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Tuesday, February 09, 2010
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  • Should John the valet be warming up cars?

     Dear Tom and Ray: I am a valet at a local country club in Wisconsin. As you well know, it gets very cold here in the winter months, and that leads to my question. As a favor to the members who choose to valet park with me, I like to warm up their cars before they leave. I let the cars run anywhere from two to 15 minutes, depending on how long they take to get ready to leave, get their coats, finish conversations, etc. So my question is: Am I doing any damage to these automobiles? Would they be better off next winter driving away in ice-cold cars? -- John

  • Today: Technical Service Bulletins, explained.

     Dear Tom and Ray: I've heard you refer to "bulletins" ("maybe there's a bulletin on it") in addressing repair problems. My question is this: If there is, in fact, a bulletin out on a repair, does that mean the dealership cannot (or ought not) charge full price for the repair? My Saturn wagon just had a transmission pressure-control solenoid replaced, to the tune of $800. As I was writing out the check, I noticed a bulletin that the technician had clipped to the bill, and I asked the serviceman if I could see it. He was hesitant, especially when I asked him for a copy of it. Is the bulletin just an aid for the technician to follow, or is it a correction of a defect, and therefore something that should be covered under warranty? -- Bill

  • today: How would you price car sharing?

     Dear Tom and Ray: I'm living with a bunch of poor, just-out-of-college/sometimes-in-grad-school folks who are planning to share my car. I don't want to sell it. I'd like to come up with a way to let everyone contribute based on how much they use the car and how they use it. How does highway driving compare with city traffic for wear and tear on the car? It obviously has an effect on gas, but what about the engine and other parts? -- Dan

  • Today: an airbag answer that's "no charge."

     Dear Tom and Ray: I recently purchased a 2009 Chevy Traverse. My wife, who is a vertically challenged 5 feet 1 inch, likes to sit on a cushion to gain greater visibility. However, when she sits in the front passenger seat with a fabric material cushion, the warning light indicates that her seat's air bag is off. So, currently, in order to ride as safely as possible, she does not use the cushion. Is the air bag really turned off when she sits on the cushion? If it is, please explain to this non-automotive engineer how her sitting on a cushion is compromising the system. -- Calvin

  • Can kids really wear out power window switches?

     Dear Tom and Ray: When I was a kid, my siblings and I loved to play with the power windows -- up a little, down a little, up some more, down some more, all the way up. Our elders always told us to cut it out because we'd wear out the switches. Now that I have kids of my own who love to do the same thing, I find it annoying, so I tell them to cut it out because they'll wear out the switches. But it makes me wonder -- can you really wear out power-window switches, or were my elders fibbing, just the way I am? -- John

  • Which is better for the frozen north: an SUV or a lower-riding car?

     Dear Tom and Ray: I am a doctor living in an area that typically can get 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground at some point in the winter. Snow plows are not always out on the roads when I drive. For this reason, I need a four-wheel-drive vehicle; however, I don't know if SUVs, like the Honda CR-V or BMW X3 or X5, are superior in snow to lower-riding all-wheel-drive cars, like Audis or Subarus. Do I really need to be higher up in an SUV, or could I get through snowdrifts in a sedan? I get concerned about it because I have to be at the hospital no matter what the conditions are outside. This dictates what I drive, even if gas mileage is poor. -- Claire

  • Why do European cars get better MPG than their US equivalents?

     Dear Tom and Ray: Can you explain why equivalent cars sold in Europe get much better fuel economy, compared with those sold in the U.S.? As an example, I was looking -- I suppose out of boredom -- at the Honda U.K. Web site. It shows the mileage for the Honda Jazz (which is called the Honda Fit here) at around 50 mpg, just as is, off the showroom floor. It's not a hybrid version, just the regular car! The equivalent base model in the U.S. comes in somewhere in the 30s for mpg. What's up? And yes, I know that an Imperial gallon is slightly bigger than a U.S. gallon. But the 10 percent difference in volume alone cannot explain the discrepancy in mileage. -- Lawrence

  • Ever wonder: do hubcaps serve any purpose?

