Pat Goss
Automotive repair expert
Thursday, August 14, 2008
11:00 AM
Pat Goss has worked on cars for more than 40 years. He owns a car repair company that bears his name, has authored numerous books on auto maintenance, and makes weekly appearances on Motorweek, a PBS television program.
He visits right here once a month to answer questions about fixing your car.
For more auto advice and industry news, visit our
The transcript follows.
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Bakersfield, Calif.: Hi Pat, I have a 2000 Hyundai Elantra. When I turn the key the engine makes noise but never engages. In other words it makes noise but it doesn't start. This has happened before but every time it eventually started. This time it won't. The previous mechanics were stumped. Do you have any ideas? Would push starting it be a good idea? It is a manual.
Pat Goss: Begin by checking basics and isolating the broken system. In most cases it will be either fuel or ignition with ignition being far more common than fuel. To check this install a spark tester between the coil and the spark plug and crank the engine. If there is no or improper amounts of spark check the ignition system paying close attention to the crankshaft posiion sensor. If there is plenty of spark check the fuel system for proper pressure and volume paying close attention to fuel pump relay and any cutoff safety devices.
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Rockville, Md.: Pat,
A question for you about all the attention nitrogen use in tires is getting lately.
In theory it sounds nice, but eventually you would have to add pressure to your tires. Do you have to always add nitrogen only once you start using it?
How would it work when you need to add air in your tires? Would adding regular air from a gas station cause problems?
Pat Goss: Adding air would not cause problems it would just negate some of the benefits of the nitrogen. Nitrogen is great and I use it in all my tires but don't expect miracles. It's benefits are long term and can save you a considerable amount of money over the life of the car.
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Rockville, Md.: Pat, how can I prevent getting warped rotors from improper tightening of lugnuts? It has happened to me several times. I live in an apt, so don't have access to do it myself solutions.
Since I rely on the places I get my car serviced, what would you suggest I do? Thanks.
Pat Goss: I suggest you buy an inexpensive torque wrench and before you leave the repair shop lot take five minutes and re-torque the lug nuts.
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Boise, Id.: Hi Pat, I'm driving an old car that requires 91 octane gas and I've noticed that when gas was at $2 a gallon for regular, high octane was $2.20. When gas got to $4 a gallon, high octane was $4.20. So what is it that they add to regular that costs 20 cents a gallon?
Pat Goss: THe difference in octane is achieved by adding chemicals that make the gas burn more slowly. Like everything that is perceived as better or "PREMIUM" only a small portion of what you pay for is real value much is perceived. So I doubt very much that the chemical costs the refiner what you pay at the pump.
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Springfield, Va.: Pat -- Is it worth replacing the original load leveling suspension on a '95 Windstar LX with an aftermarket strut kit ($250) or should I just sell it for something new? I replaced the engine on this 170K vehicle 2 years ago and had the transmission rebuilt last Sepember.
Pat Goss: The car has one of the worst repair histories of any recent vehicle. At this point you have received far more than normal service from it so I would do the very least possible to keep it safely on the road and find it a new home.
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Gaithersburg, Md. Pat, love your show and discussion. I recently purchased a Harley Davidson which requires a proprietary oil (Syn 3). Is there a better alternative to using this particular oil? Thanks.
Pat Goss: The Syn 3 oil is extremely high quality. I use it in my Harley but some of my employess use one of the non-Harley synthetic products. I'm not sure why because the Harley oil is about as good as it gets and there is very little difference in price. Plus when you support the company that makes the car or motorcycle you often get more support on warranty problems.
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Naples, Fla.: Thank you for taking my question. I have a 1-year-old crossover with about 6,000 miles. Several times the tail gate has opened by itself in the garage when I was not around. The last time this occured the garage door scratched the tail gate when I opened the garage door with the garage remote. The dealer says they cannot duplicate the problem; therefore, there is nothing to fix. But, they say they reset the electronics anyway. The manufacturer refuses to repair the scratch because the problem does not exist. How do I get the company to understand that the problem is real and the vehicle has defective electronics? I do not remove the vehicle's key fob from my purse to open the car and open the driver's door with the keyless entry button on the door handle. The fob is not being accidentally bumped on the tailgate open button. Please advise.
Pat Goss: The frst and perhaps most important part of finding a solution is to make note of everything that happened during the time the car was in the garage. In other words what was the weather like; was there a storm? Lightning? Did anything unusual happen in the house before the gate was found open? Usually these problems are not with the vehicle but with something around the house that creates a signal that mimics the signal from the fob. Sorry I don't have more to offer but these are the really tough ones.
