Safety Recall Update - February 1, 2016

Written By: S.M. Darby

Monday brings us another batch of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls. This week, the list of major (over 100,000-units) safety recalls includes well over 1-million units.

How can you determine if your vehicle is under a current NHTSA recall? Grab your vehicle identification number (VIN) and enter it into the NHTSA website. The VIN can be most easily read if you are standing on the outside of the vehicle and looking through the lower left (driver) corner of the windshield. The VIN is stamped (or etched) onto a small metal plate.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V029000
Nissan Recall Campaign Number: See Note Below

Vehicles Affected: Certain 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured from March 6, 2012 through December 31, 2014. Approximately 846,000 vehicles are expected for inclusion in this recall campaign.

Cause:

In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

Concern:

If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Correction:

These vehicles may have been included in a previous recall, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk. To correct this issue, Nissan will re-notify all affected owners and dealers will replace the hood latch with a new one, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-February. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Note: This recall supersedes recalls 14V-565 and 15V-116.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V036000
Ford Recall Campaign Number: 16S03 (See Note Below)

Vehicles Affected: Certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2003 through May 4, 2006.

Approximately 361,692 vehicles are expected for inclusion in this recall campaign.

Cause: 

Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Concern:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Correction:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 7, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Note: This recall supersedes 14V-343 and applies only to Ford Rangers manufactured in North America.

Warming Up Your Car in the Cold Just Harms the Engine

Written By: Jay Bennett

The long-held notion that you should let your car idle in the cold is only true for carbureted engines.

In the thick of winter, the common wisdom is that when you are gearing up to take your truck out in the cold and snow, you should step outside, start up your engine, and let it idle to warm up. But contrary to popular belief, this does not prolong the life of your engine; in fact, it decreases it by stripping oil away from the engine's cylinders and pistons.

In a nutshell, an internal combustion engine works by using pistons to compress a mixture of air and vaporized fuel within a cylinder. The compressed mixture is then ignited to create a combustion event—a little controlled explosion that powers the engine.

When your engine is cold, the gasoline is less likely to evaporate and create the correct ratio of air and vaporized fuel for combustion. Engines with electronic fuel injection have sensors that compensate for the cold by pumping more gasoline into the mixture. The engine continues to run rich in this way until it heats up to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

"That's a problem because you're actually putting extra fuel into the combustion chamber to make it burn and some of it can get onto the cylinder walls," Stephen Ciatti, a mechanical engineer who specializes in combustion engines at the Argonne National Laboratory, told Business Insider. "Gasoline is an outstanding solvent and it can actually wash oil off the walls if you run it in those cold idle conditions for an extended period of time."

The life of components like piston rings and cylinder liners can be significantly reduced by gasoline washing away the lubricating oil, not to mention the extra fuel that is used while the engine runs rich. Driving your car is the fastest way to warm the engine up to 40 degrees so it switches back to a normal fuel to air ratio. Even though warm air generated by the radiator will flow into the cabin after a few minutes, idling does surprisingly little to warm the actual engine. The best thing to do is start the car, take a minute to knock the ice off your windows, and get going.

Of course, hopping into your car and gunning it straightaway will put unnecessary strain on your engine. It takes 5 to 15 minutes for your engine to warm up, so take it nice and easy for the first part of your drive.

Warming up your car before driving is a leftover practice from a time when carbureted engines dominated the roads. Carburetors mix gasoline and air to make vaporized fuel to run an engine, but they don't have sensors that tweak the amount of gasoline when it's cold out. As a result, you have to let older cars warm up before driving or they will stall out. But it's been about 30 years since carbureted engines were common in cars.

So unless you're rolling in a 1970s Chevelle—which we assume isn't your daily driver—bundle up, get into that cold car, and get it moving.

Mechanic vs. Manual: When's the Right Time to Change Fluids?

Written By: Car Talk

I have a 1998 Toyota Tacoma pickup with 210,000 miles. I change the automatic fluid whenever the transmission "feels" like it needs it, which tends to be about the time I get to the recommended fluid-change interval. I also have a 2005 Lexus ES 330 with 188,000 miles. The owner's manual suggests continuing to change the fluid on a regular basis, regardless of the age of the car. Some mechanics, including the local dealer, suggest NOT changing it: "That could cause more problems." I assume that means scale would be loosened and could clog up the moving parts. What do you suggest -- continuing to change the oil and flush the entire system? You probably can guess that I like keeping vehicles a long time, so proper maintenance is important -- as soon as I figure out what it is!

-- Leroy

We've heard one or two stories like that over the years. The story goes like this: A guy has an ancient car, and decides to change the transmission fluid. A few days later, the transmission buys the farm and the car is toast. That's how these "old mechanics tales" get started. 

