Q & A #36 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #36 With The Auto Specialist
Welcome back to the latest installment of the Auto Specialist. For those of you who have been reading this ongoing column from the beginning, I’d like to say thanks for letting me help solve your car-related challenges. I’d also like to encourage you to write in with any problem that you’re having with your vehicle. Include the make, model, and mileage, as well as a brief description of any symptoms you’re noticing. I’ll do my best to diagnose the root cause.
Today, we’re going help Jonathan identify the reason his Honda Element won’t start. We’ll also help Elaine with her question about air filters. Let’s get started.
Question: I bought a 2003 Honda Element late last year (from a private party). It has about 70,000 miles on the odometer. When I bought it, I took your advice and had a mechanic run a diagnostic on it. The car turned out clean and I haven’t had a problem until now. For some reason, it won’t start. I know the battery is fine because I just replaced it. Plus, my friend load-tested it to make sure it was good.
Here’s where I get confused. The power windows and power locks are working, but my radio won’t come on. When I turn the key in the ignition, the engine refuses to turn over. There’s no rapid click or any other sound. Nothing happens at all. Any idea why my car won’t start? Sorry if I’ve left anything important out.
Answer: Thanks for your email, Jonathan. From the details you provided, my guess is that the ignition switch is failing. You’ll need to have a mechanic replace it. If you have an extended warranty covering the part, have your dealership take care of it. Otherwise, plan to pay approximately $200 for the switch and labor.
Question: I have a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer with 57,719 miles. A few months back, I noticed that my car seemed to be lacking power. At first, I noticed the problem when getting onto the freeway. After some time, I started noticing it on regular city streets. I took the car into a local repair shop last week and had the guys there take a look. One of them ended up swapping out the air filter because it was so dirty. Now, when I drive, it feels great. So, when exactly do I need to change out my air filter? Is there a certain number of miles?
Answer: Thanks for writing Elaine. The frequency with which you change your air filter will depend on the conditions in which you’re driving. The filter’s job is to catch dirt, dust, and debris before it gets into your engine. Of course, if it’s doing its job, it will eventually become clogged. When that happens, it will restrict airflow into your engine, which is what causes the loss of power. The key is to change the filter before it gets to that point. If you drive in an area with a lot of dust and dirt, you’ll need to change it out more often than otherwise. My advice is to check it each time you have the oil changed.
That’s it for this installment. My thanks again to Jonathan and Elaine for sharing their questions with us. I have a long list of great questions that many of you have sent in. If you’re wondering why I haven’t answered yours yet, it’s because I’m dealing with a small the backlog. Until next time, drive safely.