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SW D.C.: Hi Pat, I love your radio show and really respect your honest opinions.
I have a '99 Lumina with just over 80k on it. During a tune-up two years ago, my fuel filter was replaced (something I never used to hear about needing to be done) and since then my fuel pump has gotten increasingly loud when idling. How concerned should I be and should I get it replaced before it quits on me? How much should that run me? Thanks!
Pat Goss: The noise from the pump, if it is indeed from the fuel pump, is telling you "Hey driver, I'm getting ready to leave you beside the road." It needs to be checked immediately and replaced if bad. Most late-model cars require what is called a fuel tank capsule which includes the pump, check valves, fuel gauge sender, etc. The average cost is $600 to $800 for parts and labor. Also have a new fuel filter installed with the pump and once every year thereafter.
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Laurel, Md.: As part of a sound preventative maintenance program, would you recommend induction service for a 1991 Honda Accord? If yes, how frequently?
Pat Goss: Induction system service should be done about every 30,000 miles. This is especially important on cars that have dual length intake runners. Yours does not but a lot do.
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Philly: Hi, Pat. I've got a terrific 2002 Toyota Sienna. It sometimes has a little trouble starting in hot weather. Instead of catching right away, the engine grinds until I give it a little gas. Then it starts up fine and runs great. Is this a symptom of something serious, or do I just keep on giving it a little gas when it's balky? (I've never had this problem in the winter, and usually when it happens in the summer, the engine is warm and the van has been driven awhile.) Thanks!
Pat Goss: It's giving you a sign and it would be best to have the problem checked. It could be a failing sensor or fuel system part that is reacting to heat. If that is the case it will not get better without your help.
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D.C.: I have a 2003 Toyota 4Runner with a squeaky belt. What can be done?
Pat Goss: Check the condition of the belt, check the alignment of the belt, check the tension on the belt and repair accordingly. Whatever you do never use belt dressing on a modern belt, it will cause the belt to make noise. Frequently belt noise is due to oil, grease or other contaminats that have been spilled onto the belt during service.
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Alexandria: I need new tires for my 318ti -- is it truly a bad idea to buy them from Costco? I've heard it is as the tires there are "old."
Pat Goss: Give me a break! There is no one store that could find enough "OLD" tires on the planet to consistently sell them. Besides the production date is stamped into the sidewall of every tire so check to see how old the tires are bfore you aceept them. Costco is fine.
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Silver Spring, Md.: Oh, you car repair guys. My wife and kids were on vacation in Ohio when our minivan got a flat. I was back home (working) and told my wife to go to a tire place and get a new tire. The man at the tire shop insisted on checking all of the tires and declared that they had a lot of life left in them. He said the flat was from a nail in the middle of the tread and, basically, refused to sell my wife a new tire. He charged $15 for a tire plug to somebody he knows he'll never see again instead of $100+ for a new tire. Go figure!
--Rocky River Shell on Lake Road, west of Cleveland
Pat Goss: Thanks for letting us know. We rarely hear the good stories, just the horror stories.
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Montgomery Village, Md.: Pat, another nitro tire question. Do nitrogen filled tires lose pressure as outside air temperatures drop the way normally filled tires do? If so, is it better to wait to make the switch to nitogen when the weather is cooler -- late fall early winter? Thanks.
Pat Goss: Nitrogen is more stable than air but yes there will still be some drop however, in most cases you will still be within range. A big factor to whether that will be the case or not is the size and style of the tire. the bigger the tire the more gas inside the tire and the more pressure loss or gain. I would get the Nitrogen whenever it is convenient.
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D.C.: Are special tools needed to remove the door cover in order to repair the driver's side window that doesn't open or close anymore for my '98 Honda Civic?
Pat Goss: Yes it takes a door panel clip removal tool; look for them for under $10 in stores with carded auto supplies. Help is a good line to look for as they have more models than some of the others.
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Annandale, Va.: 1998 Mercury Mountaineer. I was hearing a loud clunk (metallic in sound) when engaging reverse, especially when cold. Mechanic says it's the transfer case. What should I expect to pay for a remanufactured transfer case plus labor?
Pat Goss: There are a number of differnt four-wheel drive transfer cases used by manufacturers and they vary in price. However, $1,500 to $2,500 would be typical. Just make ABSOLUTELY sure that is the cause.
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D.C.: Does synthetic oil cause premature wear of seals and gaskets?
