Insurance claims seen on Carfax report
By Doug McAllister
Q. I really enjoy reading your insight and articles in the Auto section of the Daily Herald. I'm writing in regard to the latest article (Aug. 27) about avoiding the purchase of a car with flood damage.
Carfax is a great solution. However, if an individual has an issue like that (flooding) or gets into an accident and doesn't report it to their insurance company, I'm under the impression that it will not be part of the Carfax report. Is that true?
A. You are correct. If a repair is not reported to the insurance company, chances are it will not show up in a Carfax report. However, most flood cars are a total loss for insurance purposes. Unless someone didn't have insurance, the damage would show up on the report.
Q. I own a all-wheel-drive 2004 Mercury Mountaineer with a 4.0-liter V-6. It has served me well over the years and I've maintained it very well. It currently has about 77,500 miles.
I'm thinking of keeping the car and was wondering what would you recommend in terms of service at this time. I have never had the hoses, belts or the transmission fluid changed.
In respect to the changing of the transmission fluid, I have an article of yours that recommended flushing the transmission fluid and tapping into the transmission cooler lines so that the majority of the fluid changes out with new fluid. Would you recommend I do this procedure and have the pan dropped and filter change at this time?
Would you recommend any other service at this time as well?
A. I would definitely recommend servicing the transmission fluid. If it does not blow your budget, doing both an exchange through the lines and dropping the pan and changing the filter is optimal.
If you can only do one or the other, I would opt for going the route of the fluid exchange because that will get the majority of the transmission fluid changed out.
I also would change the rubber components (belts and hoses) under the hood, as well, as they are now 15 years old. When you change the hoses you will lose the coolant, so flush the rest out and put in fresh coolant. A thorough inspection by the shop will reveal anything else that should be done.
Q. The factory stereo radio in my car has a six CD changer, but recently the CDs will not eject. It would play the captured disc but it would not eject it. Someone recommended that I put an old CD in there and see if it will eject either or both CDs. Now it will not eject either, and it will not play either, as well.
A. You will have to remove the CD player/radio and take it apart to see what went wrong. It may have to be replaced but it would be worth taking a look inside. At least you could get your CDs back. If it is unrepairable, you could install an aftermarket unit at a very reasonable cost that would connect to your smartphone. Food for thought.
• Douglas Automotive is at 417 W. Main St., Barrington; 123 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake; and 416 Northwest Hwy., Fox River Grove. For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.