A 1949 Buick Roadmaster from the 1988 Oscar-winning film “Rain Man” — owned by star Dustin Hoffman — is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $250,000 at an auction in Arizona this week.

In the Barry Levinson-helmed road drama, Tom Cruise portrays collectibles dealer Charlie Babbitt who inherits the vehicle that was the center of a longtime estrangement with his father.

Hoffman, who won an Academy Award for best actor as his elder brother who is an autistic savant, has owned one of the two cars used in the movie since production wrapped.

“The Buick’s been in storage too long,” Hoffman said about his rarely seen automobile equipped with a 150 horsepower eight-cylinder engine. “It should be driven, enjoyed, and cherished.”

Restyledin 1949, the Buick Roadmaster convertible was one of General Motors most expensive models.

“The car had a very strong visual presence in the film and was featured throughout,” said Levinson, the owner of the second Roadmaster. “It became a character. Dustin, Tom Cruise, and the ’49 Buick. In essence, the car had ‘third billing.'”

Bonham’s auction will take place at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan. 27.

“Rain Man” won the best picture Oscar in 1989. Levinson scored a trophy for best director and Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow for best screenplay.

The American Film Institute ranks the film No. 63 among the 100 most inspiring films in 100 years.

By 2025, the cars will even know when drivers are about to have a sudden health problem and warn them, according to the Japanese automaker.

What’s involved are data from cameras inside the car, without resorting to laser sensors or other more obtrusive technology. And it’s going to be offered in affordable models, not just luxury vehicles. The technology holds promise for one of the most advanced aging societies in the world.

Mazda told reporters recently it has been working with medical experts, including Tsukuba University Hospital, researching the collected image data to figure out what a healthy driver looks like, as opposed to an incapacitated driver, suddenly slumped forward over the steering wheel.

Once recognizing a problem, Co-Pilot Concept, which has yet to have an official name, will bring that car to a stop in a safe spot, such as the curb of the road, as quickly as possible.

The car will be honking, with blinker and hazard lights flashing, according to Mazda, although the exact warning signals are still undecided. An emergency call to the ambulance and police will also get relayed.

Other major automakers, including Volkswagen of Germany and Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp., are working on similar technology.

Mazda plans to offer the technology in Europe after Japan. Mazda wants to wait and see before offering it in the U.S., because it believes questions remain about their social acceptance, although similar systems that stop vehicles are already being offered by rivals.

As for privacy concerns, the personal data does not leave the car, according to Mazda.

Takahiro Tochioka, the engineer in charge, said Mazda is working on ways to predict a health problem that may be coming even if the driver may not be conscious of it.

What the car will be looking for are the ways people focus their vision, the swaying of their heads, slight aberrations in driving habits and other subtle changes, he said.

“And it will warn drivers even before actual symptoms appear,” he told reporters proudly.

“But understanding and cooperation from the drivers around that car is crucial for this technology to work.”

Mazda is hoping the Japanese public will see a driver in distress and help them, since an assumption of widespread public goodwill is characteristic of Japan.

The technology will empower people to keep driving through their lifetime, and will help reassure families and friends not to be worried, Tochioka said. Offering Co-Pilot will also allow Mazda to get feedback from real-life users, he said.

We have noticed many of the charging stations located in shopping center parking lots say, “Tesla cars only.” Does this mean only Teslas can charge at these locations? I do realize most of these units were installed when only Teslas were on the road. Would charging our Mustang Mach E at the Tesla charging units cause any damage to our car? I’m sure that owners of other models of electric cars would be interested in knowing if they too could use the Tesla charging stations. – D.G., Northbrook, Illinois

A: In July 2021, Elon Musk reportedly said that the chargers will become available to all electric car owners. It is expected that the rollout will begin in Europe. Currently, (pun intended) only Tesla owners can use the Superchargers, which not only gives incentive for people to buy Tesla vehicles, but avoids backups of cars waiting to use them.

Q: Have been driving Toyota vehicles for many years and now that I am getting ready to give up driving, I am faced with a dilemma. I am 93 and have a 1999 Toyota Sienna with low mileage and it’s rust-free.

The vehicle sits in my driveway with a power steering leak. I tried stop the leak to no avail. It cannot be driven this way so what is my best way to get it fixed or sold? – J.M., Syracuse, New York

A: Most power steering leaks are not severe enough to prevent driving to a repair shop. Leaks from the rack-and-pinion steering unit are common and may cost around $500 to fix. But the leak could be as simple as a hose, which would cost much less. If repairs do not fit your budget, tell the potential buyer about the leak.

