Nov. 07--Q: My son bought a used 2010 Mazda CX-9 a year and a half ago. One of the headlights burned out, and the dealership wants $600 to replace it. Really? The bulb goes for about $200 online. What's so special about this bulb? Can something else be used? I find it hard to believe that one light is out on a 5-year-old car. My 14-year-old Saturn hasn't had a headlight bulb replaced yet. Can you shed some light on this replacement?
-- D.S., Chicago
A: Allow us to illuminate. The vehicle is equipped with high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps using a D2S bulb. They are sometimes called xenon lights. About 25,000 volts passes through the bulb socket, making this a dangerous job for anyone unfamiliar with how to do it. Often, the headlight control module is replaced along with the bulb, since it is vulnerable to internal damage and may have to be replaced soon after bulb replacement. May as well have it replaced now. Yeah, it is expensive, so don't buy cheap replacements. Maybe you should leave this one to a pro.
Q: I have a remote opener for a 2009 Toyota Camry that no longer works, and I assume that I need a new battery. I understand that it will also require expensive programming at the dealer. My question is can I get both of my openers reprogrammed for one price?
-- T.M., Bethlehem, Pa.
A: Not only can you get all of your remote keyless entry (RKE) fobs reprogrammed at once, it is advisable to do so. This will avoid the possible issue of the RKEs having differing settings.
Q: I am sure you are familiar with the smart phone app called Waze that informs drivers of police, traffic obstructions, detours to take and so on. Do you know if the navigation systems in the newest vehicles have this Waze technology? If so, could you please tell me which vehicles have it?
-- R.H., Chicago
A: For our readers who may be unfamiliar with Waze, it is a social network for motorists to post information for other members to see. It can be quite helpful in areas with lots of members, not so much out in the boonies. This is an app that you can download and install on your portable devices, but we know of no vehicles that come with the app preloaded.
Q: I am 82 years old and own a 2003 Honda sedan with 150,000 miles. Occasionally, when the transmission is in park, I am not able to move the button that controls the gear shift to put it in drive or reverse. This past weekend, it happened while I was at the ATM. This has happened off and on in the past six months. My Honda dealer has not heard of the problem and did not have an answer for me. Do you?
-- E.M., Oglesby, Ill.
A: The shift interlock prevents the driver from moving out of park unless the brakes are applied. Sometimes the problem is operator error because the brake pedal is not pushed far enough. Another cause is a bad brake light switch, which controls the interlock system. In descending order of probability are problems with the shift interlock solenoid, a bad neutral safety switch on the transmission, or an electrical problem in one of the circuits.
Bob Weber is an ASE-certified master mechanic and freelance writer.
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