Dr. Gizmo's Auto Blabber

Hope you are enjoying the weekend. Today there are six recalls. Once again Toyota is under recall for floor mats interferring with the accelerator. Volkswagen has a problem with a sunroof that could shatter. And arailer and three trucks have safety issues. If your vehicle is under recall, the manufacture should contact you but please feel free to contact them or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hotline. A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. LEXUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY OR REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACE ANY LEXUS DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT NOT SPECIFIED FOR THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 AUDI Q5 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 21, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT SUNROOF GLASS PANEL THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER/TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.

SHOULD THE SUNROOF鈥橲 GLASS BREAK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, THE FALLING GLASS COULD CUT AND INJURE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGERS. IT COULD ALSO DISTRACT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUNROOF GLASS PANEL, FREE OF CHARGE. UTILITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY (UTILITY) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 UTILITY VS2DX DRY VANS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 16, 2012, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2012. THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECK VALVE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING A DELAY IN BRAKE APPLICATION. A DELAY IN APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKES INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. UTILITY HAS NOTIFIED OWNERS AND RETROFITTED THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, FREE OF CHARGE; THEREFORE, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION NOTICE WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, EGRESS OF THE BUS MAY BE HINDERED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. THOMAS BUILT BUSES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS. SMI WILL PROVIDE SERVICE KITS ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO DEALERS AND OWNERS, FREE OF CHARGE. DTNA鈥橲 RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS FL-630. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, EGRESS OF THE BUS MAY BE HINDERED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. THOMAS BUILT BUSES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS. SMI WILL PROVIDE SERVICE KITS ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO DEALERS AND OWNERS, FREE OF CHARGE. DTNA鈥橲 RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS FL-630. THERMO KING CORPORATION (THERMO KING) IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET TRIPAC ELECTRIC AUXILIARY IDLE REDUCTION AND TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (TRIPAC-E). THE TRIPAC-E UNIT ATTACHES TO THE TRACTOR FRAME-RAIL SEVERAL FEET BELOW OR BEHIND THE TRACTOR CAB AND IS OPERATED BY A DRIVER-CONTROLLED MODULE. THESE UNITS CAN SHORT-CIRCUIT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN RESULT IN OVERHEATING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE. THERMO KING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS. THERMO KING HAS NOT DETERMINED A REMEDY PLAN.

It actually reminds me of the Audi TT I used to have. Tom Smith: Well, it鈥檚 in that family, right? Clinton Quan: Volkswagen, Audi. Tom Smith: That鈥檚 obvious, but not obvious for everybody, so yeah. The Volkswagen, Audi is siblings, right? Clinton Quan: Yes. So with the Jetta GLI you get the red/black combination trim. It also has that nice red stitching on the leather steering wheel, red stitching on the seats. Tom Smith: And I love the red accents; those are always very clean, very sharp looking. Clinton Quan: Yeah. It also has the nice 18-inch alloy wheels. It looks really nice on this car. Tom Smith: And how is the inside designed for you from a creature comfort and鈥? Clinton Quan: Oh, it鈥檚 very comfortable for a compact car. It鈥檚 got plenty of space, I think, great ergonomics. Most of the buttons, controls they鈥檙e all right within your fingertips.

It鈥檚 very, very well laid out. Tom Smith: Okay. Space wise what kind of capacity are we talking about for adults, comfortably? Clinton Quan: Oh, it鈥檚 very comfortable for four adults. Yeah, it鈥檚 got about 94 cubic feet of space in terms of interior cargo space, so, yeah, two adults in the front, two adults in the back. There鈥檚 a really good amount of trunk space for this car, especially being a compact vehicle. Tom Smith: Okay, perfect. So four adults comfortably, plenty of trunk space. Clinton Quan: Yeah, good amount of legroom in the back, too, yeah, for a compact car. Tom Smith: And so who鈥檚 this car for who? Who鈥檚 ideally is its intended target demo? Clinton Quan: Well, this car is for someone who wants a compact car but wants something that鈥s looking for something that鈥檚 sportier, more fun to drive than your typical compact car. So if you鈥檙e looking for something that鈥檚 also fuel efficient but that鈥檚 fun to drive on the highway and on mountain roads, and you like going on scenic drives, this is the car for you.