     Dear Tom and Ray: I am having a philosophical debate with my father that I hope you can offer some closure on. About two years ago, my 2007 Toyota Matrix lost a hubcap during a 220-mile drive. Immediately, my father told me to go to the dealership to get the hubcap replaced. The next day, I went to the dealership, paid 70-odd bucks and off I went. Within a week, another hubcap fell off. And again, my father was quick to say it NEEDED to be replaced. I made the argument that it was too expensive, and that I didn't mind the look of a missing hubcap. I held my ground for a while, but he conspired against me and got a new one for me during an oil change. My father's argument is that it makes the car look ugly, cheap, poorly cared for and run down (which, consequently, sounds like one of Tom's cars!). I think it's too expensive, and view hubcaps as lacking a functional purpose that would warrant immediate replacement. We could then get into further discussion about cheapskate-ism, but for now I'd just like to know if there is a real need to replace a hubcap quickly, and is there a functional (not aesthetic) purpose of a hubcap? -- Chris

  • How do Cubans keep those 50-year-old cars so beautiful?

     Dear Tom and Ray: I have often wondered, when I see a street scene in Havana, how they've managed to keep those '50s vintage cars operating all these years. Of course, we are conditioned to replace a car because of a full ashtray or if a bird defecates on the hood. But still, wouldn't 50-plus-year-old cars be increasingly expensive to maintain? I would think the majority of those cars would be not only mechanically challenged, but very unsound structurally. And how do they obtain replacement parts? -- John
Dear Tom and Ray - Cartalk Newspaper Column 

