Q. I have a 2005 Honda Pilot and two months ago I replaced my power steering pump and it started making this whining sound. It wasn’t making that sound before I replaced it, I replaced it due to a leak. Any suggestions?
A. If it was a rebuilt power steering pump (most are) it could be defective. The other problem is that if the power steering pump was not bled before starting the car, it could have even damaged the new pump. Although Honda does not have a specific procedure, in my opinion it is necessary to bleed a power steering system. The procedure I have used to bleed a power steering pump is to fill the reservoir and turn the lock wheel to lock without the engine running until all the air is out of the system. I have seen incidents of new pumps having problems if this is not done. The other possibility is a slight restriction in one of the hoses. One last note, use only Honda power steering fluid, using another power steering fluid or transmission fluid as a substitute can cause a multitude of problems.
Q. Not a question for you, but I read your bio and it said you once owned a Lectric Leopard. I just wanted to say that I grew up in the next town where the Lectric Leopard was built and I remember seeing them as a teenager. A far cry from the Chevrolet Bolt we have now!
A. Those electric cars built at that time (mid-1970s) like the Lectric Leopard, Vanguard CitiCar and a few others, as well as home-built vehicles were certainly rowdy and looking back dangerous by today’s standards. In many cases, the batteries exceeded the vehicle’s weight limit. And at least in the case of my car, the batteries were held in place with angle iron brackets and threaded rod. Who knows what would have happened in an accident. The Chevrolet Bolt, despite some battery issues, is a very good car, functional and fun to drive.
Q. I have a 2009 Grand Marquis with what I believe is a factory auto start. Over the past two years, the car has been started from time to time. I recently noticed that it seems to happen if I use the auto start to melt the snow, until it runs out, but it doesn’t actually go in and drive it. It will start on its own 4-6 hours later. My mechanic had no idea. Some idea?
A. If we look at the error diagnosis for troubleshooting, it could be any number of things. Ford’s first recommendation is to start by disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes. Since this is simple and costs nothing, I would start there first.
Q. I read once that you own a Hyundai, because it meets all your needs. With all the news about Hyundai thefts and engine problems, can you still recommend Hyundai as a good brand?
A. I’ve had several Hyundai models over the years and they’ve worked pretty well. The theft problem is being solved, with a software solution. In the case of my Santa-Fe Sport, the alarm will go off, hopefully scaring off any burglars, as long as you lock the doors. As for their newer products, I recently evaluated a Hyundai Palisade and it was a very good vehicle, good ride, good use of interior space and decent fuel economy.
Q. I have a 2008 Mercedes C300 with 4-wheel drive with 125,000 miles. I have been told there is an oil leak. However, the cause has not been determined. They gave me approx. $2500-$3000 for dealer fix. A “B” service is due and the windshield washer line is broken and was told it could not be fixed. Otherwise the car is good a few scratches on the body. Is it worth putting $3,000 into a 15-year-old car or looking for a nice new vehicle for $20,000-$25,000? I am retired and my use is errands and occasional long distance to see friends and family 400 hundred miles away. Your thoughts will be appreciated.
A. Not counting the environmental problems of oil leaks on land, an oil leak is only as bad as how often you need to add oil. The usual source of an oil leak on this model is the camshaft cover seals at the rear of the engine and the oil sump. I’m a little concerned that the dealer couldn’t identify the cause of the leak, but could offer a price to fix it. Depending on the oil leak, I would be tempted to check the oil periodically and just drive the car. You may also have a bit of a sticker, the average price of a new car today is just over $50,000.
Q. You’re still on the radio, I used to listen to the Irish station before the Irish Hit Parade.
A. Yes, live Sunday at 11 at http://959watd.com and you can find my podcast at http://johnfpaul.podbean.com
Q. I have a six year old Ford Focus and the right side windshield wiper stopped working. I took it in for service and the mechanic shrugged and said he had no idea how it works. It’s not just a wiper motor and a switch, it can’t be that complicated!
A. Yes, it can be that complicated. Your Ford Focus uses two wiper motors controlled by the LIN BUS — Local Interconnect Network. Today’s vehicles use a CAN bus that allows computers to “talk” to each other. The LIN bus allows the control of components such as these wiper motors. The problem could be the wiper motor or the wiper cable or any other communication error. After the wiper motor or wiring has been repaired, the wiper system needs to be initialized using a scan tool.
Have a question about the car, email the car doctor for a personal answer. jpaul@aaanortheast.com
