Q & A #78 With The Auto Specialist

Q & A #78 With The Auto Specialist

Welcome back to the Auto Specialist. A noteworthy development in the automotive world is the rising price of fuel. With oil hitting $100 a barrel, the price per gallon has edged upward on its way toward $4. You may remember that the last time we were over the $4/gallon line, sales at two of the Big Three auto companies cratered. Since then, however, both have retooled their production lines to weed out the gas-guzzlers and make space for more fuel efficient vehicles.

In related news, Ford’s highly-anticipated B-Max subcompact has essentially been killed for the U.S. market. The reason is that sales would have cannibalized those of similar Ford models, including the Fiesta.

Today, we’ll answer Elaine’s question about her Explorer’s “check engine” light. We’ll also help Jake determine whether his Diamante needs new shock absorbers. Lastly, we’ll help Tony with his Accord’s head gasket. There’s lots to cover, so let’s jump in.

Question: I drive a 2006 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, and it has about 56,000 miles. Last week, the “Check Engine” light went on. It didn’t stay on continuously at first. It went off, then lit back up later that evening. It has stayed on since. Does this mean something is wrong with my engine? Is hasn’t overheated, and my car seems to start and run fine. Can you tell me what this light means?

Answer: Thanks for writing in, Elaine. This warning light is triggered when your car’s computer notices a problem that could potentially affect your emissions. The computer generates an OBD diagnostic fault code, and stores it in its memory. The problem is, a lot of things could have triggered the light, and prompted to computer to produce the code. For example, it could be a malfunctioning throttle position sensor, failing EGR valve, or bad spark plugs.

I suggest you have your mechanic or dealership take a look. They have access to OBD-II scanners that can pull the fault code directly from your car’s computer to help troubleshoot the problem. As a side note, your vehicle will continue to drive fine, but you may fail a smog test.

Question: I’m driving a 1999 Mitsubishi Diamante with over 150,000 miles on the engine. I bought the car used from a private party a couple of years ago, and have had no problems with the engine or transmission (the previous owner had replaced it). Recently, however, I’ve started to wonder whether I should install new shock absorbers. The car bounces a little, but not excessively. The ride feels fine, and is relatively smooth. So, when should I replace the shocks?

Answer: Thank you for your question, Jake. First, if you suspect your shocks are not performing as well as they should be, inspect them for leaks and damage. If there’s a leak, you’ll see oil on the outside. Damage is usually easy to identify; the mounts may be broken or you might see dents.

Next, perform a bounce test. This is a simple test that will reveal whether your shocks have become worn to the point they need to be replaced. Grab the bumper, and bounce the front-end up and down. Then, release it. If the front-end bounces twice, it’s time to replace the shocks. Otherwise, they’re fine.

Question: I own a 2003 Honda Accord. It has 107,000 miles on it. I took my car into the shop a few days ago for a couple of tests. The mechanic said the head gasket looks blown. He said it’s a serious problem, and I should have the part replaced. But I have no idea whether to trust him. Is the head gasket that important?

Answer: Thanks for sending in your question, Tony. Your car’s head gasket is very important. It sits between the engine block and cylinder head, and prevents coolant from entering the cylinders. When the gasket fails, coolant can leak, disrupting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chambers. If your mechanic says the head gasket is blown, I recommend having it replaced. If you’re still uncertain regarding whether to trust your mechanic, seek a second opinion from another repair shop.

That’s it for this installment of the Auto Specialist. Thanks again to Elaine, Jake, and Tony for giving us an opportunity to respond to their automotive questions. We’ll have another set of car problems to work through next time. Until then, drive safely.