I have a 1993 Nissan. It is a good car despite its age. However, as the battery aged, putting on the heater, and defroster may kill the battery. What help can you give me to help the battery to maintain the heating load, and not die?

A.

In this case, the battery may not be the entire problem. Any car, even as it ages should be able to run using the heater and defroster without any battery issues. I would start with a test of the battery and then look at the alternator output. The minimum output at 2500 RPM engine speed is 60 amperes. Prior to testing the alternator look at the drive belt. If the belt is slipping, the alternator won’t be able to maintain the battery. 

Q.

I’d like your opinion on two vehicles I’m considering. One is the Kia Niro EX Premium, and the other is the Subaru Crosstrek Sport or Limited. I was pretty much settled on the Crosstrek, but the gas mileage on the Niro has me considering it. I’ve never had a Kia, so I’m concerned about reliability. Any thoughts? 

A.

The Subaru has an advantage. If all-wheel-drive is an important feature, it may be worth any trade-off in miles-per-gallon over the Kia. Regarding Kia quality, over the past couple of years, there has been some engine issues with select models, but overall reliability has been quite good. If the Kia Niro fits your needs and you like it, I would not hesitate to buy one. 

Q.

I have a 2014 Honda CRV with 52,000 miles. When I am accelerating normally from 25 mph to around 40 mph, sometimes I feel the engine is bogging down and has this shuddering/vibration. Is this a known issue and what can I do to fix it?

A.

If the engine is running properly, I would be looking at a possible transmission issue. Honda did issue a technical service bulletin with a computer update and transmission fluid replacement. In some cases, the transmission may need to be replaced. Since you are out of warranty, I would try changing the transmission fluid (use only Honda fluid); in many cases this cures this symptom. 

Q.

We are the original owners of a 1995 Chevy Suburban 1500. We have done all maintenance on the truck except we have never replaced the timing chain or water pump. Do I need to replace these items, or can I just wait?  I don’t want to do any damage to the motor, it only has 101,000 miles on it.

A.

If the vehicle has been properly maintained the timing chain should last the life of the engine. Regarding the water pump, at this age a replacement could be considered as preventative maintenance. If you decide not to replace the water-pump, periodically check it for leaks and wear at the shaft bearing. If there are no leaks and no movement in the water pump shaft it could last for many more miles. 

Q.

My Toyota Corolla has 90,000 miles on it. When should the serpentine belt be replaced? Recently I had front and rear brake work done and the shop recommended belt and brake fluid replacement. Can you give me an estimate on how much it would cost?

A.

There was a time when fan belts (drive belts) were replaced every three years or 36,000 miles. Over time with improvements in belt design we are now seeing the typical life of a serpentine drive belt 10 years or 100,000 miles on average. Regarding brake fluid replacement, AAA engineering studies have shown that it is beneficial to replace brake fluid every three years. The typical cost is $80-$130 depending on labor rates.