Faulty Tires Lead to Bad Vibes
Question: A few months ago, I replaced the original Michelin tires on my 1988 Acura Legend. Since then, I’ve had continuing problems with front-end vibration and pulling to one side. The tire dealer says it is the car’s fault, while the Acura dealer blames it on the tires. Can you suggest a way to isolate the cause?--G.K.
Answer: The tires almost certainly are at fault. The pulling could be caused by an alignment problem with the car’s front end, but it is more likely the result of a misaligned steel belt on one of the tires.
Steel belts, which are wound around the circumference of a tire, should run parallel to the center line of the tire. The belts generally are aligned at the factory by shining a pinpoint light beam down a line etched on the belt. If the person operating the machine improperly lines up the belt, the tire will cause the car to pull and shimmy.
It is fairly easy to determine whether the tires are at fault. By rotating the tires left to right and right to left, the car should pull in the opposite direction. Most likely, it is the front tire causing the problem. If the car pulls right and then pulls left after rotating, the suspect tire is on the left side.
Q: I have heard that Pennzoil contains too much wax. I would like to know which oil is the best to use in my Lincoln Town Car?--B.T.
A: It is a common myth that oils produced from so-called paraffinic, or wax-based, crude lead to sludge formation and premature engine wear. But paraffinic crude is used to produce almost all motor oil because it is more stable over different temperatures.
At cold temperatures, wax will congeal into solid crystals that will block the flow of oil. To control this problem, most of the wax in crude is removed during the refining process by dissolving it with various solvents, chiefly ketone.
To further combat the problem that wax may pose, refiners add what is called pour point depressants, which lower the temperature at which oil will flow or pour.
While the quality of motor oils vary, the major brands all conform to certain minimum requirements set by the American Petroleum Institute. The current top rating is SG, which is typically printed or stamped on motor oil cans.
By using an SG oil, changed at 3,000- to 4,000-mile intervals, you will provide your engine with a significant level of protection.
Q: My 1988 Hyundai Excel has an oil leak and trouble starting. The car was towed to a Hyundai dealer, who charged $500 to fix the leak and install a new alternator (the second in two months).
A week later, the car was still leaking oil and having trouble starting. The dealer says I need a new engine. If this is true, do I have recourse for the other repairs?--P.S.
A: It seems apparent that the engine had major problems before the first dealer visit and that rather than fixing the problems, a superficial Band-Aid was applied.
You might negotiate a credit for the prior faulty repair when the dealer replaces the engine. But why go back to a garage that has already proved to be either incompetent or dishonest? You may be throwing good money down the same rat hole.
Instead, find a good garage that has Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) qualified mechanics and is a member of the Automotive Service Council. Meanwhile, file a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair and demand a refund. The bureau’s telephone number is: (800) 952-5210.
