- Any ideas why my 2012 Colorado has an intermittent vibration?
- The tire pressure error light comes on and I can’t read the tire pressure electronically on my 2023 Ford F150.
- The air conditioner and heater are not working properly in my 2002 GMC Yukon.
Q: My very good friend passed away in 2022. I was gifted a well maintained 2007 Toyota Camry. It currently has 105,650 miles on it and I have driven it 5,500 miles.
The vehicle has been using synthetic oil since new. Now, even after a full oil change, I’ve been adding a quart of oil every 250 miles.
I found after reading online that the 2007 engine was the most problematic. Is there a cure for this oil fiasco? My friend never received any notification of any recall. what about that
To: As good as some Toyota products are, some did have problems.
Car doctor:Is synthetic oil really worth the much higher price?
Fixing your problem requires replacing the pistons and piston rings and connecting rods and bearings, basically an engine rebuild. The original warranty was five years or 60,000 miles, whichever came first.
Since the warranty has long since expired, Toyota will be of no help. At this point, you have a couple of options: replace or rebuild the engine, or continue adding oil.
If this were my car, I would switch to conventional oil. As much as I’m a fan of synthetic oil, at least adding conventional oil would be a bit more cost effective.
Car doctor:The Corolla remains stalled in heavy traffic and long idling
2012 Chevy Colorado vibrates while idling
Q: I have a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado with a 2.9 liter engine that I have had since it was almost new. The vehicle has almost 100,000 miles on it.
It has an intermittent vibration at idle with the truck running. In the summer, it’s worse with the air conditioner on. This has been the case off and on for as long as I’ve had it. Otherwise it works fine. Some idea? Maybe engine mounts?
To: This engine has an inherent vibration which is a normal feature. Since the vibration has been there since day one, this rules out the engine and transmission mounts.
I would want to inspect closely for a slight vacuum leak that could be causing a vibration. An indication would be abnormal fuel cutoff numbers, which can be checked with a scan tool.
On some models, I have seen a leaking intake manifold gasket. The leak may not be substantial enough to cause a misfire, but it could be enough to cause some shaking and vibration.
Car doctor:Daytime running lights are not sufficient after sunset
Can the Ford F-150 tire pressure sensor be reprogrammed?
Q: I have a 2023 Ford F-150. The tire pressure error light comes on and I can’t read the tire pressure electronically. I put on LT (light truck) tires that take 65 pounds of pressure. This was not a problem with my 2020 F150 when I upgraded the tires to real truck tires.
The tires that came with the truck took 38 pounds of pressure, which is listed on the door jam.
What needs to be changed to make the system work properly? The dealer says there is nothing I can do to reset the light due to the new tires.
To: By switching to light truck tires (keeping the same 245/70R17 size) you have changed the load range from standard to an extra capacity load range E. In order for the tires to support the extra weight, they have an air pressure taller.
Car doctor:How can I identify the source of Honda TPMS flashing warnings?
Since Ford sells upgraded wheel and tire packages, I’m surprised the dealer can’t change the TPMS air pressure limits.
The only TPMS tool I know of that allows both sensor relearning and programming is from Bartec. In addition to being able to reset the pressure limits, it allows you to change the pressure of the poster.
It’s possible that somehow, for the 2023 model year, Ford has this feature locked out, but it’s definitely worth looking into to get this safety system working properly.
GMC Yukon heater and air conditioner not working properly
Q: I have a 2002 GMC Yukon with 251,200 miles. The air conditioner and heater are not working properly. I was told by an independent mechanic that the problem with the air conditioner was that it needed a new condenser.
I am not comfortable with your diagnosis. I’m afraid there may be more involvement to get it working properly. The fan seems to work, but that’s about it. The heater functions only as a defroster; no air comes out through the other vents.
What questions should I ask to find out who is telling me the truth and who is doing repair work?
Car doctor:Why does the Subaru Outback tire pressure gauge keep flashing?
To: The condenser is integral to the proper operation of the air conditioner, but will have no effect on the operation of the heater.
The problem is probably related to the door motors and temperature mixture ducts. The system defaults to the operation of the defroster for safety reasons.
Go to the repair shop and demonstrate what the heater and air conditioner do and don’t do. Once you and the technician are on the same page, ask for a full quote on possible repairs.
John Paul is AAA’s Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automotive industry and is a Master Technician certified by ASE. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
