Q. Where can I get my alloy wheels repaired?
A. After our story, “Spin doctors”(Cars, Aug. 19) , we have received a slew (that’s more then four, but less than a 1,000) of letters asking this. Several companies offer wheel repair services. Check for stores that specialize in custom wheels and wheel repair.
Q. The last three times I pumped gas into my 2002 Toyota Camry, the gas would pump for a second, shut off, pump for a second, shut off. I tried three gasoline stations and realized it was my car.
Toyota changed the canister on it and now the dealership says it seems fine. This is not an everyday occurrence, and the technician has not done this procedure on a Camry before.
I am afraid that it is not up to factory specifications, and I do not want to pick up the car without a factory representative checking it. D.C., Chicago
A. You need not worry. This emissions control device stores fuel vapors to prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere. If it fails, it can cause excessive back pressure in the tank.
It is a bit unusual for a car to need a charcoal canister and that is probably why the technician had never installed one before. If he used a genuine part, which is easily installed, your car will be fine and safe.
Q. I bought a new 2002 Honda CR-V. The instruction manual said that under adverse conditions, to do an oil change every six months or 5,000 miles. I drive only about five minutes to and from work each day. Should I follow Honda’s recommendation or change oil every three months? T.M., Elmhurst
A. Get your first oil change at the specified time or mileage, then you can change the oil twice as often as your manual instructs if you like. Just don’t do it half as often.
Q. I have used Bosch platinum spark plugs in all my cars for years, and that includes many different makes. On a recent visit to my Dodge dealer, they told me I should never use any type of platinum plug in my 1999 Durango with a 5.2-liter V-8. They say platinum plugs can damage the engine.
They recommend traditional copper core plugs.
There is no mention of this in my owner’s manual. As long as I have the correct spark plugs for my engine, it would seem that platinum should not hurt it whatsoever. What gives here? A.A., Chicago
A. We have never heard of platinum spark plugs causing engine damage. We have, however, heard of damage caused by the wrong type of plug (too long of a reach, taper-seat installed in place of a gasket seat, etc.).
Q. I purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry in March. Almost immediately experienced excessive squeaking with the brakes. Had the car in a couple of times to have them check the brakes, and the service representative told me that is just the way the brakes are. I talked to two other people who also purchased a 2002 Camry, and they had no problem with the brakes.
Finally, I talked to another service representative, and she told me she had another customer with the same problem and Toyota was working on a fix. The bottom line is, they did the fix, and it is better, but I still have some squeaking with the brakes. Should I pursue this, or should I just let it go? N.R., Plainfield
A. Though noisy brakes do not suggest a safety problem, we think you should pursue this until you are satisfied. Some people don’t mind a little noise, but for others it is as annoying as fingernails on a blackboard.
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Bob Weber is an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician, having recertified every five years since 1978. Address your technical questions about cars and trucks to him in care of Motormouth, 17717 Silcott Springs Rd., Purcellville, Va., 20132. Send e-mail, including name and town, to MMTribune@netscape.net. Answers will be supplied only through the newspaper.
