This weekly feature for Warranty Direct about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America’s Car Show on satellite radio. Below are some recent Q&A from the America’s Car Show email bag.

Dear Tom,
I purchased a used 2007 Dodge Caravan SXT – V6 with 21,000 miles. It gets 19 MPG in the city and only 20 MPG in the country. What can I do to get better mileage? I follow your advice for maintenance and welcome your advice. Thanks.
Ruth from Hamburg, NY

Ruth,
Fuel mileage is subjective to the driving environment, how the vehicle is driven, how it is maintained, and what kind of work it performs. First, make sure the performance system is up to snuff (sparkplugs & wires, air and fuel filter, breather element, and anything else related to the performance system). If these items are not replaced at the proper intervals, fuel mileage will suffer. Based on the low mileage of this vehicle, the plugs could be “carboned up” from lack of use. Have them cleaned and re-gapped. What else can you do to increase gas mileage? Inflate the tires to max inflation rate so they offer less rolling resistance; replace the air filter with a high flow filter like a K&N; and replace the engine oil, transmission fluid, and differential lubricants with synthetic lubricants. All this coupled with maintaining the performance system should net you a few more miles per gallon. Best to you.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
I own a 2004 Dodge 1500 w/ a Hemi 5.7 engine. Since Oct 2008 there has been an oil consumption problem (loses about 3 to 4 quarts of oil every 3000 miles). After countless trips and calls to Chrysler, The dealership tore the engine down and found oil pooling under the intake manifold. They replaced the gasket, assuming that was the problem. Wrong, wrong, wrong! After 1500 miles the dipstick is over a 1/4 inch below the add line. Nobody at Dodge seems to care. The engine is still under warranty. Something is really wrong with this truck and nobody wants to address the problem. Can you direct me to someone that will take action? I am really frustrated. Thank you
Lee from Jamestown

Lee,
If what you outlined here is accurate, then I agree with you. It is entirely too much oil consumption for this engine. Excessive oil consumption is the result of poor piston ring sealing, bad valve guide seals, or sloppy valve guides. If the PCV system were clogged with sludge, then the crankcase would be pressurized. In this case, the oil would be pushed up into the breather system and into the air intake to be burned. Call John Domagala at the NFADA (Niagara Frontier Dealer’s Assoc). He is the director of AUTOCAP (Automotive Consumer Action Program) and John will get the Chrysler Zone Rep involved. Hopefully you will get some satisfaction. John’s number is 716-631-8510. Tell him I told you to call. Success to you.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
I had the starter on my ‘97 Saturn SL2 replaced recently. When I got my car back, the key won’t come out of the ignition until the car sits for at least an hour. My wipers do pretty much whatever they want, and there is a whirring sound in or around the belt. Any ideas? Is my car a goner? It has only 85,000 miles on it.
Amy from Lackawanna, NY

Amy,
Let’s deal with one thing at a time. (1) The sloppy ignition key issue is probably due to a worn lock cylinder in the steering column. This requires replacement of the lock/key (removal of the steering wheel and air bag are part of this procedure to access the necessary parts). (2) The wipers have to be checked for a bad internal motor ground or (if so equipped) the wiper delay could be bad (3) The whirring sound by the belt could be a bad serpentine idler, an alternator or power steering pulley, or worn bearings in the water pump shaft. Get it into a shop that can address your concerns … one at a time. Good luck.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
Why does it take forever for my car to warm up? I warm up the car and leave it running for 30 minutes, and when I bring the kids out, the car is still cold! It never really gets “hot.” What is going on? I don’t know anything about cars. I just dumped a bunch of money on it a few months ago, and I can’t afford another fix.
Lillie from Milwaukee, WI

Lillie,
You give me no year, make, or model so my answer will be in general. The first thing that comes to mind is the thermostat. When it goes bad it can either stick closed (causing overheating) or open. If stuck open, the engine doesn’t get hot and thus the heater doesn’t get warm. Also, heater malfunction can also be caused by a problem with a duct door (these doors direct the heated air into the vehicle’s cabin). Finally, in the case of climate-controlled systems, a faulty electronic control module can cause heater malfunction. Hope this helps.
Tom

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Dear Tom,
I own a 2005 Buick LeSabre. There is a vibration on the front end when traveling at speeds of 65 to 70 mph, and also when I press on the gas. I have changed the two front bearing hubs to no avail. What could be wrong?
Randy from Seattle, WA

Randy,
Check the inner axle shaft CV joints. Heavy vibration occurs when they get worn and loose, especially under acceleration. Other common causes of front-end vibration include: loose/worn struts and/or strut bearing plates, loose ball joints, tie rod ends, rack mounts, or internally worn rack. Success to you.
Tom

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‘‘Til next time…Keep Rollin’

For more articles by Tom Torbjornsen, visit AMERICA’S CAR SHOW web site: www.americascarshow.com

Tom Torbjornsen is an automotive expert of 37 years. An automotive journalist in good standing with the IMPA (International Motor Press Association), Torbjornsen is the Repair and Maintenance Editor for AOL Autos, Edmunds.Com, At Home Portals and many other websites. Torbjornsen is the auto expert of record for Channel 4 WIVB TV, Western New York’s CBS affiliate. Hear his radio show AMERICA’S CAR SHOW, on the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel – Stars Too – Sirius 108 and XM 139; Sunday nights – 10PM – Mid EST. Send your car questions to his website at: www.americascarshow.com

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Filed under: Americas Car Show, Auto News, Car News, Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle reliability, Warranty Direct

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