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  • Is a block heater a must-have in extremely cold climates?

     Dear Tom and Ray: I live in interior Alaska, and it gets cold. How cold, you ask? It's been -40 F (that's negative 40) for the past week or so. My husband and I go back and forth as to whether to keep the car's block heater plugged in all the time, or whether to use a timer and run it only some of the time. I've heard that too much heat is bad for the oil. This morning I used the timer, and my car decided it was too cold for the transmission to engage. I was stuck. At -45 F, I don' t have to go to work. At -40 F, I do (administrative policy). I want to use this as leverage to get my husband to let me keep my car plugged in more of the time. What do you think? -- Christie

  • Today: the case of the misaligned hub covers.

     Dear Tom and Ray: I live in New Hampshire, and have a 2002 Saab 9-5 Aero. About 10 weeks ago, after putting on the snow tires, I personally put the little blue "hub covers" with the Saab logo on the center of each wheel. Just for kicks, I put on the covers so they all were facing exactly the same way. The other day, I was walking up to the car and noticed that all the covers are now misaligned. I'm thinking to myself: "How did that happen? Did someone sneak into my garage at night and purposely reposition the hub covers?" This is really baffling me, and I've come up with several possible explanations: (1) Remember the movie "My Cousin Vinny" when Marisa Tomei gives her courtroom explanation of Positraction? I am thinking that maybe there's a similar system in my Saab that's causing this phenomenon. (2) Maybe the front wheels spun unequally on ice. (3) When taking a corner to the left, maybe the left wheel spins less than the right one does. In any case, please provide an explanation for this. I know it doesn't really matter how the hub covers are positioned, but it's driving me nuts. Thanks! -- Phil

