Do I Have To Pay For A Recall Repair

Car Guides

Do I take to pay for a recollect repair my car's previous owner ignored?

John Paul, AAA Northeast'due south Car Dr., answers a question from a reader dealing with a recall issue.

In this Aug. 5, 2022 file photo, the Lexus logo is displayed on a Lexus sedan in the exhibit at Lexus of Kendall in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File

Q. I only purchased a 2004 Lexus 60 470 and simply found out it had a think notice put out in 2022 that the last owner never followed upwardly on. I read in the article that if a vehicle is over x years one-time the dealership can charge for the repairs, but it too said that if a new possessor finds out a recall was never resolved, so the new owner can still have it fixed for gratis. Since the original remember was issued in 2022, the vehicle was already 12 years old. So, as a new owner of a vehicle that has an outstanding recall should I look the call up to be washed for complimentary?

A. Equally a general rule, safety recalls have no expiration engagement and are performed at no charge to the current possessor. The only time this would modify is if there are parts that were badly rusted or damaged that needed to exist removed to get to the recalled component. In this case, the owner would be responsible for the cost of the associated parts. To find out more about this subject field visit AAA'due south YouTube page where I had the opportunity to chat with Stephan Ridella of NHTSA.

Q. I drive a 2022 Subaru Legacy with 90,000 miles. The Subaru dealer recommended installing premium engine protection and fuel system cleaner. These sound like gimmicks and non useful services. Are they real things that add value?

A. This seems to be a dealer suggestion only. Subaru, like most manufacturers, does not recommend the use of an oil additive. Co-ordinate to the Subaru manual, apply simply the proper grade and viscosity of oil equally recommended in the vehicle possessor's manual. Fuel system cleaner would fall into the same category. It would be all-time for most engines to use TopTier fuel that has additional fuel cleaning additives. For a list of TopTier fuels become to world wide web.toptiergas.com .

Q. I live in the North Due east, and I will be going to Florida for a few months, leaving my car in my garage. What is the proper care for my bombardment?

A. The best matter you can do for your machine'south battery is to use a battery maintainer-type charger. These specialty chargers (Bombardment Tender is one) will maintain the accuse without overcharging the battery. Over fourth dimension when a car is left idle, the battery will slowly discharge. Typically, when a bombardment becomes fully discharged information technology can lose up to thirty percentage of its life/performance.

Q. I need to buy new rims and tires for my daughter's 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Tin you recommend a decent rim and tire? Style is not important. I'1000 mainly looking for quality and reliability without breaking the depository financial institution. Where is the all-time identify to buy them?

A. Almost major tire retailers should exist able to assist y'all out with a reasonably priced tire/bicycle combination. In add-on, online retailers such equally TireRack have bike and tire packages. What is nice is the tires come mounted and balanced, and with new tire pressure monitors, if needed. The typical life of a tire monitor is 7 to ten years, so ownership new monitors now may be the most price effective. The tires can exist shipped directly to a local installer if you don't want to install them yourself.

Q. Do open antifreeze, restriction fluid, transmission fluid, and fuel stabilizer have shelf lives?

A. It sounds like your garage may look like my storage shed with partially opened bottles of automotive fluids. Engine coolant over a very long time tin can class something that looks like crystals. Brake fluid attracts moisture and to some extent so does oil/transmission fluid. Co-ordinate to the folks at Sta-Bil, they tell me fuel stabilizer lasts a couple of years. The other issue is that the products yous have on your shelf may non be compatible with the car you lot drive today. As an example, there are at least 8 different types of engine coolant today. When I first started in the auto repair business concern, there was one. If there is any dubiousness, dispose of the old fluids properly and buy new.

Q. Three attempts have been made by the dealer to supervene upon the taillight seals on my Chevrolet Impala. Water is leaking on left and right sides. The final endeavour was performed utilizing an upgraded/thicker seal. This final attempt reduced but did not eliminate the leak. It leaked the day I picked up the car. My recommendation to the dealer was to butter both sides of the new gaskets with Lexel adhesive sealant, merely this was not done. Any suggestions?

A. Since the last repair slowed the leak, it sounds like they are on the right path. Although I wonder if the problem is more than of a body seam that is leaking rather than the lights. At this point the dealer should bring in a wind and water specialist to observe and permanently repair the leak.

John Paul is AAA Northeast's Car Dr.. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business organization and is an ASE-certified main technician. E-mail your motorcar question to [email protected] . Listen to Car Doctor on the radio at 10 a.m. every Saturday on 104.9 FM or online at northshore1049.com .