Q. My wife’s 2018 Kia Forte with the 2.3 turbo GDI engine was accidentally left running after coming home from shopping for about six hours. I shut it off, next I am going to change the oil and filter and if it is warm enough, I am going to run some GDI (fuel injection) cleaner into the throttle body. The car has 35,400 miles on it, any idea what harm it did?
A. Most likely there was no harm as long as the engine didn’t overheat. Changing the oil and filter is a great idea and at the same time, check the coolant level. Many vehicles idle for extremely long times, such as police cars, security vehicles and some construction equipment with no damage. Unfortunately, with push button start vehicles this is a fairly common occurrence.
Q. My 2016 Ford Escape has bad transmission, how much to rebuild it?
A. It will take a skilled technician about 20 hours to overhaul/rebuild the existing transmission. The cost of a new transmission is about $4200 plus about 12 hours labor to remove the old unit and install the new one. Today labor rates are running between $150-$250 per hour. You may be able to get a used or factory remanufactured/rebuilt unit. Typically used the price is $1600 and a rebuilt transaxle is $2600.
Q. On my 2010 Nissan Rogue, I recently observed my car’s dashboard shows the battery and brake lights while driving. It comes up for 10 minutes and later goes off and could repeat same in another 40 minutes of driving. I felt something was wrong and stopped to complain to my auto repairer. He checked my battery and alternator and said it is fine and I should not bother. Do you think I should still be bothered because it’s still popping up while driving?
A. The short answer is yes. The warning lights indicate an issue with both the brake system and the charging system. The brake light could be as simple as low brake fluid or a leak in the brake hydraulics. The battery light is indicating an issue with the alternator. The problem could also be related to the wiring of these systems. Since the issue is repeatable, I would leave it with a shop and let them know when it happens, so they can catch the lights on, and then diagnose the actual issue. Warning lights, especially red warning lights, should not be ignored.
Q. The lights go and off for check engine, traction control and 4-wheel drive on my 2012 Toyota Tundra. I had it checked, and the shop found nothing. The truck is running great, what should I do?
A. Typically, these lights indicate an issue with an ABS wheel sensor. If the shop only checked for codes, it is possible nothing showed up. If this were my truck, I would want to scan all the computer modules looking for pending and history codes as well as live data. I would also get the truck up on a lift and inspect the wiring. I have even seen wiring for a trailer hitch that has worn through be the cause of these intermittent warning lights.
Q. I have a 2014 Honda CRV with 52,000 miles on it. The transmission fluid was changed at 31,000 miles. How much would it cost to change the fluid again as well as the differential fluid? Can I go to an independent shop, or does it need to be a Honda dealer?
A. Any good shop can change the fluids, but I would only use Honda transmission fluid and Honda Dual Pump fluid. These fluids are pricey, but necessary for proper performance. According to AllData-the technical database I use, the labor times are about one hour, and the transmission uses about five quarts of fluid and the differential uses about 1.5 quarts. Fluid prices vary, but $10-$20 per quart for the transmission fluid and $15-$25 per quart for the Honda Dual Pump fluid are typical.
Q. My 2016 Honda CRV has 115,000 miles on it, and I seem to need to top off the engine oil about every three weeks. I am adding about one-half-3/4 of a quart. Is this normal? I am using the specified 5W-20 synthetic oil, what could cause the oil burning? Can you really put 200,000 miles on these engines?
A. I would start with a fresh oil and filter change and then look at the miles driven until your Honda uses one quart of oil. If the engine is using one quart of oil in 2000 miles, it is perfectly normal. Even one quart in 1000 miles is acceptable. Oil use can be attributed to leaks, worn seals, worn piston rings or oil contamination. Regarding engine longevity I have seen several examples of this 2.4 liter engine with over 250,000 miles on it
Q. My 2013 Audi A4 was displaying an amber engine light. I took it to the Audi dealer they said there is a lot of work to be done. So, my question is how much it could cost me and what could be the problem?
A. A check engine light can illuminate for any number of reasons. It could be as simple as a loose gas cap to a faulty sensor in the engine management system. At this point the shop, dealer or independent technician needs to scan the car’s computer and look for codes. These codes will help determine the needed repairs. Expect to pay for at least one hour of diagnostic time to begin proper diagnosis.
Q. When the two of us leased one Subaru in June 2019 we got two key fobs to start the car. In October 2023, we lost one. We hear it will cost $500 plus for replacement. So, we are trying to survive with one car and one fob. Today, the remaining fob does not let us turn on the car when the fob is on our person; we need to hold the fob up to the button we normally push to start the car. What is going on? Are we about to lose the ability to start the car? Incidentally, when the lease expired after 36 months, we bought the car. At that time, we still had two functioning fobs. Are we about to find ourselves in a crisis? What should we do?
A. You need to replace the battery in the fob and that should restore its functionality. As for a replacement fob, try an automotive locksmith rather than the dealer. I have seen many examples of Subaru owners purchasing aftermarket or even used fobs with programming for approximately $250.
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