Q: Hello, I have been following your responses to readers with oil consumption concerns. I have the exact same problem with my 2005 Caravan, except mine started burning a quart of oil per 1,000 miles at 15,000 miles. I found a lot of other people with the same problem. No one except Chrysler seems to think this is normal. Chrysler actually gave me a letter stating that 1 quart per 1,000 miles is normal until 50,000 and after that 1 quart per 750 miles is normal, I purchased an extended warranty just so things like this would not happen, but they say it’s normal so there is nothing to warranty. I guess my question is: Where do I go from here? -- J.C., email

A: J.C., you basically have two choices; you can continue to drive your vehicle, or you can trade it or sell it and get something else. As long as you have the extended warranty, though, if the oil consumption gets worse, you should be covered.

In the meantime, make sure that you’re using the proper oil for your engine. Engine oil has two ratings, one is a two-letter designation by the American Petroleum Institute, and the other is the SAE viscosity rating. If you’re wondering what causes an engine to consume oil, it’s poor sealing, either in regards to the piston rings or the valves. Excess oil consumption can also be caused by a problem with the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system.

Q: I own a 2000 Dodge Neon. The problem is that the check engine light is on and nobody has been able to read the trouble codes stored in my car’s computer. All kinds of testers have been plugged into the diagnostic connector under the dash, but all have come up empty with being able to read the trouble codes. The last guy who tried said that one of the terminals in the connector isn’t powering up his scan tool. He checked the fuses and didn’t find any that were bad. Is it possible that my car has another fuse box and maybe a blown fuse causes this problem? By the way, my car starts and runs fine. -- E.B., Chicago

A: E.B., if diagnostic scan tools won’t power up when plugged into your Neon’s diagnostic connector, the problem is either with the circuit supplying power to the diagnostic connector or the circuit supplying the ground. A technician should be able to identify which circuit is at fault.

Since 1996, the under-dash diagnostic connector is the same size and shape for all cars. Also, all of these connectors utilize terminal 16 for power from the battery and terminals 4 and 5 for ground. A technician can measure the voltage at these terminals to determine which one is faulty. If no power is coming in on terminal 16, it can sometimes be a faulty fuse. But, since your Neon’s fuse for terminal 16 also provides power for the fuel pump and engine computer, it can’t be a bad fuse.

The likely culprit is a broken wire somewhere or maybe the terminals in the diagnostic connector are damaged or spread out. A technician who’s ASE certified in electrical and engine performance should be able to diagnose the problem.

AutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician. If you have auto-related questions for Ira Siegel you can call and leave your questions at the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708-633-6839 or e-mail a question to Autoadvisr@aol.com.