Articles filed under McAllister, Doug

• Irksome dome light hard to diagnose May 12, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. My overhead interior dome lights do not turn off after turning the car off. I have to manually turn them on and off. Also, my left rear passenger door does not open with the remote. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
  

   

• Dashboard radio screen brightness on the blink Apr 28, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. I own a 2007 Chevy Malibu LE 4 cylinder with 46,000 miles. I love the car except for one thing: the information located in the radio area cannot be read on a bright day. This displays the time, temp, radio station, etc.
  

   

• Know the difference between red, yellow and flashing lights Apr 21, 2013 12:00 AM
  You should pay attention to dashboard lights. If one of your warning lights illuminates, do you know what to do? If it is one of the red lights that turns on, this generally means you need to find a place to safely pull over and stop the vehicle.
  

   

• Traction control powers down the engine Apr 14, 2013 12:00 AM
  Occasionally when I make a left turn, just after starting my turn, there is a 100-percent loss of engine power. This is on dry pavement without any slipping of the tires occurring. I am 65 and don't do jack rabbit starts.
  

   

• Early tire pressure sensors beginning to fail Apr 7, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. What is the deal with this low tire pressure light that keeps coming on in my car? It is so annoying and I can't seem to get it to stay off. The tire pressure seems fine. Help!
  

   

• Driver looks for more support from auto seats Mar 24, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. We have a 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in pristine condition with less than 70,000 miles. We've been in other cars (Lincoln van, Chrysler sedan) that fail to match the comfort of the Fleetwood's seating. Can you tell us which cars have super comfortable plush seating?
  

   

• Synthetic oil needs less frequent changes Mar 9, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. I have a follow-up question to your response about rarely driven cars still requiring regular oil changes. I only drive 2,000 to 4,000 miles a year.
  

   

• Rarely driven cars still require regular oil changesFeb 24, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. I have a 2006 Equinox with about 35,000 miles. I only drive about 4,000 to 5,000 miles a year and am wondering about oil changes. Should I still be changing the oil every three or four months -- even if I've only driven 1,200 to 1,500 miles? Or can I go longer like five or six months until I get closer to 3,000 miles?
  

   

• Nearly all oil is replaced when changed Jan 27, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. My question is about engine oil capacity. The owner's manual states when changing the oil and filter it takes 7.7 quarts. I had my first oil change done by my Ford dealer. They replaced the filter and six quarts of oil.
  

   

• Buy correct fuel for optimal performance Jan 20, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. The owner's manual for my Jaguar says to use a minimum of 91 octane gasoline. The top gasoline at most stations is 93 octane, and 89 octane is also available. Would it hurt anything if I filled up with 93 octane and top it off with the 89 octane when I got down to a half tank?
  

   

• Cold weather freezes up cruise control Jan 13, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. I have been using the cruise control on my 2006 Grand Marquis on a regular basis. It works just fine except when temperatures get below about 40 degrees. Then I need to wait until the car warms up before it can be made to activate.
  

   

• Winter tires increase traction for performance cars Jan 6, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. I bought four Goodyear Eagle GTs for my 2006 Pontiac G6 GT coupe. They do not perform well in snow. Do you think this is because the tires I bought are too aggressive for the car?
  

   

• Car maintenance is also smart finances Dec 30, 2012 12:00 AM
  One thing of which we can be sure is 2013 will be a more expensive year for most of us. I have talked about the advantages of good auto maintenance before but in these challenging economic times it is worth bringing up again.
  

   

• Battery care is vital for stored carsDec 16, 2012 12:00 AM
  Q. I purchased a new 6-year battery in January 2011. On average, how many weeks would a garaged 2002 Pontiac Bonneville's battery be OK before a trickle charger would be necessary?
  

   

• Short trips still tough on engine Dec 2, 2012 12:00 AM
  Q. The dealer recommended I have the timing belt changed at a cost of $489.95, transmission flush at $169.95 and coolant flush at $139.95. I keep my 2008 Elantra in the garage when not in use. It is in showroom condition and only has 22,000 miles on it. Is this necessary?
  

   

• Biodiesel blends worry fleet owners Nov 18, 2012 12:00 AM
  Here's a follow-up to my Nov. 4 column on biodiesel fuel blends. Many diesel fuel suppliers in Illinois are switching from B5 (5 percent biodiesel) to B20 (20 percent biodiesel) fuel. One fleet technician says Mercedes-Benz requires buyers of its diesels in Illinois to sign an engine warranty waiver due to the higher blend.
  

   

• Make sure biodiesel won’t void warranty Nov 4, 2012 12:00 AM
  Q. Im looking at a new vehicle and like the idea of a diesel SUV. However, I've heard talk that Illinois diesel-fuel blends have caused many manufacturers to say they will void warranties if it's used.
  

   

• Engine oil vapor may cause problemOct 14, 2012 12:00 AM
  Q. I own a 2008 GMC Acadia with a 3.6-liter engine. My mechanic noticed oil pooled underneath the air filter. He told me it appeared to come up the air intake hose from the engine to the air filter.
  

   

• Autumn safety checks for your auto Oct 7, 2012 12:00 AM
  Car safety might feel like a no-brainer all year round, but as another class of student drivers gets behind the wheel, maybe we all could benefit from a quick refresher course. First and foremost, whether you're dropping your kindergartner off in the morning or begrudgingly handing the keys over to your high schooler, it's best to make sure your vehicle is in good working order and to remind yourself of safe driving habits.
  

   

• Tough to compare phone estimates of car repairs Sep 30, 2012 12:00 AM
  Q. Why is it when I call around for prices to replace the shocks and struts on my minivan the amounts vary so much from shop to shop? Then to add insult to injury, I can buy these parts dirt cheap on the Internet.