I had an Altima that I used to use synthetic oil and the engine gasket had to be replaced early. A few years later, it leaked again until I sold it. I've used only conventional oil in my Honda, and at 10 years, it still hasn't leaked yet.
Pat Goss: Not valid. Synthetic oil does not cause leaks. Actually it can't cause leaks. Using illogical data to draw logical conclusions is how myths like this one stay alive for decades even though they were never true.
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Chevy Chase, Md.: PG: A philosophical/economic question. If you have an old car (blue book value is about 3500 in a private sale), and your driving is only on weekends, what is the magic number for repairs (e.g. new exhaust system, include, replacing brakes) that makes you get a new car? Or do you separate out the maintenance stuff (e.g., brakes)? Thanks.
Pat Goss: Neither. Actually from a purely economic standpoint it is mostly not more beneficial to replace a car than repair it. The determining factor is when the car becomes so old that parts are really hard to obtain. The other situation is when the car has become obsolete from a safety perspective. But most cars are sold or traded simply because people get bored and like the look of something new.
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Arlington, Va.: Hi Pat,
My Volvo 850 has 175K miles on it. I feel like I hit, rather than roll over, things like expansion joints and small potholes. The car feels like it skitters across a lane if I go over an expansion joint during a corner on a highway. The car doesn't bounce when I do the old press the fender down test.
How can you tell when the original suspension is no longer up to the task? Could bushings be the problem rather than the struts?
Pat Goss: You just told me in no uncertain terms. You probably need new shocks and struts but have the entire suspensiion and steering systems checked.
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D.C.: Hiya Pat, I have a 2001 Saab 95 with 85,000 miles on it that needs to have the "sway bars" replaced. What are "sway bars," and what do they do, and why do they cost $1,200 to get them replaced? Thanks a lot for doing these chats.
Pat Goss: Sway bars connect one side of the suspension to the other side and flex in opposition to the up-and-down movement of the wheels. They keep the car more level going around corners. Sway bar bushings are normal wear items but I can't say that I have ever seen a car that needed new sway bars except following an accident and then they are usually much cheaper and usually only one is damaged. I would highly recommend a second opinion.
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Mooresville, N.C.: I have an air pressure question. My '06 RAV4 Sport (great car, by the way) has a dashboard air pressure indicator. It's alerted me to flat tires and low pressure, even on the spare. Is this built-in gauge enough to go on or should I be checking by hand on a regular basis? I'm a big believer in preventative maintenance. Thanks.
Pat Goss: Check by hand. The tire pressure monitoring system is only there to tell you if there is a critically low tire. You will get better tire wear, better fuel economy and drive a safer car if you still check tires manually.
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Clifton, Va.: Sorry Pat, nitrogen is not as affected by the outside temp as just regular air which is why race teams use it. Nitrogen is more consistent because of this and you get more consistent pressure readings and tire temp readings!
Pat Goss: Yes that's exactly what I said and have been saying for years.
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Nitrogen in tires: I used nitrogen for my tires when replacing them last November. How often do they need to be checked/filled? I know that nitrogen is supposed to last longer but don't have an idea of exactly how much longer.
Pat Goss: Whether filled with niitrogen or air and whether the car has a tire pressure monitoring system or not, tire pressure should still be checked at leats monthly with a gauge.
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Silver Spring, Md.: The news has a lot of stories about gasoline thefts and it has happened on my street. I understand that gas caps are part of a vehicles emission control system and would like to know if I need to get a special locking gas cap for my 2001 Honda Odyssey? Are the 'generic' locking gas caps at parts stores going to cause me any problems?
Pat Goss: DO NOT buy generic. Buy a vehicle-specific locking cap. Two main sources are the dealer or look for Stant who makes many OEM caps as well as aftermarket caps.
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Silver Spring : Hi Pat,
Can you please explain about how to retorque the lugnuts? Do you just tighten them as tightly as you can? Or must it be measured? Thank you.
Pat Goss: It must be measured using a torque wrench. Over tightening, undertightening or unequal tightening causes warped brake rotors.
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Rockville, Md.: Pat When tires are refilled with nitrogen is it best to have this done off the car so the tires can be fully deflated of the "normal" air? Should this switch to nitrogen only be done to newer tires, under a certain mileage or time in use? Thanks as always for your insights and info.
Pat Goss: Any time during the life of a tire as long as it still has substantial life left is fine. The tires should be on the car and the weight of the car on the tires. The weight of the car pushes more air out of the tires than tires that are unloaded.
