When I informed the sales rep about this issue, he said that the lower steering shaft “U” joint needed to be greased because it was sitting in the car lot. He said it was safe to drive and he’d have his service department look at the steering shaft. When I picked up the car, he said they had greased the joint and it should be working better; it just needed to get the grease to work into the joint.

When I drove it back to Rhode Island it seemed better, but not great. I had my mechanic look at the car, and he said that the lower U-joint looked new and he thinks it’s the lower ball joints. He greased the ball joints and looked over the whole front-end suspension. He said everything is sound and that it’s most likely a combination of both issues.

The car turns better, but it still has this hard turning to the left with the locking/unlocking feeling. It's very annoying when turning left on an exit. It feels like the steering wheel wants to go straight, almost fighting you.

The car is under warranty, and I’m trying to get the dealership to correct this issue. 

A: More diagnostics are needed. At this point, the steering components need to be disassembled to see if there is mechanical binding. As an example, the steering shaft coupler (U joint) could still be an issue. If the ball joints are frozen, lube was at best temporary, and they should be replaced.

Some of these Volvo XC90s had steering racks that produced very uneven steering and, from what I have read, the steering rack needs replacement.

Fluid pressures should also be checked.

I would ask the used car dealer to send the car to a Volvo dealer to have the steering completely evaluated. 

Q: When I was 17, I owned a Ford Mustang. Now, 50 years later, I want a new Mustang. What do you think of the newest Mustang? Do you have any experience with the Mach 1 — not the Mach-E — which, to me, is an SUV, not a Mustang? Is it crazy at my age to consider a car like this? 

A: The latest Ford Mustang —  in my opinion — is one of the best to date.

I recently spent a couple of days in a Mustang Mach-1. With 480 horsepower on tap from the 5.0-liter V-8, it was a joy to drive. The exhaust was loud enough to turn heads, but not enough to be objectionable.

Ford also seems to have the stance perfect — it looks as good sitting still as moving. The interior is comfortable, slightly retro with modern conveniences.

The model that I drove was with the quick shifting 10-speed automatic transmission, which wasn’t as much fun as a six-speed manual, but it got the job done.

Are you too old for this car? No! You are only as old as you feel. Age is nothing more than a number on your driver’s license. That being said, the Mustang sits low to the ground and, depending on your own body, getting in and out could be a challenge.

Regarding the Mach-E, it's a great vehicle, not a Mustang, but my view may be a generational issue. 

Q: I have a 10-year-old GMC Yukon, and the dome-light doesn’t work. Thinking it would be nothing more than a burned-out bulb, I replaced it and it still didn’t work. I then checked all the fuses under the hood and they all tested fine. To me that only leaves a wiring problem. Is there a known area that the wiring fails that you can share?

A: I think you were on the right track with the fuses, but you had the wrong location. There is a 10-ampere fuse for the dome light in the fuse panel at the instrument panel. It is always time well spent to check every fuse in a vehicle if you don’t have a wiring diagram.

Q: I recently had my car inspected (the same car I have owned for six years) and the mechanic said it passed. For the next inspection, I need to get the tether that holds the gas cap replaced. Why? 

A: The gas cap keeps fumes from going into the air. The gas cap leash keeps the gas cap from falling to the ground during refueling, which can damage the gas cap.

That sounds as if it were a very thorough inspection.

John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.