AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor fields questions from readers about replacing one gasoline car with an electric vehicle, diagnosing a 2018 Lincoln MKZ touchscreen and climate controls that lag or fail, troubleshooting a Generac generator that cranks then stops, and
For a two-car household weighing an electric switch, the question isn’t just which model to buy. It’s whether charging will actually fit life the way gasoline always has.
In a recent round of reader questions. John Paul. AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. encouraged a “mixed ‘hybrid garage’” approach: keeping one gasoline-powered vehicle—whether gas-only. hybrid. or plug-in hybrid—alongside a fully electric vehicle. The gasoline car. he said. can handle longer road trips. while the electric vehicle is well-suited for daily commuting and shorter trips.
The deciding factor, Paul said, is home charging. Long-distance travel in an EV can be done, but it requires planning to find reliable high-speed public charging along the way, and he pointed to expanding public charging infrastructure as a path toward making that easier.
Paul said he has not fully evaluated the Tesla Model 3. But he has driven both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 and called them excellent vehicles overall.
On the home charging side, Paul highlighted the MSI Smart Charger (EVSE). He described it as a plug-in. wall-mounted unit that uses a standard 240V outlet. similar to outlets used for an electric stove or dryer. Once the outlet is installed. he said mounting the charger is straightforward—“comparable to hanging a television.” He also said the charger includes a mobile app for monitoring and control.
The column then turned to a different kind of engine concern: what fuel used to mean before today’s unleaded standard.
A reader asked whether the move away from leaded gasoline had required special additives or lead substitutes. citing the fact that Amoco sold unleaded well before it was federally mandated. Paul answered that Amoco sold both leaded and unleaded gasoline at the same time. but only in limited markets. mostly along the East Coast.
Paul said he remembered, growing up in the 1960s, that Amoco unleaded was called “white gas.” He recalled the slogan: “Looks like water, goes like gas.” He said it was common in areas with boats and was preferred for outboards because it would not foul plugs and was 93 octane.
In 1975, Paul said, all new cars sold in the US were required to use unleaded gasoline. He added that earlier-model engines required lead in fuel to prevent valvetrain wear.
Not every mechanical problem in a modern home comes down to fuel, though. Paul was also asked about a 2018 Lincoln MKZ sedan with about 34,000 miles, where the touchscreen—and the hand buttons controlling temperature and heater and air-conditioning—does not always respond or responds with a delay.
Paul said he would start with a test of the battery, because these systems are very sensitive to battery voltage. After that, he said the next step should be a full scan of the car’s computer systems, “not just a simple code check.”
He described the likely culprit as a faulty FCIM (front control interface module). Paul said a technician could run tests to determine that. and he emphasized how complicated the system is: if only the touchscreen were acting up. that cause might be different. but when physical controls are also failing. the FCIM is likely at fault.
From vehicles to power equipment. a reader with a 12-year-old Generac whole-house generator described a pattern that sounded almost mechanical in its repetition. The generator had been serviced twice a year. In January—about six weeks after the servicing—when the reader noticed the unit was cranking to start. then stopping. then repeating until it finally turned over like a car.
The serviceman returned at the reader’s request and installed new spark plugs. The worksheet, Paul said the reader reported, indicated the technician tested the generator several times and it turned over normally.
But recently, on the generator’s self-startup day, the pattern returned: cranking repeatedly.
Paul said that for any engine to start, it needs fuel, ignition, proper compression, and correct timing. Assuming it is not a timing, compression, or ignition problem—and he noted that hopefully the valves were adjusted during service—he said that leaves fuel as the most likely issue.
His suspicion: a fuel-pressure solenoid bleeding off and not maintaining pressure. He said it could be caused by a faulty solenoid, controller, or even a wiring issue.
Paul also pointed to a manual he said indicates the system will set a fault code if the engine cranks multiple times and does not start. And he stressed an “on site” approach: the technician ideally should be present during the automatic startup to observe and test the condition directly.
The most urgent problem in the set may be the one that happens while a vehicle sits and waits.
A reader in Florida stores a 2016 Nissan Altima outside for part of the year, with no access to electricity. Whether it’s covered or uncovered, the reader said they’ve had ongoing issues with rats nesting in the engine compartment while they’re away for the season.
The reader tried a battery-powered rodent deterrent connected to the car battery, but said they were not confident it worked. When they returned at the end of the season, they found the deterrent had completely discharged the car battery.
Paul offered several options. One was a full car cover that seals to the ground, such as a cover from CoverSeal designed specifically to prevent rodents from entering the vehicle. He warned that the cover is heavy and that during hurricane season it can potentially blow off.
He also mentioned chemical-based solutions such as poisons and deterrents, but said most of these require regular reapplication. As a non-poison alternative, he recommended Shake-Away, describing it as working by convincing rodents that a predator is nearby.
For another natural option. Paul cited a product from EarthKind. saying it can be effective but typically lasts only about 45 days. He also advised removing the plastic engine cover while the vehicle is in storage. explaining that the cover can create a warm. protected space that rodents find inviting—essentially turning it into a ready-made nesting area.
Paul, who has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician, said readers can email their Car Doctor questions to [email protected]. He also noted that the Car Doctor Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts or other popular podcast sites.
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