The Car Doc on leaking oil, private code scanners and more

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

By John Paul @johnfpaul

June 28, 2016

4 minutes to read

Q. I have a 2011 Kia Sorento, that I purchased new and it is leaking a bit of oil in the driveway. I had it into the local repair shop and they think it is the rear main oil seal. If they are right they are talking well over $1,000 for the repair, do you have any suggestions?

A. My first suggestion is to go back to the dealer since your vehicle should be under warranty. Your Kia has a 10 year 100,000 powertrain warranty and this repair should be covered. The rear main seal is a possibility but after doing a little research the more common issue is the oil sender switch which is located under the intake manifold.

Q. I tinker with my own cars and have a simple code scanner. My Nissan wasn’t running correctly and according to the scan tool it has a misfire on cylinder number two. I know it is not getting a spark. My question is how do I know if it is an ignition coil, sensor or the computer causing the problem?

A. The simplest method is to swap the ignition coil for cylinder number two with one of the others. If the misfire moves you know you have a faulty coil. If the number two cylinder is still misfiring, then you have a little more work to do.

Q. I have an old Chevy truck that only gets used a few times per year and it won’t start. In fact it won’t crank over. Where should I start?

A. Start with the basics, remove the battery and fully charge it, clean all the battery connections at both the battery and the engine ground and starter connections. Then test for power from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. Since the truck gets such little use poor electrical connections are most likely the problem.

Q. I have always worked on my own cars and discovered the radiator was leaking on my 2006 Mazda 6. The last car I replaced the radiator in you removed the shroud, disconnected the transmission lines and radiator hoses and unbolted the radiator. In this car it looks impossible, do you have any suggestions?

A. There is no easy solution, the front bumper cover needs to come off, airbag sensors disconnected the radiator support removed. As a do it yourself project plan to take most of the day. According to AllData, the data base that I use a professional technician will need about four hours to complete the repair.

Q. I am considering replacing my aging Chrysler Town & Country minivan with a new vehicle. I have looked at the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona. Toyota and Honda are almost always top picks. My question is what do you think of the Kia Sedona and how does it compare to the other two on my list? I read your column on boston.com, how long have you been writing this column?

A. The Toyota is a winner if all-wheel-drive is one of your considerations, the Odyssey is a great van and the Sedona has come a long way since it was first introduced. I recently drove the top-of-the line model and it had every possible luxury option such as heated and cooled seats, reclining rear seating with foot rests. The V-6 engine provides decent power and during my road rest I was averaging 23 miles per gallon. If luxury appointments are a priority as well as a great warranty I would certainly consider the Kia. I also recently checked out the latest from Chrysler; the Pacifica and from a limited road test and general first impressions it looks quite good. Regarding my column, I have been writing for AAA for over 25 years and have been featured on weekly basis on boston.com for 16 years.

Q. My wife is looking at a 2016 Nissan Murano Platinum Hybrid. I have two questions: Are you familiar with it and how would you rate it versus the gas-powered Murano? Any idea why Rhode Island dealers are not the least bit aware of the hybrid version’s existence? We contacted three dealers and received responses like: “We don’t make one as the mileage on our gas model is so good “I think they are coming out with it in 2017 but haven’t heard much about it’’ and my favorite “I never heard of it.’’ Spending a little time on line we found two dealers in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts that have them on their lots, in stock, for sale.

A. I have not yet driven the Murano hybrid but it does definitely exist. According to Nissan’s website the price of a Platinum edition Murano versus a Platinum edition hybrid is about $4000 different. According to the website fueleconomy.gov owning a hybrid version of the Murano will save you about $250 per year. If the only reason you are considering a hybrid is to save fuel the numbers don’t work.