And speaking of fuel efficiency, it still gets about 27 miles to the gallon combined. So it鈥檚 only one mile per gallon less combined than the SEL and the SE Sport, which gets about 28 miles per gallon with the 1.8-liter engine. Tom Smith: Okay, so 27 combined. Do we have the different driving modes, the eco sport鈥? Clinton Quan: Sport and that鈥檚 it. Tom Smith: Boom, that鈥檚 it? Clinton Quan: Yeah, drive and sport. Think of it as the enthusiast version of the Jetta. Tom Smith: Enthusiast, right. The enthusiast version is perfect. So then who this car might be for, we鈥檙e talking. Tom Smith: Likes a sporty drive. Tom Smith: Likes some fuel economy, whipping in and out of L.A. Southern California highways and whatnot. Tom Smith: Very good. So are we ready for top three? Clinton Quan: Yes. We鈥檙e ready for top three. Tom Smith: Top three, hit 鈥檈m.

Dr. Gizmo's Auto Blabber

Recently, I had my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe at my local shop for an oil change and general check-up. It has 66,000 miles and a 4-cylinder engine. I purchased the vehicle three years ago. When the work was done a service man was going over the bill and inspection form when he suggested that I have the timing belt replaced. I鈥檝e owned four cars prior to this one and have never had anyone suggest such work. I never had to replace a timing belt on any of them. My SUV runs fine. Since I have owned the vehicle I have taken great care of it. It鈥檚 in great shape. Is this something that is necessary to do? The timing belt is an important drive belt hidden under a cover on the engine that synchronizes the up and down motion of the pistons with the opening and closing of the valves.

It鈥檚 similar in construction to the serpentine belt that you see on the outside of the engine that turns accessories such as the alternator and air conditioning compressor. If the timing belt breaks due to wear the pistons and valves could collide and cause major engine damage. According to the factory recommended maintenance schedule for your vehicle the timing belt should be replaced at 60,000 mile intervals. It鈥檚 due for replacement. It certainly is a lot less expensive to replace the belt than the engine should the belt break. The 2.0-liter engine in my 2007 Volkswagen Passat sounds like a diesel engine. It has 122,000 miles, an automatic transmission and turbo-charger. I went to a repair shop where a technician thought the noise was coming from the timing belt. He checked it and it鈥檚 fine. He鈥檚 not sure what is causing the sound but wants to disassemble the engine to find the source of the noise.

I鈥檝e owned the car since it was new. I change the oil every 2,500 to 3,000 miles. The car is in great condition. Do you have any clue as to what is causing the noise? Your technician must have an inkling of what is causing the sound and a course of action. He wants to disassemble the engine. If you agree to proceed with an internal examination he will inspect parts that might be causing the sound. From your description of the noise more than likely it is from the valve system so he won鈥檛 be removing the bottom of the engine. He鈥檒l look for trouble at the top of the engine. This is not a major operation. He likely will remove the valve cover so he can examine the cam shafts and other parts that comprise the valve system. Once he has completed the exam he should know the cause of the sound and suggest a lasting repair.

There is antifreeze leaking from the engine near the air conditioner compressor. The compressor and lower radiator hose are blocking my view of the leak not to mention the slant of the engine and tight quarters. The leak is pretty bad as I have to add half a gallon of premix antifreeze every other day which is about 80 miles of travel. I have a 2002 Chrysler Sebring with a 2.7-liter motor and nearly 190,000 miles. Do you have any idea what鈥檚 leaking? Don鈥檛 repair it. Keep topping off the reservoir so the antifreeze manufactures can hire more employees. Also, the drips of engine coolant on the road will give environmentalists and pet owners something to discuss. All kidding aside, this problem needs repair to prevent engine damage from the result of overheating. It is possible the timing cover gasket or radiator hose has sprung a leak. It is also possible the trouble is caused by a failure of the seal on the water pump shaft.