Q
While driving the car, the check-engine light came on so I brought it to my local franchise shop. After looking up the code, they determined it was the crankshaft sensor and advised me to take it to the Nissan dealer for repair because they found it was under recall from their Alldata Online.
I was charged $380 for this repair; $20 for shop supplies. The dealer said there was no recall. What is the $20 charge for shop supplies? Is there any way to verify if this part was under recall?
M.M., Chicago
A
You can check for recalls at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (www.recalls.gov) entering the make, model and year of your car. We did that and found recall No. RQ06001. It stated that the crankshaft position sensor on vehicles with the 2.5-liter engine can overheat, interrupting the signal from the sensor, which can cause stalling. The remedy was to reprogram the engine control module.
The shop supplies charge covers things such as rags, chemicals, disposal fees for hazardous wastes and so on. It seems a little like a restaurant charging for napkins, dishwashing detergent, etc. We never liked this idea, but it has become universal and a way for shops to keep their posted labor rates competitive.
Q
After four weeks of inflating a slowly leaking tire, I used Fix-A-Flat in my 2006 Kia Sedona that is billed as tire-pressure monitor safe and solved the problem. About six months later, the sensor light came on. The dealer found the sensor was coated with a gooey substance (presumably Fix-A-Flat) and found a small nail, which caused the leak. He told me that the repair of the sensor was not covered by Kia’s warranty due to the use of Fix-A-Flat. Is Fix-A-Flat safe to use on cars with pressure sensors? Should the repair be covered by Kia’s warranty since I used Fix-A-Flat? Should the manufacturer of Fix-A-Flat pay for this?
A.S., Lake Villa
A
The tire-pressure monitoring system uses a pressure-sensitive transmitter in the wheel, usually part of the valve stem. If it gets coated with foreign matter, it will quit working.
Fix-A-Flat brand claims that it is safe for cars with the systems but warns that the sensor should be cleaned when the tire is repaired. We doubt that the company will reimburse you for the replacement sensor. Frankly, we are not convinced about such products, but that may be due to our lack of experience using them.
Q
I have a 1997 GMC Sonoma. I hear a noise from the dashboard, almost like a bad bearing or pulley, on acceleration and briefly when I turn the headlights on. I can duplicate the sound at idle by having the power windows up and keeping the button depressed.
A.K., Tinley Park
A
Our guess is that a relay is buzzing or dithering. Have someone crawl under the dash and listen near the relay box to the left of the steering column. You may be able to feel the culprit when it buzzes.
Q
I bought a new 2010 Infiniti EX and the service manager told me, emphatically, not to use synthetic oil in it. Is this true?
F.B., Inverness
A
We have never heard of a prohibition against synthetic oil. In fact, the opposite is more often the case. Many carmakers stipulate using synthetic oil. Are you sure you heard him right?
Q
I have a 2006 Toyota Corolla. I had to replace the timing tensioner 14,000 miles ago. When I brought the car in for my 75,000-mile service, I was told I needed to replace it again. When I pointed out that I just had this done, they said, “Oh, you’re right — it shouldn’t be leaking. We’ll clean it off and if you’d like we can check it next time you come in for service.”
Should I really have to replace this so soon and am I causing harm to the car if I wait for my next service (about 5,000 miles) and there is a leak?
K.R., Chicago
A
The tensioner is installed through the side of the engine and an egg-shaped flange holds it in place. We suspect that the flange gasket may be leaking, and sometimes just tightening the nuts will stop that. If not, the gasket will have to be replaced, but not the tensioner assembly. The leak is probably very small and nothing to worry about.
Q
I recently noticed that the tires were very noisy on my wife’s ’08 Acura TL. The car has only 14,500 miles. The dealer told me it was tire noise. So I went to a franchise tire store near my home to get their point of view. They took a test drive and confirmed that it was tire noise. On the lift, we noticed uneven wear on the inside of the right front tire. After the tires were rotated, I noticed much less noise. The tires still have 85 percent tread life.
I went back the next day and had them do a four-wheel alignment, and they said that within 5,000 miles or so, the tires will get back to “normal” and the noise will diminish. This car will come off lease in 18 months. We’re not sure if we will buy the car at the end of the lease, and four new tires might not be worth it. My car is a Corvette with aggressive tires, and the Acura is much noisier. So, will the tires wear such that the noise goes away?
M.F., Lincolnshire
A
Your Corvette has much better sound insulation than the Acura and that’s part of the reason you hear less tire noise. If the Acura’s tires are seldom rotated and the alignment was out of whack, you can expect uneven wear and noise. We suggest you keep the current tires but rotate them every 5,000-7,500 miles, and they will eventually all have similar wear.
Bob Weber is an ASE-certified master automobile technician, having recertified every five years since 1978. Address your questions about cars and trucks to Motormouth, Rides, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan
Ave., 4th Floor, Chicago IL 60611. Send e-mail with name and town to motormouth.trib@verizon.net. Answers will be supplied only through the newspaper or online.
