Trending
DEAR?DOCTOR: I pressed the pushbutton start on my 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI and heard a loud bang, like a shotgun going off. All of the electrical systems went dead. I opened the hood and saw smoke coming from the battery and noticed the top and sides of the battery were blown out. I had the Passat towed to the dealer and he said it was a maintenance issue, but I argued that this was a dangerous defect. What should be done?
– Michael
DEAR?MICHAEL: As for this being a defect I disagree. Car battery explosions are more common than you think. The explosion is caused from fumes emitting from the battery, so that any spark under the hood that occurs will ignite the fumes. Batteries that are covered in a plastic housing conceal acid fumes. The new AGM style batteries seem to have eliminated the fume problem, and also, the battery industry is getting away from the wet lead acid battery.
DEAR?DOCTOR: We have a 1994 Cadillac DeVille. Last winter the dead battery would need a jump every single day. I purchased a new battery in the spring and it worked all through the warm weather, until we hit a cold 32-degree night recently in the fall. Please help as winter is approaching. I cannot understand what is wrong.
– Janine
DEAR?JANINE: Vehicles need batteries that are the correct size, and equipped with the correct Cold Cranking Amps. Your DeVille needs to be checked to determine which circuit has the highest amount of parasitic current draw. I have seen everything from the OnStar, the module in the trunk, power seat switch, internal radio failure, trunk/hood lights, and even a faulty alternator cause battery issues. Find a technician who uses Alldata and Identifix to get to the bottom of this issue with your DeVille’s battery.
DEAR?DOCTOR: My daughter has a 2014 Volkswagen Touareg diesel. Do you know of any automatic starters for this vehicle? The dealer said this Volkswagen does not offer an automatic remote starter. It’s cold here in the Northeast. Any advice is appreciated.
-Ed
DEAR ED: There are many remote starters on the market. Most are installed by automotive accessory installation centers, such as shops that install radios and aftermarket accessories. I have used the Viper brand in my vehicles and have been very satisfied.
DEAR?DOCTOR: I’m considering using a car cover during the winter months for my new Mercedes-Benz. The cover would not be removed for a solid four-and-a-half months. Mercedes is offering a three-layer cover, but at Autozone they are offering a five-layer cover that is $200 cheaper. What do you advise?
-Aaron
DEAR?AARON: The problem I have with any car cover that is on a vehicle for an extended period, especially in the harsh winter, is the wear on the exterior paint from winter winds shifting the cover, even ever so slightly. Another concern is the moisture issue from snow, rain and ice. If you do want to buy a car cover, then I recommend you check with the car cover manufacturer for their recommended use. I personally use soft-cloth style covers on my cars for inside storage. You can go online to www.covers4cars.com. Note: Do not buy a cheap car cover. Buy the cover that will not cause wear to the paint.
DEAR?DOCTOR: I currently drive a Toyota Matrix and am searching for a manual transmission hatchback with a high seating position. I’m looking for a company with a solid reputation and product. I’m strongly considering a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. Have your driven a manual Crosstrek and if so, what are your thoughts? I had been hoping to drive the Matrix into the 200,000-mile range, but feel concerned by the airbag recall, which makes me feel unsafe. Reportedly, since they still don’t know the cause, they may be putting replacements in that are equally dangerous. Also, have you heard of side window deflectors? Subaru offers it as an accessory but says that it may be illegal in some states. Any idea why?
-Lisa
DEAR?LISA: I have driven all of the Subaru models and I can tell you that you’ll get a lot of car for the money; they are high in quality and come with all-wheel drive. Side window rain deflectors are a great inexpensive item that allows you to open the window slightly without letting rain, ice or snow enter the vehicle. However, I have never heard that they may be illegal in some states.
Junior Damato is an ASE-certified Master Technician.
E-mail questions for publication to info@motormatters.biz
Mail questions to: Motor Matters, PO Box 3305, Wilmington, DE 19804.