Automania/Maintenance and Repair

AUTO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR WEEK 27

by Bob Hagin

Q. I have a 1996 Chrysler Sebring purchased new last August. The car has been in for service three times for replacing the rear brake rotors and, then to have the brakes replaced front and rear again and refaced. It had to have the radio replaced, a vacuum hose reconnected at the EGR valve, an adjustment of the shifter cable and a regluing of the rubber stripping that surrounds the shifting unit. It also had to have an engine light adjusted as it was coming on when the car was running. Does the fact that there have been so many problems with this car make me eligible for rights under the Lemon Law? I feel rather frustrated and in need of some sound advice at this point. J.R. Ambler, PA

A. If you asking for legal advice, you're asking the wrong guy since I'm a mechanic and not a lawyer but I'll tell you what I know. Since there's no federal automobile Lemon Laws, it's up to the individual states to enact auto complaint laws of their own. As you can imagine, there are probably as many different variations on the concept as there are states and some of them don't even have any that specifically address these problems. I'm told that in some states they are handled under general consumer laws only. Check with the consumer affairs department of Pennsylvania for the specifics. Usually these laws require that the vehicle be down for repairs for a certain number of days during a certain number of weeks or months and it's up to the owner to prove this by showing repair statements from the shop. It's also a good idea to write down the dates and context of phone calls made back and fourth. Sometimes state laws require the owner and the auto maker to formally arbitrate these complaints before they go to court so contact your local Chrysler factory representative as soon as possible.

Q. I have been told by two tire salesmen and one service station attendant that my tires are dry-rotting. The tires are the original ones that were on the car when I bought it in 1990, seven years ago. The mileage on the car is now 33,000 and the tread on the tires is still good. They even passed the state inspection last April. I am concerned about driving on the interstate roads with these tires. They are Michelin All Weather. E.H. Norfolk, VA

A. Much as I hate to put down the people who looked at your tires, remember that their jobs are to sell you new ones. If you're afraid of your tires, get rid of them, especially if the sidewalls are "checked" and/or showing the construction cord under the rubber. State inspections are only as good as the technicians doing the job and they sometimes pass something that's edgy just to avoid a hassle. Tire warranties on new cars are strange in that the auto maker isn't legally bound to honor them. The tire maker has to do it and this is sometimes a real problem. A tire warranty came with your car when you bought it and it's usually found attached to the owner's manual but seven years is a long time so I don't think that you'll get much help there.

Q. Our 1987 Chevrolet Camaro has a V8 engine, an automatic transmission and the odometer reads 78,000 miles. We bought it new and it's been very dependable until now. Recently it has taken to requiring a long time cranking on the starter before the engine starts up. It eventually starts but the time period seems to be getting longer. I'm holding off taking it to a mechanic as long as I can to save money. C.H. Pleasanton, CA

A. Some of the Camaros and Corvettes of that era developed fuel delivery problems. It could be a malfunctioning cold-start injector, a bad fuel pump check valve, a faulty fuel pressure regulator or fuel injectors that are leaking when the engine is shut down. Have a mechanic check out these potential problems before you have to have it towed in.