Q & A #60 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #60 With The Auto Specialist
Thanks for joining me for the latest installment of the Auto Specialist. Earlier today, I was reading about Toyota’s plans for their hydrogen-powered vehicles. They’ve been in the works for years, and are planned for release in 2015. Perhaps due to better technology, lower production costs, or a simple bid to earn goodwill, Toyota said they’re slashing the price by a stunning 90% (they’re dropping the planned price to $50,000). I’m looking forward to seeing what they have in store.
Today, we’re going to help Joe with his question on the cost of valve jobs for his Infiniti. We’ll also take a look at Stephanie’s “check engine” light problem. We’ll end the round by helping Carlos figure out why his Accord is running rough.
Lots to cover, so let’s get started.
Question: I have a 1998 Infiniti I30 with the original engine. It has 150,000 miles on it. My mechanic said he wants to do a valve job on the engine because of a problem with the compression. The car runs okay, but it seems to miss or hesitate a lot. Anyway, my mechanic quoted me $700 for the job. That sounds expensive. Any idea if that’s accurate?
Answer: Thanks for sending in your question, Joe. First, 150,000 miles and you’ve never had a problem with your engine? I’m impressed. Engines can last a long time, but yours seems to be a true workhorse. Regarding the price of a valve job, it’s very hard to say without seeing the valves, cylinder head, and other parts.
A simple job might cost as little as a few hundred dollars. On the other hand, structural damage becomes more expensive. If there are cracks, or the head needs to be straightened, or the springs, guides, and seats need to be replaced, you’re looking at over $1,000 – at least. You didn’t mention if your mechanic was going to refurbish all the valves or just a few. That will, of course, affect the price. Sorry that I’m unable to give you a straightforward answer.
Bottom line: $700 might be perfect or it might be way off. Impossible to tell.
Question: I’m driving a 2005 Mitsubishi Galant with 62,000 miles on it. A few weeks ago, the light that says “check engine” showed up on my dashboard. I don’t know much about cars. What does that light mean and should I take my car to a mechanic? Thanks.
Answer: Thanks for writing in, Stephanie. The “Check Engine” light basically means your car’s computer detected something wrong in the engine or related parts. When this occurs, the computer will usually generate and store a fault code. This code describes the problem, but you need a special tool in order to pull it off the computer. Your mechanic has such a tool.
There’s no way to tell what caused the light to come on until the fault code is pulled. Some problems are relatively harmless. Others are serious. Take your Galant to a mechanic and have him pull the code. If your vehicle is still under warranty, you may want to take it to the dealer.
Question: I own a 2001 Honda Accord with about 115,000 miles on the engine. It’s been riding really rough for the past few weeks. And it’s gotten worse. Occasionally, it will stall if I’m waiting at a stoplight. At first, I thought it was the spark plugs, so I replaced them. No luck. The car is still riding rough and stalling out every once in awhile. Could you give me some advice regarding what to check next?
Answer: Thanks for your question, Carlos. Engines are tricky because problems can be caused by so many different things. That being said, I’d be willing to wager the stalling and rough idle is due to a bad fuel pump. I have a feeling that if you replace the pump (be sure to use an OEM-quality replacement), your rough idle will disappear.
That’s it for today’s installment. I’d like to thank Joe, Stephanie, and Carlos for letting us help them out with their questions. Next time, we’ll have a new round of three automotive problems to address. Until then, drive safely.
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Tags: Car Q & A, Car Q and A, Car Questions
