Jean S. Barto wrote:

> Tread Quarters was supposed to have replaced the spark plugs as part
> of the service. Although they may have done that, the car died again
> the next week (stalled at an intersection, could not be jumped), and
> I had to get obnoxious, and get my former BF involved, to get
> the car fixed so that it would start reliably and not stall out at
> intersections, etc. So, the car was fixed as far as I knew, in late
> September.

Were the spark plugs replaced as part of normal maintenance, or were
they replaced to fix a problem? Many garages replace plugs for the
latter, even when the ignition system has no problems with it.

> I kept driving it for the rest of the Fall semester. This *mini service* cost
> around $300.00,

$300 doesn't seem "mini." How expensive is regular service?

> I had a second instance of being left stranded over Xmas break, and took the
> car back for service, this time to the Acura dealer where I took the car
> previously until I felt they were trying to scam me about 5 or 6 years ago.
>
> So, I kept driving my car without incident from early January until
> mid-June, when it was due for an oil change. This time I took the car back
> to the Toyota dealer, where I had taken it previously, and where I had been
> *very* happy with their work until last August (A/C work, which failed in
> November). All they were supposed to do back in June was change the oil and
> put in a new rear backup light bulb which had burned out.
>
> What followed between mid-June and late July was my car eventually getting
> harder and harder to start when it had been sitting for awhile (such as
> overnight). The engine would whine and cough and take three or four turns
> of the key before turning over. I found I had had to pump the accelerator
> two or three times before turning the ignition key.

Am I misreading something, or are you taking a Honda Acura to a Toyota
dealer? Why not at least use a Honda dealer?

I also don't understand how pumping the accelerator helps with a fuel
injected engine, and I think all Acuras were fuel injected by 1990.
The only time you should need to push the gas pedal of a fuel injected
engine is to clear a flooded condition. And if a fuel injected engine
is harder to start after it sat for a while, that could indicate an
internal fuel system leak, such as because of a defective check valve.

> This starting problem got worse and worse until I nearly got stranded in the
> parking lot at school 2 1/2 weeks ago

> In any case, the Toyota dealer changed out the spark plugs because they were
> allegedly fouled with oil. They also put more Freon into the A/C.
> The Toyota service advisor also told me "Your car is burning oil, it's on its
> last legs, and the A/C has a slow leak in it.

It may not cost that much to fix the A/C leak, especially at an auto
A/C specialty shop, and the Freon R-12 your car uses is expensive but
cheaper than converting to R-134a.
But garages aren't supposed to simply add Freon to a leaking system but
also fix the leak. At the very least, do not let anybody put R-134a
into your system unless a complete conversion is done that includes
removing all the old Freon and oil from the system. Cheap conversions
don't cool well and have high failure rates.

> Additionally, I felt the service advisor at the Toyota dealer two weeks ago
> was flippant and arrogant to me on the phone, and was only trying to help
> the dealership sell me a new car.

At many dealerships, service advisors are little more than comissioned
sales people and know little about cars.

I don't understand why you'd choose a garage simply because a muffler
shop recommends it.

> However, my car was working OK when I picked it up (it was starting more
> or less OK, and the A/C was working),

> However, when I went to Advance Auto for some windshield wipers later that
> morning two weeks ago, I had a tech check the charge on the battery. He
> said it was charging OK. Then, a friend of his came up while he was
> finishing checking my battery. They both commented on how rough the A/C
> compressor was running, and also said my problem with the engine oil leak
> was a failed valve cover gasket.

> In closing, I just don't think its normal for a car, even with 250K miles,
> to use 3/4 quart of oil in five weeks, and have trouble turning over when
> the battery has a good charge.

3/4 qt. / 5 weeks (I'm assuming it's about 1000 miles) is not unusual
for an old engine, especially one with worn valve seals.

Acuras aren't known for leaky valve covers, so I see nothing wrong with
a conventional gasket, but use only quality gaskets, either original
equipment or Fel-Pro.

> BTW, I checked the "Car Talk" website for good garages in my area, and like
> I thought, the Toyota and Acura dealerships have lukewarm ratings. The
> independent garage a mile from me has an *OK* one, but the best write-up of
> all is for a place about twelve miles from me, that is out of the way for me
> to get to. However, if neither the closer garage (1.5 miles away) or the
> *side-job* mechanic works out, I *will* check out this out of the way place.

How do you know the ratings are accurate? I would look for factory
trained mechanics (ASE certification isn't nearly as good), but beware
that even dealerships don't always employ them. Also AAA approval is
desirable since it requires garages to abide by AAA arbitration of
disputes (customer is not obligated).