Q & A #62 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #62 With The Auto Specialist
Thanks for joining me for the latest installment of the Auto Specialist. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reports that early optimism in new car sales this year has faded dramatically. It goes on to report that much of the surge in early-year sales was attributable to car rental agencies and other corporate accounts, as opposed to consumers. As it turns out, consumers have largely abandoned the dealerships as the economy continues to look increasingly uncertain.
If these people are not buying new cars, I’m assuming they’re keeping their current ones on the road. That’s a good idea. It usually costs much less to install a new engine, heater core, or cylinder head than to buy a brand new vehicle.
Today, we’re going to help Daniel figure out what’s causing the “rotten egg” smell in the cabin of his Montero. We’ll also answer Janine’s question about her Neon’s battery. Lastly, we’ll help Patrick figure out why his I30 is idling roughly.
We have a full agenda today, so let’s get started.
Question: I bought a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero a few years back. It currently has 126,000 miles on it. Everything is fine when I’m driving on city streets, but when I get on the freeway, I smell a rotten egg odor. It only seems to happen at high speeds. When I get back onto the city streets, the odor goes away. A friend of mine thought it might be the catalytic converter (it sounds expensive!). Does that seem plausible to you?
Answer: Thanks for your question, Daniel. From what you have described, the air-fuel mixture in one or more of your cylinders is too rich. That is what is producing the odor. If the blend is too rich, your engine’s combustion process will generate more emissions, which will clog your catalytic converter. Whether or not your cat converter is currently failing is a mystery, but I’d definitely have a mechanic figure out why the air-fuel blend is rich. Address that problem first.
Question: I drive a 2004 Dodge Neon with 75,552 miles. Here’s my problem: my car eats batteries. It goes through them much more quickly than it should. Over the last eighteen months, I’ve had to replace the battery three times. My latest one has already run down. Batteries aren’t as expensive as replacing a fuel pump, but the cost is getting up there. What is going on with my car that causes it to drain batteries like this?
Answer: Thanks for writing in, Janine. At this point, I think it’s clear that either something in the charging system is malfunctioning and causing a drain, or your alternator is faulty. One way to check the charging system is to start your engine and turn on your headlights. Press down on the accelerator and watch the lights. If there’s no change, the system is likely fine. If the lights dim, the alternator is probably failing. I encourage you to find the underlying problem before replacing your battery again. Otherwise, you’ll simply run the new one down.
Question: I have a 2000 Infiniti I30 with the odometer at a little over 117,000 miles. Lately, it has started to idle roughly. When I’m driving, however, it seems fine (though it has missed a few times). I took the car into the dealer so one of the technicians could look for trouble codes. The mechanic on duty said the problem is in one particular cylinder. Any idea what might be causing the problem?
Answer: Thanks for sending in your question, Patrick. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can cause a rough idle and sporadic misfire. If I were you, I’d replace some of the easier parts, such as the spark plugs and wires, and fuel filter. You may also want to test the oxygen sensors to make sure they’re working properly. Also, assuming you know which cylinder is affected, compression test it. If these things check out, take a look at the fuel injector that supplies the cylinder. Hope that gives you a place to start.
That’s it for today’s installment. I’d like to extend my thanks again to Daniel, Janine, and Patrick for letting us help with their automotive problems. Be sure to come back next time when we’ll have a new batch to diagnose. Until then, drive safely.
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Tags: Car Q & A, Car Q and A, Car Questions
