Why don’t new cars come with compact disc players anymore?

Vehicles

John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Medical doctor, solutions a issue from a reader who’s not completely ready to give up listening to CDs although driving.

Q. When browsing a short while ago for a new car or truck, I was shocked to study that vehicles do not have CD gamers in them and haven’t for several yrs. I have a 2017 and a 2019 BMW X3, and I are not able to visualize not obtaining a CD player, since I’m often listening to publications on CD. Are there any new vehicles that have CD players in them?

A. There are a number of cars with CD players – Ford, Nissan, and I imagine the previous Cadillac I drove had a CD participant. Sad to say, CD players are likely the way of cassette tapes and 8-tracks (I’m relationship myself). If you locate a automobile you like, you may well be able to add an aftermarket CD changer. Also, my community library has a attribute that enables you to obtain MP3 audio books. Perhaps your library has a identical assistance. Then you can listen by means of Bluetooth from your cell phone. 

Q. I am the initial owner of a 2002 Toyota Highlander with a V-6 motor and all-wheel-generate with about 107,000 miles. The VSC (car stability handle) light-weight has been on for some time. Lots of years in the past, it would come on and I’d convey it to the store and generally they would switch a sensor. Most of the time the gentle would appear on once more on my way home from the shop. This took place at least 3 moments. We hardly ever fairly figured out what the issue was. Now, my motor light is also on, and I really do not know if it is relevant. Any strategies ahead of I expend a fortune diagnosing the problem? I just had it inspected and replaced all the brake pads and three of the calipers. Very little else was needed.

A. You need to start with some essential diagnostics. Making use of a scan instrument, a technician will be ready to examine the code for the VSC situation as nicely as the check motor mild. I suspect there is yet another sensor or tone ring situation that is turning on the VSC gentle, and typical with this vintage Highlander is a leak in the evaporative emissions method. Sadly, it will just take some time and your income to discover the trigger of the difficulty. Also, I concern why the shop only replaced three calipers. This can direct to uneven braking. 

Q. I am the happy initial proprietor of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Tempo car duplicate. I experienced a incredibly good shop specializing in GM motor vehicles go above the automobile and found pretty tiny mechanically to be completed. A compression check confirmed all cylinders experienced compression of 135 -145, other than the quantity three cylinder that was 115 lbs of compression. Soon after a great tune-up the vehicle runs really nicely. Must I be involved with cylinder variety 3, as the correct is a major position?

A. Frequently, it is very best when all of the cylinders have compression in just 10 % of each individual other. So, employing your numbers having compression of fewer than 120 PSI suggests a trouble. Although realistically at 115 PSI, I would just log it to age and know that at some place you could need to rebuild the motor. But if this were being my car (1969 Camaros are one particular of my favourite cars and trucks), I would just travel it and enjoy it. 

Q. My problem issues my 1972 Buick Skylark’s braking procedure. I have been battling with a really hard brake pedal that can take pretty higher effort to cease the vehicle. In the previous yr I have replaced the brake booster, learn cylinder, proportioning valve, all brake strains (both steel and rubber), entrance calipers, pads and rotors, and rear cylinders, components, and sneakers. The rotors are Hawk drilled and slotted and the pads are Hawk. The engine is a Buick 350 with a Rochester Q-jet on a TA aluminum intake, Kooks headers and a moderate general performance camshaft with 114 degree lobe separation (small overlap). Idle vacuum operates 16 to 18 inches. It used to have that GM energy brake come to feel but hasn’t in a long while. 

A. I would commence with checking engine vacuum at the brake booster. You really should see involving 17-21 inches of vacuum at idle. If it is a lot less than this, it could be element of the dilemma. Also, the performance brake components have a tendency to operate most effective when they are very hot and have a little bit of vague hard pedal when 1st starting out. 

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Automobile Physician. He has over 40 several years of expertise in the automotive small business and is an ASE-licensed learn technician. E-mail your auto issue to [email protected] Hear to the Motor vehicle Medical professional podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.