How To
John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, hears from a reader getting a low-battery warning on a car that always starts right up.
Q. I have a 2016 Volvo XC70 wagon. Both the large and small batteries were replaced about two years ago. Frequently, both in summer and winter, the warning “low battery charge” is displayed. The car always starts on the first attempt. I purchased a trickle charger and occasionally have it hooked up to the main battery. I still occasionally get this warning despite being hooked up for hours.
A. Volvos are famous for this message, even with brand-new batteries. Normally the message will go away once a battery reset is performed. If this procedure was not performed the message will still be displayed. Also, Volvo cars are very fussy about battery voltage. Although I believe aftermarket parts can be very good, some aftermarket batteries will cause this message to pop up from time to time. If the charging system is working properly then the issue may be short trips that never fully recharge the battery. At this point charge the batteries and check the charging system, if all looks good then keep doing what you are doing.
Q. I turned on my heater this morning on my 2013 Ford Mustang and there was a small hiss sound. Any idea what that might be? Perhaps a leaking heater core? When I turn on the AC it does not do it, just the heat.
A. I suspect an issue with a temperature blend door. On your Mustang the doors are electric not vacuum actuated, so that would rule out a vacuum leak. If one of the doors or motors is hanging up a bit they could be making a noise. But at this point you need to narrow in on the noise to see where it is coming from. A rubber hose about two feet long can make a pretty good mechanics stethoscope to pinpoint noises.
Q. I purchased four new tires (Goodyear Assurance) in September 2018. I now have 42,000 miles on these tires. All tires have good tread on them. The tires are seven years old. I read that tires should be replaced every 6 years, even if tires look good. The reason is the rubber degrades over time, which compromises their safety and performance. We drive about 10,000 miles per year, both local and long distance. Should I replace these tires because of their age?
A. It really depends on the overall condition and how the tires have aged. I have replaced four-year-old tires that were dry rotting due to constant exposure in the sun and had tires that were nine years old and looked fine. There are no hard and fast rules. Six years is when you need to give tires a good look. As an example I would not plan a cross-country road trip on tires more than 10 years old. If I had a collector car that only gets driven a few miles occasionally to shows, the age of the tire (providing there are no obvious issues) would not concern me. I will say if you have the budget, replacing tires is one of the best ways to give an older car a quiet, new-car ride.
Q. The windshield on my 2021 Lexus RX 350 appears to have many very small dots on the outside. They appear to be the result of sand or something hitting it. It did not seem apparent when I bought the car used a couple of years back. Recently it can be seen from the inside when the sun shines on it and I am driving. I am trying to avoid replacing the windshield, and all that goes with it. Could the dealer have used something to cover up the dots? Is there a product that polishes or minimizes this condition? I have to add that I am an older conservative driver who does little high speed and/or highway driving.
A. Unfortunately, the glass is just what you thought – sand-blasted. You may be able to get a glass shop to try and polish the windshield, although personally I have never had good luck with this. What you could try is to get the windshield very clean. Use a mild abrasive like Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami then wash with clean water. Once this is done Clay-Bar the windshield. This clay (you can get it at an auto parts store) picks up all the very small bits of dirt. Then go over the windshield with a good window cleaner. I use SprayWay aerosol glass cleaner. The last step in the cleaning process is to polish the windshield with a microfiber cloth. If this does not help, a new windshield may be in your future.
Q. The dash on my 2003 Toyota 4Runner is sticky and cracking. I put wax paper on the sticky part, but it just stuck to the dash. What’s your recommendation to make it less sticky?
A. I would start with a mild cleaner like Dawn dish detergent and warm water. Vinegar cleaner can also work. If you don’t have any success, then move to isopropyl alcohol. Try to find alcohol that is 90 percent concentration. You can also try combining the rubbing alcohol with the dish detergent. Readers have recommended Goo Gone adhesive remover. Use a microfiber cloth and light to moderate pressure. If this still does not work perhaps the easiest thing would be a dashboard cover which is available online for $25 to $50.
John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.
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