Q-I’ve read with interest both of your columns dealing with the digital dashboard in a 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis. They brought to mind a similar disappointment I have with a 2009 Hyundai Azera. The digital clock, centered below the top of the overhang becomes unreadable for several hours when the sun shines through the top of the windshield on sunny days. I consider this a design defect. I am a 74-year-old female driver still trying to get used to more technology than I think I’ll ever use. Am I missing something here?
—M.B., Elmhurst, Ill.
A-We think you are missing the good old days. Gauges and displays used to rely on reflecting sunlight during the day or on backlighting at night. Digital displays are difficult to see in bright light. It doesn’t matter if they are in cars or cameras.
Q-From the standpoint of making brakes last longer, is it better to apply brakes sooner and lightly as opposed to hard braking later? I know it’s safer to apply brakes sooner, but the question is does that cause the brakes to wear faster than last-moment hard braking?
—M.F., Northbrook, Ill.
A-In both cases, the same amount of kinetic energy must be turned into heat energy. That heat then goes into the air. Light braking, therefore, allows the heat to dissipate more gradually than heavy braking. Extremely heavy braking, such as in racing, can heat the brake rotors to glowing and melt the binders in the brake pads’ friction material, shortening the life of both.
Q-I am a sales rep for Fisher Auto Parts in Baltimore. Every Monday I make a sales call at the same service station at the same time in the morning. The sun is beaming on the gas pumps at about the same angle your reader has the problem reading the dash. The customers come inside the station and complain their credit card isn’t being accepted. The attendant tells them that in fact the sale has been approved and to go back out and pump their gas but first remove their sunglasses so they can read the pump. Does your reader wear sunglasses or photo-lens glasses?
—B.H., Towson Md.
A-Now that you mention it, I have found myself looking over the rims of my sunglasses when I pump gas. If you have ever tried using your cell phone while wearing sunglasses, especially polarized glasses, you’ve seen the problem firsthand.
Q-I had the same problem that was described in your column. In certain light I could not read the dash gauges in my ‘Vette, Trailblazer or Grand Prix. A visit to the eye doctor cured my problem. I had cataracts in both eyes. We operated on only one so far but the difference is amazing. My vision had changed gradually over several years and I couldn’t see that well in certain light. All better now!
—B.A., Owings Mills, Md.
A-How ironic. Wearing sunglasses while outdoors helps prevent cataracts. My optometrist reminds me of that every time I see her. Just make sure the sunglasses absorb UV light.
Q-The problem started a couple of months after we purchased our 2009 Chevrolet Malibu with the 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission with Tapshift. It seems to miss a gear and the engine revs up, and then goes into gear. The problem presents itself when the car has been driven on long and some short trips during hot weather. It predominately happens after you stop and then start to proceed but sometimes it does it at speeds around 50-60mph. OnStar diagnostics doesn’t show anything and the dealer thinks I’m crazy.
— B.L. Woodstock, Ill.
A-The condition you describe is called a flare. The engine revs up without a comparable increase in speed. Usually it happens between shifts as some clutches release while others apply. Low fluid level is a common cause. GM did have issues with a torque converter hub seal leaking. Using the wrong fluid can also cause problems. Did you recently have your fluid changed? Finally, it could be an electrical or software problem since a computer commands the shifts and solenoids actuate the clutches. We searched for service bulletins on this issue, but found none.
Q-I inherited a 1998 Ford Explorer that was in mint condition. But, due to the owner’s illness and the estate going through probate, it has been sitting for over 2 1/2 years. I’ve asked a few auto shops about it and have gotten all different answers. The one that made sense was to drain the fluids, change the filters and clean the injectors. But my friends think he is trying to take advantage of me since I am “just a woman” and know nothing about cars. I trust you. What should I do?
—R.K., Kankakee, Ill.
A-The one that makes sense to you, makes sense to us. Old oil can go bad, not necessarily rancid, but acids can develop that can damage the engine’s bearing. Do not start the engine, but have it towed to the shop. We would also siphon out the old gas and add a fuel stabilizer when refilling. Thanks for your trust.
Q-I like to use a GPS in my car because it not only shows me how to get to my destination but alerts me to delays along the route. Mine is portable and I set it on the dashboard right behind the steering wheel. That way it is always in my line of vision.
It is a shame that the car designers did not think of that safety measure before they began manufacturing the current models. I like the idea of an in-dash GPS but the dashboard has to be redesigned so the driver can maintain the forward vision required for safe driving.
—W.P., Altamonte Springs, Fla.
A-Infotainment systems have not only grown in numbers, they have grown in the number of tasks they perform leading to increased driver distraction. That is why the U.S. Department of Transportation is currently looking into the safety of these systems. We love modern technology and we love to drive, but we hate trying to do both at once.
Bob Weber is an ASE-certified master automobile technician. Send questions to Motormouth, Rides, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, or email with name and town to motormouth.trib@verizon.net.
