Doug McAllister
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After driver retires, car gets worse fuel milageSep 02, 2012 6:14 am - Q. I have a 1994 Dodge Spirit and for years I got 20 to 22 miles per gallon. I retired in June last year, and since then the mileage keeps going down. I know no longer d...
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Parking brake only as good as the cableAug 26, 2012 5:07 am - Q. I have a 1996 Chevy S10 pickup truck. The parking break was used every day up until two weeks ago when, as I released it, the pedal came back slow. I tried to release...
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Fuel gauge, fuel pump still not connectingAug 19, 2012 5:02 am - I recently received a follow-up question from the driver of a Pontiac Montana minivan whose fuel gauge was malfunctioning, always reading full. I had recommended he use ...
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Ice buildup can block air flow from A/CAug 05, 2012 5:20 am - Q. I own a 2009 Mazda 3 with a 2.0 liter engine and mileage of 26,000. The air conditioning works fine under normal driving conditions. I recently took two long 600-mile...
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Claustrophobic driver wants to avoid power windows, locksJul 29, 2012 4:14 am - Q. In the next year or two I will be in the market for a new car. This is going to be a challenge because I want roll down windows. Also I don’t want the doors to automa...
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Fuel gauge malfunctions can be misleadingJul 22, 2012 5:26 am - Q. I hope you can get to the bottom of our Montana problem. When we turn the ignition on, the fuel gauge always reads full, no matter how much fuel is in the tank. While...
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Fuel pump barely outlasts warrantyJul 15, 2012 5:14 am - Q. Thirteen months ago our local Ford dealer installed a new fuel pump in our 2003 Ford Windstar van. Last week that pump failed. The same dealer installed a second fuel...
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Oil debate continues on change intervalsJul 08, 2012 5:58 am - Q. I’m a regular reader of your column and typically enjoy its content. But I believe you “missed the boat” regarding your cautionary response a reader who recently requ...
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Recycled oil should still be cleanJun 24, 2012 5:18 am - Q. I took advantage of the free oil change at the local dealership. I also had tires rotated for the ad price of $9.95. Great deal! I was seated in the waiting room and ...
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Directional tires shouldn’t be crossed when rotatedJun 10, 2012 5:29 am - Q. In a recent article, you had a Q&A about tire rotations. While I agree with everything you said, I believe you forgot one important comment. What about car owners who...