Avoid holiday accidents
Everyone looks forward to the cards, gifts, and treats of the holiday season,
but November and December bring more than good tidings and cheer - they also bring
crowded roads, highways and parking lots. FULL
STORY »
Big benefits for regular checks under the hood Year after year, more vehicles fail inspections in National Car Care Month
check lanes because of low or dirty engine oil than any other discrepancy. "This
is because motorists seldom check under the hood at the gas pumps or, for that
matter, any other time," says Car Care Council President Donna Wagner. "Most of
us are guilty of just gassing up and getting back on the road, planning to check
oil, belts and fluids some other time, if at all." FULL
STORY »
Body joints and car joints both suffer from wear and
tear A car’s CV joint and the joints in your body work in much the same way.
They all do tough duty, and when they stop performing their tasks, it’s serious
business. Interestingly, when they’re failing, they often make a similar sound.
For example, on a front wheel drive vehicle one tell-tale sign of a worn CV joint
includes a clicking noise when making turn. That should sound familiar to former
athletes. Other noises that indicate worn CV joints include a clunking when accelerating
after coasting, or a vibration when accelerating from a stop. FULL
STORY »
I can’t believe you forgot the car! Make a safety check of your vehicle before your next trip. FULL
STORY »
Your car looks like new, what's your secret? "Gee, it looks like new! I'd never have guessed that car was eight years
old."
That's what we owners want to hear, but keeping a car looking like a late model
is tough, even with today's long lasting finishes. Dents, dings and cracked glass
are several items that age the appearance of a vehicle. FULL
STORY »
Curtain falls on auto legend For those who grew up with the all-American Oldsmobile parked in the family
driveway, General Motors’ news that its Oldsmobile Division will be phased out
over the next few years must come as sad news. FULL
STORY »
An exhaustive quiz on mufflers, pipes and cats A byproduct of the combustion occurring in an internal combustion engine
is exhaust gas, which is processed in the catalytic converter and released to
the air. FULL STORY »
Let your car’s exterior lights do your bidding A police officer in a small town pulled over an elderly gentleman who had
turned left without signaling. "Why didn’t you turn on your blinker, Mr. Wall?"
The man was stunned. "Why do I need to signal? I’ve lived here for 82 years, and
every person in this town knows exactly where I’m going." FULL
STORY »
Fresh antifreeze is preventive medicine for your car Just as you do everything possible to protect your family from illness
during winter months, it’s wise to take steps to protect the vehicles that your
family counts on from the extreme temperatures and harsh conditions can cause
serious engine damage. FULL
STORY »
Fuel injector maintenance often overlooked Regular attention can increase fuel economy. FULL
STORY »
Gear up for winter with car maintenance Fall has arrived and along with changing leaves and football season, the
air becomes cooler reminding us that winter is on its way. As you prepare your
car or truck for the harsh weather ahead, keep in mind the preventative measures
you will need to take in order to ensure that your vehicle remains in top condition.
FULL STORY »
Good reasons not to run low on gas Are you one of those optimistic drivers who doesn’t worry about stopping
for gas until the gas gauge needle is approaching "E"? In cold weather that’s
inviting trouble, says the Car Care Council. Condensation of moisture in the air
in the gas tank causes an accumulation of water. Because water is heavier than
gasoline, it settles to the bottom of the tank, entering the gas line and eventually
working its way to the lowest point in the fuel system. FULL
STORY »
Knock-off gas caps can pose increased safety risks Loss of fuel, enhanced fuel spill potential, and emissions failures are
some of the problems. FULL STORY
»
New vehicle designs and materials: Can your collision
repair shop fix them right? Today’s vehicle designers face some competing demands. They need to reduce
fuel consumption and polluting emissions, but still recognize that consumers love
sport utility and other large vehicles. Consumers aren’t clamoring for a return
to the days of the compact car. FULL
STORY »
Does “On the Road Again” mean “On the Phone Again”? We’re seeing more and more cell phones on the ears of people at the wheel
of an automobile. Some of these phones and their owners will wind up in car crashes,
but don’t be too quick to blame the cell phone. FULL
STORY »
Poor car maintenance has motorists playing highway
Russian roulette Ever wonder how many vehicles on the highway are not in tip-top shape?
The Car Care Council knows, and the number is troublesome. Recent National Car
Care Month Inspection Lanes reveal that only 23% of the vehicles evaluated passed
the inspection in its entirety. FULL
STORY »
When a split second counts the “forgiving” car wins Motorist A, drowsy from driving too long, was slow to see the deer in her
headlights just ahead. Had her car been less responsive, due to neglected maintenance,
she might not have had that extra split second. Close call! FULL
STORY »
Stretching the miles between fill-ups Nothing lasts forever; that goes for low gas prices, too. As the travel
season gets under way, motorists are attempting to get the most out of each gallon
of fuel. FULL STORY »
Sure engine starts 101 Among the concerns of parents of fledgling teenage drivers is whether they’re
vulnerable to car trouble away from home. Parents can’t always take the responsibility
of the cars their kids are driving, especially considering that young peoples’
priorities may divert maintenance and repair funds to other things. Considering
that the output of a healthy battery at 80 degrees will have dropped to 65% at
freezing and, when the temperature dips to zero, it has only 40% of its power.
FULL STORY »
Talk to your kids about safe driving Today’s young drivers rush through their days in a whirlwind of activity,
racing off to school, activities, athletic practices and jobs - often resulting
in highway accidents. FULL
STORY »
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi brings back “Smart
Sign” to smile upon local car owners
The Pollution Prevention Partnership Program of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Office of Community Outreach is bringing back the "Smart Sign" vehicle emission
detector in conjunction with a local car care clinic. As a committed participant
in the Air Quality Group for Corpus Christi, the program and the clinic hope to
increase ozone and air quality awareness in Corpus Christi. "Smart Sign" will
be available to motorists on the S.P.I. D. access road side of the Sunrise Mall
beside the old Montgomery Ward store, underneath the mall marquee on Saturday,
Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. FULL
STORY »
Twice a year to keep windshields clear Make a safety check of your vehicle before your next trip. FULL
STORY »
Venus and Mars talk cars Communication is a key issue between vehicle owners and service technicians.
FULL STORY »
When that bump jarred your teeth, what did it do to
your car? Has your car been steering erratically lately? Have you noticed an unfamiliar
"clunking" noise coming from under your car? Are your tires wearing unevenly?
These symptoms can be the after-effects of hitting a pothole, a rough railroad
crossing or other obstruction. FULL
STORY »
When mechanical trouble surfaces, safety takes a beating Loss of fuel, enhanced fuel spill potential, and emissions failures are
some of the problems. FULL
STORY »
Will your car outlive its engine? Cars are lasting longer, much longer. It’s not unusual, with proper preventive
maintenance, for a vehicle to run 200,000 miles or more having needed no major
repairs. The first big expense often is the engine, which may begin burning oil,
clattering, or losing power. FULL
STORY »
