Any suggestions for drying out my Jeep Wrangler?

Oct 06, 2023

A: Start with a good-quality wet-dry vacuum and vacuum everything until you don’t see the vacuum pulling any more water out of the seats and carpet.

When you have the interior as dry as possible, close up your Jeep and run the air conditioner on high speed. Using the air conditioner — not the heat — will dehumidify the interior. Once the Jeep is dry, spray a little disinfectant (Lysol) under the seats and on the carpets. That should help eliminate any odors.

Q: I own a 2022 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E HPD. The car is a year old and has only 5,600 miles on it. On occasion, and I never know when, the transmission will hang in first gear for longer than normal. I have been to my Honda dealership several times with the problem. When they have test driven it, of course, it performs perfectly. Also, they scanned the computer and there are no fault codes. Any thoughts on this potential issue?

A: The nine-speed transmission is used in a variety of models and has been generally trouble-free. I suspect there may be a shift solenoid hanging up. Unfortunately, the dealer is unable to fix the car if they cannot replicate the intermittent issue.

I did look for technical service bulletins through AllData — the database that I use — and did not see anything that would pertain to this issue.

At this point, try to keep track of when the transmission acts up. Since you have documented your concerns with the dealer several times — even when the warranty expires — if there is a problem, Honda should still assist with the repair.

Q: You and the Car Guys from the past on public radio mentioned the Mazda 6 as a wonderful car. Does it compare well with Toyota Camry and Honda Accord? I am driving a Toyota Avalon now, and eventually I will need to replace this wonderful car.

A: I always considered the Mazda 6 as the best-kept secret of mid-size sedans. More fun to drive than the slightly bigger Honda Accord or Toyota Camry and just about as reliable. The problem is that it was such a well-kept secret that sales never materialized, and Mazda discontinued it.

If you are looking for mid-size sedans (which seem to get bigger every few years) look at the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. They are all reliable cars with their own personalities and have hybrid options for even better fuel economy.

Q: I was reading your recent column, and as for your answer to the Audi problem, the dealer suggesting “half a dozen sensors” seems to be someone to be avoided. I would recommend that this Audi owner find an independent who is familiar with Volkswagen/Audi and uses a Ross-Tech diagnostic system. I have one, as well as an Autel tool (inexpensive MX808 unit).

The Ross-Tech diagnostic system cannot be beat. Multiple sensors smells of serial connected sensors to the computer line. These codes and sensors need to be checked in series using a flow chart for a fault in one showing on others “down the line,” especially ground circuit problems.

I am not a professional anymore, but I try my best to keep current. I always recommend to friends who have certain more complicated cars to always find repair shops that specialize in those cars.

A: A good independent shop that specializes in a specific vehicle can be very helpful when there are tricky and complicated repairs. Having the proper equipment is also absolutely necessary.

The VCDS from Ross-Tech and Autel are great tools. I was recently reading about a Volkswagen/Audi tool, the OBDeleven. This is a phone-based diagnostic tool with a wireless plug in an OBD dongle. It looks quite impressive, but there is a yearly fee that, over time, may cost more than purchasing other tools.

John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email [email protected] and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.