A: N.D., my suggestion would be to make an appointment to speak with the dealer’s general manager. Getting the G.M. involved could be beneficial, especially if you’re a regular customer of that dealer. Do you know what kind of warranty came with the alarm/remote starting system? If the warranty has expired, maybe the dealer will offer some goodwill since the vehicle is only a couple of years old.

The company that installed the system should stand behind their work and offer some type of replacement or repairs. If not, report them to the Better Business Bureau. I find it unlikely that your van’s sluggish operation could be caused by the alarm system drawing too much power. But to be sure, drive your van with the alarm system disconnected. There should be a way to temporarily disable the alarm system on your van.

If you notice an improvement in power with the alarm disconnected, then there’s obviously something wrong with it. If not, there could be something wrong with the engine management system. Maybe there’s a faulty electrical connection or bad sensor. There’s a lesson to be learned here. When buying a vehicle that doesn’t have all the features you want, find out if the add-ons are factory accessories or aftermarket. Also find out what kind of warranty is offered ahead of time.

Q: I bought a 2001 Dodge Intrepid (2.7-liter V-6 engine) a week ago, and it has 67,000 miles on it. Recently, the check engine light came on. I took it to an auto parts store and they told me the fault code in the computer was for a gas cap leak. I bought a new gas cap by my check engine light is still on. Do I need to disconnect my battery for the system to reset, or can there be another leak? -- D.B., Chicago

A: D.B., disconnecting the battery won’t help. The code stored in your car’s computer is likely for an evaporative emission leak. The gas cap is a possible cause, but since replacing it didn’t get rid of the code, your car likely has a leak from something else in the system (like a cracked hose) or a faulty Leak Detection Pump (LDP). To pinpoint the problem, bring your car to a repair shop that specializes in emission repairs and they’ll likely need to smoke test the system to see if there are any leaks. The on-board system in your car is capable of detecting a leak as small as .020 inches. Don’t be surprised if the LDP is bad. It’s quite common for them to fail with age.