Five Possible Things Your Vehicle May Need Now

Coolant Change – Today’s engine coolants have a service life of about three to five years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles, whichever comes first (not last). Consequently, the coolant is not a lifetime coolant that never needs to be checked or changed. Between three and five years, the corrosion inhibiting chemicals in the anti-freeze are usually worn out. If the coolant is not replaced with new coolant, corrosion can damage the heater core, radiator and other parts in the cooling system. So if you keep driving it until something fails, it’ll cost you a lot of money to fix; therefore, change the coolant every three to five years and prolong the life of your cooling system. Please make sure you use the same type of anti-freeze that is in your cooling system now, or refill with a “universal coolant” that can be used in all makes/models of vehicles out there.

New Timing Belt – Not to be confused with the long serpentine belt that drives the engines’ accessories (alternator, water pump, power steering and A/C compressor), a timing belt turns the camshaft in many overhead cam engines. The rubber belt, which is actually made of a synthetic rubber such as HSN or EPDM, has a service life of about 40,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on the application. It is not a lifetime belt. Eventually it will break. So if your vehicle has a timing belt, look in your owners manual to find the recommended replacement interval. If you do not change the belt, and it breaks, your engine will stop running immediately, and one or more valves may hit the pistons when the camshaft stops turning (if you have an “interference” engine with tight valve clearances). This can cause very expensive engine damage. If your engine has a steel timing chain rather than a rubber timing belt, you don’t have to do anything. Most timing chains will usually last the life of your engine (up to 200,000 miles or more).

New Battery – Most people never think about replacing their vehicles’ batteries until their vehicles won’t start anymore. The average life of a lead-acid wet cell car battery is only about two years in hot climates, and three to four years otherwise. Absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries are somewhat better, and often last a year or two longer than a wet cell battery. Even so, all car batteries eventually reach the end of the road and have to be replaced. So if your battery is more than five years old, better think about replacing it before it dies. That can save you the hassle and expense of a break down and a service call from a no-man’s land where you security cannot be guaranteed.

Brake Fluid Change – Have you changed your brake fluid recently? Most motorists never do, until their vehicles need brake work and hydraulic parts have to be replaced because of internal corrosion. After several years of service, brake fluid becomes contaminated with moisture. This lowers the fluid’s boiling point and increases the risk of the fluid boiling and causing the pedal to fade under hard use. The corrosion inhibitors in the fluid also break down over time, which allows moisture and dissolved oxygen to corrode the brake calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, steel brake lines and the ABS hydraulic unit. Changing the fluid every two to four years can prevent this and prolong the life of your brake system. Chemical test strips are available in auto parts stores that can be used to test the condition of your brake fluid.

Transmission Fluid Change – Though your owners’ manual may not list a recommended service interval for changing the fluid in your automatic transmission, that doesn’t mean the fluid (or your transmission) will last forever. Today’s transmission fluids contain long lived synthetic lubricants and are much longer lived than transmission fluid from a couple of decades ago. But heat and hard use can still cause the fluid to oxidize and break down. Because of this, many transmission experts say you can prolong the life of your transmission by changing the fluid every 20,000 miles. Be sure to use the type of ATF specified for your transmission, as there are many different types. Using the wrong type can cause transmission problems.

REACTIONS TO AUTOMEDICS

Where is the best place in Nigeria to get Nissan titan catalytic converter and for how much? Are scan services available in Ilorin, Kwara State? Anonymous

I don’t know of any location in Nigeria where you can get a brand new catalytic converter, but we can order one for you from our supplier in the US. For scanning you can call my mentee in Ilorin on 07067718297.

I need your help. I have an issue with my car, a 1996 Honda Accord, Bulldog. The kick-down is not working at all. A mechanic and an electrician have checked it, but they can’t trace where the problem is from. The gear and the engine are functioning well. What do you suggest I do? Oyebisi

I will suggest you run a scan on the powertrain system of the vehicle. It will give some results which will guide you on what to do.

I was told to change my car’s radiator to double cell from single. I travelled from Ile-Ife, Osun State to Abeokuta, Ogun State on Christmas eve, and the water in the radiator dried up. I had to top the water before continuing with the journey. Anonymous

Changing the radiator to double cell will only suppress the problem not solve it. Your mechanic needs to find out why the water/coolant is drying up. A coolant pressure test (with any basic coolant pressure tester) will reveal where the leak is.

I drive a 1996 4runner. The check has been on for some time thus I brought the vehicle to your garage but I was told you only handle millennium models. I was then told that the problem could be with the catalyst or the oxygen converter. I made enquiries in the US for the catalyst through the vehicle’s VIN I was given two options: universal fit and direct fit. Which is which? Please help. Secondly, I always top up radiator water after each journey. Vehicle catalyst was removed thanks. Agbaje

You can buy either one, but if the OEM is available you can get it. A coolant pressure test will reveal where the leak is on the engine cooling system.

l drive a Lexus GX 470 2006 SUV. The rear side rose higher than the front after a trip, with more clearance between the rear tyres and the body. Please what could be the cause and remedy? Thanks. Olayide

The fault is with the height control system, but running a scan on the system will reveal where the fault is. The result will guide you on what to do.

I have a M/Benz C-Class 180 which I bought last year. Since I started using the car, it hardly starts once especially when the engine cools down. I complained to my mechanic and he suggested we change the fuel filter which we did but the problem still persists. What do you suggest I do please? Ezekiel

Run a scan and the result will guide you on what to do.

I drive a 2004 Nissan Exterra. However, I observe that it consumes a lot of fuel. The radiator is double cell because the single it came with was overheating whenever I used the a/c. Again the take-off of the car is sluggish and only peaks after sometime. What should I do? Thanks. Ekene

Please run a scan on the engine. Also changing the radiator to double cell only suppresses the problem not solve it.

 I wish to buy a Toyota Corolla. A friend in the US promised to help buy one and ship it down. Should I take to that or buy one from a local dealer here in Nigeria? Please consider all parameters and advise me. Olufemi

If you trust your friend he can probably get you a better deal from the US.

lost the anti-theft wheel boat adapter of my 2004 model VW Touareg V6, SUV. I discovered this when one of the tyres punctured. The tyre could not be pulled out because of the non-availability of the adapter. I learnt from the vehicle manual that the boat adapter has a code number, which I need to get its replacement. The problem is that I don’t know the number. I asked one welder to remove it, but my mechanic advised against it, saying that the heat would damage the censor. However, the manual is silent about the censor. Please, how do I remove the wheel so that the tyre can be patched? Lana

If you get the vehicle towed to our shop we might be able to remove the lug nut for you.

My car is a Passat V6, 2004 model (manual). Please. where is the speed sensor located? If it’s faulty, can it be fixed? Can I get new one? Anonymous

The speed sensor is on the wheel: it’s the same as the ABS sensor.

What should I look out for as I decide to buy my first car between a Four Runner and a Pathfinder? Thanks. Kunle

I will suggest the Four Runner. But make sure you have the vehicle inspected by a trusted technician for electrical, mechanical and structural integrity before you pay for it.