Q & A #56 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #56 With The Auto Specialist
Thanks for joining me again for the latest installment of the Auto Specialist. Since the last segment, the Toyota recall issue has taken an unexpected turn. A highly-publicized test of the automaker’s Prius showed that the car’s accelerator prevented the driver from slowing his vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) later reported that it could not duplicate the problem. For their part, Toyota claims the events could not possibly have transpired as reported by the driver. Meanwhile, the driver has hired a lawyer, but has claimed he has no intention of suing Toyota.
Very strange case, indeed. Let’s abandon the issue for now and dig into a new batch of questions from readers. Today, we’ll help Patrick with his Sonata’s heater, Leslie with her Camry’s master cylinder, and Chris with his Aurora’s “no start” problems.
Let’s get started.
Question: I’m driving a 1999 Hyundai Sonata with a little over 116,000 miles. Aside from a few parts that I needed to have replaced awhile back, my car hasn’t given me any problems. It drives really well. However, a couple of months ago, the heater stopped working. I can feel air coming from the vents, so the fan is working. But the air isn’t warm. I live in California and it doesn’t get that cold. But it would nice to have the heater working. Any ideas what might be causing the problem?
Answer: Thanks for writing in, Patrick. The lack of warm air could be due to a few issues. Your car’s heater works based on the coolant in your cooling system. Most people don’t realize the warm air coming through their vents is produced by the heated coolant coming from the engine. If your coolant level is low, that might prevent the heater core from blowing warm air.
The issue might also be with the heater control valve. Usually, it remains open to allow coolant into the heater core. If the valve stays closed from some reason, the coolant will never reach the core. The result? No warm air. Another potential cause is the fan that blows the air from the heater core. If the fan fails, it cannot blow warm air into the cabin of your Sonata. First, check the coolant level. Then, have a mechanic check the control valve and fan.
Question: I have a 2003 Toyota Camry with about 82,000 miles. I was having my brake pads replaced this past weekend at the dealer, and the mechanic said I needed to have the master cylinder replaced. I told him that I’d get back to him on that. There’s no problem with my brakes as far as I can tell. Why does the mechanic want to replace the master cylinder? Is he just trying to pad his bill?
Answer: Thanks for your question, Leslie. Your master cylinder usually gives signs that it needs to be replaced. The most common sign is a slushy brake pedal. When you press down on the pedal, it will sink further than normal. You may even have to pump it in order to stop your vehicle.
The problem is, it’s difficult to tell whether this is due to simple air bubbles in the brake lines, an external leak, or worn pistons and bore. It’s possible that the dealer’s mechanic is just trying to pad his bill when recommending a replacement. But frankly, there are easier ways to do that. If I were in your shoes, I’d trust him and have it replaced.
Question: I have a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora with the mileage at 106,400. My problem is very odd. My wife took the car into a local garage to have the oil changed. I do it every 3,000 miles to keep the engine running well. Anyway, after the job was done, my wife brought the car home. I tried to start it the next day, but couldn’t get it to crank over. So, I called a tow truck and had them take me over to the dealer. The technician on duty said the engine is damaged.
I have no idea how this happened. The car was running beautifully before my wife took it to the garage. What are your thoughts on this?
Answer: Thanks for sending in your question, Chris. Realize that what I’m about to say is only a guess. Here’s what I think happened. The mechanic who did the oil change failed to put new oil in after removing the old oil. He probably started your car and the motor seized up. Panicking, he put new oil in and gave the keys to your wife without admitting his mistake. Your wife was able to drive the car home, but the damage was already done at that point.
If I were you, I’d ask the dealer’s technician to pop the oil filter and check inside. If the filter was replaced during the oil change, and events happened as I suspect, the filter will be empty. That might be enough to convince the garage to pay for a new engine. Sorry to hear about your trouble.
That’s it for today’s installment. I’d like to thank Patrick, Leslie, and Chris for letting us help diagnose their car problems. Be sure to join us next time for a new batch of questions. Until then, drive safely.
