How To
John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader considering replacing wheel bearings on a 2015 car.
Q. I have a 2015 Toyota Camry LE with 155,000 miles. A diagnostic was done and I was told the left front wheel ball bearings are worn and need to be replaced, including the hub. With my car at this mileage, does this seem reasonable and necessary?
A. If the bearing is making a noise or is loose then it needs to be replaced. It is not an unusual repair item for any vehicle with over 100,000 miles. The repair can be performed in two different ways. The hub and bearing can be replaced, or the entire bearing assembly complete with the spindle can be replaced. The “loaded” spindle can be performed quicker with less labor, although the part is more expensive. To replace the bearing and hub requires a few specialized tools including a hydraulic press to remove and install the new parts.
Q. Years ago I had a Toyota that kept overheating. I would have to turn the heater on in the summer to cool it down. The Toyota service manager had the nerve to tell me some cars run hotter than others. Years later I sold the car to my nephew who disregarded my instructions and proceeded to cook the engine. While they were replacing the engine, they discovered said engine’s thermostat was malfunctioning. Your thoughts?
A. Although car engines do run at different temperatures, none should ever overheat. When diagnosing an overheating issue, after coolant levels are checked, the basic inspection should include checking the cooling fan operation, engine thermostat, and overall condition of the radiator.
Q. My neighbor is a retired mechanic, and he came over to test the battery in my car. He attached the tester to the jumpstart posts and after testing told me the battery was bad. Is this the correct way to test a hard-to-see or remote-mounted battery?
A. The most accurate method to test a battery is to remove the cables (use a memory saver), clean the posts, and then test the battery. In fact, General Motors and many other manufacturers, in their repair instructions for many newer vehicles, state that for accurate testing the battery cable must be removed from the battery before attaching test equipment.
Q. We are thinking of replacing two vehicles in our household. We are thinking of a small electric car and a full-sized truck. I have owned Ford trucks in the past and have been happy with them. We have never owned an electric car but think it is time. Any suggestions?
A. The New England Motor Press, of which I have been a long-time member, gives awards to vehicles that perform well in the winter as well as year-round. This year NEMPA Official Winter Truck of the Year was the Ford F-150 and the NEMPA official EV of the year was the Hyundai Ionic 5. More than 40 experienced automotive journalists, myself included, chose these two vehicles.
Q. I have an old rusty truck I am working on and I am having trouble with some basic items such as lights and relays. Any tricks to make the diagnosis and repairs easier?
A. As you pointed out, you are working on a rusty truck with what are most likely poor ground circuits. Most experienced mechanics will use a tool called a PowerProbe. The basic idea of this tool is that it can deliver both power and ground to test a circuit. The PowerProbe is a great tool but can get pricey, about $200 and up. Last year I purchased a similar tool online for $20 and although it worked, the built in voltmeter was off by three tenths (.3) of a volt, lacked circuit protection and the cables could be longer and more flexible. Recently I have been using a similar tool from Innova, the PowerCheck circuit tester, it sells for about $100 and works quite well. The cheapest option is to get a premade two conductor jumper wire set. You can buy these 20-30-foot-long jumper wires sets for $20. Although keep in mind the jumper wires offer no protection if you apply power to the wrong side of a circuit.
Q. When I was a kid, I worked at a local gas station. Every few years cars would get new fan belts. Today the belts seem to last forever. Is there a way to test drive belts other than looking for cracking?
A. Continental engine parts and Gates and most likely other belt manufacturers make a little gauge with teeth on it to measure wear on a serpentine belt. It is a simple tool and although it is probably developed to sell drive belts, it does give you an idea that the belt is worn and will need replacement in the future.
John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.
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