Passat has rough-running engine

March 23, 2017

Dear Doctor: I own a 2009 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 four-cylinder. The engine light is on and the engine runs rough. The fault codes are p12a2 and p0171. I have had the car to three shops and no one knows what the problem is. Do you have a suggestion? –– Bill Dear Bill: Lean conditions can be caused by multiple problems, especially in imported engines from Volkswagen and BMW. The first step we do on most check engine light problems is to check the codes and identify when the problem happened in freeze-frame memory. The next step is to visit our Identifix site to look up the codes, ...

GMC cuts size, cost of Acadia

February 23, 2017

GMC has given the Acadia the biggest makeover in its 10-year history, shrinking the size and the price of its best-selling SUV while making it more fuel efficient and giving it new technology. The 2017 Acadia’s new base engine — a 193-horsepower four-cylinder — helps give the midsize SUV its best fuel economy ratings ever, at 21 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on highways. The Acadia’s optional V-6 engine has also been revamped and now provides more horsepower and better fuel economy ratings of 18/25 mpg as measured by the U.S. government. The top government mileage ratings ...

Acura’s engine light stays on

February 23, 2017

Dear Doctor: I purchased a 2004 Acura MDX with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine from its original owner. The vehicle has 177,000 miles and runs great. The engine light comes on indicating an emissions problem. The previous owner had the catalytic converter and gas cap changed. He told me the light comes on because of the gas cap. Sometimes I unscrew the gas cap and put it back on and the light goes out. But it does eventually comes back on. What should I do? –– Andy Dear Andy: Whenever the check engine or service engine light comes on a fault code will also be set. Technicians use a ...

Niro is most affordable hybrid SUV

February 16, 2017

Kia’s newest vehicle, the 2017 Niro, is the lowest-priced, gasoline-electric hybrid SUV on the market and is rated as high as 50 miles per gallon in combined city / highway travel. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $23,785 for a front-wheel drive, five-seat Niro FE with four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack to generate a total of 139 horsepower. The base price includes an automatic transmission, rearview camera, keyless entry, cruise control, seven air bags, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, audio controls on the ...

‘Reduced power’ light is on

February 16, 2017

Dear Doctor: I have a 2003 GMC Yukon with the 5.3-liter engine and 245,000 miles on it. While driving, there’s an error light indicating “reduced engine power.” When this happens I have no acceleration and must pull over and shut the engine off. After waiting a few minutes, I restart the engine and the error light is off, so I’m able to drive again. My mechanic says code P1516 is coming up, but he says it could be a number of things and can’t figure out what part to change. I welcome your advice. –– Mike Dear Mike: A very common problem with many GM vehicles is a ...

This wild Willys is from 1948

February 16, 2017

Thornton Race didn’t want his son, Rick, to be in danger as he motored to high school, so he provided a sturdy secondhand 1948 Willys Jeep station wagon. It was a strong, slow car, and ideal for a teenage driver. The steel-bodied vehicle had the nose of a military Jeep and was powered by a 134-cubic-inch L-head, four-cylinder engine that produced 63 horsepower. Rick Race says that as a young driver he was happy to have any kind of transportation, “It was like driving a refrigerator.” Life moves on, and the wheels were eventually run off the old Jeep. Decades later Race saw a ...