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Rural, Va: Can anything thing be done to reduce the noise of a Harley? My neighbor purchased one recently and it is his prized possession. However, he rides around at night. It wakes me (and others) up at odd hours between midnight and 4 a.m.
Pat Goss: The noise of any motorcycle including Harley Davidson is regulated by federal law. If your neighbor's Harley is abnormally loud he/she made it that way, it did not come from the factory that way. Stock Harleys are very quiet. Your neighbor is not practicing a good neighbor policy. I have a modified exhaust systm on my Harley but it is quiet when I want it to be and loud if I'm away from civilization. I don't want to offend my neighbors. I would have a talk with the noisy neighbor but don't think (if he already doesn't care) that he will care when you tell him you're offended. Not nice for the rest of who ride responsibly.
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Gaithersburg, Md.: Pat: I am sure you have good advice on this age-old subject, but could you give me the straight scoop on premium vs. regular gas? And what is the middle grade you see sometimes, is that premium too? We have a 2005 Acura RL that "requires" premium, but with today's prices, I would like to save some money if possible. The Acura mechanic says the car will adjust to the octane level, so don't worry about it. What's your view? Thanks for your help.
Pat Goss: There are two statements commonly used in owner's manuals about fuel "Premium recommended" and "Premium required" premium recommended usually means you can run regular 87 octane but premium required means there is the possibility of serious engine damge if you don't use it. Damage would only accur on a very small percentage of engines but if you happen to be in that very small percentage you will be hating your misconduct. Mid grade 89 is neither regular or premium it is simply mid grade and is required in some cars.
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McLean, Va.: Volvo 850 models were not known for compliant front suspensions. Even after Arlington has his 850's struts and bushings changed out, the ride over road imperfections will still be harsh.
Pat Goss: True but normally when drivers ask such questions they are asking based on a comparison of what was and what is.
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Clifton, Va.: Pat, I have a 2003 Explorer. I've had two problems with it. I've had the left rear window motor replaced at least twice. The garage I take it to insists there isn't anything wrong with it, but the replacement dies within a month of it being installed. It will then occasionally work if the master panel on the door side gets wet from rain for awhile.
My second issue is my gas gauge. Recently it got down to almost empty before I refilled, and I noticed it went so slowly until it finally got up to the full line. It took it probably 20 minutes of driving. It was slow again the very next time, but my last fill up it popped right back up like it always does. Should I be concerned, and is there anything I can do with this window?
Pat Goss: I would not be concerned about the gas gauge unless it starts doing it on the decline as well. You need someone with the ability to see why the window motor is failing instead just throwing a new one at it. There has to be a reason for abnormal failures.
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Ballston, Va.: And loud pipes don't save lifes. And Harleys sound awful with loud pipes. Only bike that sounds good with loud pipes is a Ducati.
Pat Goss: Alright, I take it you're trying to get every participating Harley rider into a lather.
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Arlington, Va.: For the past 9 months my car ('03 Civic Hybrid) has been making a rumbling sound and shimmies when it starts up. It sounds like a jet engine or lawnmower, and tends to ease off after I drive for a few minutes. I took it in for it service last year and at first they thought it might be related to some transmission issue Honda was fixing (a free repair.) That didn't fix the noise, nor has anyone been able to figure out what's wrong on subsequent visits (routine maintenance). I know I shouldn't wait this long to fix it, but I haven't really noticed any performance issues. Any thoughts on what it could be? Or do I just live with the noise?
Pat Goss: The lack of performance issues is not an excuse. The performace issues will come when you drive the offending part to failure. In most cases letting things go only makes the repair a lot more expensive. I would get it checked right away.
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Lancaster, Pa.: I have a 2006 Hyundai Accent with 40K miles on it, and for the past month it's been (sometimes, not always) popping out of 4th gear.
This car replaced a '99 Accent with 120K miles, and I never had this (or any other) problems with the old one. Never even needed to replace the clutch. Any idea what's going on here? Thanks!
Pat Goss: Whenever a manual transmission pops out of any gear it indicates major internal transmission issues. Fortuantely you have a great warranty on that car -- you'll need it.
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Falls Church, Va.: Re: He said the flat was from a nail in the middle of the tread and, basically, refused to sell my wife a new tire. He charged $15 for a tire plug... OK. But did he remove the tire from the wheel in order to patch it? I'd want more than a quick patch done without taking the tire off of the wheel.
Pat Goss: Certainly true. An exteranl plug is temporaty at best. The tire needs to be broken away from the rim, the inside checked for damage, then plugged, and the tire sealed from the inside for a permanent fix.