But here's what really happened: The guy with the 1966 Rambler with 180,000 miles on it noticed that his transmission was misbehaving. And that's why he decided to change the transmission fluid in the first place!

So the transmission was already on its last legs. And when, shortly after the fluid change, the transmission dies, the guy blames it on the fluid change -- instead of the 180,000 miles he had on the car, and the drag racing and donuts his 16-year-old kid does with it every Friday night. 

So we think this theory is nonsense. The purpose of hydraulic transmission fluid is threefold: It transfers the power from the engine to the wheels; it lubricates all the parts of the transmission; and it keeps those parts cool. And for every one of those tasks, new, clean fluid is better than old, crusty fluid with old pieces of broken-off transmission in it. 

So not changing the fluid after a certain mileage is like telling your 96-year-old grandfather, "We're not going to feed you anymore, Pappy, because it might cause more problems."

Good maintenance includes changing the fluids at the mileage intervals that the manufacturer recommends -- no matter how old the car is. And you're more likely to drive it into old age if you drive it gently and follow the maintenance schedule. 

Everything You Need to Know About Brake Fluid

Written By: David Zenlea

You hurtle down the long straight, hit the brake pedal, and feel it sink sickeningly as you fly past the turn-in cone. A day at the track, and maybe your car, ruined. Now's the wrong time to ask: When did you last flush your brake fluid?

The hardworking hydraulic messenger between your foot and the brake pads usually does its job without complaint. In a typical street-driven car, brake fluid lasts for a couple of years. But it has vulnerabilities that can bite on track. First, it chemically changes under the extreme heat generated by repeated hard stops. Just like tires, brake fluid should only go through so many heat cycles. The fluid's also hygroscopic, a fancy way of saying it attracts and absorbs water from the atmosphere. Water lowers the point at which the fluid boils. Boiling fluid releases gas. If there's gas in the brake lines, the pedal will sink to the floor. You have no brakes.

Brake fluid's life span depends on what you drive, how you drive, and even where you drive. A powerful, heavy C63 AMG in hot and humid Florida could cook its fluid in a single track day. A Miata in cool and dry Iowa may last much longer. You certainly want to bleed the brakes every time fluid boils. Even if the reservoir looks clean, what's in the calipers could have broken down and trapped gas bubbles.

Your car and your driving will also determine what to pour. Standard DOT 3 or 4 fluid suffices for many. If you're repeatedly experiencing brake fade, splurge on types with higher wet-boiling points, like ATE Typ 200 (374 °F) or Castrol React SRF Racing (518 degrees). But bear in mind, if fluid's failing, other brake components may not be far behind—in extreme cases, the higher temperatures sustained by the performance fluid can actually finish them off. Stay away from DOT 5 fluids; they have high boiling points but don't mix well with other varieties.

You can't buy Brembos in a bottle, but good fluid that's properly maintained can be just the thing that saves your car or life, even. A brake-fluid flush should therefore be one of your rituals. Suck the old fluid from the reservoir (careful, it's corrosive). Top off with fresh stuff—not from an opened bottle that's been absorbing water on a garage shelf—as you bleed each caliper, starting with the one farthest from the master cylinder. Since you're down there anyway, inspect for uneven pad wear, pitted rotors, and frayed or cracked lines. Better to notice a problem now than at the end of that long straight.

Winter is Here. Don’t Leave the Car Running In the Garage

Written By: Craig Fitzgerald

On Tuesday, January 5, friends and family of Alex Bedolla held funeral services for the 17-year-old from Emporia, Kansas. Bedolla succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning after he left his car running inside the garage while working on his car stereo on a bitter cold night.

Alex Bedolla’s family said the 17-year-old was unaware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in an enclosed space when he rolled his new car into the garage to work on the stereo.

Isidro Trujallo, Bedolla’s cousin, told KWCH in Kansas “I don’t think a lot of people know about that my age, our age.” His friend Luis Cervantas said “If I would’ve been him and I was in the garage with the car on, I wouldn’t have really thought about it neither, like … Those things don’t really pop up in your mind.”

Infographic authored by VFIS, offering specialized insurance to emergency service organizations. To view the original post, see the original carbon monoxide prevention infographic.

Carbon monoxide poisoning from automotive emissions used to be widespread and common. In a 1973 medical study, researchers found that just a 90 minute bus ride in Los Angeles was enough to cause irregular EKG results in 40 percent of patients with a pre-existing cardiovascular condition.

Prior to catalytic converters, running a car in an enclosed space like a garage could kill an occupant within 30 minutes, but catalytic converters drastically cut CO emissions. According to the Iowa State University College of Engineering, even a well tuned engine can produce 30,000 ppm of CO into the exhaust system. At the catalytic converter, that concentration drops to less than 1,000 ppm. Depending on the condition of the engine, a car without a catalytic converter typically emits 10,000 to 30,000 ppm of CO.

