How To
John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, answers a question from a Saab owner who doesn’t know where to turn for service.
Q. Where can I get my Saab serviced? I have owned and loved my Saab for years, but the Cadillac dealer who was also the Saab dealer no longer can service the car. They said they do not have the software available to run tests.
A. This is always an issue with “orphan cars.” Simple repairs – belts, hoses, tune ups, and other maintenance items – should not be a problem for any qualified technician. Scan tool data may be a bit more problematic, although I have found some aftermarket scanners still update the software for these out-of-production vehicles. I would start with checking Saab forums to see where people go and also see if there is a Swedish Car Day in your area, and ask some other owners. In my area, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum has a Swedish Car Day in late summer. You can also check AAA Approved Auto repair network.
Q. My 2018 Chrysler 300, which I purchased new and absolutely love, has extremely warped door panels, which might cause safety issues. The front passenger door is by far the worst of them. The passenger rear door is just starting to deform and separate near the rear. The driver side front and rear are not too noticeable as of yet, but it might be just the beginning. My local Chrysler dealer basically washed their hands off the whole matter. As far as I know, Chrysler door panels are crazy expensive and are backordered. I would like to address this as quickly as possible. In your opinion can an auto upholstery shop remove the panels and repair this defect? Should I expect Chrysler to help out with this issue that affects the value of the car?
A. The issue in my opinion is a combination of heat and poor-quality adhesives. The door panels, or door cards as they are sometimes called, can be repaired by a good upholstery shop. Depending on the extent of the failure, the panels may be able to be reglued. If not, new panels can be custom made. At seven years old, I would not expect any assistance from Chrysler.
Q. I bought my 2013 Jeep Wrangler new. I have had minor problems with the car. I’m not a fan after all these minor problems, but now I want to sell it. After years of trying to get the engine light to turn off I am at my wits end. I took it to Jeep and they could not find anything. I took it to my mechanic and he said fill the car with gas — that worked to shut the engine light to get it inspected. The next time, they changed the sensor in the car for the gas line or cap, I think, but now it is doing it again. This has become very frustrating and expensive. Now the car is sitting because I cannot get it inspected. Can you help me?
A. There is always a reason for a check engine light. To me it sounds like the problem is related to the evaporative emissions system. This is based on the fact that the mechanic told you to fill the tank. The EVAP monitor will not self-test when the fuel tank is full or almost empty. The first thing that needs to be performed is to look for a leak in the system. A mechanic will use a smoke machine and fill the system with smoke and operate solenoids and look for a leak. The next step would be to look at the EIM (Evap Integrity Module) which is attached to your Jeep’s vapor canister. To accurately diagnose the car will take time/money and the proper diagnostic tools.
Q. I look forward to your column every week and have learned a lot. I remember reading about scan tools that you recommend but cannot find the article. Could you give me a recommendation for a good scan tool for an advanced do-it-yourselfer?
A. There are quite a few good ones these days. I use an X-Tool (D-8). It is a little slow but the information and versatility are quite good, and comes with three years of updates and has listings for cars I have never heard of. The other brand is from Innova, they have several models including a tablet-based tool. Their tools are good, but their app is what makes the tools a standout. You can read live data, retrieve codes, check the app, and look at verified repair fixes. Professional techs like the Autel line, a very solid, but expensive tool. I have never used them, but the Harbor Freight Icon T-10 and T-8 scanners are getting good reviews with professional techs and are quite reasonably priced for their versatility.
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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