Question: I bought a used 2005 SUV for $12,000 from a car dealer. About 10 days later, I noticed a problem with the wheel bearing. I took it back to the dealer and he said to take it to a repair shop and I could get a good price for getting it fixed. I don’t think I should have to pay for this. How would the "lemon law" apply in this case?

Answer: Hawaii’s "lemon law" wouldn’t apply, because it covers new vehicle purchases or leases.

However, Hawaii has a used car sales and warranty law, covering dealer transactions, said JoAnn Uchida, complaints and enforcement officer for the state Regulated Industries Complaints Office.

Private sales are not covered.

The used car law requires a dealer to provide a written disclosure of all known material mechanical defects that affect safety and use, and whether any inspections have been done to determine if there are any defects.

It also requires a written warranty on covered major mechanical parts, "generally," if the car is less than 5 years old; costs more than $1,500; has between 12,000 and 75,000 miles; is not custom built or modified for show purposes or racing; and is not inoperable or deemed a total loss.

See http://hawaii.gov/dcca/rico/r_brochures/ rico_brochure_used_car_sales_warranty_law.pdf for information on the law and what it covers.

Hawaii’s New Car Lemon Law, amended this year to also include motorcycles (but not mo-peds or motor scooters), helps consumers who have repeated problems in getting repairs under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Essentially, the law sets up a State Certified Arbitration Program to help the consumers go through an arbitration process.

See http://hawaii.gov/dcca/rico/r_brochures/hawaiis-new-car-lemon-law.pdf/view?searchterm=None for information.

You can find the brochures on the used car warranty and lemon law, as well as tips on buying a used car, on the RICO website: http://hawaii.gov/dcca/rico/r_brochures.

You can also call 587-3222 to get the information.

Question: I was driving Ewa on Nimitz Highway and noticed that the street signs at Bethel Street looked a little odd. The green one says "Bethel Ave" and the blue one says "Bethel St." It’s no big deal, but which is correct?

Answer: The blue sign, the city’s standard street name sign, is correct.

The erroneous green sign, mounted on the traffic signal mast arm on Nimitz Highway, belongs to the state Department of Transportation, said Wayne Yoshioka, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.

His staff informed DOT of the error and was told that DOT maintenance staff will correct the sign.

Yoshioka thanks you "for bringing this to our collective attention."

Question: I have a plastic gallon jug half full of canola oil. It expired several years ago. How can I dispose of it?

Answer: The city Department of Environmental Services advises using the "absorb and trash" method: pour the liquid into a plastic bag with absorbent material, such as shredded newspaper, old rags or sawdust. Seal the bag, then throw into the trash.

"Never, ever, ever (pour it) down the drain in the sink, toilet, etc.," a spokesman said.

Go to the department’s website for information on disposal and recycling other household items: http://www.opala.org/solid_waste/Household_Hazardous_Waste.html.