Is it OK to add air to my tires during the winter? | Car Doctor
Q: My tires are feeling low. Is it OK to put air in them during the winter? Someone told me that filling tires in the winter can lead to water in the tires because of moisture in the air pump.
A: Yes. Tires should be checked once a month and inflated as needed. In general, a tire will lose one pound per square inch of air per month. In cold weather, for every 10-degree drop in temperature, you can lose another pound of air.
When the tires are cool, inflate them as recommended on the tire inflation placard on the driver’s door jamb.
Today, most air compressors have water traps to prevent moisture from getting into the tires. I have found that most tire stores are happy to check and properly inflate tires any time of the year.
Out of patience trying to diagnose water leak in Chrysler 300
Q: I have a 2021 Chrysler 300. Nobody can seem to find the origin of a leak that causes a puddle to form on the passenger-side floor under the glovebox area. I noticed it about seven months ago, but since it is under the floor mat, I can't be certain when it first began.
The dealership has done various "repairs" since June to no avail. I've been told they've replaced, resealed, removed/reinstalled door gaskets, windshield, sunroof, blown out hoses, reached out to a third-party contractor who replaced the "plenum" cover and resealed the passenger door gasket. Sadly, none of these repair attempts have worked. The hard part seems to be that it doesn't leak in every rainstorm but in the majority of them. The dealership is out of ideas and I'm out of patience. I previously contacted Chrysler headquarters, which requested I bring it to a different dealer.
A: Unfortunately, there is no area that I would call a common leak. The typical leak is from the sunroof drains (there are four), or a clogged evaporator drain. The dealer is doing the right thing by contacting a "freelance" leak specialist.
There are some other options: ultrasonic detectors are good for testing door and glass seals. I have seen techs pressurize the cabin with air and then use synthetic smoke to find a leak.
Some minor changes can cause the leak to happen one day and not the next. Running the blower motor may change the interior pressure of the cabin and either cause or seal a leak, or even parking on an angle can cause a body seam to open. It is just time, patience and talent that will find the leak.
Is Outback's starter weak, or could it be the battery?
Q: My 2016 Subaru Outback, with 55,000 miles, needed a jumpstart. The tech came with a portable charging unit and the car started immediately. When the tech looked at the screen on the charging unit, he said the battery tested fine, but the starter "was weak."
I do believe a light was left on in the car that caused the battery to discharge. I have not experienced any problems with starting before, and I am reluctant to bring the car in for service with such a vague complaint. Can you advise me on whether this needs further testing?
A: First, I would make sure the battery is fully charged. Ideally, it would be best to charge the battery with a battery charger and then retest the battery, alternator and starter.
If the battery is original, it could certainly be at the end of its life. A weak battery can cause poor starter readings.
Historically, Subaru starters are pretty robust, but the batteries have been problematic.
Can Honda CR-V's headlights be converted to xenon?
Q: I have a Honda CR-V. I would like to convert the headlights to xenon lights like the newer models have. What do you think?
A: Although it is certainly possible, it’s very expensive, due to the fact that high-intensity headlights need to auto-aim. That requires expensive and complex electronics.
If it is a matter of poor headlight output, I would first ensure that the headlight lenses are completely transparent and free of any hazing.
Headlight bulbs start to dim after three years. Replacing the bulbs or upgrading to a brighter/whiter halogen bulb, will certainly improve the headlight performance.
Does Corolla's 'hitch' when accelerating indicate a CVT problem?
Q: My wife purchased a new 2022 Toyota Corolla 18 months ago. My son has noticed a slight hesitation or hitch in the transmission when accelerating. The dealer claims that this is normal for a continually variable transmission (CVT). Should this be a long-term concern? Would you recommend the purchase of an extended warranty? This vehicle will probably be driven no more than 10,000 miles per year and has otherwise performed very well.
A: I would certainly try to road-test an exact equivalent of this vehicle to see if this is a problem with your car or a characteristic of the model. Many CVTs do have some slight odd characteristics, since there are no actual gears. What you may be feeling is the transmission finding the most economical ratio, and that can feel like it hangs up for a moment.
Toyota vehicles are extremely reliable, and I wouldn't even consider purchasing an additional warranty until the five-year, 60,000 driveline warranty deadline is near.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Is it OK to add air to my tires during the winter? | Car Doctor
