Dear Motor Medics,
I have a 2013 Camaro SS that’s been in storage for two years while I was deployed overseas. There is a good chance that I will again be deployed and must store the car. I probably shouldn’t have bought it but not having some family or other bills I felt moved to buy my dream car. When I got back the battery was completely dead, and I have not replaced it. I want to drive it but don’t want to hurt anything so is there anything I should do before I start it up? My friends and I listen to your shows on podcast all the time on base. It keeps us going. We often listen to your callers’ questions and try to guess what your answers might be.
Thanks, Jeffrey Marcus in California

Dear Jeffrey,
Thank you for your dedicated service to our country. The beauty of a newer car with a fuel injected engine is that if you properly store it you can return it to normal service easily. When storing it is a must to use a fuel stabilizer in the tank and to keep the battery in good condition use a battery maintainer. Talk with a local mechanic to get complete advice on other things to look out for but unless critters get into it while you are gone you should be able to store it often without having to do too much before driving.
Take care, the Motor Medics

Dear Motor Medics,
I have a 2006 Dodge Durango and I lost the key fob. It’s the kind with the remote opener for the doors built-in to the key head. I asked the dealership about a replacement fob and it was just too much, so I tried lock smiths and my local hardware store but neither one had the fob with the remote attached. I settled for a key that would start the vehicle without the remote for the doors attached. Is there anything else I can do besides spend several hundred dollars on the correct key so I can get my remote doors back?
Taylor in Portland Maine

Dear Taylor,
Remote keyless entry fobs can be very expensive. While some fobs are as low as $40, we have seen others in the several hundred-dollar range and then they still need to be programmed to the vehicle. What you might consider since you have already bought a key is to go with an aftermarket system. You can either get a low budget one that just works the door locks or a very high-end system that will hit the basics and remotely start the car. If you have ever wanted a remote start now may be the time. If you just want basic locks, you may check one of the many online fob resources for an aftermarket remote to hang on your keychain. You still need to program them, but it should save some cash.
Take care, the Motor Medics