Electric Bike - Electric Bike
...y of folks are thinking about the impact their carbon footprint is having on the planet. What steps can we take as nation to reduce harmful emissions whilst being a little kinder to the environment a...
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Chip Tuning - Chip Tuning
...that doesn`t mean to say they have to stay like that for long. Each engine can undergo a process called chip tuning which changes the engine`s characteristics. Newer types of vehicles can have their...
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Car Contract Hire - Car Contract Hire
... a reliable company who can offer me car contract hire for my personal business. I am looking to hire three cars for my employees to use; I have done my research into car contract hire and have been r...
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Van Leasing - Van Leasing
...ayer, self employed I organize my own material, equipment, transport and additional help. Unfortunately last week my van broke down, possibly one of the worst things that can happen, as I can`t work w...
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Van Roof Bars - Van Roof Bars
...decades by workers such as couriers and craftsmen, police and postal workers, florists and fence erectors, sales and security men. Vehicles such as these can give numerous years of reliable service a...
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Airport Taxi Wiltshire - Airport Taxi Wiltshire
...s. It feels to me as though I haven`t seen the sun al year but that is all behind me now. I am going to Egypt where the weather is lovely at all times of year. I have just finished packing for the ...
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Vip Coach Hire - Vip Coach Hire
...VIP Coach Hire to make the occasion a touch more memorable. Perhaps you are heading to your organisation`s annual awards ceremony and want your trusted team to arrive in style? Opt for a VIP Coach Hi...
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Coach Hire Birmingham - Coach Hire Birmingham
... recently decided to give all its employees a treat and take them out for the evening. They hired a huge baronial hall in the countryside and laid on a band and entertainment for the evening. In add...
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Westfalia - Westfalia
...many makes of tow bars ,to give you a wide choice. Having a good choice under one roof will make sure you get the correct one for your car or van and it will be reliable for the load you need to pull....
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Electric Moped - Electric Moped
...type of transport to get you to and from work but does it meet with your green credentials? Having looked at various types of transport for the daily commute you thought the moped would be the best o...
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Airport Transfers Aylesbury - Airport Transfers Aylesbury
...cted client as they jet into an airport on company business. They should be met at the airport by an experienced chauffeur who can escort their passenger to a luxury vehicle. It goes without saying ...
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Gel Motorcycle Battery - Gel Motorcycle Battery
...t in a rather flat performance. Extra strain is put on batteries during the winter and units that are old might need to be replaced with newer models. Motorcycle riders can order new batteries onlin...
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Vehicle Signs - Vehicle Signs
... your services at every given opportunity. If people don`t know who you are and what services you provide how are you going to conjure up repeat business in the future? Word of mouth is ok but this ...
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Vauxhall Spare Parts - Vauxhall Spare Parts
...re and more people are turning to breakers yards and spare parts dealers to acquire Vauxhall spare parts for their cars. If you have never used a breakers company before, and are worried that you may ...
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Givi Luggage - Givi Luggage
...ur Bandit is a beautiful piece of machinery and you like nothing more than to take it out on the road to open it up where you can. Free weekends are pleasurable times as you can up-sticks and head of...
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Stansted Airport Transfer - Stansted Airport Transfer
...to Stansted airport next Wednesday on a business trip and could you do with arranging some form of transport to take you into the heart of London? Ideally what you want is a local stansted airport tr...
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Premium 4x4 Tyres - Premium 4x4 Tyres
... road. If you are riding around on a set of Tyres that are below the legal requirement you could be placing yourself in grave danger. Many accidents are caused each and every year by people who driv...
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Parking Sensors Fitted - Parking Sensors Fitted
...our forte. You struggle trying to reverse into supermarket car parks, and if you have to parallel-park on a road, this puts the fear of god into you. One of the things that you struggle with is judgi...
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Van Hire Welshpool - Van Hire Welshpool
...tually be a fun process if you plan everything beforehand. Get organised with the packing and book the hire van in advance and you`ll be ready to roll come the day of the move. Having lived in welsh...
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Cheap Diesel - Cheap Diesel
...nt cheap diesel and petrol? Especially in today`s times when we are constantly seeing fuel prices increase before our very eyes with some of the changes being daily! You can now make diesel and petrol...
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Car Valeting Brighton - Car Valeting Brighton
... car as clean as I can but it`s not always that easy over the winter months. The salt and grit that`s left on the road makes it impossible for the car to be kept clean all of the time, plus it can be...
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Mot Testing Watford - Mot Testing Watford
...fe to use on the public roads. An M.O.T failure means that the vehicle shouldn`t be driven on the roads until the necessary repairs have been carried out. There are plenty of M.O.T test centres aroun...
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Reversing Sensors - Reversing Sensors
...mall post that is situated right behind your car. A sickening ?thudding` noise is heard from the rear of the vehicle and you fear for the worse. Luckily the damage isn`t too severe but this incident...
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Van Hire Newtown - Van Hire Newtown
...d would be completely lost if it was off the road for any length of time. In the past when your vehicle has had to go into the garage for any length of time you`ve hired a replacement van for a day o...
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Coaches Birmingham - Coaches Birmingham
...gham to Manchester and, as we are short of money at the moment, we were keen to find the cheapest travel option we could. We were going for a big night out with people we had been to university with ...
