Q: I have a 2013 Nissan 370Z roadster. Recently the convertible roof failed to lock. I continued trying to get it to lock and eventually it did. When it happened again, I took it to the Nissan dealer. They told me that Nissan doesn’t repair the convertible, but they would diagnose the problem for $756. Their diagnosis was that they think the roof lock was weak and should be replaced, but there could be other problems. The part would have to be ordered and it could take 6-12 months and would cost $1,500. I called four other local Nissan dealers, and they told me they didn’t have a technician who works on the 370Z. Any suggestions?
B.F., Syracuse, New York
A: The best place to get it fixed is a local convertible specialist shop. Have them take a look. They may possibly give you a more reasonable quote. They have probably already seen your problem as well as plenty of others. They have the skills and know-how and also know where to source replacement parts.
Q: I am a 28-year-old teacher. In early 2021, I had saved a bunch of money to buy my first car, a 2021 Nissan Rogue SV AWD. About 10,000 miles into my new car, the dealership informed me that all my car’s components were running well (at a routine tire rotation and oil change), minus slight wear on my back left tire. At 20,000 miles, they informed me that around 25,000 miles the Nissan Rogues they were seeing were in need of a full set of new tires. When researching online the specific Hankook tires on my car, they seemingly have a warranty of 65,000 miles. However, both Nissan and Hankook won’t honor the warranty because “they were specifically manufactured to be on new Nissans.” Do I have any recourse against either of these companies?
K.B., Chicago
A: It’s a common industry practice to equip new vehicles with tires that aren’t the same as those you buy as replacements. As such, there is no warranty from either the carmaker or the tire maker. However, you can replace the tires with the same brand and trust them to perform up to their stated warranty. Keep in mind that the warranty is prorated based on mileage and wear. You don’t get brand new tires for free.
Q: When I signal to turn left or right, the corresponding headlight goes off until I complete the turn then comes back on. I swear this started recently as I never noticed it happening before, but the dealer said it has always been that way. I even called Nissan corporate. I was told the same thing. Can you shed some light on this? Makes no sense to me!
T.K., Victoria, Illinois
A: Since you are usually not in front of the vehicle, you usually do not see what the headlights and turn signals are doing until you see your reflection, such as on a glass store window. To make the turn signals stand out, the other lights are temporarily turned off. I think it is brilliant.
Q: The ABS light comes on much too frequently on my faithful 2002 Chevy Malibu with 167,000 miles. My mechanic suggested it may be a faulty sensor but suggests that the harness needs to be replaced simultaneously. The problem is that he can't find the part. He says that people drove cars for years without ABS. However, I feel as if the brakes are constantly being ridden and fear the vehicle may be unsafe. Where might I be able to find parts for older Chevy vehicles?
P.B., Evanston, Illinois
A: I don’t know which wheel needs the sensor, but if it is a typical AC Delco part number 22951116, it is available at just about any auto parts store. I even found one online at Home Depot. Sure, you could drive the car without anti-lock brakes, but why give up the safety? By the way, your brakes are not dragging.
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