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Saving money doing maintenance and repairs yourself
John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader who saved a nice chunk of money replacing a cabin air filter.
Q. I have been reading your column for what seems like decades. In some of your answers you encourage readers to do some minor repairs themselves. Recently I was at the Subaru dealer, and they suggested I replace the cabin air filter for $99. I remember you said in many cars it is quite easy to do. I went home, did a little research, purchased a high-quality filter, and replaced it myself for $15. Thank you for all the information you have provided over the years.
A. Yes, some repairs can be simple and, in your case, saved you nearly $85. Other repairs can be more complicated, but with labor costs in some cases over $250 per hour, a little research and effort can certainly help keep money in your pocket.
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Q. I recently purchased my 2021 Subaru Outback when my 42-month lease ended. I currently have just over 23,000 miles. The dealership provides free state inspections for as long as you lease or own the vehicle, and they also inspect all vehicle systems beyond what is required. My gas mileage is exactly what it has been since I first took delivery – namely 23.8 miles per gallon in local driving and 38.5 miles per gallon on 400-mile road trips. The service advisor told me I would need two services – a differential fluid change and a throttle body cleaning – because “the car seems to be running rough.” I asked to see a sample of the differential fluid, and it did look a little degraded, so I agreed to do that, although I told him that at $180/differential, given the cost of the fluid, I thought it was overpriced. I also asked to see the throttle body which they provided a video of, and it did have a very light amount of deposits on it. I declined that $369 service. Does that sound reasonable?
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A. Some Subaru models can have an excessive amount of carbon buildup in the combustion chamber, and Subaru has a procedure to clean up the deposits, which also includes cleaning the throttle body. Generally, this is performed if there is a code indicating misfires. Using the fuel additives and Top-Tier fuel should prevent the issue. I would have also passed on this one. As for the differential service, to perform the service properly, it takes about an hour per differential. There is no set service interval other than whether the fluid has degraded.
Q. I just had my 2014 Lexus ES 350 (94,600 miles) serviced for an oil change at a Toyota dealer I have used for years. The service representative reported that lower control arms have excessive movement due to support bushings being worn. I put very little mileage on this car at this point – around 2,000 miles a year. He said replacing both lower control arms would be $2,585, but he did not think it is necessary at this point given my limited use of the car. He recommended a wheel alignment and balance, because in his words there were some minor wear differences in the four tires. Your thoughts?
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A. If the lower control had “excessive wear” due to worn bushing, paying for a wheel alignment was a waste of time. All the steering components need to be in good condition before a wheel alignment can be performed. I would start by getting a second opinion. If the bushings are worn, I would want a refund on the alignment. If there is no wear, I would find a new shop.
Q. I have an old plow truck that I use to plow my 300-foot driveway. This past winter it overheated due to running low on antifreeze. I have been told the truck needs head-gaskets. This is going to be an expensive repair for a rusty old truck that has not been registered in years. What are your thoughts on cylinder head gasket sealers?
A. I have used both Blue Devil and K-Seal and have had some success with both. I have a neighbor who has an old Dodge Caravan that he drives every day, but less than 10 miles. Three years ago, it was diagnosed with a leaking head gasket. He used Blue Devil, and the truck is still in service today with no need to add coolant.
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Q. I have a 10-year-old Chevrolet pickup that I use to tow my boat and utility trailer. I use my Subaru for commuting to work. The problem is that from time to time it blows the fuse for the brake lights. I replace the fuse, and it may be good again for two weeks and then it happens again. Where do I start? Where it happens only after a while can I just use a higher rated fuse?
A. Fuses are designed for certain current loads and going up to a higher rated fuse could result in a wiring fire. The very first place I would start is with an inspection of the wiring. I would focus on the trailer wiring. I have seen many cases where the trailer plug, if spliced into the wiring harness, could rub though and cause an intermittent short to ground.
John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.
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