Q: I recently completed a 1,400-mile trip in my 2018 Cadillac XT5. Once home I took the car in for an oil change and was told that my radiator was about a quart low of coolant. The service adviser said I need to install a new radiator because it must be leaking. Do I really need to replace the radiator at a cost of $1,900? Temp gauge shows the readings in the normal acceptable range. Is there another way to diagnose whether I have a leaky radiator?
D.A., Colorado Springs, Colorado
A: He said “It must be leaking”? So, he’s not sure? Yes, there are ways to diagnose a leak. Technicians have tools to pressurize the cooling system and check. They can also check for head gasket leaks that leave no traces on the ground.
Q: I enjoy reading your column weekly in my local newspaper. I own a 2016 Honda Odyssey with 95,000 miles. According to the manual service recommendations, I’m coming upon an expensive replacement job for the timing belt. I’m aware of the consequences of delaying this repair but would like your opinion on how mandatory it really is to replace at 100,000 and why Honda doesn’t put timing chains in their engines instead of belts?
T.O., Las Vegas
A: Wouldn’t it be great if we could live beyond 100? The odds are against it. Timing belts may last over 100,000 miles, but much beyond that is a crap shoot. Some people roll the dice and win, many more lose. (I’m sure you have seen a craps table or two.) If the belt breaks, your engine becomes a good boat anchor. Maybe someone sailing Lake Mead could use it. Yes, I suggest you replace the timing belt on time. Timing chains can’t make the tight curves necessary on small engines. But get this: Timing chains may be making a comeback. I wouldn’t bet on it.
Q: I have a 2018 Subaru Forester. The cabin noise is quite loud at speeds above 40 mph or so. The internet has multiple videos on how to dampen noise in a car cabin. Some methods are beyond something I could do myself. Do you have any suggestions to quiet the inside of a car? Is there something someone who is not a mechanic could do?
S.L., Centennial, Colorado
A: Yes. Sound deadening pads are available in the aftermarket. I have had good luck with a product from 3M. They are thin and easily placed under carpets and in the trunk/rear storage area.
Q: I have a 2019 VW e-Golf. I know that the car batteries will not last forever. What causes the batteries to deteriorate? Is it just the years passing, or is it the number of times you charge the vehicle? I bought my car when it was 3 years old. When I bought it, it had been driven for only 1,800 miles. Will the very low mileage that the previous owner accumulated over the first three years mean that my batteries will last longer, or will the three years passing just wear the batteries down, even though my car was likely charged very few times in its first three years?
S.M., Las Vegas
A: Hybrid batteries are designed to be used regularly. If the car sits for long periods, the battery life is shortened. If the car is only driven once a week for short trips, it affects the battery life.
Q: Can a 1965 Mustang be flat towed without causing any damage to the manual transmission?
D.H., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
A: No. It’s best to remove the driveshaft.
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