Thom's Four Wheel Drive

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

Before you hit the road this summer, make sure your vehicle is road trip ready so you can have any problems fixed before you go. A pre-trip vehicle checkup will help avoid the inconvenience, potential safety hazards and unplanned expense of breaking down miles away from home, says the non-profit Car Care Council. Check filters and fluids, including engine oil, antifreeze/coolant, windshield washer and power steering, brake and transmission fluids. Dirty air filters can waste gas and cause the engine to lose power. Check the hoses and belts and replace if they become cracked, brittle, frayed ... read more

The top 10 check engine light repairs from the annual CarMD® Vehicle Health Index™ reinforces what the Car Care Council has been saying for years. Motorists who ignore the check engine light get less miles per gallon and could face costly repairs down the road. “Many people fear that when the check engine light comes on, it is going to mean several hundred or more dollars in repairs, so they ignore the light and hope the problem goes away,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Data from CarMD makes it clear that not addressing the cause of a ... read more