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Arlington, Va.: At a local car club DIY session we got into a deabte about the accuracy of tire pressure guages. Some had the pocket pen type tire pressure gauge, others cheap digital gauges and some of us race type dial gauges where you can change the pressure via a button certified to be accurate to within a half a psi. The pen type cheap gauges for off by anywhere between 5-10psi usually to much high. The cheap digital gauges were off by 3-7 psi to high. A good dial type gauge for abotu $30 to $40 was only off by 1psi to high. My certified gauge is about $80.
Pat Goss: Tire gauges are always a hot issue. Most are nothing more than a device for comparison not true pressure readings and that's a real shame. Good certified gauges are best but even getting drivers to check their tire pressure seems to be impossible much less ask them to spend money for accuracy. After all, tires are only one of the most critical safety parts of a car so who needs to pay attention to them? We find about 80 percent of all the cars that come into the shop have improperly inflated tires. Egad, I'm driving on the same roads with these fools.
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Arlington, Va.: Dumb question, but this is my first car! I've owned it ('05 Civic) for 3 years and admit, until I noticed one tire looking a little soft, I had never checked the tire pressure. Ever. I was shocked to see my tires were all around 22psi (I think the recomendation on my door was 32). I refilled them all, and now three weeks later, I checked again and they are all now between 25-28. Is that change normal or do I have a slow leak in all four tires?
Pat Goss: That much change is not normal and could be the result of driving on underinflated tires too long. The tires should be checked for leaks. Most likely leaks around the rims.
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Arlington, Va.: Hi Pat:
When I test drove the '08 Jetta and the '08 Mazda3, I heard an electric, almost whining sound. Both dealers told me that the cars have electric steering, and its just a noise caused by that. Is that normal to you as well? Thanks.
Pat Goss: Absolutely not! My 2009 Camry Hybrid has electric steering as did my Prius and many of the cars I drive and none make noise. These cars weren't turbo were they?
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How long can I keep it going?: Hi, Pat, '00 Passat wagon, V6, 4Motion 111K miles. I still haven't seen anything new that fits me as well as this one, so how long should I be able to keep it rolling? And if it's a while, should I just double the numbers for maintenance (in other words: plan for the 80K maintenance at 160K)? Thanks.
Pat Goss: Double the mainteance mileages. Modern cars can usually easily go at least a quarter million miles given proper service. Many can double that.
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Arlington, Va.: Pat -- I have a 1999 Lincoln Town Car with 95,000. Since 55,000 miles, it has only had full-synthetic oil, changed religiously at 3,000-mile intervals.
For about the last 8,000 miles, when driving in a "non-aggressive" manner -- light on the gas], I hear a lot of valve noise during any mild acceleration. The sound almost resembles the post-shutoff "dieseling" of a 1968 Polara or a similar car, when they'd keep chattering after you shut down the engine. I can make the Lincoln's valve noise disappear by healthy or heavy acceleration -- when it seems to torque down, the valve noise goes away.
I know this can't be good, and the local police discourage me from constant "healthy acceleration." But is a little valve noise characteristic of a Lincoln of that era with those miles? What is your recommended line of analysis, repair, and maintenance? Thanks.
Pat Goss: Check for clogged Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) passages. It's a common problem on many engines including the Ford 4.6.
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Rockville, Md.: I normally drive a 15 mile commute without traffic. Yesterday I drove 60 miles on 495/95, sitting in slow traffic. At one point my automatic 01 Kia Rio, with 99k miles, stalled in the highway. I turned off the car and restarted it, and all was fine. I, however, was a bit shaken up. Given that the car now seems to work fine, can I bring it in to my mechanic? Will they be able to see anything now that the car seems to run?
Pat Goss: Probably nothing to be found. All they could do is look at basic things like cleaniliness of the throttle body, etc. It could easily be a one-time problem.
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Arlington, Va.: PAT -- I have a noise coming from the front of my 2007 Saturn Aura 3.5L V6. It is a very quick, metallic/squeaking/hydraulic sound that occurs at lower speeds (5-30 mph). Wavy or uneven pavement makes it worse. The noise never occurs on the highway. The dealer has replaced front sway bar bushings, without success. I have had the car back three times (first to the selling dealer -- who found nothing, 2nd and 3rd times to a different dealer). Any thoughts? Thanks.
Pat Goss: I can't tell you what is wrong but I can tell you what to ask for to find the answer. Ask the shop to use a Chessis Ear which has microphones that attach to parts under the car to locate the noise.
