What brand of car battery would you recommend?
A: There are really only about four or five automotive battery manufacturers that make batteries under different brand names.
At AAA, our batteries are Interstate. Interstate is a battery-marketing and distribution company. Typically, Interstate batteries are manufactured by Clarios and Exide. When it comes to buying a battery, look for cold cranking ratings, reserve capacity and warranty.
Q: I have a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. When I take my foot off the gas and the car slows down, the motor has a loud hum until it stops. It sounds like a truck. At idle, it is normal. Have you heard anyone else complain about this?
When I take it back to Chevrolet, what should I tell the service technician? I had a 2016 Equinox, and it did not do that.
A: I have not heard anyone complain about this issue. General Motors did have a problem with a transmission torque converter and even extended the warranty. This could be the source of the noise.
At this point, I would do two things: Take a technician for a ride so they can hear and feel what you do. If they pronounce it normal, then ask to take another Equinox for a ride to verify that this is a characteristic of the model and not a problem.
Q: have a 2019 Honda Accord that I love, but it is in the shop for the third time because the front radar camera got stolen and it's likely that rats ate some wires in my engine. It appears that this car is bait for both crooks and rats.
As soon as the car is fixed, I am trading it in for, hopefully, a less hassle-prone car. I am looking at Toyota, Subaru and Mazda mid-sized SUVs.
Are there any cars that are less rat-prone? Are there any cars that have less of a risk of radar camera theft?
A: Unfortunately, rodents do not discriminate. They seem to like all cars. There was some thought that cars today are more appealing to rodents due to the more environmentally friendly products. I am not sure that is true. I think it has to do more with the rodent population.
Honda does have rodent-proof tape containing a form of hot pepper that you can wrap around the wires.
As for radar camera theft prevention, some car parts have particular value to thieves, such as air bags, wheels, catalytic converters and now, apparently, radar cameras. The same rules apply to preventing auto theft: hide valuables, lock the car and park in well-lit areas.
Q: I hear a rattling sound as if something is loose in the engine area. It happens when I start the car cold. I hear it intermittently when I am driving. Any idea what I should look for? The car is a 2018 Honda CR-V with low mileage.
A: The most common issue is a loose exhaust heat shield. When the engine warms up, the exhaust system expands and quiets the rattle. This should be easy to verify with the car up on a lift.
Another common issue is with the rubber damper caps on the front struts. Remove the caps, and if the rattle is not present you can buy updated caps that will quiet the noise.
Q: I recently purchased a 2024 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe with "Wildpeak Falken" LT285/70R17 116/1130 tires. This is my first 'hybrid' vehicle. The 'sticker' gas − only miles per gallon − was published as 20 mpg. I have had it for 12 weeks and I am getting 14 mpg. I have gone back to the dealership twice thinking I must be doing something wrong.
Are these advertised gas mileages an average of all trim lines (and tires) or for the specific vehicle (with those specific tires)?
A: The EPA gas mileage ration is not average of all trims but for your model.
Yes, on the fueleconomy.gov website, your model shows 20 mpg. They do not show a Falken tire option on the Wrangler-E. They do show the Falken vs Pirelli option on other models. The Falken tires are a little better regarding fuel economy. Keep in mind the gas engine does not break in for several thousand miles.
Also, the winter temperatures have been cold. Idling, combined with the winter mix of gasoline, can reduce fuel economy.
In my opinion, fuel economy is usually determined by the driver.
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 X @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What brand of car battery would you recommend? | Car Doctor
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