The Car Doc on carbon buildup, problem wipers and more

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

By John Paul @johnfpaul

August 9, 2016

3 minutes to read

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Q. I am considering buying a 2014 Acura MDX with 14,000 miles on it for $38,000 and was wondering if it would be a good purchase? Let me know your thoughts the reliability and how much more miles you think we can get out of it.

A. The Acura MDX is one of the best mid-sized SUVs available today. Buying a two year old model with such low mileage should be relatively risk-free. The question becomes is it a good buy? According to AAA’s car buying website the average “good’’ price for a 2016 Acura MDX is $43-$44,000. Depending on your finances and how long you are going to keep the vehicle buying a brand new model with the latest equipment and a full warranty for $6,000 more than the price of a used car may make more financial sense.

Q. I remember the $3,990 Yugo. I know it was a terrible car but today it seems like the average car cost 10 times that much. Will we ever see an affordable car again?

A. The average transaction price has been reported lately to be around $33,500 and compared to the pitiful Yugo (at the time based on a 10 year old Fiat) may in fact be 10 times better. As cars are adding more technology, but convenience and safety, vehicle prices will continue to rise. The bigger issue is that all of these features may push people out of the new car market. There is some hope of a cheap new car the Elio (www.eliomotors.com ). This is a two-seat car that will get nearly 70 miles per gallon and will cost approximately $8,000 when it goes on sale sometime next year and promises to be much better than the Yugo.

Q. I have a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and from time to time it runs rough. My mechanic has looked at it and couldn’t find anything wrong. The check engine light is never on and once it is above an idle it runs great. Any ideas?

A.Two things come to mind, carbon build up on the valves and fuel injectors which could be part of the problem. For the next few fill ups try only top tier fuel www.toptiergas.com. This higher detergent fuel will clean away some of the built up deposits. The other issue could be if you are not using the correct oil or leaving it in the engine too long. This engine is very sensitive to using the correct grade and viscosity of oil.

Q. I have a 2002 Ford T-Bird T bird with about 35,000 original miles that we only drive in the summer. We bought it new and keep in garaged when we go to Florida for the winter. The car has the original radial tires on it which have nearly no wear and look almost new. I remember that as old bias tires would age they had a tendency blow out at higher speeds or hitting potholes. Any issues with radials tires as they age?

A.This is a topic with a fair amount of discussion. Some safety groups believe that all tires should be replaced when they are six years old to limit any possible failures. Some other experts believe that 10 years is a better number for replacement. The Rubber Manufacturers Association (trade group for tire manufacturers) believes the service life of a tire is affected by many factors that are independent of the chronological age of the tire alone. The RMA also believes that the consumer plays a big part in how a tire performs and feels that any tire should be inspected on a regular basis for any signs of damage and wear. For more information about this topic and other tire tips visit www.rma.org

Q. I have a 2006 Saturn I’m have trouble getting the wipers repaired. Sometimes when I shut the wipers off they sometimes cycle two or three times before they “park’’ other time they stop in the middle of the windshield. My local shop checked the cars computer and didn’t find any issues. Do you think the wiper switch needs replacing? The local Saturn dealer closed its doors how can I get my car fixed?

A. The problem could be the wiper switch and the switch and wring should all be checked. The more probable issue is the wiper motor needs replacement. Any General Motors dealer should be familiar with this wiper system and can order any parts required to fix it.