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Sell My Forklift Truck - Sell My Forklift Truck
...work is impossible without a forklift truck. Not only is the overall area of the warehouse enormous, the weight of a typical box is such that no warehouse operative would be able to lift them alone wi...
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Motorhome Security - Motorhome Security
...iving around england and great britain on the you will no doubt be concerned about motor home security. As with your car when you buuy a motror home you need to ensure that it is safe on the road. An...
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4 X 4 Spare Wheel Covers - 4 X 4 Spare Wheel Covers
...spare wheel cover at the rear? Is this cover currently advertising the dealership from where you bought the 4 X 4 from? If so, why not replace the wheel cover with something far more interesting? O...
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Gatwick Airport Taxi - Gatwick Airport Taxi
...ll be consumed with excitement at the thought of what lies ahead. I can`t imagine anything putting me in a bad mood on the day of departure, unless that is, I managed to somehow miss my flight. Luck...
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Wedding Cars Aylesbury - Wedding Cars Aylesbury
... making a wedding day a highly memorable occasion. The bride will have been preparing for this day for months and she`ll want every element to be just perfect for her wedding. From the choice of wed...
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Ecu Remapping - Ecu Remapping
...You might love your Lamborghini but want to boost the power of the engine slightly. That beautiful Bentley might look the part but it could leave you desiring more BHP on the road. Contact the ecu re...
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Vauxhall Spare - Vauxhall Spare
... London borough of Lambeth. Founded by Alexander Wilson in 1857, Vauxhall motors is a UK car company and is a subsidiary of General Motors. Having a partnership with Opel in Germany it manufactures a ...
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Vinyl Lettering - Vinyl Lettering
...I see more and more vehicles on the roads of the UK with vinyl lettering upon them. It used to be just vans that had lettering upon them but company cars now have graphics upon them as well. You can...
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Stansted Taxi - Stansted Taxi
...into Stansted airport next Wednesday on a business trip and could you do with arranging some form of transport to take you into the heart of London? Ideally what you want is a local stansted taxi ser...
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Chauffeur Driven Car Hire - Chauffeur Driven Car Hire
... wedding anniversary next month and you want to celebrate it in style. Unbeknown to your wonderful wife you have booked a weekend trip to Venice and you intend to start off the holiday in the possibl...
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Used Catering Trailers - Used Catering Trailers
...ng from a selection of used catering trailers does not mean you have to compromise on style ,quality or finish .All used catering trailers are serviced in fine detail to a high standard and can be p...
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Forklift Buyer - Forklift Buyer
... experienced Forklift buyer, there are various elements that you need to consider when selecting a forklift truck for the job required. Though the typical forklift truck has a set of forks designed to...
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Car Valeting Hove - Car Valeting Hove
...n are gleaming at the moment and Audis are admiring their selves in shop windows. Fords think they look fabulous and Mercs are making beelines for any mirrors they can find. This might have somethin...
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4x4 Tyres - 4x4 Tyres
...The north Yorkshire based company TyreSpec Ltd continues to be a success story, now with over 12 years of experience in selling 4x4 tyres, being one of the first to specialise in the growing market of...
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Airport Transfer Somerset - Airport Transfer Somerset
...do airport transfer somerset as I have a friend coming from Canada in the next couple of weeks who I have not seen for many years. I am so looking forward to seeing her, I really can`t wait. The rea...
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Luxury Coach Hire - Luxury Coach Hire
...ow frustrating is it as a business person when you waste time between different venues? If you have to drive yourself and your team from one venue to another you`ll be wasting valuable time that coul...
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Van Roof Rack - Van Roof Rack
...cently bought for work. Since setting up my own business three years ago I have had a Renault van, it was a lot smaller then the one I have now and I had regular problems with it, which then caused me...
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Mobile Catering Units - Mobile Catering Units
...a wide range of clientele. Everybody wants a well built unit to suit their individual needs. Whether you`re catering for schools, industrial sites or fayres and carnivals.Alot of people of there own i...
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Car Repair Watford - Car Repair Watford
...ee with is the majority of us need our cars to travel around in. Some folks might rely on their cars to get to work in whilst others need them to transport the kids to and from school. As necessities...
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Towbars - Towbars
...e plenty of these towbars in use during the summer holidays or on bank holiday weekends. The motorways and A and B roads are packed with caravans that are being taken to seaside camp sites. Speed boat...
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Rhino Roof Bars - Rhino Roof Bars
... longer items as part of your job, rhino roof bars might be of benefit that will attach to the van`s roof. A versatile set of rhino roof bars can happily facilitate ladders as well as other longer pi...
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4 X 4 Wheel Covers Stickers - 4 X 4 Wheel Covers Stickers
...wheel covers on their rears that protect their spare wheels from the elements. These covers generally have the dealership details upon them from where the car was first purchased. This is free advert...
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Diesel Cards - Diesel Cards
...ago I worked for a surveying company that took on projects all around the country. We were issued with company vans that ran on diesel and we could clock up 40,000 miles a year with ease. Regular tri...
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Car Alarms - Car Alarms
...g to them. People lavish large amounts of money making their cars look stunning so they`ll need to protect them with car alarms. Vehicles that have car alarms fitted to them are more of a challenge ...
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