John Paul, known as AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, recently answered a reader’s question regarding the airbags in an older car. The reader was concerned about the condition of the airbags in a 2001 VW Cabrio that had been driven infrequently and had 65,000 miles on it. The Car Doctor reassured the reader that there are still parts available for the car, as it shares many components with the VW Golf. He also mentioned that there are no safety recalls for the car’s airbags and that they do not need to be replaced just due to age.
In another query, a reader asked about filling up their car’s tank while a tanker truck was delivering fuel to the gas station. The Car Doctor explained that with the introduction of ethanol into the gas supply, the cleaning solvent properties of ethanol have reduced the need to wait for sediment to settle after a tanker delivery.
Additionally, the Car Doctor advised a reader with a 1979 Cadillac Seville experiencing fuel issues to consider upgrading to a fuel injection system rather than changing the GM carburetor. For a vintage Checker cab project, he suggested caution when modifying it for high performance due to its heavy build and potential rust issues.
John Paul has over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry and is an ASE-certified master technician. Readers can email their Car Doctor questions to him for expert advice.
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