Auto Scanner: Please shed some light on faulty switch

Tag: Automatic switch

I was listening to you when you were on the radio with Jordan Rich on March 7 and you described a problem with headlights that we have with our 1993 Honda Civic. At the first position on the light "stalk," the parking lights, tail lights and dashboard lights are on, as they are supposed to be. As soon as you turn to the next position, the headlights go on, but all the other lights go off. I know it has something to do with a switch. Since this is an electrical problem, I'd like to have some idea of the magnitude, before we take the Civic to a garage for repair. Honda garages in Maine are few and far between, and our track record with inexperienced Honda mechanics is painful. Any advice you can provide would be appreciated.

I can appreciate your hesitation in taking your car to just anyone. However the job itself is very basic and takes less than an hour to make the replacement. The kicker is, however, the part costs about $210. To find a qualified mechanic, go to your nearest Napa auto parts store and ask the parts seller which shop he or she services that is the most competent to do this job. You can also Google Napa Auto Care shops on the Internet to find the shop closest to you.

I have a 1998 Riviera. The check engine light keeps coming on. The code says it is the CAM sensor, but I have replaced it three times and the light comes back on. Do you know of any past problems with this? Any help you can give me would be appreciated as I have had this problem for the past three years.

There are many particulars that could turn on the light. However, the most common and most commonly overlooked reason for this failure is the magnetic button that is attached to the CAM gear. This magnet triggers the sensor. If the CAM is walking or if the magnet is weak, you will keep having this intermittent problem.

We bought our first brand new car in 19 years last May — a 2007 RAV-4, automatic 4WD — and we have always been religious about 3,000 mile oil changes (thus we have histories of 314,000 miles with original clutch and 312,000 or 285,000 miles on several previous vehicles). In addition to "do I need to use synthetic, since I have since I bought the car 31,000 miles ago?" is "the dealership says every 5,000 vs. our traditional 3,000. Is that OK?"

Your letter is self-explanatory. You are doing everything I have recommended and you are getting record-setting distance in your cars. Thanks for proving the auto scanner to be right. Just keep doing what you are doing.

Car Care Tip: When your car is on the lift for its oil change job, have the technician spin all four wheels to check for excess brake drag, which will rob you of fuel mileage.