Thom's Four Wheel Drive

Maintaining a vehicle’s tires is essential to maximize tire life and ensure safety on the road. There is no better time to start than National Tire Safety Week in May to start checking tire pressure and condition regularly, says the Car Care Council. The Car Care Council supports National Tire Safety Week held May 20-27 and conducted by the United States Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA). With its “Know Your Roll” theme, USTMA urges motorists, including first-time drivers, to “know their roll” and check their tires in advance of the busy summer driving seaso ... read more

Just because a cabin air filter doesn't directly affect whether your vehicle makes it from point A to point B doesn't mean you should delay getting a new one - or not replacing it at all. Changing your cabin air filter is an important part of regular vehicle maintenance and ignoring it can cause some pretty uncomfortable effects. Here's why it's important to regularly change your cabin air filter. What is a Cabin Air Filter? A cabin air filter shouldn't be confused with your engine's air filter, although they perform similar functions. Whereas the engi ... read more

Overdue for an oil change or a brake inspection? Whatever the service, by postponing necessary maintenance, you may be causing extensive damage to your vehicle and increasing the chance of a breakdown. With National Car Care Month in April upon us, the non-profit Car Care Council suggests you stop stalling and get your vehicle serviced today. “Many people don’t realize the consequences of putting off needed vehicle maintenance. Not only can neglecting vehicle service cause safety issues if ignored, but it can lead to costly repairs down the road,” said Rich White, exe ... read more

Hitting a pothole with your car can do a real number on tires, wheels, steering and suspension, and alignment. The non-profit Car Care Council urges motorists to watch for three warning signs to help determine if hitting a pothole has damaged their vehicle. Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads are indicators that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine a vehicle’s ride and handling. Pulling in one dir ... read more

In much of the eastern and midwestern United States, it’s that time of year when it is so bitterly freezing that even a 30-degree day can feel like a balmy respite. Temperatures plummet into the single digits, wind chills are painful and dangerous, and talk of polar vortexes and bomb cyclones fills the media. It’s cold outside. Few places in the U.S. know cold better than Alaska, and James Grant, who owns Right Choice Automotive Repair in Fairbanks, has seen a bit of what frigid temperatures can do to vehicles. We talked with Grant as well as the Car Care Council to find out how t ... read more