What do I need to do to get my car ready for summer? | Car Doctor
Q: What things do I need to check or go through to get my car ready for summer? Do AAA-approved repair shops do these checkups?
A: Winter can certainly be hard on a vehicle. I would start with a thorough inspection of the tires (potholes have been horrible this year). Then check all the vital fluids, replacing as necessary with additional attention paid to the drive belts, radiator hoses and cooling system operation.
The battery should be evaluated, as well as the brakes and the climate control. Also, consider a wheel alignment.
Any one of our AAA-approved repair shops (aaa.com/repair) should be able to check your vehicle and get it ready for summer driving season.
Q: With gas prices soaring, it made me wonder if my daughter needs to continue to use diesel fuel in her 2013 VW Jetta. She has been using diesel since she bought the car in 2019.
A: Diesel fuel is the only choice with a diesel engine. Some people will use biodiesel, although the cost is typically the same as conventional diesel.
I have heard of people mixing gasoline and diesel, as well as using kerosene and heating oil. It is illegal to use heating oil or kerosene, since it is not taxed for on-road use.
If this were my diesel, I would only use diesel fuel and drive as efficiently as possible, combining trips and observing the speed limit.
Q: I own a 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid with 87,000 miles on it. The car has been garaged since purchase and is in very good condition.
In the event the EV battery dies, will the car operate normally using only the gas engine? We have been reluctant to use the car for long-distance travel, as the battery is old and we don’t want to be left stranded on the side of the road.
Replacing the EV battery would likely cost more than the current value of the car. What should we do?
A: You cannot drive a hybrid vehicle very far when the hybrid battery completely fails. Typically, you will get some warnings, such as reduced fuel mileage, the gasoline engine runs more often, and the hybrid battery state of charge is always low. You will also get a dashboard warning light.
I have seen hybrid batteries last 15 years or longer and more than 300,000 miles (in taxicabs).
If your car is in good condition when it comes time to replace the hybrid battery, it may make sense to do it. I have seen reconditioned batteries for your vehicle for $2,000 (about one third of the price of a new battery) and it takes only a couple of hours of labor to replace it.
For less than $2,500, you could have a car that would still provide many years of dependable service.
Q: I recently replaced my 2002 Toyota Avalon with a used 2014 Avalon Limited with 63,000 miles. I like the car very much except for the road noise in the cabin. The tires on the car are Bridgestone Turanza P225/45R18 tires that were made in 2016 and 2017.
I have read some reviews on these tires, particularly as they pertain to Camry and Avalon models, and they are less than stellar.
The car may have been sitting for a while, as I had seen it in the same spot at the dealership for at least two months. Also, Carfax shows the dealership took ownership of the car in November 2021, and I purchased it in February 2022. Only 4,000 miles were put on the car in the prior year.
Is there something that can be done, such as having the wheels rebalanced? If not, what set of tires would you recommend for an optimal ride and limited road noise?
A: That particular Bridgestone tire has a long life, but, as you pointed out, after a little wear it is subjected to road noise. In addition, the tires could have become flat-spotted from sitting for the time you noted.
At this point, there is nothing you can do with the tires. Tire rotation and balance are not effective if the tires have flat spots.
If you like the car, replacing six-year-old tires to improve both traction and ride performance is money well spent.
Regarding tires, there are almost as many opinions as there are tires. Some that I would recommend — but worth checking with your local tire dealer — are the Goodyear Assurance, Michelin Defender and Hankook Kinergy.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Car Doctor: What do I need to do to get my car ready for summer?
