Thom's Four Wheel Drive

Imagine being stuck in traffic on a 90-degree day when your vehicle’s air conditioning system malfunctions. With summer heating up, the non-profit Car Care Council recommends that motorists be car care aware and have their A/C system checked to make sure it is working properly. “As the weather turns warmer, the last thing anyone wants to be is hot under the collar in their vehicle when they are driving to work or on a family vacation,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Making sure your A/C system is working properly will keep you and your passenge ... read more

Have you gotten around to rotating your tires lately? If not, we’re here to explain why it should be a top priority. Your tires play a vital role in keeping you safe on the road. Much of today’s advanced safety technology relies on your tires to be effective. Think of it like this: If you’re trying to change lanes on the highway, and you’re alerted to a vehicle in your blind spot, you may have to quickly pull back into your own lane. You’ll want your tires to be at their best for that kind of maneuver. Why Should I Rotate My Tires? Because tires are softer than ... read more

With school out for the summer, many families are planning driving vacations. Adding pre-trip auto care to road trip plans lessens the chance of a roadside breakdown for all motorists and is even more important for those driving older vehicles, says the Car Care Council. According to AAA roadside data, “vehicles 10 years and older are twice as likely to be stranded at the roadside, and four times more likely to require a tow.” The findings also show that the top reasons for requiring a tow are battery and electrical systems issues (23 percent), engine cooling system failures (11 p ... read more

Fuel costs can represent a significant expense for drivers. According to a 2017 study published by the American Automobile Association, the average owner of a new vehicle spends about $1,500 each year on fuel.  There are things you can do to reduce this cost. Driving habits can impact fuel economy. If there's a red light ahead, gradually ease off the gas pedal instead of accelerating until the last moment and then hitting the brakes. If you drive a car with a manual transmission, keep in mind that since less fuel is consumed at higher gears, it makes sense to upshift as soon as possi ... read more

Singing in the rain is fun. But driving? For some people, it's anxiety-producing. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/g1_roadimpact.htm), there are on average more than 950,000 automobile crashes each year due to wet pavement, resulting in approximately 4,700 deaths and 384,000 injuries. But being behind the wheel and a rain-splattered windshield doesn't have to be a white-knuckled, nerve-racking experience. Brent Praeter, a supervising instructor at D&D Driving Sch ... read more