Spring is in the air- carrying on its breeze the promise of new beginnings, blooming flowers, and hot summer days.

Of course, it isn't all leafy shrubs and fuzzy ducklings. First, it smells like melted dog-business. Second, spring brings with it the temperature changes and fluctuating precipitation that can leave expanses of roadway reduced to rubble.

Tis the season, alright. The season for frost heaves, cracked wheel rims and high-speed pothole dodging. Some drivers make a game of it, while others navigate road-craters at a crawling pace, slowing up traffic.
(more...)

Just because the ground is beginning to get greener and there are buds on the trees doesn't mean there will be progress against the overflowing trash cans, or the dishes will finally sit on the shelves instead of in the sink. Spring cleaning isn't part of most college students' vocabulary.

A little feet-dragging never hurt anyone, but this is the time to dust off one item-that bike in the corner that you've ignored during winter. Despite its size, you've managed to forget about it, but it is spring-the time of renewal. It's time to stop paying for overpriced parking passes that fund university bureaucracy, and overpriced gas that funds horrible governments that throw rocks and shoes at peoples' heads. It is time to start hammering and putting some miles under your feet. If you need advice or tools, a local bike collective can help. You can find the U Bike Collective at their bike hut across from the Utah Museum of Fine Arts or the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective at their main store on 2312 S. West Temple.
(more...)

By venturing under the bonnet of your car once a week and getting your hands dirty you could be saving yourself money. We found out that topping up your oil is as easy as applying lip gloss
I hold my hands up. I know nothing about the inner workings of a motor vehicle.

I have been driving since the tender age of 17 and in that time I have been fortunate enough to avoid breaking down at the side of the road without assistance. Not the AA – my dad.
(more...)

If you, like many others, are resisting the urge to splash out on a new car in your efforts to save money, it’s never been more important to make sure that your current set of wheels are well looked after. Basic car maintenance is a must; particularly if your car isn’t protected by a manufacturer’s warranty as breakdowns can be hugely expensive and always seem to happen when you can least afford it.

Taking good care of your car is an easy way to prolong its driving life and cut costs. All it takes is a few minutes every week or so to carry out the checks that will help to keep your car in tip top driving condition. We explain how:
(more...)

Keeping your tires properly inflated is a very good idea. An under-inflated radial can increase wear while also decreasing performance and fuel economy. But if the state of California can help it, under-inflated tires may soon be a thing of the past.

California has passed a new law requiring most auto servicing sites to check tire pressure at each visit and add air when necessary. The law will affect 40,000 businesses in the state, although the mandate does not effect body shops, car washes, glass repair shops, or parts stores. The state's government will let the service stations, smog-check stations, oil change places, and so on determine how much to charge for the check, and they must have a high-accuracy pressure gauge on hand. The tire pressure monitoring law will go into effect in July 1, 2010.
(more...)

Americans are keeping their cars on the road longer than ever before. According to a March 2009 study released by R.L. Polk & Co., the median age of passenger cars in operation was 9.4 years in 2008 - a record high. That means that, assuming a car is bought new and driven 12,000 miles per year (which is about average), many Americans are logging 112,800 miles before selling or trading in their car.

Seems like a lot, right? In fact, according to J.D. Power and Associates, most Americans probably don't make it that long. They say the average length of time owners keep their cars before trading them in is 73 months -- about six years.
(more...)

Yesterday, I talked to a technician who just finished the Michelin Tire Center training class. some insites were, you always place 2 new tires on a car on the 'rear' and not on the front, why, because the worn 'patch' of the front tires is required to maintain control and steering throughout a turn or on braking.

I have always maintained that you always replace both motorcycle tires at the same time because of the above reason and disregard the comments about how I got 10,000 miles on my rear tire and 18,000 miles on the front. When it comes to mechanical safety, start with your tires, then move to the brakes, controls, lights, and torque on bolts. The most important part of safety is what you know and how you handle that knowledge.
(more...)

