Why do I have to disengage 4-wheel drive?
Q. I have been leasing a 2014 Toyota 4Runner since June 2014. Now that winter is around the corner I would like to get your opinion about a problem I experienced last winter while driving with four-wheel-drive engaged (4H). When I would make turns or back up, I would have to disengage the four-wheel drive mechanism. It was as if the emergency brake was applied. There was no problem while driving straight ahead or when driving in 2-wheel drive. I only use 4-wheel drive when road conditions dictate. I brought the 4Runner to the dealership to have the problem checked and the mechanic told me there was nothing wrong. The technician said “that is how 4 x 4’s work, power needs to be evenly distributed to all four wheels and that does not happen when making turns and/or backing up.’’ I told him I never experienced this problem with my old 2003 and 2006 4Runners, which also required turning a “dial’’ to engage the 4-wheel drive mechanism. I have also owned other 4 x 4 makes/models and never experienced this issue with any of them. I thought maybe I was crazy, but when I mentioned the issue to friends who own 4 x 4’s, they all say it is not normal. I have read a few blogs from other Toyota 4Runner owners complaining about the same problem. Can you shed any light on this problem?
A. The repair tech is correct that there will be a drag when driving in reverse or turning but it shouldn’t be “as if the parking brake were on.’’ I have driven many Toyota products off-road and there are many instances where the vehicle needs to be in four-wheel-drive and it is necessary to back-up or take tight turns. On a dry road in four-wheel-drive you will get a sensation of crab-walking or wheel-tripping and that sensation would be normal for most any traditional the four-wheel-drive. I recently drove the 2016 Tacoma off-road and although, I could feel the four-wheel drive system on turns or in reverse there was never a sense that I needed to switch out of four wheel drive to maneuver the truck. I would return to the dealer and go for a road test on a gravel road and demonstrate your concerns.
Q. I have 2015 Lexus RX 350 and want to add a trailer hitch. I don’t plan on towing a trailer at this time, but plan to use the trailer hitch for a bike rack or cargo rack. I have seen trailer hitches priced from $150.00 to more the $250.00 with labor to match. Is this something I can do myself?
A. There are several companies that make custom trailer hitches (Reese, Valley, and Draw-Tite among a few). These hitches are all pre-assembled and in the case of your Lexus would just bolt to the frame. You will need to move one exhaust hanger temporarily before you bolt the hitch in place, but this is about as complicated as it gets. With the help of a friend, the installation shouldn’t take more than 60 minutes.
Q. Last week I was driving my daughter’s 2014 GM Arcadia, and I noticed it had a calibrated heat gauge, which I like. However, the engine ran at 210 degrees. My Toyota and Nissans have 180 degree thermostats and get plenty hot. I always thought that engine temperatures above 190 degrees, was the beginning of engine meltdown. Is there any issue with these high engine temperatures and engine longevity?
A. There was a time when 160 degrees was typical of a normal operating engine, but over the years engine temperatures have gone up. Today we see most engines operating at 185-205 degrees and even higher as in the case of your GMC. These higher temperatures are accomplished with a mixture of engine coolant and system pressure. A 50/50 mix of water and coolant raises the boiling point of water to 223 degrees and for each pound of system pressure raises the temperature by 2 degrees. A system running a 16 pound radiator cap and the proper mix of coolant would raise the boiling point to 255 degrees. Even at these temperatures there will be no damage to the engine.
Q. I have a question and a concern about driving my 2014 Toyota Camry. The first is, I worry about other drivers and how every accident seems to be a way for someone to make money. The second issue is I wish I ordered my car with navigation. Would it be possible to have an aftermarket “dash’’ cam installed to protect me if I was involved in a crash? The second question can a factory navigation system be installed in a car that didn’t come with one?
A. Yes a skilled installer at a mobile audio store could certainly do the work and the end result would most likely look similar to the factory system. They could also easily put a dash cam in place, most likely mounted near the rear view mirror and essentially out of sight. A simpler solution might be a combination GPS and dash cam. Garmin has a new product- the NUVI Cam LMT. This unit replicates some of the best features found in new cars. It uses voice commands, real time traffic updates, forward collision warning and lane departure warning systems. There is a built in dash-cam that saves video files on an impact/crash. The maps are very good and when you are approaching your destination the display switches to a camera view to easily identify the destination in real time. My only complaint with this unit is it is big. The overall dimensions are 4 inches by 7 inches and takes up a fair amount of dash/windshield real estate.
Q. My 2005 Dodge Caravan did something weird the other day when I went to start it. After I turned the key, all the gages went to full range, fluctuated and then went back to normal. It did start and ran good the rest of the day. When I tried to start it the next day, it did the same thing. I also noticed that the red flashing security light went out and never came back on. It has been about a week now and the car starts and runs fine, what do you think caused this?
A. This type of problem is usually related to a poor electrical connection. I would look at the main battery cables and well as all the grounding points. Some of these older Caravans also had issues with the instrument clusters. If it is the instrument cluster there is no easy repair other than replacing the circuit board on the back of the gauge cluster.
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