Q & A #42 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #42 With The Auto Specialist
Thanks for joining me for today’s installment of the Auto Specialist. I’m reminded on a near-daily basis that most people remain unaware of what is happening under the hoods of their vehicles. For example, this morning, I helped a stranded driver replace a hose that had deteriorated. It was causing a leak. This is something that he should have been able to find and change himself. I didn’t mind helping him at all, but it was a sobering reminder that there’s a dearth of automotive knowledge out there. That’s the main reason I write this column.
In the last segment, we helped Elaine determine whether her brakes needed the attention of a mechanic. We also answered a question from David regarding swapping the V-6 engine in his 4Runner for a V-8 (bad idea). Today, I’m going to answer Henry’s question about transmission fluid and help Brad figure out why his engine isn’t cranking. Let’s get started.
Question: I drive a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero and it has a little less than 137,000 miles. I take good care of my car and always make sure that I’m on top of oil changes, filter changes, and other small maintenance items. But, I’ve been a little lax with the transmission fluid. I check the level every now and then, but haven’t changed the fluid in awhile. The technician at the repair shop said that I need to change the transmission fluid every 25,000 to 30,000 miles. The thing is, whenever I check the level, the color looks fine. It doesn’t look dirty or degraded. Is the technician right? Should I change it even though it looks fine?
Answer: Thank you for writing, Henry. I’d check the service schedule that came with your owner’s manual. But, use it as a guideline. If you’re easy on your transmission, you may be able to drive 40,000 or even 50,000 miles without changing the fluid. On the other hand, if you’re hard on the tranny, or you drive in harsh conditions, 30,000 miles is entirely plausible. Regarding color, it’s not the only criteria and doesn’t always tell the whole story. Bottom line? Refer to your owner’s manual.
Question: I’m driving a 2001 Honda Accord that I bought last year. There are 121,000 miles on the engine. I haven’t had any serious problems with the car since buying it. But, a couple of weeks ago, it completely lost power. The engine wouldn’t crank, the power windows wouldn’t work, and the lights wouldn’t come on. My roommate would jumpstart it and the car would run fine throughout the day. But, if I left it overnight without it running, it would be dead in the morning. I tested the battery, so I know that’s not the problem. Any idea what’s causing the power drain?
Answer: Thanks for your question, Brad. Given that you’ve tested your battery (presumably, in the morning when your engine won’t crank), it sounds like there’s a problem in your charging system. I suggest that you test the alternator for amperage. If the alternator is working properly, your quickest route to an answer is to visit a local mechanic. He’ll have the diagnostic equipment to narrow down the culprit.
That’s it for today’s segment. I’d like to say thanks again to Henry and Brad for sharing their questions with us. For those of you who thinking of writing in with your own car questions, please do so. There’s quite a backlog of great questions already, but we will definitely get to all of them. Until next time, drive safely.
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Tags: Car Q & A, Car Q and A, Car Questions