Q: I recently bought a 2018 Equinox and it’s equipped with “auto stop.” Couple of questions: Does it really save THAT much fuel and does it have any impact on the life of the starter? If it’s not really that fuel efficient and causes more wear and tear on the starter, is there any way to disable it? – J.C., Chicago

A: Maybe you don’t save a whole lot on fuel costs, but if a million cars save even a little, it makes a significant difference. To automakers, improvements in fuel economy help meet corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. To the rest of us, it helps clean the air. The starter is robust.

Q: In 1978 I bought the first-year model of the Dodge Omni. The dealership owner was apologetic for the amber direction signals in the rear. He said that soon all cars would have them. I had previously owned a 1970 Volvo, so I thought they were a great step forward for American cars. What happened? Did they fall victim to the designers or accountants? Amber direction signals, appropriately placed, should be the law. – C.S., Norfolk, Virginia

A: Amber rear signals are required in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa, and most of South America, but not in the U.S. I am not sure why, but I have a hunch that there hasn’t been a study or data to prove that amber lenses are safer. Anecdotal evidence does not cut it for NHTSA which has other issues to keep it busy.

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(Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. His writing also appears in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest.

Send questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.)

(c)2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A: Cheap auto parts are often counterfeit. Not only may they fail to work properly, buying counterfeit parts harms the true manufacturers’ income and reputation. It is nearly impossible to tell the difference by simply looking at the item or the box so buy your auto parts from a reputable parts store, which you can also do online.

Q: I have a 2009 Toyota Rav4 with 166,000 miles on it. My independent garage of 25+ years closed. I went to a highly recommended shop. They changed the oil but couldn’t get the filter off. They said that they would have to break something (housing?) to get it off. They did not have the new parts. They said I could drive it another 5,000 miles with the old filter and when I come back, they will order the new parts ahead of time to repair and replace the filter. I am nervous about driving with the old filter for 5,000 more miles. Should I just go to another shop and start over again? — N.P., Ramsey, Minnesota

A: I am unclear on what part they need, but it is not uncommon for the cap to need replacement. If so, they are readily available from most auto parts stores as well as a Toyota dealer. As for driving another 5,000 miles, you should be fine. But chances are that the shop will locate a new part well before that. You should try another shop as soon as convenient. Maybe they will be able to replace your filter. No need to get another oil change, though.

Q: Recently we were driving our 2010 Hyundai Tucson in stop-and-go traffic. Each time that we stopped, the air coming out the register in the dashboard while cool was not as cool as it usually is. When traffic started moving, at 30 mph the air came out much cooler. I looked through the grill at the condenser and it was heavily caked with dirt and dead bugs. Using a pressure nozzle, I rinsed the condenser thoroughly and the output air temperature came down. Saved a trip to the shop. — S.B., Las Vegas

A: Good catch and often overlooked by motorists living in dusty areas. Not only is the airflow across the A/C condenser blocked, but the radiator sitting behind it suffers too.

Q: I have a 2011 Ford Focus and I am having a hard time locating the cabin air filter. Does it have one or not? It has never been changed and my A/C doesn’t blow very cold. Do you think a bad cabin filter could be the cause? — G.B., Roseville Minnesota

A: If you have normal airflow from the vents when you are not using the air conditioner, the cabin air filter is not causing a restriction. The filter on the 2011-2018 Focus is located on the left side of the passenger foot well. You must first remove a panel below the glove box to access the cover for the filter. It is not a simple job.

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(Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. His writing also appears in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest.

Send questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.)

(c)2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A: Occasional shuddering is no big deal. But at your car’s age, you may be ready for a brake job. A complete brake job — rather than just replacement pads — includes all the essential hardware (pins, shims, anti-rattle clips etc.). I have a hunch your shudder will be gone for good.

