Paul Brand
Columnist | Cars
E-mail: paulbrand@startribune.com
Paul Brand writes about autos for the Star Tribune.
Recent content from Paul Brand
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Driver's cushion won't interfere with air bag
Q I use a seat cushion on the driver's side of my 2003 Alero. This was recommended at a safety check several years ago. No warning light comes on. Do I have a potential problem?
Aug 19, 2009 -
Some consider CARS program itself a clunker
Have you been able to take advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers" program -- or wish you could? The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program has been wildly successful, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.
Aug 12, 2009 -
Cushion on seat confuses air-bag sensor
Q I recently purchased a 2009 Chevy Traverse. My wife, who is vertically challenged (5 feet 1), likes to sit on a cushion so she can see out better. But when she sits on a cushion in the front passenger seat, the air-bag warning light indicates the air bag is off. So, to ride as safely as possible, she does not use the cushion.
Aug 5, 2009 -
Bad fuel pump may be reason SUV won't start
Q I have a '99 Blazer with 140,000 miles. Thursday night after coming home and sitting for an hour, it wouldn't start. It cranked over, but nothing. It had spark but didn't seem to be getting fuel.
Jul 29, 2009 -
Heat warning may be caused by trapped air
Q I have a 1990 Mazda Miata that constantly seems to overheat. When I'm on the freeway, the temp will begin to rise; then I pull over, and it goes back down to just below the halfway mark. Most of the time, I can just start driving again, and the temperature doesn't rise again. I changed the radiator cap and the thermostat, but that hasn't solved the problem.
Jul 22, 2009 -
Paul Brand: Jumper cables can be useful in summertime
Q I own a 1995 Plymouth Voyager with a 3.0-liter engine. When it gets really hot in the summer, over 90 with high humidity, the starter does not work. There is no power to it. I have to connect jumper cables from the positive terminal on the battery to the bolt on the starter to get the starter to engage.
Jul 15, 2009 -
Paul Brand: The cold truth about cool fuel, chilled air
Q I saw a list of ways to save on gasoline, and one tip was to buy gas late at night or early in the morning because gasoline is more dense when it's cool than it would be on a hot summer afternoon.
Jul 8, 2009 -
Brake-rotor wear may lead to vibration
Q I have a 2000 Saab 9-3 with the 2.3-liter turbo motor and 84,000 miles. When I brake from a higher speed, say above 50 miles per hour, the steering wheel vibrates. The vibration will settle down as I slow down, and it stops when I get below about 30 mph.
Jul 1, 2009 -
Fuel pump may be too pooped to pump
Q My granddaughter drives a 1995 four-cylinder Pontiac that runs well most of the time but sometimes will not start. To get it started you have to hit the fuel tank and the starter at the same time. While driving, the car will slow down to 10 mph for a while, then the engine will pick up again. The car's had a new head gasket and a good tuneup. The computers show no codes and it does not happen daily. Are there any service bulletins or recalls for these problems?
Jun 24, 2009 -
Fouled-plug problem isn't going away
Q I have a question about my '96 Tahoe that I hope you can help me with. The check-engine light came on and my scanner pulled the codes for an engine miss in cylinders 4 and 6. I replaced the plugs, cap, rotor and fuel filter. When I pulled the number 4 and 6 plugs out, they were completely fouled with a thick white covering.
Jun 17, 2009
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