Thom's Four Wheel Drive

When your car’s brakes fail, it is important to know what to do to protect yourself and others. Whether you are on a highway or just a back road, this is a scary situation that no driver wants to face. Unfortunately, brakes wear out and, on occasion, they can stop working properly. If you ever find yourself in this situation, follow these tips to protect yourself. Steps to follow The most important thing to do in any emergency situation is to keep calm. Take a deep breath and try to rein in any panic you may be feeling. Staying calm allows you to think clearly and ... read more

Getting a flat tire is no fun for anyone at any time, especially on vacation. To keep your summer road trip rolling along, the non-profit Car Care Council recommends a quick tire check before you leave the driveway. “The excitement of summer vacation quickly deflates when your car has a flat tire,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A quick four-step tire check will help you to avoid the aggravation of changing a flat tire on the side of the road.” Check that all tires, including the spare, are inflated to recommended pressure levels. Check tire ... read more

Summer road trip season is here. Taking proactive steps to make sure your vehicle is operating properly will help avoid the hassle and unexpected cost of a breakdown away from home, says the non-profit Car Care Council. This summer, AAA expects to receive calls from over seven million stranded motorists experiencing car trouble. The majority of issues the travel group anticipates will cause car problems, such as dead batteries and flat tires, can be prevented with a pre-trip vehicle inspection ... read more

Brakes are a vital safety feature, so getting acquainted with your car's brake system should be a priority. "The braking system on your vehicle is critical in keeping you and your passengers alive and well and your vehicle out of the body shop," says James Solomon, Defensive Driving Courses program development and training director with the National Safety Council. Brake damage or failure can have numerous culprits, including improper or infrequent maintenance, such as low levels of brake fluid and worn brake pads and/or rotors, undetected damage from an unknown source, and wear ... read more

Typically, motorists will only replace a headlight bulb that has burned out or is failing. However, replacing just one failed bulb can result in an unbalanced or unpredictable headlight beam, which presents a potential safety risk. From the driver’s perspective, the road ahead will not be properly lit, and the driver will not get the full benefit of the vehicle’s headlights as the car maker originally intended. From the oncoming driver’s perspective, an uneven headlamp beam can create an equally risky safety issue. The oncoming car will be harder to see and difficult to posi ... read more