Q: We received a new Toyota in late 2022. The dealer only gave us one key fob and said the second one would be delivered later. It’s been four months and we still don’t have the key ring. I have checked with the dealer every month and get the same “I don’t know” response. Do your contacts have any idea when we might see them?
EM, St. Charles, Illinois
A: I’m afraid I can’t twist an arm. But if the salesperson or parts department screw you over, ask to see the dealer manager. If that doesn’t get you anywhere and you desperately need another fob, they are available online, but you need a locksmith or car dealership to program them.
Q: Thanks for your continued automotive tips column. I worked on cars a lot when I was a teenager and in my early 20s, and I appreciate the details and common sense you provide. I have questions about my vehicle’s timing chain. When I saw your column (published in 2021), it reinvigorated some of the discussions I had about the timing setup for my 2005 Toyota Scion xB. At the time I pointed out that it was a timing chain (like the of my Harley’s triple main drive, with metal links as I imagined). Does Toyota calling it a chain make a difference in wear and longevity? Do you have any specific tips for replacing a car like this with 210,000 miles? I’ve seen people’s cars post with over 400,000 miles, so I expect to keep it for quite some time.
PC, Clarendon Hills, Illinois
A: Distribution chains traditionally have no service interval. They last the useful life of the vehicle. Follow the engine!
Q: I am an ASE certified master mechanic with 30 years of Cadillac dealership experience and I can’t tell you how many oil economy tests I have performed on customer cars equipped with the famous HT4100, HT4500, HT4900 engines. I hope this information sheds light on the use of oil economy. A quarter per 1,000 miles is the industry standard. All modern engines use oil, some more than others as you said, but here is the main reason. As the manufacturer looks for more ways to increase fuel economy, one way is to reduce internal engine drag from rotating components, primarily the large amount of drag from the pistons moving up and down in the cylinders. So they reduced the stress on all the piston rings, creating a rotating assembly that rotates much more freely and makes the engine run much more efficiently.
LC, Chicago
A: Y-th-that’s it, folks. Check oil levels regularly.
Q: Your comment about the minimum space (10 inches) required between the steering wheel and the driver prompts me to ask about a related issue: both of my sons-in-law like to drive with the seat tilted back quite a bit. . It occurred to me that if their air bag deployed it would hit them in the face instead of their chest. This seems dangerous to me, both in terms of the injuries it could cause them, and the airbag being less effective overall than it should be.
BC, Minneapolis
A: In the blink of an eye, the airbag inflates, but stays put. The passenger then flies into the bag.
