Q: On almost every car I have owned, when the gas gauge gets to the quarter-full mark, it starts going down a lot more rapidly than at any point above that. Is that on purpose, and, if so, why?

A: An occasional gauge will malfunction, but in this case, I think the issue is more in how we monitor the gauge. We check the fuel level more often when it’s getting low because we’re concerned about the tank running dry.

Protecting EVs

Q: During a thunderstorm, my daughter’s EV was plugged into the charger in the garage when lightning hit her house. It affected the car’s charger, but her car (a Ford Mustang) seems to be fine with another charger. Do EVs have surge protectors built in?

A: I’ve never encountered this myself, so I sought an answer from the SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers). Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment products have built-in protection for voltage fluctuation or surges, said Jeff Laskowski, SAE content communications manager. In your daughter’s case, it sounds as if the charger took the hit, protecting the car.

Bad bearings

Q: I am the owner of a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek. Within the past three years, I have had to replace worn wheel bearings three times. This has never happened to any car (all Subarus) I’ve owned in the past. What gives?

A: The word on the street is that this is a common ailment with Subarus of that vintage.

Balky belt

Q: I’ve had my Jeep Grand Cherokee for nearly four years. My seat belt is very slow to retract. I’ve seen on YouTube videos that dirt, grease and dust buildup on the belt and mechanism can make it harder when pulling back. The stated solution was to clean both sides of nylon thoroughly with hot water and soap and dry the material with a hair dryer. I’ve tried this approach twice now, and the problem seems to have gotten worse. Any other suggestions?

A: The plastic cover, which is also the guide for the seat belt retractor, often cracks and snags the belt. The retractor unit likely has to be replaced.

Bob Weber is a writer, mechanic and ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. His writing has appeared in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest. Send automotive questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.