Q: My son lives in an area of New York where the roads drop down through much swampland. The insects tend to really coat the windshield quite badly. I offered to buy a deflector for his Volvo, but he refused because he felt it would have a negative effect on his gas mileage. My guess is that a deflector would have very little effect on his Volvo's mileage. Your thoughts, please?
A: A very interesting question. With aerodynamics such a critical factor in fuel mileage on modern vehicles, any external change to the shape or contour of the body is bound to have some effect on mileage. The question is how much.
There's only one way to know for sure: Drive the vehicle on an identical trip with and without a bug deflector. You might want to do this, but your son apparently doesn't. I'm sure you'd see a larger loss in mileage during, say, a 75 mph cross-country cruise, but I suspect the difference would be quite small in overall driving.
All that said, I'm with your son on this question. I don't like any add-ons that require drilling holes in bodywork or deteriorate in appearance over time and mileage. Besides, on a car with clean lines deflectors look, well, unattractive.
One other bug-related reality to keep in mind: While splashed bugs on the windshield are a pain to see through and clean off, bug "juice" on painted bodywork can, in some cases, chemically damage the paint. Having spent time in Florida during "love bug" season, I can confirm this danger.
A transparent protective film covering vulnerable areas of the body is the best preventative for this type of damage.
Q: I am the original owner of a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville with 119,000 miles. The transmission shifting from first to second is very abrupt. The shifting through the remaining gears is smooth. The transmission fluid has never been changed. Should I get a transmission flush and/or use Trans Tune?
A: Harsh upshifts during just one gear change rather than with all upshifts can be caused by sticky, leaking or damaged valve body components. Hydraulic accumulators in the transmission's valve body are spring-loaded pistons that buffer or soften the application of hydraulic pressure to smooth the transmission upshift from one gear to the next.
First, check for transmission fault codes with a scan tool to identify any specific issues. If no diagnostic trouble codes are found, try the additive _ it's the simplest and least expensive fix. Give the Trans Tune a week or so of driving to clean internal components. If this doesn't help, a complete flush, new filter and all new fluid would be the next step.
If there is still no improvement, removing the valve body from the transmission for disassembly, inspection and cleaning would be next on the list.
Or with the age, mileage and value of the vehicle, deal with the harsh upshift by "soft-pedaling" the throttle during the shift. Slightly reducing the throttle input as you anticipate the upshift will reduce the "impact" of the shift.
Q: My husband and I bought a used 2008 Toyota Sequoia and I've found that sitting in the driver's seat is uncomfortable. I'm having a hard time adjusting the seat so it supports my back and keeps my legs from aching. I feel like the seat is just too big and squishy for me. Any ideas on ways to make the seat more firm?
A: If a cushion or pillow doesn't provide relief, an auto upholstery shop may be able to help. Seats can be removed, disassembled and rebuilt with re-contoured, added or firmer foam to accommodate you. In some cases they use steam guns to restore the existing foam to its original size. Another option may be to add inflatable air bladders under the upholstery to allow you to customize the seat shape.
