Q–I recently read about dealership maintenance schedules versus the manufacturers’ in your column (Motormouth, May 28). I encountered the same thing with my Saturn. Not only was I told I needed more-frequent oil changes, at my 27,000-mile check up, they said I needed a $240 brake job and $90 coolant hoses. I took it to an independent mechanic who charged me labor for checking both and told me there was no reason for either. I am a feale senior citizen and feel they were trying to take advantage of me. Were they? B.B., Gurnee
A–We won’t claim the dealership was taking advantage of you, but the evidence seems to point in that direction. You did the right thing taking your car for a second opinion. That the mechanic charged you labor for his diagnosis only proves to us that he is a professional. You are not required to have your car serviced by a Saturn dealer to keep your warranty intact. We would put our trust in that independent shop.
Q–I purchased a new 1998 Mercury Mountaineer with the 5-liter V-8 all-wheel-drive in November of ’97. Three-thousand miles later, I noticed a light ticking noise coming from the engine. Concerned that it may be a lifter, I took the vehicle back to the dealership. The service adviser indicated that no error code was found and the ticking is coming from the injectors, which is normal.
At 6,000 miles, still concerned with the ticking, I took the vehicle to a different dealer. The service adviser also indicated the ticking was coming from the injectors and is normal. Is this normal? Could the ticking become quieter with time or louder? Does octane level play a role?
J.J.L., Round Lake
A–Not only is ticking from the injectors normal, it is desirable. It means they are snapping shut the way they are supposed to. If the noise gets softer, it indicates that your injectors may be getting dirty. If adding a can of fuel injection cleaner to your gas tank does not make them snap again, your system may need professional cleaning. The only effect that premium fuel may have is possibly more additives to keep your injectors clean.
Q–You responded to a reader (Motormouth, Sept. 7) who complained of poor driveability, rough idle and stalling. You said, look at the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve. My 1994 Corsica with a 3.1-liter V-6 showed the same problems. After three trips to the dealer who charged for checking the idle valve motor, cleaning some jets, electrical tests, computer tests and gas additives, all I did was waste money. After reading your column, I looked in a Chilton service manual and, of the four symptoms of a bad EGR valve, I had three. The dealer installed a new one (on GM) and now the engine is fine.
H.S., Western Springs
A–Those digital EGR valves are always a good suspect for causing driveability problems.
Q–Another disservice to your readers about the Buick that idled in the church parking lot (motormouth, June 7). This was not a controlled laboratory condition. The ’96 Skylark is not exactly state of the art. Excessive idling raises engine temperature. The catalytic converter overheats. Finally, your answer should have suggested changing the oil because there was probably blowby due to improper engine speeds.
R.E., Schaumburg
A–Maybe the Skylark engine is not state of the art but pretty close to it. Excessive idling may raise engine temperature but not necessarily to dangerous levels; the thermostat and electric cooling fan see to that. The computerized fuel-injection system meters only the minimum amount of fuel to keep the engine running so there is no danger of excessively rich mixtures overheating the catalytic converter. Finally, mea culpa. You are right. We should have suggested changing the oil because it is cheap insurance against damage, but we doubt there was excessive blowby caused by improper engine speeds since they, too, are computer controlled.
Q–You said to use Bon Ami to clean the windshield of a car (Motormouth, May 31). My Cadillac DeVille manual says to use Bon Ami. But the Bon Ami container says: Do not use on windows or mirrors. Who should I believe? B.P., Chicago
A–When in doubt, believe us. We never, er seldom, make a mistake. A spokesman for Bon Ami said that the warning is there to cover their butts. Just be sure to use the cleaning powder, not the cleanser, which contains abrasives that may scratch the glass.
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Bob Weber is an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. Write to Motormouth, 17717 Silcott Springs Rd., Purcellville, Va. 20132. Send e-mail with name and hometown to motormth1@aol.com. Answers are supplied only through the newspaper.
