Q. I have an 2008 Chevy HHR SS, it runs good and has about 46,000 miles on it. The oil change reminder light cam on I had the engine oil changed but they couldn’t turn off the reminder light. I left with the dash message on, I went home and tried what it said in the owner’s manual and still the lights on. I needed a new keyfob and the dealer told me they turned the light off, but it is still on. Do you have a suggestion on how to shut it off? It is not serious, but is annoying.
A. According to AllData, the database I use this is a suggested procedure to turn off the oil change light. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine OFF. Press the INFO and RESET buttons on the Driver Information Center (DIC) at the same time to enter the personalization menu. Press the INFO button to scroll through the available personalization menu modes until the DIC display shows OIL-LIFE RESET. Press and hold the reset button until the DIC display shows ACKNOWLEDGED. This will tell you the system has been reset. Turn the key to LOCK. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message comes back on when you start the vehicle, the Engine Oil Life System has not reset. Repeat the procedure. There is also as Alternate Method Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off. Fully press the release the accelerator pedal 3 times within 5 seconds. Several beeps sound. This confirms the oil life system has been reset. If the CHANGE/OIL message comes back on when you start the engine, the engine oil life system has not been reset. Repeat the procedure.
Q. I own a 2006 Subaru outback limited with 70,000 miles on it. In a recent visit to the dealer I was advised that my head gaskets were starting to weep. No repair was necessary at this time but the situation should be monitored they advised. They stated the repair would cost about $1750.00 I am aware of the outback 2.5 engine head gasket problem. I also asked the service manager, would any of the goopy goop solutions that are available on the Internet work in my engine? He advised no, that it potentially could clog up oil passages. The Internet postings seem to contradict this comment. I am wondering what your suggestions are in this area.
A. I have had mixed results with the head-gasket sealer products, in some cases they work, other times not at all. With Subaru vehicles the leak usually starts as an oil leak and then ends up as a coolant leak. I have seen many cases where the leak lasts the life of the car without repairs by just maintaining fluid levels. Certainly the leak won’t get any better by itself but depending on how long you plan to keep your car it may be an option worth considering. Regarding sealants, some repair shops have told me they have had good luck with a pour in product called K-Seal.
Q. I am hoping that you can give me some insight regarding these issues I am having with my Honda. I bought this as a new car, because I had such good luck with my previously Honda Civic. My Civic was a standard transmission and this Accord has an automatic transmission. What I don’t like is it has a rather high pitched whiny sound upon acceleration. Deceleration is not smooth as I would like, almost like it is skipping down a gear and finally catching the low gear. The other issue and I don’t think this is related, but now when I turn the steering wheels it makes a whiny noise too. I have taken it to Honda they and don’t understand the problems. They did say perhaps the steering motor may be partially the reason, but they weren’t sure Can you help me please make sense of this nonsense?
A. The first thing I would do is find the exact same car and see if it behaves the same way. If the second car does the exact same thing then it may be a characteristic of the car (not necessarily a desirable characteristic, but not repairable). If the second car is different: then your car has a problem that you can identify to the dealer and hopefully get repaired. When you bring the car to the dealer for evaluation, road test the car with a mechanic or the service writer so they know exactly what you are talking about.
Q. I have a 2006 Toyota Solara that I truly love but the one feature I that I wished the car had a rearview camera. I lament this because so many drivers never respect the right of way of a backing driver, when that driver clearly has the right of way. Is it possible to have a rear view camera installed that is as good as the factory style cameras?
A. There are some very good aftermarket cameras that are nearly as good as the factory style. Some of these camera systems replace the rear view mirror others mount a monitor in or on the dash. To me the mirror style more closely mimic the factory installed systems provided it uses a good quality camera. On other note, baking drivers never have the right of way.
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