You’re driving down the highway when the car hiccups. It hiccups again. Suddenly, though you’re depressing the accelerator further, the car is slowing. You turn the wheels to the right and coast through the slush until you come to a stop on the side of a quiet road in the country.This is no time to start making an emergency list. The answer to emergencies is preparation; you need a plan. And any

Before a pilot leaves the ground he or she is required to complete a safety checklist. It’s really a great idea as pilots generally prefer to notice a problem with the plane’s controls or a leaky fuel tank before they become airborne. But, for the pilots, completing the checklist is not optional. In a sense, it’s not optional for operators of automobiles.Consider what happens when you’re pulled

Remember last spring when you started wondering if the A/C was working up to par with the summer ahead? It’s time to start thinking in terms of your car’s heater and its ability to keep you warm.Your car’s heater is important for more than mere comfort, however. It’s also important for clearing frost and fog off the inside of your windows. In this case, an issue of comfort gives way to an

Of course, it’s not a good thing if the term ‘solid’ appropriately describes the antifreeze in your car. But, antifreeze is not the only fluid you need to consider as you prepare for the winter ahead. There’s also power steering fluid – make sure it’s filled to the ‘Full’ line; windshield washer solvent (we’ve already spoken about that); brake fluid, should be clear and full, transmission

Racing fans are very familiar with the excitement at Indy or Daytona, when the words, “Start Your Engines” are heard over the PA system. However, we’d rather you didn’t feel a different kind of anticipation when you turn the key on your car in the middle of a frigid winter night, hoping, but not really sure, that your car will start.One way to reduce the anticipation is to ensure your car’s

There’s really no better place to start talking about winterizing your car than in terms of antifreeze (we call this coolant in the summer, though it still needs to apply its cooling capacity in the winter as well. You can call it coolant if you’d like. However, in the winter, before it can cool it needs to avoid freezing). Another term to know about antifreeze is specific gravity. This refers

“I can’t see. I can’t see.” “Why not?”“My eyes are closed.”I can almost hear that exchange between Curly and Moe. Anytime you’re driving, it’s a good time to keep your eyes open. In the winter, however, sometimes, keeping your eyes open isn’t enough. Windshields become frosted, covered with salt, snow and road spray. Not only is driving without a sufficient view dangerous and

An internal combustion engine, which, unless you’ve purchased a new electric car, is probably what you drive, must have fuel in order to run. If you let the tank run dry, you’ll find yourself coasting to the side of the road with an engine that’s stopped running.In the winter time, it’s a good idea, not only to make sure you have gasoline in your tank, but to keep the tank from becoming too