Q: This year my husband and I splurged and purchased something we have wanted since high school: a 1969 Chevy Camaro. The car has had some work, updated with a newer 350-cubic-inch engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. The fall has been nice (except weekends), and I’ve been driving it until now. How do we store our “baby” so it will be ready for us in the spring?
A: Start by checking the fluids and changing the engine oil. If the coolant is clean and protecting the engine to minus 30 degrees, it should be fine.
Lubricate everything that moves: locks, latches, cables and things that can stick from lack of use.
Purchase a float-style battery maintainer (CTEK and Battery Tender are good), add air the tires to the maximum inflation pressure, fill the fuel tank and add fuel stabilizer.
To prevent flat spotting of tires, cut some squares of construction insulation to park on. Block the tailpipe with steel wool to prevent critters from making a home inside. In the garage, remove anything that could attract rodents (such as bird seed and pet food) and seal any holes.
Put a container of moisture absorber on an aluminum pie plate on the floor of the vehicle and do the same in the trunk to prevent condensation.
Wash and wax the car and cover it with a car cover.
Feel free to check on the car periodically, but don’t start it. Starting and idling will just contaminate the oil.
Come spring, uncover the car, remove the steel wool, check the fluid levels, give the car a wash and go for a ride.
How will accident affect CR-V’s trade-in value?
Q: My 2020 Honda CR-V was involved in an accident with only 3,117 miles on it. How will the CARFAX report affect the trade-in value? It has been repaired and it now has 3,300 miles and looks and runs fine.
A: If the car is repaired properly – using quality parts installed by a skilled technician – the value of the car should stay the same. This is referred to as a “repaired to pre-crash condition.”
That said, car dealers live and die by car history reports. If this were my car, and I was satisfied with the repair, I would keep any documentation of repairs as well as the types of parts used, just in case the value is questioned.
Will aftermarket remote starter cause a problem in my Honda Element?
Q: My husband wants to put an aftermarket remote starter in my 2011 Honda Element. We are in our 70s and drive to our daughter’s home in the early morning and midafternoon to take our grandchildren to school and back to our house for the day. He thinks it would be better to get into a warm car and more convenient than starting it and coming back in the house for five minutes. We leave our car at my daughter’s and take her minivan during the day.
I still don’t think these remote starters are a good idea unless they’re factory-installed. I am afraid it might cause problems. What do you think? Can these aftermarket remote starters cause a problem?
A: A remote starter can certainly be convenient, although they don’t help with fuel economy if you use them all the time.
Regarding installation, as long as it is a quality product put in by a reputable shop, you shouldn’t have a problem. My suggestion is, if your local repair shop is not familiar with installing these products, use an auto stereo store. The technicians who install aftermarket sound systems are quite skilled in the installation of many vehicle electronics, including remote car starters.
As a side note: the Honda Element has become something of a collector’s item in the last few years due to its quirky style, versatility and fuel economy.
Can stepson really convert my Camry into a fuel cell car?
Q: My 17-year-old mechanically YouTube-educated stepson says he can create a fuel-cell-powered vehicle from a regular car. My 24-year-old stepdaughter just totaled my Toyota Camry. It is still drivable but not pretty. Can I trust the 17-year-old not to blow up our adorable small town if he were to experiment with the remains of this once-dependable car? Is this even possible?
A: The short answer is no. The last fuel cell car I drove cost well over a million dollars. What this young genius may be thinking of is fixing up the existing car (which will cost money) and using a simple system that extracts hydrogen from water. These systems use electricity to separate the oxygen and hydrogen from the water and burn the hydrogen as fuel.
I have seen the videos. Although in theory this seems possible, in reality it is not. There are many kits available on the internet that promise cheap hydrogen, but I have never seen one that delivers on its promises.
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 [email protected] and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.