Q: I never thought I’d be writing you with an issue – but here I go. I own a 2011 Suburban. The check engine light has been on for more than 3 years. The issue (code) identifies it as an “oil pressure sensor” fault. I can clear the code, turning off the check engine light, only to have it come back on the next day. Two years ago, when my emissions test was due, it cost me a small fortune and five trips back and forth to the mechanic to get the check engine light off long enough for me to successfully pass the emissions test. Fast forward to today. My emissions test is due again and I don’t have it in me to jump through the hoops. Any suggestions to get through the emissions test?
R.P., Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
A: You will continue to behave like a trained terrier unless you replace the oil pressure (OP) switch. The bad news is, because of its location, it is not a simple job, probably costing several hundred bucks. But it will be done once and for all. Replacing the switch is probably less painful than doing dumb dog tricks.
Q: I took my Hyundai Sonata to a dealership for service and was told that the mice had chewed the engine wire harness and it had to be replaced. The cost is over $6,000. They said that soy is used on the wires and mice love soy. I asked if it could be replaced with a product that does not use soy and they said no. They are going to replace it with the same wire harness product. I did not put the mouse in there and did not put soy in there, so why should I have to pay to get the same soy product? Is this fair?
A.C., Hartford, Connecticut
A: It doesn’t seem fair, but you may get good news if you have comprehensive insurance coverage. In most cases you may only have to pay the deductible amount.
Q: We often notice my husband’s 2014 Accord trunk is open. It’s not easy to detect and we don’t believe he is hitting the fob as frequently as we find it open. Is this a Honda issue? How can this be resolved? Any help would be appreciated.
P.S., Orland Park, Illinois
A: I have had other Honda owners complain of the same thing, but I have not found a pattern failure with any components. The most probable cause is your pocket of purse. Something may rub against the button on the key fob. Loose change, for the few who still carry it, or a penknife could be the culprit.
Q: We drive a 2014 Subaru Forester with about 75,000 miles on it. We live in Chicago. We typically buy 87 octane gas at Costco and the MPG calculator has been hovering around 26-27 for the past several years. This past summer we started taking occasional weekend car trips around the Midwest and I have noticed that every time we buy gas in Michigan or Wisconsin the average MPG read-out on the highway jumps from around 27 to 33, 35 or even higher! I know that fuel sold in the Chicago metro area is a special mix created to reduce air pollution, but would that, alone, account for such a big difference?
J.C., Chicago
A: You may be buying gasoline that is not laced with ethanol. I checked the pure-gas.org website and found many towns in Wisconsin that serve alcohol-free gasoline. Ethanol typically reduces fuel economy about 3% to 5%. Highway driving also helps.
