Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Car Care Sub-Section

Nineteen Tips for Safe Driving in the Rain

Nineteen Tips for Safe Driving in the Rain

> > As snow turns to slush, winter turns to spring. Safe onroad driving requires consideration of road conditions. Wet roads can factor in vehicle crashes, but with a few defensive driving tips, they can be avoided. 1. Before it starts to rain,...

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How To Avoid the Dead Battery Blues

According to statistics, the average battery life for the non-sealed lead acid batteries typically used in RVs and boats is somewhere between 24 months to 48 months, even though some owners could swear it’s even less. The seasonal usage habits for people who own RVs and boats cause their vehicles to lay dormant for most of the year, shortening battery life to such a point that many owners simply buy new batteries every season. But it doesn’t have to be that way,...

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Best and Worst Cities for Auto Repair

Best and Worst Cities for Auto Repair

    > Carson, CA – February 24, 2010 – AutoMD.com, the free and unbiased online auto repair resource, today released its Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness Report, the first to analyze how the top-50 most populated U.S. cities stack...

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TIA Winter Tire Tips

TIA Winter Tire Tips

> With much of the country still dealing with ice and snow covered roads, potholes, and other hazards, The Tire Industry Association (TIA), one of the world's leading authorities on tires and wheels, has the following five tips to help motorists stay safe in winter driving conditions: 1) Check the tread depth on your...

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Deciphering Your Car's "Check Engine" Light

(NewsUSA) - Many drivers don't know what the "check engine" or "service engine soon" warning light on the instrument panel really means. Understanding the purpose of this light, and knowing what actions to take when it comes on, can help you nip problems in the bud -- and possibly prevent major damage. An illuminated "check engine" light is telling you the engine control computer has detected a problem that is causing the vehicle to produce excessive...

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Restoring the Shine to Your Old RV

After thirteen years outdoors, our RV's fiberglass outer skin is looking a little bit faded. This comes as no surprise; these rigs spend most of their time out in the sun, after all. Unfortunately, a good RV paint job will easily run five figures, and we’re not about to deface the rig by doing a rattle-can and housepaint job on it (not that backyard paint jobs aren’t cool, but many RV parks won’t allow you in if you look too much like a hippie bus). ...

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Spring Is Here! Unfortunately, Potholes Won't Be Far Behind

BOWIE, MD - The Tire Industry Association (TIA), one of the world's leading authorities on tires and wheels, has some tips consumers can use to combat the damage caused by these menaces of the road. According to the Argonne National Laboratory, potholes are formed when water seeps into cracks in the road bed. The cold temperatures of winter then cause this water to freeze and expand, thus causing cracks to get wider and deeper until a full-fledged pothole is born. TIA's Senior...

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Q&A: Oil changes -- How often is a slippery subject

Edited by Jeff Yip Q: My 2007 BMW 525i has reached 10,000 miles and I was concerned that the oil service light hadn't come on. When I tried to make an appointment for an oil change, the dealer informed me that they wouldn't do it until the oil service light triggered -- and this apparently occurs between 15,000 to 20,000 miles! I'm worried that that's too long. Should I change it anyway? A: Welcome to the 21st century. While it's nice that BMW covers full...

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Q&A: Honda oil drain plug washers

Edited by Jeff Yip Q. I took my Honda Accord in for an oil change. Later, looking over the bill, I found that they charged me $1 for a washer. Are they nickel-and-diming me? (Or worse, charging me for something they didn't even need?) A. Don't blow your radiator cap. It's a buck well spent. You should thank them for doing things by the book--we know of horror stories that occurred when a gas station or lube shop wasn't so careful. Sara Pines, of American...

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Noisy Camry may be sign of intake manifold trouble

Edited by Jeff Yip Q. Our 2004 Camry LE with 2.4-liter engine makes a weird sound, almost like a rattle, when accelerating. The service department at the dealership where we bought the car says this is a problem some Camrys have but assures us that it is nothing to worry about.   A. Your Camry may have a known problem with some...

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