Posted on 12/28/2025
It's always easier to leave a few things in your vehicle so you'll have them on hand. But in cold weather, while it's a good idea to carry items such as a phone charger, blanket and shovel, there are some things you shouldn't store in your vehicle. Medicines and drugs. Cold temperatures can affect the chemical makeup of some drugs. Avoid leaving them in a vehicle, especially those in a liquid form like insulin, eye drops and cough syrup. Latex paint. They are water based, and when they freeze, they get lumpy and lousy. Your paint job will not be what you had in mind. Cellphones and computers. Most of these have lithium ion batteries. If they get colder than freezing (0 degrees C, 32 degrees F), if you try to charge them, you'll more than likely ruin the batteries. Bottled water, soda, wine or beer. OK, here's the scoop. All of these can freeze and split the container they're in. Yes, soda, wine and beer will take a lowe ... read more
Posted on 12/21/2025
We've all seen drivers who do things that—let's be frank—really irritate us. They're inconsiderate, can put people in danger and make the road a much less friendly place. They really "T" us off. These are the bad drivers who fit their description to a "T." The Tailgater. You've seen this terrible driver who follows a few inches off the bumper of the vehicle ahead. We all know what's going to happen if the driver ahead of the tailgater has to slam on the brakes. And we've all been that driver followed by the tailgater, whose vehicle fills up your entire rearview mirror. The tailgater is likely not in a great frame of mind and, thanks to his or her stupid driving practices, the "tailgatee" is getting pretty ticked off as well. That's a formula for a big problem. Know anybody who respects or likes a tailgater? Didn't think so The Texter. All sorts of people think they are perfectly capable of texting while driving. I ... read more
Posted on 12/14/2025
When one of your vehicle’s warning lights comes on, the first thing that comes to mind is, “Oh, no, what’s wrong now?” When it’s the battery light, it means there’s something wrong with your vehicle’s battery or charging system. And because both are important for your vehicle to work properly, it’s a good idea to get it checked out. Here are some things that may cause a battery light to illuminate. It could be that your battery has failed. It could be on its last legs or completely dead. When it isn’t showing it has the voltage it should, your vehicle lets you know. If it’s not the battery itself, it could be the system that charges it. The alternator is part of that system and could have a problem. It could be putting out no power, too little power, or too much. The alternator may not be working because the belt that drives it (using the engine’s mechanical power) could be broke ... read more
Posted on 12/7/2025
With hotter weather and brutal heat waves becoming more common, the pressure in your vehicle's tires goes up. After all, heat causes air to expand, and the air in your tires follows the laws of physics. Overinflated tires can reduce your vehicle's traction, cause a hard, punishing ride and make your tires wear out faster; all are important safety issues. Four out of every ten drivers rarely check tire pressure. Some rely on their vehicle's tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to keep an eye on proper tire inflation. But it's not designed to do that. TPMS is a safety feature that has been required on vehicles made in 2008 or later, using sensors in the wheels that alert you to tire pressure problems. That warning can be a light on your dash, a digital message or a readout of the pressure in each individual wheel. But a study showed that more than 40 percent of drivers don't even know what the tire pressure monitoring light symbol looks like! One looks like a ho ... read more