As a result, we don’t talk as much about carbon monoxide poisoning as we likely did in the 1970s. Here’s what to be aware of:

Defective Exhaust Systems

Exhaust systems that have degraded to the point of allowing exhaust gas to exit before the catalytic converter are especially dangerous. You’d likely hear a hole in the exhaust pipe, but be aware of any ticking noises that indicate a blown exhaust manifold gasket, or a cracked exhaust manifold. Those noises are most evident when the air gets colder.

Open Trunk Lids and Tailgates

If you’ve ever noticed how fresh snow collects around the rear of the car while you’re driving in a snowstorm, you know that air has a way of getting stuck back there while you’re driving. Driving with an open tailgate or trunklid can literally suck exhaust and carbon monoxide into the passenger cabin.

Rust Holes

Holes in the floor, especially when combined with a leaking exhaust system can direct carbon monoxide into the passenger area. If rust has developed to the point where a hole is evident, it might not be a death notice for the car. You can have an auto body professional weld the floor properly to seal up any leaks.

Riding in Truck Beds

This happens less frequently now that seat belt laws are so strict, but it wasn’t unheard of for parents to allow their kids to ride in pickup truck beds. When combined with a topper or a cap, exhaust emissions would flow into the bed area, causing carbon monoxide poisoning.

Running Vehicles in Garages

Even with the garage door open, a car can generate enough carbon monoxide to kill. It’s not only dangerous for the person in the garage. Carbon monoxide can then leak into the house with attached garages.

Carbon monoxide detectors in garages often go off just pulling a car in and out. Iowa State found that warming a car for just two minutes with the door open can raise CO concentrations to 500 ppm, and and measurable concentrations of CO remained in the garage for as long as 10 hours after the car had backed out.

Be safe this winter. Don’t run a car in the garage, and while you’re at it, don’t run a snowblower in an enclosed garage, either. Those engines don’t have catalytic converters and can easily fill a garage with fatal levels of carbon monoxide.

Safety Recall Update - January 04, 2016

Written By: S.M. Darby

How do you know if your vehicle is currently under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) recall? You can wait for a notification letter to arrive by mail but the easiest way is to log onto the NHTSA website and do a VIN search. That’ll tell you for sure. Have your vehicle identification number and production date (located inside the driver door jamb on most models) handy; this information will make it easier to determine whether or not your ride is under a NHTSA recall.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V323000
Subaru Recall Campaign Number: WQR-53 (see notes below)

Vehicles Affected: Certain 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured from January 22, 2003 through July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Subaru Impreza vehicles manufactured from January 28, 2003 through May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured from January 22, 2003 through May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured from February 18, 2003 through May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from February 11, 2004 through March 17, 2005. Approximately 439,649 vehicles are expected for inclusion in this recall campaign.

Cause:

The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon deployment.

Concern:

In the event of a motor vehicle crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Correction:

Subaru and General Motors will notify vehicle owners with specific instructions for contacting qualified dealers that will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007.

Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V370000
Honda Recall Campaign Number: JS1 and JS2 (see note below)

Vehicles Affected: Certain 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured from March 21, 2000 through January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured from June 14, 2000 through August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured from February 24, 2002 through January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured from February 21, 2002 through August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2001 through July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured from September 19, 2002 through June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2002 through July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured from November 26, 2001 through August 21, 2003. Approximately 3,399,384 vehicles are expected for inclusion in this recall campaign.

Cause:

The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon deployment.

Concern:

In the event of a motor vehicle crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.

Correction:

Honda will notify owners wit detailed instructions on how to contact qualified dealers that will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349.

Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.

10 Tips for Getting Home Safely this New Year’s Eve

Written by: Craig Fitzgerald

According to NHTSA, with the exception of the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve is the most dangerous driving holiday. Here’s how to avoid becoming a statistic.

According to NHTSA, an average of 36 fatalities occurred on the road each day in the United States between 2001 and 2005, as the result of an alcohol impaired driver. That number jumped to 45 per day during the three-day period around Christmas those years, and then soared to 54 per day over New Year’s holiday.

Consuming alcohol is a part of New Year’s Eve. But it doesn’t mean you should be climbing into the car to drive home.

We’ve got a few suggestions on how to celebrate without becoming a statistic:

Hire a Designated Driver

In 76 cities across the United States, BeMyDD offers designated driver services through a mobile app. You can hire drivers by the hour, order pickup services, or even have designated drivers pick up multiple guests from your event, all through the company’s smartphone app. The interesting part is that the driver actually uses your car, so there’s no having to go retrieve it after a night of revelry, and there’s no turf war between Uber drivers and cabbies.

