How To
John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, hears from a reader who isn’t sure which of their two vehicles to keep.
The Car Doctor hears from a reader who isn’t sure which of their two vehicles to keep. Honda
Q. I wonder how you would approach making a decision about which car to keep. I have two Honda Elements, one is a 2007 EX, and the other is a 2005 EX. They each have their quirks, but how would you approach making the decision about which one to keep?
A. Have a mechanic check out both vehicles. Check for rust, oil leaks, suspension wear, brake condition, and overall running, driving, and shifting. When you are dealing with 20ish-year-old vehicles it really depends on how they are aging. The 2007 is a bit better in regard to safety and performance. As an example the 2007 Element has side airbags plus a 5-speed transmission which offers a bit better fuel economy and is a bit quieter at highway speeds. In most cases, keeping the 2007 is preferable — but if the 2005 is mechanically healthier and better maintained, it might actually be the better choice overall. Also, these vehicles have attained a bit of cult status and are pretty well sought after.
Q. Could you recommend a small battery charger for my Hyundai 2023 Hybrid? I am not a car expert but enjoy reading your articles every week.
A. I have two that I use, the Deltran Battery Tender and the C-Tek smart charger. For the Battery Tender I have both the Battery Tender Junior and slightly larger 1.5-amp Battery Tender. The larger unit can charge up a discharged battery overnight. The smaller unit in my opinion is better suited to just maintain a fully charged battery. The C-Tek smart charger is a bit more expensive and more sophisticated using a better process to prevent sulfation and is also temperature compensating, which avoids over or undercharging in extreme weather conditions.
Q. My wife and I are planning to look for a new or pre-owned vehicle this spring and are considering getting an SUV or Crossover for the first time. Which makes and models do you recommend we look at? We are empty nesters, so we are looking at smaller SUVs.
A. A small crossover/SUV is an excellent choice. You sit up a little higher, there is plenty of space for trips to the home improvement store, and fuel economy can be quite good. I would look at the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 or Hyundai Tucson, or the last generation Hyundai Santa-Fe. The new Santa-Fe has grown a bit and may feel a bit too large.
Q. Do you ever think there will be a time when the somewhat annoying and time consuming annual vehicle inspections will be done via Wi-Fi, through a car computer system? Currently my car knows when the oil is due and even when inspection is due. It seems simple you would receive a bill in the mail, then receive a sticker.
A. Unfortunately, electronics do not tell you about safety issues with brakes, steering and suspension components. Could the emissions portion of inspections be completed wirelessly? Yes, but only on cars with bi-directional Wi-Fi capabilities. Considering the average age of cars today is 12 years, most cars do not have that capability. Yes, newer cars, especially EVs have the ability to report lights that are out, warning lights that are on, and even worn brakes. In theory if something can be measured electronically it can be transmitted, so someday, possibly, but not yet. Also interesting in New Hampshire this year as part of their state budget they eliminated mandatory annual vehicle safety and emissions inspections for most passenger cars.
Q. I have a 2012 Honda CR-V with only about 38,000 miles. I bring it to a Honda Dealer regularly. I went to a different Honda Dealer for an oil change, and I was informed that I should replace the sparkplugs (not based on mileage but on time). The cost was about $350. The vehicle rides okay. I would like to follow the MAINTENANCE MINDER, which does not indicate this service be done at this time. I would appreciate your opinion.
A. The spark plugs in a CR-V typically last 100,000 miles. Now at 13 years old can it hurt to replace them? No. Is it necessary? Probably not. The only real way to tell is to take the spark plugs out and visually inspect them. The repair price quoted is about average at $325-$350 and typical from a Honda dealer. The symptoms of worn spark plugs are rough idling, reduced fuel efficiency, difficulty starting, rough running, or a check engine light on and flashing. If the car is running fine, then you could wait or you could do it now and not worry about it.
Q. I was talking to a neighbor recently who wrapped her car’s remote in aluminum foil to prevent hacking. Then I went on the internet and saw someone with a hacking device called the Flipper-Zero. It seemed to be able to clone access cards and remote controls. Can this device clone a car’s remote, and should I be concerned about theft with his device?
A. Aluminum foil can act as a crude Faraday cage and block the key fob signal and can prevent relay attacks. A relay attack is where a thief uses a receiver/amplifier to connect the key fob in the house to the car outside. I don’t have any experience with the Flipper-Zero (but would like to try one). If it can clone a car’s remote (doubtful) it would only work once or not at all. Remote access in most cars uses a rolling code which changes each time the remote is used.
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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