Is the gas cap causing my car’s warning lights to go on?

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John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Vehicle Health practitioner, responses a dilemma from a reader with problems about persistent warning lights.

Q. In February I bought a 2006 Lexus SC 430 with just above 50,000 miles. My trouble is with the motor vehicle security command light and test motor gentle that continue to keep popping up on the dash. On the internet information indicated it’s a fuel cap challenge and to just clear it. I’ve carried out that, but the light-weight arrives back on right after a whilst. Is there a unique way to clear the cap?

A. The very first stage would have any diagnostic codes examine to ascertain attainable difficulties of the two lights. The lights could be activated for a solitary concern or several challenges. The car or truck security management mild usually will illuminate if there is an problem with a wheel sensor. When the VSC gentle is on, the method shuts down, and although the car or truck will behave typically, you’ll reduce the skid prevention part of the car or truck. The regular examine engine gentle challenge, although it could be connected to the gasoline cap, is additional than probably an issue with the evaporative emissions process (the fuel cap is aspect of that program). The gentle is usually induced by a faulty purge control valve. This procedure is ideal checked with a “smoke-test.” Synthetic smoke is pumped into the evaporative system and the technician appears for smoke leaking from many parts. 

Q. I have a 2005 Toyota Corolla with 190,000 miles. The air conditioning has always worked really well until finally now. When I am stopped or driving slowly but surely in cease-and-go site visitors, it blows lukewarm air. If I’m driving at normal freeway speeds, it functions fine. I will point out that this previous 12 months I did have repairs to the car in the way of a new radiator and flush as very well as a transmission flush and starter replacement. I cannot consider that any of these repairs would have impacted the effectiveness of the AC. What do you think may well be the trouble?

A. It is unlikely that the work done would have brought on any concerns with the air conditioner. Additional than very likely there is a slight leak in the air conditioner procedure and the refrigerant degree is low. At 17 decades aged, it’s not strange for seals to start off to dry out and seep refrigerant, ensuing in a small demand. At this level the most effective detail to do is have the air conditioner tuned up. The technician will seem for leaks, check AC overall performance, and check refrigerant ranges. If the stage is low, the technician may perhaps include some refrigerant with each a dye (to examine for leaks) and a sealer which could protect against or gradual minimal leaks. 

Q. For an electrical car or truck, why just cannot the motor spin a belt that turns a generator that expenses the battery? In gasoline powered automobiles we have an alternator. Why not use it or a identical unit in electrical cars?

A. The uncomplicated remedy is that the motor vehicle would need to have a extremely significant generator, and the electrical power required to turn the generator underneath load would nonetheless take additional out of the battery than it could set back again in. Electrical cars and plugin hybrids do use regenerative braking which does add some electrical energy back again to the battery, but not enough to totally charge the battery, which is why these cars need to be plugged in. BMW’s electrical i3 design can be geared up with a modest gasoline engine that powers a generator. This method maintains the cost amount of the substantial-voltage battery, so the car or truck can operate on electrical power. Ford with its F-150 hybrid pickup truck has an onboard generator that can develop 240 volts at up to 7.2 kilowatts. This would be sufficient to demand an electric motor vehicle, but it is run by a turbocharged V-6 engine. A startup motor vehicle company Aptera is promising an electrical car that can charge up to 40 miles of selection, utilizing the sun. For many drivers this may well get rid of plugging in.

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Vehicle Physician. He has more than 40 several years of experience in the automotive small business and is an ASE-licensed master technician. E-mail your vehicle dilemma to [email protected] Pay attention to the Auto Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.