Try giving your lug nuts a good torquing

Dear Bob: I recently had the tires rotated on my 1999 Subaru Outback at Cumberland Valley Subaru, which is the dealer that I always use to have my car serviced.

I’ve noticed that, ever since the rotation, I have been experiencing what seems like a bumping or vibration when I use the brakes. I haven’t noticed it before.

Do you know what could be causing the roughness when braking?

— D.B., Cumberland, Md., via e-mail

A: One possibility is that the dealer failed to properly torque down the wheel lug nuts and, as a result, one of the wheels may be a bit loose. This is something that would be especially noticeable when braking.

Tighten all of the wheel lug nuts using the lug wrench that originally came with the vehicle. Then take the vehicle back to the dealer for an inspection, and for a proper torquing of the lug nuts.

The only difference in a vehicle following a tire rotation, is that the tires are now, most likely, in different positions: the two back tires are now at the front of the vehicle, and the two front tires are now at the back of the vehicle.

The other possibility is that, if one of the tires that was at the rear of the vehicle had a problem, such as a belt that was beginning to separate, the problem would be more noticeable on the front axle — especially when braking.

In either of these cases, I would take the vehicle back to the dealer for a re-inspection.

Dear Bob: I enjoy reading your column and wanted to comment on a letter that you received about American cars being outsold by Honda and Toyota.

I’m one of those Toyota owners who would never again buy a GM, Ford or Chrysler automobile.

Why?

Up until the 1990s we were a diehard Chrysler family. My husband and I, and our children, and many of our friends, had Chrysler products, and that’s all we bought. Then, problems galore.

We had problems with the transmissions in every car. Many were still under warranty, but a few were just over the warranted mileage, and we had to pay for new transmissions.

On one occasion my car dropped dead in the middle of a busy street, 100 miles from home. The vehicle was towed to a local Chrysler dealer who told us that the transmissions in these cars were lousy, and that Chrysler should do something about it.

When my husband decided to call Chrysler to tell them how dissatisfied we were, he was told by one of the bigwigs at the company that, if we were concerned about the transmissions, we should buy an extended warranty!

We have had a Toyota Avalon since 1998, and have never had to put any major repair into it. We just purchased a 2005 Avalon and sold the ‘98 to our son, who will drive it for many years to come, I’m sure. My daughter drives a Honda, and she will continue to purchase Hondas for the same reason. We have friends who own GM and Ford products who have had nothing but trouble with them.

Who needs that aggravation for the money one spends on an automobile?

— A.M., Newburgh, N.Y.

A: American-made vehicles are much better nowadays than they were in the early and mid-‘90s, when you were experiencing all of those car problems. That being said, I recently drove a number of the 2005 Lexus and Toyota vehicles — including your 2005 Avalon — and all I can say is ‘wow!’

American vehicles still have a long way to go to reach the same level of quality as their foreign competitors.

AMERICAN DRIVERS FIGHT BACK

Here’s a tip that will help you get better gas mileage while fighting terrorism and cutting our nation’s dependence on Mideastern oil:

A number of the computer controls and electronic sensors on modern vehicle engines have a direct bearing on fuel economy and require periodic inspection and/or replacement to ensure that they are working properly, and that the vehicle is operating at its fuel-economy potential.

Although all engine sensors, valves and switches affect the fuel-economy of a vehicle in some way, the following are among the most important. Your vehicle may have at least one or more of these parts: Coolant-temperature sensor, EGR or exhaust-gas-recirculation position sensor and valve, Oxygen (O2) sensor, PVS or ported-vacuum-switch, PCV or positive-crankcase-ventilation valve, temperature sensor/switch and throttle-position sensor.