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ASK THE AUTO DOCTOR: Steering wheel lock-up has many causes

Junior Damato | Ask the Auto Doc

July 4, 2008

Dear Doctor: After pulling out of my driveway and making two 90-degree turns in my 2003 Ford Navigator, I tried to turn left, but my steering wheel was in the locked position and I ended up in the ditch. By moving the steering wheel about one-half inch each way, going back and forth, I was able to get turned back around. I tried restarting the vehicle to see if it would come unlocked, but it did not. My dealer and Ford Customer Service suggested that I replace the entire steering column. The vehicle has 49,000 miles on it. Lloyd

Dear Lloyd: For the steering wheel to lock as you experienced, something jammed. I would not just start replacing parts like the steering column. The problem could have been a stuck valve in the power steering pump from the two full, tight 90-degree turns, or some road debris could have got caught in the steering linkage. I recommend a complete front-end inspection.

Dear Doctor: While at the shop for routine service on my 1994 Honda Accord the mechanic showed me a broken off portion of the cover for the timing belt. It was recommended that both the cover and timing belt be replaced, since dirt may have gotten onto the belt and pulley, which could make the car inoperable. I opted not to have the timing belt replaced, but to replace the cover only. These are the charges: W/AC Add timing cover ($46.45), Install lower timing cover ($18.58), one Lower Timing Belt Seal ($16.47), Replace Timing Cover ($343.69), for a total of $425.19. This bill seems very steep. Is it? Jack

Dear Jack: The charges are correct. I have no idea why you did not spend the small additional amount of money to replace the timing belt. The labor to get to the timing belt was done replacing the lower timing belt seal. In fact, the timing belt has to come off in order to replace the lower crank seal.

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Dear Doctor: The speedometer light stopped working on my 2001 Buick Regal. The dealer said the repair would be $340. Is this a fair price for the repair? Fred Dear Fred: The cost is correct. The bulb is part of the instrument cluster. The repair is made when the instrument cluster is removed and exchanged for a reconditioned cluster. There are only a few factory Delco repair centers in the country. The GM dealer will give the repair center the mileage and vehicle identification number and a reconditioned cluster is sent overnight to the dealer and your old cluster is sent back in the same shipping box.

Dear Doctor: I own a 2002 Ford F-250 5.4-liter V-8 with 49,000 miles. Occasionally I notice blue smoke emitting from the tailpipe when I start the engine after it's been shut off for a few hours or more. The engine uses a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. My Ford dealer said the oil consumption is normal. Do you agree? John

Dear John: The 1,000-mile oil consumption isn't unusual. Thin, free-flowing oil and hot-running engines are the perfect combination for oil consumption. Some engines will use more oil than others. You can try changing the oil viscosity to a slightly heavier one and also switching to either a synthetic blend or full synthetic. Do not use oil additives.

Dear Doctor: I own a 2004 Monte Carlo. When I first back the car out of the garage with the radio on and then apply the brake, I hear a brief static sound through the audio speakers. I don't hear this again, unless I start the car and repeat a similar operation. What's causing the static? Doug

Dear Doug: The static is from the radio's AM band. Radios have noise filters that are supposed to cancel the noise. Try putting in a CD and playing it to see if the static is still present. If it is, then go to a radio shop for help on static elimination. Dear Doctor: I own a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 77,000 miles. Is it time to replace the timing belt? Jane Dear Jane: Some manufacturers recommend timing belt replacement at 30,000 to 40,000 miles, while others go to 105,000 miles. Even low-mileage vehicles where the timing belt is five years old may need to be replaced. Contact the VW dealer and ask for the recommended timing belt replacement on your model. I suggest the use of factory original parts on these services.

Junior Damato is an ASE-certified Master Technician. E-mail questions to info@motormatters.biz Mail questions to: Auto Doctor, 3 Court Circle, Lakeville, MA 02347 Listen to Junior online at www.1460wxbr.com Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. eastern time. Copyright, Motor Matters, 2008