An odometer oddity between two different pickup trucks

Q. I leased a 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR5 after returning my leased 2022 Tacoma SR5 in March. According to the display, my daily commute to work in my 2022 Tacoma was consistently 13.9 miles. It is constantly 14.2 miles in 2025. Same vehicle model, same tire size. Do you know why this might occur? Mileage adds up, especially in a rented car, even though it isn’t much.

A. According to regulations, odometers can differ by four to ten percent, as I recall. This implies that the speed and distance traveled will be erroneous if the sensor or gear on an older car has an inaccurate reading. A discrepancy in reading can even result from variations in tire wear. Since GPS is usually regarded as the most reliable approach, it would be better to ascertain which is accurate at this point. After you’ve figured out the answer, ask the dealer what they think. Honda was the target of a class action lawsuit 25 years ago because of odometers that were accruing miles too quickly. Honda claimed that, on the high side, the odometers on the six million Honda vehicles that were the subject of the lawsuit were accurate to within 3.75 percent. In addition to agreeing to a class action settlement, Honda also agreed to pay lease-mileage penalties suffered by owners of Honda or Acura vehicles between 2001 and 2006 and extend the warranty mileage of impacted vehicles by 5%.

Q.The expansion valve on my 2012 Cadillac CTS’s air conditioner has to be changed. Is it possible to repair it without disassembling the entire dashboard of the car? Any guidance would be beneficial.

A.Although I have never attempted to replace one, the manufacturer’s service data indicates that I shouldn’t. In actuality, replacing the expansion valve or block takes seven hours at a flat rate, excluding system recharge when the job is finished. Is it feasible to complete the task without taking the dash apart? Some YouTube videos at least suggest that it is feasible. He says that he did it.Make your own judgment after seeing the video.

Q. My 2007 GMC truck’s check engine light appeared a few months ago, and the scan indicated that there were problems with the fuel tank pressure sensor. There was extensive body repair done in December to remove corrosion. The fuel tank was taken out as part of that. I would like to know how likely it is that the check engine light turned on because the return journey was subpar when the mechanics removed and reinstalled the fuel tank. The issue is that I am unable to demonstrate any level of carelessness, yet I do not want to be required to conduct expensive work if it is not required.

A. When the rust repair was done, it’s likely that the wiring was broken or that the connections and wire were just rusty and crusty and fell apart at the tank. The wiring is situated above the frame rails, therefore it is definitely feasible that they repaired the corrosion. The sensor is a component that is located near the gasoline pump and fuel tank sender. Usually, the fuel tank must be removed or at least lowered in order to examine the wiring and sensor. I would begin by speaking with the technicians who fixed the rust, and then I would go from there.

Q. Is it preferable to let the mechanic diagnose your car or to share all of your information with them while they are fixing it? What do you think? A friend of mine keeps reminding me that the more you say, the more it will cost.

A.Your friend is right, but I have to disagree. I would want to know the history of the work done, any additional diagnostics that might be necessary, and any do-it-yourself fixes if I were fixing an automobile.

Q.My 2016 Nissan Rogue has about 30,000 miles on it. When an adult was seated in the passenger seat, I observed that the passenger air bag indicator was consistently off. When I brought it to the dealer, they gave me an estimate for replacing the OCS control unit, which came to $1,600. I chose to obtain a few more estimates, but both repair shops informed me that I would need to return to the dealer to have the issue fixed. Why can’t this be fixed anywhere but the dealer? Why aren’t repair shops permitted to do this? In addition, I never received a response from the NHTSA when I contacted them to inquire about any recalls on my vehicle.

A. By identifying whether a child or adult is in the passenger seat, the Occupant Classification System (OCS) can decide whether to activate the airbag. This technique considers the seat’s weight and distance from the dash. This car can be fixed by any repair shop that wants to. To do any programming, they might have to purchase service data from Nissan. The return on investment is simply not worth it for many independent stores unless they perform this job on a regular basis. This system had an involuntary recall. Additionally, in regards to recalls, download the NHTSA app and enter the VIN of your vehicle. The app will notify users if there are any recalls.

John Paulis is the Car Doctor for AAA Northeast. He is an ASE-certified master mechanic with more than 40 years of automotive industry expertise. Send an email to [email protected] with your Car Doctor query. Visit johnfpaul.podbean.com to listen to the Car Doctor podcast.