Motormouth: Cars need regular use

Q: I have a 2023 Honda Ridgeline that I bought new two years ago. I drive three times a week, totaling about 5,000 miles a year. Last year, the battery died, and the dealership replaced it. Last week the truck wouldn’t start because the battery was dead again. I got it started, but the next day it was dead again.

The dealership told me that the battery checked out fine, and there was nothing wrong with the truck. I was told that new cars have to be driven at least every three or four days. If not, all the systems on the car drain the battery.

Because I drive less than that, it was suggested to me that I should buy a trickle charger. Can this really be the case?

A: Short trips don’t allow the battery to charge enough. You may need 20 minutes or so on the road. So, even if you drive the truck every few days, it’s not enough. A battery maintainer (trickle charger) is in your future.

Q: I had a beautiful VW Scirocco that used oil at an increasing rate. A VW mechanic told me that the problem probably was the valve seals. He took out the seals and they looked like bacon bits. The new seals looked like big gray Cheerios. Oil consumption went from a quart every 300 miles to a quart in 2,500 miles. Later VW did a recall, and a friendly parts manager helped me with reimbursement. Should replacing the seals be part of regular maintenance?

A: I used to replace valve stem seals so regularly and quickly that my boss bragged that I could probably do the job with the engine running. (It’s impossible.) But that was some time ago, and as for Volkswagen, they stopped producing the Scirocco in 2018. VW is using improved rubber now.

Seal technology has come a long way, but you point out a possibly overlooked source of oil loss.

Q: I am looking to get a new SUV soon. I was told by my mechanic that he would not work on hybrids because they can shock people. I am wondering if this is true.

A: Yes, they could shock people. But the high voltage flows through fat cables with bright orange cover insulation. Aside from the electric propulsion system, electric vehicles have traditional 12-volt stuff like lights, radio and so on.

Q: I noticed that the past two cars I bought do not have automatic transmission dipsticks. One vehicle was a 2013 Durango. It had a tube that appeared to lead to the transmission. That tube was sealed with a cap. My current car is a 2024 Grand Cherokee. That vehicle doesn’t even have a tube. The dipstick was a great way to check the health of the transmission. In addition to checking the fluid level, you can check for discoloration or burn odors. Have all manufacturers eliminated transmission dipsticks and why?

A: Most carmakers have switched to long life synthetic transmission fluid that is expected to last the life of the vehicle. Of course, mechanics still need a way to check the fluid level and condition. There is a removable plug on the side of the transmission case. If there is a dipstick tube, aftermarket dipsticks are available to replace the cap.

Bob Weber is a writer, mechanic and ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. His writing has appeared in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest. Send automotive questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.