Q & A #20 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #20 With The Auto Specialist
Welcome back to the latest segment of the Auto Specialist. You might remember from the last installment that we helped a reader diagnose her car’s pinging issue. We also tried to figure out why clouds of white smoke were coming out of another reader’s exhaust. I’d like to reiterate that our goal in this column is twofold. First, I want to continue adding to your knowledge of car parts and the reasons they fail. Second, I want to build a library of possible solutions that you can refer to over time.
Today, we’re going to dig into two more issues. The first is from a reader who reports that his Camry keeps dying when he’s in “stop and go” traffic. The second was sent in by a reader who says his Concorde’s radiator is releasing steam. Let’s help them both out.
Question: I’ve owned my 2000 Toyota Camry since buying it brand new. The odometer reads 122,400 miles. About three months ago, it started dying on me whenever I let it sit for long periods on the freeway. For example, a couple weeks back, I was sitting there for nearly an hour because of an accident. I had my stereo going and my A/C was on, and then everything just died. That’s the fourth time it’s happened.
When the AAA guy comes and jump-starts my car, it drives fine. But, at this point, I’m sure it’s going to happen again. I live in L.A. and traffic is horrible. What would you suggest I do?
Answer: Hi Scott. The good news is that you probably don’t have a major problem on your hands. From what you’ve described, I’m guessing the problem is with the battery. The fact that it dies only when you’re letting your car idle for a long time tells me that the battery doesn’t have enough voltage. That’s likely because you’re draining it while letting your engine idle. If you ever find yourself on the L.A. freeways waiting for an accident to clear, I suggest turning your engine – and everything else – off.
Question: I have a 1998 Chrysler Concorde with the mileage at about 131,000. I think my mechanic is giving me the run around and I want to get your thoughts. The radiator in my car is leaking steam. I don’t think there’s a danger of the engine overheating because the temp gauge on my dash looks fine. The water and coolant in the radiator are at the proper levels, too.
I went to my dealership and had them switch out the hoses (I didn’t know what else to do). The guy who swapped them out told me that I need a new gasket and water pump. I had them do the gasket, but the water pump is expensive, so I wanted to ask you about it. There’s still steam coming from the radiator, which means the new gasket and hoses didn’t fix it. Do I need to spend the money on a water pump?
Answer: Hi George. Here’s the thing: the steam that you’re noticing probably means one of the components of your cooling system is leaking. You need to find the leak. If it’s coming from the water pump, then yes, you’ll need a replacement. Sorry for the bad news. I know it can be expensive.
That’s another wrap. Two great questions for our ongoing series, so thanks to both Scott and George. Next time, we’ll get our hands dirty with a few more car problems. Be sure to come back and improve your automotive knowledge. Until then, drive safely.
