Cars: Advice, specials, recalls, and more automobile news https://www.boston.com/category/cars/ Boston.com Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:14:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://bdc2020.o0bc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BDC_Logo_2020_Social_WhiteBG-609c79a967eee-150x150.png Cars: Advice, specials, recalls, and more automobile news https://www.boston.com/category/cars/ 32 32 Comparing 87- vs. 88-octane gasoline https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/24/car-doctor-comparing-87-vs-88-octane-gasoline/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/24/car-doctor-comparing-87-vs-88-octane-gasoline/#respond Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:14:31 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34406443 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader who recently visited a service station offering both 87 and 88 octane gas.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/24/car-doctor-comparing-87-vs-88-octane-gasoline/feed/ 0 Is the dealer recommending unnecessary maintenance? https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/18/car-doctor-is-the-dealer-recommending-unnecessary-maintenance/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/18/car-doctor-is-the-dealer-recommending-unnecessary-maintenance/#respond Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:54:52 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34369566 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader who is questioning services being recommended by a local dealer.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/18/car-doctor-is-the-dealer-recommending-unnecessary-maintenance/feed/ 0 Tips for getting stubborn bird droppings off of an SUV https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/11/car-doctor-tips-for-getting-stubborn-bird-droppings-off-of-an-suv/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/11/car-doctor-tips-for-getting-stubborn-bird-droppings-off-of-an-suv/#respond Wed, 12 Nov 2025 01:37:06 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34325687 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader frustrated with some cement-like droppings discovered on their Jeep.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/11/car-doctor-tips-for-getting-stubborn-bird-droppings-off-of-an-suv/feed/ 0 A pickup’s persistent plastic pan problems https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/05/car-doctor-a-pickups-persistent-plastic-pan-problems/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/05/car-doctor-a-pickups-persistent-plastic-pan-problems/#respond Thu, 06 Nov 2025 04:21:06 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34289464 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader frustrated by yet another leaking oil pan in their Ford truck.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/11/05/car-doctor-a-pickups-persistent-plastic-pan-problems/feed/ 0 A pickup truck loses power and the dashboard lights up with warnings https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/28/a-pickup-truck-loses-power-and-the-dashboard-lights-up-with-warnings/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/28/a-pickup-truck-loses-power-and-the-dashboard-lights-up-with-warnings/#respond Tue, 28 Oct 2025 23:31:48 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34237341 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader having problems with an older truck.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/28/a-pickup-truck-loses-power-and-the-dashboard-lights-up-with-warnings/feed/ 0 A question about the possible inspiration for a newer car’s design https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/21/car-doctor-a-question-about-the-possible-inspiration-for-a-newer-cars-design/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/21/car-doctor-a-question-about-the-possible-inspiration-for-a-newer-cars-design/#respond Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:38:39 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34197553 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader wondering if a recent Hyundai’s design was inspired by a 1958 Packard.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/21/car-doctor-a-question-about-the-possible-inspiration-for-a-newer-cars-design/feed/ 0 My car’s dashboard lit up like a pinball machine https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/14/car-doctor-my-cars-dashboard-lit-up-like-a-pinball-machine/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/14/car-doctor-my-cars-dashboard-lit-up-like-a-pinball-machine/#respond Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:35:56 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34158771 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader whose dash was suddenly filled with system error alerts.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/14/car-doctor-my-cars-dashboard-lit-up-like-a-pinball-machine/feed/ 0 Should I replace a 6-year-old battery that still has some life left? https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/07/car-doctor-should-i-replace-a-6-year-old-battery-that-still-has-some-life-left/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/07/car-doctor-should-i-replace-a-6-year-old-battery-that-still-has-some-life-left/#respond Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:31:45 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34120507 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader wondering whether or not it’s time to get a new battery.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/10/07/car-doctor-should-i-replace-a-6-year-old-battery-that-still-has-some-life-left/feed/ 0 Parents of two college students killed in a Tesla allege design flaw trapped them in the burning car https://www.boston.com/cars/national-news/2025/10/03/parents-of-two-college-students-killed-in-a-tesla-allege-design-flaw-trapped-them-in-the-burning-car/ https://www.boston.com/cars/national-news/2025/10/03/parents-of-two-college-students-killed-in-a-tesla-allege-design-flaw-trapped-them-in-the-burning-car/#respond Sat, 04 Oct 2025 01:28:26 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34094575 The new legal threats to Tesla filed in Alameda County Superior Court come just weeks after federal regulators opened an investigation into complaints by Tesla drivers of problems with stuck doors.

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]]> https://www.boston.com/cars/national-news/2025/10/03/parents-of-two-college-students-killed-in-a-tesla-allege-design-flaw-trapped-them-in-the-burning-car/feed/ 0 Is this repair necessary on a 10-year-old car? https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/09/30/car-doctor-is-this-repair-necessary-on-a-10-year-old-car/ https://www.boston.com/cars/how-to/2025/09/30/car-doctor-is-this-repair-necessary-on-a-10-year-old-car/#respond Wed, 01 Oct 2025 01:31:48 +0000 https://www.boston.com/?p=34081204 John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader considering replacing wheel bearings on a 2015 car.

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