A: New brakes pads are generally about 10-12 millimeters thick. At 3 millimeters the brakes are just about worn out and should be replaced.
Replacing the front and rear brakes at the same time may save a little money and, certainly, your time without a car. ELectric Water Pump For TOYOTA PRIUS
Replacing the brake fluid is a great idea when servicing the brake system. Additionally, if you are keeping this car, replacing the brake rotors is money well spent.
Q: I do not know if you have covered this issue in the past. It is my understanding that the 3.5L V6 engine in the early Ford Edge (mine is a 2011) has a water pump issue. When the pump goes bad, it ends up destroying the engine.
Since the pump is internal, the cost of replacing it is very costly and not for a home mechanic. Is the water pump issue only on some of the V6 engines (i.e., the range of date the engines were built)? If so, how can I find out if my car is one of them? What is the best maintenance to prevent the pump from failing?
A: You are correct that the repair is a 12-hour job, due to the location and the timing chain arrangement.
The water pump can leak, and that was common for many years on this model. The timing chain tensioners/guides can also break.
The water pump is chain-driven and, when the bearing wears, the seal leaks and coolant ends up in the engine oil.
On newer models, Ford switched to a more robust design.
At this point, change the coolant and oil on a regular basis and periodically inspect the pump for leaks and noise.
Q: When people talk about hybrid cars, they mention only the positive things about these cars. What about the negative things that most buyers are unaware of? Could you enlighten us about some negatives of owning a hybrid vehicle?
A: Hybrid vehicles can cost more than their non-hybrid counterparts, so it will take a bit longer to pay off the initial investment with higher fuel economy.
Hybrid vehicles are a bit more complicated, and not all repair shops are fully up to speed on hybrid-specific repairs.
Also, as a hybrid car gets older, the resale value can suffer, due to the uncertainty of the hybrid battery life.
Cars are a personal choice, and the right car needs to fit your needs, wants and budget.
I recently was talking with a motor press friend who lives in Maine and wanted to buy a new vehicle and was considering an electric. After some research, and the lack of charging infrastructure in Maine, he settled on a Hyundai Tucson hybrid. So far, he has been getting about 36 miles per gallon, a 30% improvement over his previous SUV.
Q: I heard you on your radio program talking about a fancy pair of cutting pliers. You said they are handy for cutting cable ties. What makes them different from other cutters?
A: What makes these cutting pliers different is they are flush cutting. So when you cut a wire tie wrap (zip-tie), it doesn’t leave a sharp edge.
If you bundle wires under a dash, or another spot that you'll need to reach into again, it is nice to remove all the sharp edges.
The cutters are made in Maine by Xuron Corp.
Electric Cooling Pump John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.