  • 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

Dear Tom and Ray - Cartalk Newspaper Column 

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Tow Bars - Tow Bars
...tter where you are in the country. A whole range of tow bars including fixed, detachable both vertically and horizontally. They are available to fix to a wide range of cars. A supply of great towing e...
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Used Car Parts - Used Car Parts
...s are available that can prove to be a very cost-effective way of obtaining necessary parts for your vehicle. There are plenty of Used Car Parts around so if you have a Saab that needs a silencer or ...
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Trailers - Trailers
...quite frankly would be lost without them. We use the TRAILERS for all kinds of jobs, transporting things such as the quads, or materials, which is why we have a large range of sizes, moving animals ar...
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Mot Rugby - Mot Rugby
...and the other day I suddenly realised that the tax on my car was due. My heart sank as I realised that I also had to get the mot done and I was really worried that the car might not pass the test. I...
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Motorhome Rental West Midlands - Motorhome Rental West Midlands
...otorhome and touring around the country. Up until now I haven`t gotten around to getting behind of the wheel of a motorhome but I`m hoping to put this right at some time in the near future. It`s cer...
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Porsche Repair Essex - Porsche Repair Essex
...te? Does it backfire slightly when you blip the throttle or does the turbo seem to have a slight lag? Problems with Porsches can be fixed quickly and efficiently if you live in the Essex area. In t...
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Limo Hire Surrey - Limo Hire Surrey
...g, birthday or any other special occasion, and if you are within Surrey, we at Voguelimo are the perfect people to help you out. With our Limo Hire Surrey services, we are able to provide you with a c...
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Porsche Essex - Porsche Essex
...r since you were a wee lad you adored sports cars from Germany and now, as an adult, you have a couple of Porsches in your collection. One is a 2007 turbo that you use on a daily basis. The other is...
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Return Loads - Return Loads
...uggle to find return loads from your drop off destination. This isn`t very good for your haulage business so how can you improve this situation? One great way to grab the return loads that are curren...
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Chauffeur Hire Heathrow - Chauffeur Hire Heathrow
...riend is in a girl band and they have recently enjoyed a modicum of success. They have a really good agent who is completely on the ball when it comes to spotting a media opportunity. All of the gir...
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Alloy Wheels And Tyres - Alloy Wheels And Tyres
...e and one of the first things that I bought for the car was a new set of Alloy Wheels and Tyres. I opted for 17inch rims at the time and they came with 205 Yokohama tyres. Straight way the entire lo...
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Chauffeur Car Hire - Chauffeur Car Hire
...not throw caution to the wind this year and surprise your partner on your anniversary with a romantic break in London? You could book into a swanky hotel and arrange to see some of the hottest touris...
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Roof Bars - Roof Bars
...ht another car recently and it came with roof bars for free. The car wasn`t new, we can`t stretch our finances that far, but it`s a decent second hand number. With one owner from new and free roof b...
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Egr Valves - Egr Valves
...iesel engines and they deliver powerful performances every time they are used. Design and engineering companies manufacture egr valves to meet with current and future emission requirements. The egr i...
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Snow Chains - Snow Chains
... you plan on going skiing abroad this year will be a decent set of snow chains. The chains are intended to use on roads that are covered in snow and should not be used on roads are snow free. The pur...
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Used Motorbikes - Used Motorbikes
...u can`t afford to buy a brand new motorbike, Used Motorbikes prove to be the best option. There are plenty of used bikes that are for sale at the moment and all it takes is for you to do a little loo...
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Coach Hire - Coach Hire
...st two summers have been damp and dismal affairs but this year we are going to have a scorcher. You can bet that days out will be popular if the weather is fine and cars, motorhomes and coaches will ...
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Man With A Van Dorking - Man With A Van Dorking
...ental property in Dorking. This leaves you with a bit of a dilemma. Do you hire a van and do all of the heavy lifting yourself or book the services of a man with a van dorking that comes highly rec...
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Motorbike Accessories - Motorbike Accessories
... it could be the start of a lifelong love affair that will see you travelling the length and breadth of the country. You`ll love the feeling of being liberated as just you and your bike take to the o...
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Van Lining - Van Lining
... want to try to keep it as tidy as possible as it has to last you a while. When you are transporting goods around in the back of your van lining can become dented unless suitable protection is taken....
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Roller Bearings - Roller Bearings
...oller bearings are used in many situations like conveyer belt rollers they have to hold heavy radial loads. In these bearings, the roller is a cylinder, so therefore the contact between the inner and ...
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Audi Roof Boxes - Audi Roof Boxes
...ring a computerized control system for its cars called ?Multimedia Interface`. This comes essentially with a rotating control knob designed to control radio, satellite navigation, TV, heating and car ...
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Man With A Van Leatherhead - Man With A Van Leatherhead
...need to arrange transport that comfortably caters for all of your prized possessions? The large removal companies have provided you with obscene quotes for the work involved and you don`t really fanc...
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Car Repairs Rugby - Car Repairs Rugby
... car repairs rugby . He has worked there since leaving school five years ago and he really seems to have found his niche. He has always been interested in cars and was always tinkering with our fath...
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Refrigerated Van Hire West Midlands - Refrigerated Van Hire West Midlands
...eet of refrigerated vans to get frozen food substances from one location to another without it defrosting along the way. From time to time their regular fleet of vehicles might experience difficultie...
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Bmw Alloy Wheels - Bmw Alloy Wheels
...our other friends are going to chip in and buy him a set of BMW alloy wheels, he has recently just bought himself a 2 series BMW, and as you can probably imagine he wants it to look as good as possibl...
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Car Gifts - Car Gifts
...ay are very proud of their cars and keep them pristine aswell as having all the latest gadgets in their car.That is why you cannot go wrong with car gifts when buying a present for someone.There are s...
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Van Racking - Van Racking
... van every single day to transport you to and from site? In the back of your van do you keep a wide range of tools that clatter and clunk on the floor? Would you like to have your van fitted with st...
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Alloy Wheels - Alloy Wheels
...heels are usually much more expansive than normal iron or steel wheels. Alloy wheels also have the properties of strength, long life and excellent support. Normally, Alloy wheels are much shinier than...
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Double Decker Coach - Double Decker Coach
...oup of people to a particular venue or event might have involved the use of a couple of luxury coaches in the past. That was then but now larger groups of people can all travel together on board a la...
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Limo Hire Hampshire - Limo Hire Hampshire
...hin Hampshire. We provide our Limo Hire Hampshire services for you, at your own convenience within Hampshire. You can now make grand entrances for grand occasions such as weddings and birthday parties...
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Car Finance London - Car Finance London
...struggle to get car finance when they find a car that they like. Sometimes it`s just a case of they have spotted a vehicle and need finance setting up as soon as they can. People living in the capita...
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Used Volkswagen Parts - Used Volkswagen Parts
... produced the most beautiful and attractive models that are used by people around the world. This is one of the main reasons why suppliers and dealers in many countries provide Used Volkswagen parts a...
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Bearing - Bearing
...ake them work and without these bearings they would grind to a complete halt. Numerous varieties of bearings keep our machines moving freely and there are various types available to buy. Used for a ...
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Motormouse Porsche - Motormouse Porsche
...adget shops. Computer mice now come in a wide variety of sizes,shapes,colours and designs, the most popular being the car design ones such as the motormouse porsche . One variety of a motor mouse actu...
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Exhibition Trailer - Exhibition Trailer
...N TRAILER is used around once a month, being in our line of work exhibitions are regularly held and it is our best interest to attend as many as we can, promoting the business and having a hands on ap...
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Generator - Generator
...you with an essential back up should the mains electricity fail and it will leave you with both light and power. In the more remote regions a Generator can be a useful ally because frequent black out...
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Backloads - Backloads
...mon dilemma for owner drivers that have drop offs to make around the country. More often than not they run back empty because they haven`t got a backload to take. It must be frustrating because they ...
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Thule Rack - Thule Rack
...of racks. The company specialises entirely on designing carriers and racks for cars, vans and even trucks. If you mention `thule rack` anywhere it will be very well known. The `thule rack` can be reli...
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Car And Van Rentals - Car And Van Rentals
...u may need to take several people around for an outing, and you may need to hire a van. We have exactly what you need, and we will process your order quickly. You will find that our service is one of ...
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Car Body Repairs Aberdeen - Car Body Repairs Aberdeen
...best friend moved to Aberdeen a few months ago and I can honestly say it was a very sad day for me indeed. We had been friends ever since we were five years old and had always done everything togethe...
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Body Kits Aberdeen - Body Kits Aberdeen
...father sells body kits aberdeen for touch up paint jobs on cars that have been scratched. He is really good at his job and has been selling more of the body kits aberdeen than he ever would have thou...
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Car Body Kits Uk - Car Body Kits Uk
...form any car and turn it into a real mean machine. Take your box standard saloon, fit it with add-on accessories such as side skirts, a front splitter, rear spoiler and new alloy wheels and it will s...
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Exhausts - Exhausts
...a part of its exhaust system that is a collection of many of these pipes. Sometimes they are also referred to as tailpipes. They are an essential part of the car since this is the apparatus for drawin...
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