Dear Doctor: We purchased a 2004 Chevy Colorado pickup new (current mileage is 47,000).

When the "check engine" light came we took it to the dealer. The computer scan cost was $88. The problem turned out to be a soft worn intake valve. The dealer had to remove the cylinder head as per bulletin No. pip3935a. The replacement cylinder repair was $2,400. I feel this is a defective part and should have been recalled. What are your thoughts? -- Ed

Dear Ed: You are not the first person to complain about parts that wear prematurely. All manufacturers have their share of poor quality parts and GM is not alone. Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do. Will your next vehicle be a GM?

Dear Doctor: I own a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis with only 88,000 miles. The a/c and heater only blows out on the high speed. The local mechanic said I need a new blower motor. -- John

Dear John: Ninety-five percent of the time when an a/c heater blower blows only on high, the problem is a blower motor resistor. In a lot of cases with Ford and Chrysler products, the small wire harness that goes to the resistor needs to be replaced. These small wire harnesses can be purchased from the dealer parts department. There are two major causes of blower resistor failure: poor connections at the blower resistor and high current draw from the a/c heater blower motor. The cost of the resistor replacement will range from $15 to $50.

Dear Doctor: I own a 1990 Buick Reatta with 160,000 miles. The brake pedal froze and I could not press the pedal down. I had it repaired, but now when I press the brake pedal down there is a buzzing sound that lasts about 10 seconds. Also, the ABS light comes on. -- Martin

Dear Martin: Your Buick has an electric brake booster vs. a vacuum system. The ABS system is a first generation. It may be difficult to find a technician who will want to take the time to troubleshoot the system. If you find an independent technician who is willing to troubleshoot the brake system, have him contact Identifix for a step-by-step walk through on the system.

Dear Doctor: I own a 1998 Chevrolet Astro van with 112,000 miles. It starts and runs fine. When I shut the engine off I can hear a high-pitch whine coming from the gas tank for a few seconds. My son-in-law says I should get the fuel pump replaced. Do you agree? -- Fred

Dear Fred: The first item to check is the fuel filter. It should be free to blow through. The in-tank fuel pump will always make a low whining sound. A partly blocked fuel filter will cause even a good fuel pump to have a loud whine sound. Fuel pumps will overheat if the gas tank is constantly run below half full -- and they have a short life.

Dear Doctor: I own a 2001 BMW 325 convertible that I purchased used with 12,000 miles from a local BMW dealer. I have always brought the car back to the dealer for all service. Current mileage is 35,000 miles. Is the car worth keeping and are there any shops with qualified technicians who can live up to my service expectations without charging me as much as the dealer? -- Bert

Dear Bert: As long as you're happy with the car it is very much worth keeping. As for the difference in service costs for dealer vs. the independent, if you can find a qualified technician who meets your expectations, then by all means give the shop a try. Usually, dealer labor rates are more than the independent shop. However, the price difference on some diagnostic work could actually be less than the independent because the dealer technicians often work on the same vehicle, so they are familiar with it and able to make the repairs quicker.

Dear Doctor: I recently purchased a 1978 Corvette Pace Car with 11,000 miles. I'd like to get a repair manual for it. Any suggestions? -- Emil

Dear Emil: You can try the Helm Corporation, the company that makes the GM manuals. You can also go to Alldata.com. Click on the DYI section and download the very best information on any area of your Corvette, including text and pictures.

Send questions to: Auto Doctor, 3 Court Circle, Lakeville, MA 02347