An issue that briefly brought President Barack Obama ridicule on the campaign trail last year is gaining traction in California, where air regulators are seeking to mandate proper tire inflation as a way to reduce fuel consumption.

The state Air Resources Board on Thursday adopted a resolution requiring auto repair shops to check tire pressure every time drivers bring in their vehicle for maintenance, oil changes and smog tests. The next step is to develop detailed rules to implement the mandate, which will take effect in July 2010.

Regulators say widespread awareness of having properly inflated tires could lead to California motorists saving 75 million gallons of gasoline a year and using 700,000 fewer tires.
(more...)

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to automotive problems, says Doug Fusek, automotive service manager at Canadian Tire on Glendale Avenue.

It's the reason he and his team of licensed technicians feels it's as important to form a good relationship with their customers as it is to maintain their vehicles well.

"As an industry, we want you to be informed and to be part of the decision making. We want you to be aware of concerns -- as a consumer you have a right to know. And though we will make recommendations, you have every right to make the choices."

It's spring and the season of change -- a major time of change for automotive vehicles, Fusek points out. Winters are usually rough on cars and on roads, but the heat of summer also plays a part in automotive performance and condition. He suggests people play safe and have a thorough inspection well before the roads get crowded and holidays are being planned.

Accidents are all too often caused by underinflated tires, Fusek says, and it's most important to ensure tire pressure is monitored with every fuel fill up in summer. Any indication of underflated tires is a reason for inspection.

"It's a simple test," he says. "You can maintain this on your own with a tire pressure gauge, which is very inexpensive. If you've not used one before, come in and our representatives will be happy to show you. We even go out to show people how to use them, or we'll check the pressure on their tires ourselves -- for free."

Fusek points out that condition of the tire itself is key to today's driving safety. Technology has made important advances in tires and though radial tires have many advantages, they are also good at masking problems. For instance, the car may be tracking straight, but the tires may be wearing unevenly after months of driving over potholes.

An experienced technician will be able to check for current and pending wear problems.

Consumers are always welcome to ask Canadian Tire automotive reps for advice, he says. Building a relationship with the customer is an important part of company policy, and communication is key.

When it comes to oil and filter changes, most consumers realize their importance and have them done regularly -- refer to your owner's manual for this and all checks. It's paramount to change oil in the spring, Fusek says, so any time now good, and will combat the condensation built up in the crank case over the winter.

"As an individual, you can do a complete walkaround of all vital fluids, but we strongly recommend a seasonal service, which is more thorough."

All fluids -- oil, transmission, brake and coolant -- will be checked, and particular attention paid to achieving the right coolant strength. Also checked by your service technician will be the battery and its charging components, suspension; brakes and their various components; all belts, hoses, cables and wires; the cooling system and engine management system, exhaust and steering and suspension

"People's safety is our number one priority," Fusek says. "Refer to your manual and heed the advice of your service provider, especially when it comes to preventive maintenance. We like to identify something when it's a preventive issue rather than safety issue. That's when it's the least expensive to fix."

Source: stcatharinesstandard.ca

Some bright spark has come up with a great idea for disused petrol stations – turn them into electric car charging centres!

That’s the plan of US firm Evoasis, which says the first of its sites could be open in London before the end of the year. But it told Auto Express that it’s also in talks with supermarket chain Tesco, with a view to adding charging points to its filling stations across the country.

Evoasis confirmed its first site is likely to be built near a major train station in the capital, such as Euston or Waterloo, while other earmarked locations include Canary Wharf and the centre of Soho. The firm claims that limited space could be overcome by installing a vertical parking system, which could be fitted to the side of a building.

As most electric vehicles take at least 20 minutes to recharge, the hi-tech stations will be kitted out with airport-style lounges, where users can download music, films and software to their vehicles. Centres in Dublin, Los Angeles, Paris and Mexico City are also planned.

Source:autoexpress.co.uk