Q: I have a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. This car has two battery systems, one for the gasoline engine and a battery pack for the hybrid system.

I will be gone three months this winter. What should I do to prepare this car for storage? Am I better to ask a neighbor to come over and start and let it run for a half hour every two weeks, or disconnect the batteries? I’m rather fearful of the electrical system.

A: Fearful of what? Hybrid battery failure, or electrocution? As Toyota suggests, “always wear safety glasses and linemen’s gloves rated for 1,000 volts” when servicing the 273.6-volt battery. In other words, don’t mess with the battery system at all — leave this to the dealer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to “mess” with the battery system for short-term storage. Toyota service bulletin T-SB-0235-08 describes the only step necessary for storing the vehicle for more than 10 days. Just remove the cover from the relay block under the hood and disconnect the wiring harness from the jump start terminal.

Q: I have a ’96 Chevy pickup with a 305 V-8 engine and manual transmission. When it’s damp out, just rained or even very humid, the engine feels like it is misfiring very badly under light load, such as cruising at 50 mph. I have replaced the distributor rotor, wires and plugs with no change. I know that a bad oxygen sensor could cause an engine to run poorly, but could that be made worse by moisture?

A: It’s unlikely this is an oxygen sensor problem for the simple reason that the oxygen sensor provides only fuel “trim” information, not basic fuel and spark mapping. And if an oxygen sensor fails or is providing information far enough out of spec to cause serious misfires, the engine management system would trigger a fault code and turn on the “check engine” light.

I think you’re on the right track by checking the ignition system. Here’s one do-it-yourself testing technique that might help pinpoint the problem. With the engine fully warmed up and held at a fast idle, use a spray bottle filled with water to “mist” individual ignition components and connections to duplicate the moisture/humidity conditions. Make sure you test electrical connections in the ignition harnesses as well as the secondary high-voltage spark components.

Q: I recently purchased a 2007 Hyundai Sonata GLS. The car has been great so far, but the suspension is quite rough, and it seems to affect handling. I have not played with tire pressure because it seems that the problem is beyond that. Are there better-than-original aftermarket struts and shocks that are reasonably priced that would improve the ride and handling?

A: Hyundai suggests 30 psi, or pounds per square inch, for the tires on your vehicle. While I lean toward 35 psi for most passenger cars, you should try slightly lower tire pressures to compare ride and handling characteristics, particularly if the tires on your car are not original. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to install new struts; I’d be more inclined to focus on tires and tire pressure.