The Car Doc talks problematic signals, CVT transmissions and more

John Paul, aka “the Car Doctor,’’ answers readers’ car-related questions.

By John Paul @johnfpaul

May 24, 2016

3 minutes to read

Q. I have a rusty Ford Windstar as a third car that I use for errands, dump runs and trip to the feed store, but don’t really depend on it. The right directional signal, parking and cornering lights do not work. All of the bulbs are okay. According to the manual, they are all on one circuit and the fuse is okay, is there a solution?

A. There is always a solution. Once upon a time cars were simple and lighting used switches, power and ground circuits. The only tool necessary was a keen eye and a test light. In the last decade that has all changed. Although wiring could be a problem, the circuit in the Windstar uses an electronic module to trigger the ground circuit of the lights. This part as well as the lighting can be checked with a Ford compatible scan tool.

Q. I have a Toyota Camry, when I first start the car there is this sound of running water. This only happens for a few minutes. The second problem is the car doesn’t always start. When it doesn’t start I just wait and it will start up and run fine. When I bring it to the repair shop the car is always perfect. Any thoughts?

A. I would start with leaving the car overnight in a repair shop so the technician can hear the noise. If possible you may even want to meet them in the morning when they start the car so you can identify the noise. At the same time they can hook up some test equipment to measure fuel pressure and test the ignition system to determine if this may be a cause of the “no-start’’ condition.

Q. What do you know about the new Nissan Altima? I’m especially concerned about the CVT transmission. I’m thinking about buying one as a replacement for my very dependable 10 year old Toyota Camry.

A. I recently spent about five days in the latest Altima and found it to be a very good car. The engine in the car that I drive had 2.5 liter four-cylinder model and it provided plenty of power and great fuel economy. The interior room was great and even more specious that your 10 year old Camry. I haven’t driven an Altima in a while and this certainly was the best I have driven.

Q. As I’m getting older I feel I can’t see as well at night. I recently drove an Audi with xenon headlights and thought they were great. Can these lights be adapted to my three year old Toyota Camry?

A. There are xenon light kits available. Although many don’t have the self-leveling function that allows them to meet Department of Transportation (DOT) standards and would be considered illegal. A better and cheaper choice may be upgrading the standard bulbs with brighter bulb. When shopping for replacement bulbs be cautious, some cheaper bulbs are very bright, but are poorly focused and produce far too much glare to be safe. I replaced the bulbs in my 10 year old car and the difference was certainly noticeable. Although be aware that these brighter bulbs have a shorter life than the standard/factory bulbs. One final thought, check the headlamp lenses if they are cloudy this will limit how much light makes it to the road. Cloudy lenses can be polished and restored with just a little bit of work.

Q. I just inherited a new to me Honda that is subject to the airbag recall. Honda tells me it could be months before the parts are available. Can I get the air bag disconnected?

A. You might be able to get the airbag disconnected, but consider this first. The majority of drivers are much safer with the airbags operational. In fact according to NHTSA the chance of serious head injury is reduced by 83% using a combination seatbelt and airbag. The issue with your car and nearly 70 million others is a result of when the airbag inflator which uses ammonium nitrate is exposed to moisture and high humidity. This can cause the inflator to rupture spraying shrapnel into vehicle occupants. The other problem is no one really knows how many of the millions of vehicles equipped with Takata airbags actually have the problem. At last count there were 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries. Congress is pushing the manufacturer to accelerate the manufacturer of replacement parts.