Grab a Lyft

Forget whatever controversy exists between Uber, Lyft and the traditional cab companies. They’re a relatively inexpensive, reliable way to get yourself home. Download the app, input your credit card info, and you’re good to go. We’ve become devotees over the last few years.

Be a Designated Driver, Get Free Stuff

The California Office of Traffic Safety built the DDVIP app as a means for bars and restaurants to offer incentives to designated drivers year round, but especially on New Year’s Eve. As you head out to cart your drunk friends around, you can use the app to find bars and restaurants that offer designated drivers exclusive rewards, discounts and special non-alcoholic drinks. If it all goes haywire and you find yourself unable to resist the temptation, the app also allows you to hail an Uber, Lyft or Curb driver all from one place.

Call the Cops

Across the country, police departments have taken the bull by the horns to get people home safely. Perhaps the most aggressive initiative is the Evesham (NJ) Saving Lives Program, which launched last fall as a shuttle service. Evesham PD has now partnered with Uber, and the program spread to nearby Voorhees. The goal of the program is to “eradicate DWI/DUI offenses by providing an alternative to safely get home.” It appears to be working. Chief Christopher Crew noted that “As a result of our organization’s unwavering commitment in DWI/DUI detection and apprehension efforts, our township has investigated zero alcohol related crash fatalities since 2009.”

Check Yourself

In the last year, Alcohoot released an affordable, compact breathalyzer that measures your blood alcohol content with the help of your smartphone. For $99, the device attaches to your phone and you don’t have to do the inaccurate math on your weight and your alcohol consumption.

Take Public Transportation

Despite all the issues last winter in Boston, public transportation is a viable option in most American cities, whether it’s by train, boat, subway or bus. Most major metropolises offer some kind of free or reduced late night service on public transportation during New Year’s Eve.

Get a Free Ride

Private businesses, public agencies, advocacy groups and even beer brewers in many areas across the country are joining forces to offer free rides on New Year’s Eve. In Minnesota, for example, beer distributor J.J. Taylor teamed up with Miller Lite to offer free rides on the Metro Transit system this year.

Call a Lawyer

Usually, calling an attorney is a reaction to getting yourself in trouble, but several personal injury firms are proactively trying to keep revelers out of trouble. Sweeney Merrigan Law in Boston asks pre-partiers to sign an online pledge to get $15 worth of free Lyft credit for New Year’s eve. Berg Injury Lawyers in Alameda, California offers a free ride up to $35 with its Safe and Sober Free Cab Home program.

Call AAA

In about 20 regions across the country, AAA offers some kind of assistance to get you home this New Year’s Eve. The services aren’t available everywhere, so understand what the limitations are before you head out.

Listen to Kamen Rider

This guy rides around Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, dressed as a wildly popular Japanese Superhero named Kamen Rider, warning people of the dangers of drunk driving. Not only is he attracting attention and supporting a worthy cause, he’s doing it in character. Whenever he stops, he strikes a pose right there on his bike in the middle of the road.

Safety First! For that Holiday Road Trip

Do your Holiday travels, the Ride-Way!

It's that time of year again, and Uncle Joe has invited the family back to his log cabin down the back alley, deep in the woods. Or even if you're just going across town, you want to make sure that you and your family will make a safe trip there and back.

 Ride-Way Auto is always concerned for your safety, and that's why we've prepared tips and items that should accompany you on your journey: 

• Ice scraper
• Tow rope
• Blankets
• Flashlights
• A bag of sand or rock salt
• First aid kit
• Change for toll roads
• Water
• Snacks

If you're not entirely sure whether your car is in top notch shape for a winter drive, Ride-Way's got you covered! 

Drive with the confidence and peace of mind your family deserves, that's the Ride-Way Difference!

Much More Than Just Regular Maintenance!

People on tight budgets are often tempted to skip some routine car maintenance services, or at least to delay an appointment with the auto shop.

However, poorly maintained vehicles cause thousands of wrecks each year. The bill for accidents resulting from unperformed vehicle maintenance tops $2 billion a year, according to a 2004 study by Car Care Council, an advocacy group based in Bethesda, Md.

Even if you are lucky enough to avoid a crash, putting off maintenance is likely to reduce your car's life span.

"If you don't maintain your car, you're taking a vehicle that might have been driven for 200,000 miles over its life, and you're knocking it down to maybe 150,000 miles," says Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds.com.

The true cost of not maintaining your vehicle can include hefty repair bills for bad brakes, failed emissions tests and maybe even a failed engine. Following is a list of some common maintenance requirements for automobiles and the costly problems that can occur if they aren't completed.

1. Consistent oil changes 

Regular oil changes help keep your engine clean and lubricated, says Deanna Sclar, author of "Auto Repair for Dummies."

"Oil cuts down on the friction that can literally wear away the parts of the engine," she says. "One of the most important maintenance-related things you can do is change your oil frequently."

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