Why do all the lights on the dashboard flicker on and off at random times? | Car Doctor
Q: I am having an electrical problem with my 2008 Nissan Altima coupe — all the lights on my dashboard flicker on and off at random times. I have taken my car to multiple mechanics over the last year, and no one seems able to tell me what the root of the issue is or how to fix it. It has happened multiple times. Online I found someone else experiencing the same thing, but apparently this is a common problem for which there is no sanctioned solution.
A: I suspect some sort of poor electrical ground. This instrument cluster is not known for failure. That being said, the issue still could be a circuit board behind the cluster. You either have to send it out to be tested or substitute a known good part.
Unfortunately, as you found, there is no common cause. It is a matter of testing all the connections, including the battery, voltage drop and the alternator.
Where can I donate my surplus of model cars?
Q: After years of being my own mechanic and restoring British Classics as a hobby, at age 80 and at the beginning of the pandemic, my body and my wife told me I'm done. So, I started building model cars. I have accumulated almost 40 but have given a few away to friends and sold a few, but I am still lacking room for a display. I am still building model cars and have six to keep me busy over the winter. Any idea where I could donate most of these?
A: It certainly sounds like you're having fun and still have a love for all things mechanical.
You could donate the cars to a museum such as the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, in Brookline, Massachusetts; Newport Car Museum, in Portsmouth; or to a charity auction.
Is it worth replacing head gasket on 2003 Buick Century?
Q: I have a 2003 Buick Century with 160,000 miles. I was recently told the engine head gasket has a slight leak and that is where the antifreeze is going.
I recently started smelling a gasoline-like odor from under the hood. The antifreeze level has gone down in the expansion bottle. Is it a really big job to replace the head gasket? Is it an expensive job? Overall, the car is decent for its age and mileage.
A: Typically, you are looking at $1,500 to $2,000 to replace the head gasket. If the car is mechanically and structurally sound (these cars can suffer from serious rust), it would be worth fixing. Keep in mind it is a 20-year-old car, and it can be the small repairs that make it feel like this car could “nickel and dime” your budget.
Should Jaguar stand by Pace diesel whose engine failed just after warranty expired?
Q: I want to share the story I have about my 2017 Jaguar Pace diesel. We purchased an extended warranty that gave us five years or 100,000 miles.
My wife brought the car to the dealership because the engine was running loud. The mechanic immediately said the engine was bad. As you can imagine, we were absolutely blown away. We expected, because it was a diesel, we would keep the car for a minimum of 200,000 miles.
What was worse was we had less than 98,000 miles; however, the warranty had expired five months earlier. The dealer told us that the typical trade-in value would be around $15,000 but, because the engine had blown, it was worth only $2,000 and a new engine would cost $26,000 to replace it. Do we have any recourse?
A: I would call Jaguar customer service and explain the issue. Also, if the dealer can specifically explain the issue, that would be helpful.
Jaguar did issue a technical service bulletin about a crankshaft whine which requires a significant amount of engine work. If the engine issue is related, I believe you may have some recourse with Jaguar. Other than that, you could threaten legal action based on “warranty of merchantability.” The implied warranty of merchantability is a merchant's basic promise that the goods sold will do what they are supposed to do and that there is nothing significantly wrong with them.
As you pointed out, the car has less than 100,000 miles and it should last much longer (providing the service was up to date).
As for repairs, the price seems very high. According to jaguarparts.com, the engine is about $14,000 and it will take about 20 hours to remove all of the components and install them on the new engine. That brings it to $18,000.
The other option is a used engine, but these diesels are not common in the United States and would be hard to find.
If it were me, I would start with wanting a better description than a blown engine. If you can get some detail, then perhaps you can get some goodwill assistance from Jaguar. I would not expect them to cover the complete cost, but if Jaguar were willing to cover half the cost, I would consider that reasonable.
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: Why do all the lights on the dashboard flicker on and off? | Car Doctor
