How can I replace the eroded steering wheel on my Jeep and not spend $1,000? | Car Doctor
Q: I currently own a 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with 60,000 miles. Over the years, the rubber steering wheel has begun to erode, with pitting on the top portion of the wheel, most likely due to sun, hand oils and dirt. Rather than putting a wheel cover on, I want to repair it as best I can.
Looking online, body shops charge nearly $1,000 to recover the wheel. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions?
A: You have a couple of choices: You could try a used steering wheel from a salvage yard or eBay Motors, or you could try a cover.
There are lace-up covers, which are OK, but even when you take your time, some still look like an afterthought.
Readers have told me about a leather wheel cover from wheelskins.com. I have never tried these covers, but they are leather and are stitched together around the steering wheel. It looks like a fair amount of work, but the end result looks quite good.
How can I make my headlights brighter?
Q: Can dim headlights be replaced by higher wattage bulbs or headlamps on a 2014 Nissan Murano? I feel that they are very dim compared with other cars on the road at night.
A: What you might be noticing is factory bulbs that are past the end of their useful life. The typical life of a standard headlight bulb is three to five years, and then they slowly dim.
Additionally, the headlight assemblies may start to get cloudy. If it's bad enough, that can limit light output by up to 90%.
You can add brighter bulbs. As an example, Sylvania makes a bulb called the Silver Star Plus with a slightly whiter, brighter light.
Should I steer clear of a Nissan GT-R that was in a flood?
Q: I am looking at a used Nissan GT-R, and its Carfax showed a car "salvage title, flood," at about 40% off the current market rate.
What would you look for if a purchase were under consideration? The car has been detailed, so it appears great. It is what lies beneath that has me worried. What do you think? I really like these cars.
A: The problem is there are 40 computers in that car, and any computer that got wet could have corrosion issues.
It also really depends on the flood. If it was saltwater or brackish water, I would not even look at it. If it was freshwater, maybe.
I would start with using a professional-level scan tool and scan all the modules for faults. Many of these faults will not turn on a check engine light but will still cause problems.
I have a neighbor who got a bargain on a 2002 Ford T-Bird. He knew it was salvaged but thought it was body damage. It was a flood, and, as far as I know, after several very good repair shops have looked at the car, he has never been able to find the issue that is causing the battery to discharge after about a week.
Shocked by the high price of synthetic oil
Q: My question is about synthetic oil in my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The dealer recommended that I use synthetic oil, and I have since I started changing the oil.
Last week I went to my mechanic who has serviced my new car since I bought it. I know the price of oil fluctuates and is usually on the high side for consumers. I had the oil changed and was given a bill for $108. I questioned the price and was told the oil increase was the reason. I had no choice but to pay, but had I known the price I would have shopped around. Last time I went I was charged $70, which is more reasonable for synthetic oil.
The sticker on the windshield says the next oil change is due in 4,000 miles. I thought oil changes, especially synthetic, would last one year, or at least 6,000 miles. What do you think?
A: Like just about everything, oil has gone up in price, as have labor costs. It is not that usual to pay $75 to $125 for a synthetic oil change, depending on the brand and grade of oil.
Recently, I needed a quart of oil and was at a local parts store. The full synthetic brand that I use is Pennzoil Platinum, and it was $10.88 per quart, although cheaper in a 5-quart jug. Your car requires five quarts of oil, plus a filter ($10 to $15) and half an hour’s labor. It is easy to see how the price hits $100. This is especially true when typical dealer labor is priced at north of $125 per hour.
Here is where I disagree with the dealer, and you can save money. Typically, Volkswagen only requires an oil change every 10,000, or once per year. The dealer may recommend it more often, but VW itself states 10,000 or once per year, whichever comes first.
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: How can I replace the eroded steering wheel on my Jeep? | Car Doctor
