongoing column. I was amazed by the breadth of automotive problems we’ve covered. So, if you have free time and want to enjoy a crash course in car parts and repairs, take a peek through the archives.
In the last segment, we helped Andrea choose between a 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engine. We also helped Steve remove the spark plugs from his Nissan Maxima without destroying the threads. Today, I’m going to answer a question from a reader named Charlotte about replacement parts. We’re also going to help Brian understand why there’s a knocking sound coming from his engine. Let’s dig in.
Question: I have a 2002 Chrysler Sebring with 82,000 miles. Last week, I was leaving the gym and got into my car. I turned the key and it wouldn’t start. So, I had it towed to a mechanic that has done some maintenance work for me in the past. He said the alternator had failed and that I needed to replace it. He quoted me $550 and said he’d put in an OEM replacement. That’s a lot of money to me and I wanted to ask you whether there was a less expensive alternative.
Answer: Thanks for your question, Charlotte. The good news is that there is a less expensive alternative. The bad news is that you should avoid it. A failed alternator should only be replaced with an OEM unit. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re buying and you’ll enjoy peace of mind that the part’s quality is up to par. If you are extremely limited with your budget, you could save money by buying a rebuilt alternator. But, I’ve seen the quality range from good to surprisingly bad. If I were you, I’d go with the OEM part.
Question: I’m driving a 1997 Honda Passport and I’ve put 148,840 miles on it. Recently, I’ve started to hear a knocking sound coming from my engine. It doesn’t happen when I’m driving on the city streets. It only happens when I’m on the freeway. The thing is, my Passport seems to operate just fine. There no loss of power as far as I can tell. But, a friend of mine said the sound could be a major problem and that I should have it checked by a mechanic. Any idea what is causing the knocking?
Answer: Thanks for writing, Brian. It sounds like you’re dealing with spark knock. If that’s the case, your friend is right. It’s a problem. Here’s what’s probably happening: for some reason, the combustion of the air-fuel mixture within your engine’s combustion chamber is erratic. As a result, the fuel is detonating unpredictably. It’s actually worse than it sounds because it can cause damage to your engine. I’d have your mechanic take a look at the problem as quickly as possible.
That’s a wrap for this installment. I’d like to say thanks again to both Charlotte and Brian for sharing their questions with us. We have a truckload of other great car questions still in the queue. Next time, we’ll help a reader named Jason figure out how auto repair shops price their services. And we’ll also help Ryan with a problem he’s having with his Galant’s fuel pump. Until next time, drive safely.