Q: I have a 2006 Lexus SC430 with 74,000 miles on it. Recently I replaced run-flats with new standard tires, which were aligned and balanced. Front struts were also recently replaced. Between 55-70 mph only, there is some vibration in the steering wheel. This also occurred prior to the new tires but is less pronounced with the new tires and is not always constant. Any ideas as to the source of the vibration? – F.B., Chicago

A: Vibration at a specific speed is almost always due to imbalance. But other factors may be the cause. For instance, one of the wheels may not be true. The wheel hub may be a contributor. Or, one of the new tires may be the problem. Have your shop swap the front tires to the rear and see if the vibration goes away or moves to the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise, a suspension inspection is called for.

Q: I thought I would pass along my experience with random TPMS warnings popping up. I discovered that those USB chargers that go into the 12-volt socket trigger an alarm. I plugged in the device and after a while the low-pressure alarm came on. Unplugging the device would, after a few minutes of driving over 20 miles per hour, reset the alarm. The solution came to me after maybe a dozen trips to the dealer for recalibration of the tire sensors. When I picked up my vehicle, the USB charger was unplugged and laying in the cup holder. They never wrote it up on the service ticket or mentioned the USB device to me when picking up the car, but eventually I would need the charger and plug it back in and would get a low tire alarm shorty after. – B.R., Apple Valley, Minnesota

A: We have recently had several readers reporting mysterious low tire pressure warnings and you may have solved the mystery. By the way, with colder temperatures coming, your tires’ cold inflation pressures may drop. Pressure usually drops about one psi for every 10-degree drop in outside temperature. Be sure to bring the tires up to the proper cold inflation pressure shown on the sticker at the driver’s door.

Q: I recently walked away from my 2018 GMC Acadia and carried the key fob with me. The car automatically locks itself, and under normal circumstances this is fine. However, in this instance a passenger was in locked in the vehicle and could not exit. I had no idea that the passenger could not unlock the car from the inside. Warnings about this were not explicit either from the manual or the dealership. – R.L. Spring Valley, Illinois

A: All vehicles are supposed to have a means of manually unlocking the doors from the inside. Otherwise, as you discovered, a person could be trapped. Try this: Pull the door handle once. This usually releases the lock. Pull it again and the door will usually open.

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(Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. His writing also appears in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest.

Send questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.)

(c)2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A: Let’s get back to basics. All gasoline essentially is the same when it leaves the refinery. Additives are then introduced to increase the octane. No matter what is used, the octane rating is scientifically determined. Once upon a time, lead (tetraethyl lead) was blended in to increase the octane, but lead was eliminated beginning in the 1970s because it was a pollutant. It was replaced with MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), an oxygenate. Ethyl alcohol replaced MTBE. Derived from corn, it was cheap and aided the agriculture industry. Some fuel systems, particularly those using carburetors rather than fuel injection, can be damaged by alcohol. Toluene, which is not an oxygenate, increases octane rating and is used especially in racing gas.

Q: I have a new Honda CRV Hybrid and I’m wondering if leaving the key fob in the car when it’s in the garage can keep the computer kind of awake while we’re not using the car? Is it safe to keep it in the car or should we bring it in the house? – S.B., Coopersburg, Pennsylvania

A: To be on the safe side, I always bring my fobs into the house, at least far enough so that touching the door will not unlock it.

Q: I have a 2017 Kia Cadenza SXL, which I love to drive. It came with low-profile tires, but I do not like the road feel driving over anything but smooth pavement. I tell people that if someone dropped a nickel in the road and I drove over it, I’d feel it in my teeth. I’m also very concerned that, without some adequate tire body under the wheel, severe wheel damage is sure to happen driving through Chicago potholes. Can I replace the tires with a more conventional tire or am I stuck with replacing the same type? – B.M., Aurora, Illinois

A: You may make the change, but you must maintain the same overall diameter as the original tire and wheel combination. Of course, you will lose the handling performance of your low-profile tires. I like performance, even if I drive over a dime and can tell if it’s heads or tails.

Q: Is there a DIY way to add transmission fluid to a vehicle with a sealed transmission? I have developed a very small leak on my 2013 Volvo C70. It hasn’t impacted performance yet, but I would imagine it’s only a matter of time before it does. – J.C., Hartford, Connecticut

A: Sealed transmissions are shifting the method for checking the fluid. No longer is there a dipstick. Instead, there is often an inspection plug on the side of the transmission. It helps to have the car on a lift to access said plug. This is how manual transmissions are checked on rear-wheel-drive cars. In some cases, special tools are required. And the fluid isn’t cheap.

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(Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. His writing also appears in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest.

Send questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.)

(c)2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.