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Charlotte, N.C.: I have a 2004 Pontiac Vibe with 40,000 miles. About every 10,000 miles the engine starts "pinging." The dealer says its engine carbon deposit and injects a chemical in the cylinders that resolves the problem until the next time. Is there a permanent solution? What's causing the problem?
Pat Goss: Probably not but if you use a high-quality fuel system cleaner on a regular basis it should keep the problem under control.
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Maintenance: Hi Pat, I have a 2005 Volvo S40 with about 46K miles. I've followed their maintenance schedule and changed my oil every 7500 miles but I've read your earlier chats and you suggest every 3,000. If I shouldn't follow Volvo's maintenance suggestions, is there a book you can recommend for car maintenance? And do you think I necessarily need to use Volvo for service or any good mechanic should be able to do the same work? Thanks.
Pat Goss: You don't need to use Volvo for preventive maintenance and if you want a generic list of maintenance items you can download it from my Web site. Also I normally do not recommend 3,000-mile oil changes unless the car is primarily used for short trips.
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Yates Center, Kan.: I have a '94 Dodge Caravan and the latch to open my hood broke. I am on social security with very little money wondering how I can get it fixed at a cheap rate. Thank you.
Pat Goss: A techncian can easily open the hood then an external release can be fabricated from coat hanger. Not pretty but highly effective.
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Alexandria, Va.: My car battery died on Monday after I accidentally left an interior light on all weekend. I was able to jump-start it, and then drove it for an hour to recharge the battery. It's been fine since, but my question is whether the battery is fully charged now, or if I need to charge it more to avoid it draining faster in the future? The car is a 2007 Hyundai, so the battery is only 1.5 years old.
Pat Goss: You have already done the unthinkable so nothing more is needed as far as charging is concerned just crossed fingers that you didn't damage the car's electrical system.
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Rockville, Md.: Hi Pat, In the past, you have written that you enjoy driving the Mustang GT. I was wondering if you'd had a chance to drive the Bullitt version. If you have, what were your impressions vs. the GT? If you haven't, can you get some sense based on the specs? Thank you.
Pat Goss: Yes I have and it is only slightly more powerful than regular Mustangs and probably not as powerful as mine. Neat car.
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Vienna, Va.: Hi Pat, Thanks for taking my question. I have a 2004 TSX, and the dealer recently told me that it needed new rear brakes. They wanted $300 (sounded high), so I said I would wait. As of a few days ago, there is a squeeling when I back up. But it only happens then. Are these related? And how much should I reasonably expect for a rear-brake job? Thanks!
Pat Goss: The noise could be related. The price of the job would depend on how much is needed. It could be as low as $125 or over their $300 estimate if you let them go too long.
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Rochester, N.Y.: Pat: What is your experience with the Chevy Cobalt and Ford Focus? Are they reliable cars? Do you see any issues with the decision of Ford and GM to Americanize their European cars? This is probably a stupid question but I am not sure about the reliabilty of European cars (i.e. VW, BMW, Volvo, Saab, etc.). Thanks.
Pat Goss: I'm not sure about European reliabilty either. Focus and Cobalt in their later years have been quite relaible and very good values.
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Arlington: Typically speaking, when should you replace your shock absorbers and front struts? I have about 66,000 miles on the struts and 245,000 on the rear shocks.
Pat Goss: Only as needed and that varies dramatically from car to car.
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Martinsburg: We have 1998 Dodge Intrepid -- I know, mechanically speaking it's one of the worst cars ever made. Structurally it's in great condition. We've had major problems with it and lately the main one seems to be electrical. Driving down the road sometimes the lights will start flickering, or the inside light will come on and stay on. We've had it checked for shorts and fuses, etc., and the mechanic said he fixed the problem but it's still there.
Most recently, when I closed the door to the car the lights flashed. When I tried to start the car, there was nothing. No lights, no clicks, no nothing. We put the car on a battery charger for 24-48 hours. Nothing. We disconnected it and left it for dead. Went out a couple days later to push it to a new location, and the lights came on when I opened the door! Tried the key, and now we have the ticking noise like it might be the starter, but we're not convinced. Ideas?
Pat Goss: Well folks, I have run out of time. I have enjoyed it and hope it helps. I appreciate your participation and will see you next time. For those of you who listen to my radio show either on air or on the Internet I will no longer be on 3WT. They changed their format this week and I am looking for a new radio home.
Until next time please honor and support those who protect and serve us and please everyone -- drive gently!
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