Q: I put new Honda OEM rotors and brake pads on the front wheels of my 2016 Honda Odyssey and 15,000 miles later, the front wheels shudder when braking at higher speeds, especially downhill. Any suggestions?
A: Because the oscillation happens when braking, it’s probably not a wheel balance issue. One of the brake rotors may have gotten damaged, perhaps from hitting a pothole or other object. Bad suspension parts can’t be ruled out. If you have had any wheel service like changing a tire, rotating tires or having a wheel alignment, a rotor may have been damaged by uneven lug nut torque. Personally, whenever I have service done, I double check the torque with my torque wrench even if they used torque sticks at the shop.
Skip the work
Q: My dealer wants to perform evaporator service, factory coolant service, fuel system cleaning and replace the cabin filter — for over $1,000. My car is a 2015 RAV4 with 30,000 miles. It is garage-kept, driving three miles twice a week on average. Are these services needed now?
A: No.
Don’t worry
Q: I own a 2023 Kia Niro hybrid. Since I purchased it, there has been fluid leaking from the back of the vehicle. This seems to happen after using the heating/cooling system. The dealer’s service department assures me that it is simply water and not harmful, but they do not know where it is coming from. They assured me it is not coming from the tailpipe. They say that it is a common problem with this model, and that there is nothing they can do to stop it. Should I press this further?
A: You can relax. It is water and it’s a result of running the HVAC system. The water is condensate from the air conditioning which, believe it or not, runs in the winter as well as the summer.
Lots of options
Q: I’m interested in a very simple external CD player for my 2023 Honda HR-V. Is there such a thing? I’m not so technical, so simple is very important.
A: Yes, there are lots of them. Just be sure that your car has a USB port to plug into.
