This has actually happened to me… its quite terrifying when your car continues to accelerate for no apparent reason! After someone recently died due to a floor mat jamming the gas pedal it’s probably a good thing that Toyota is recalling these things… read more at BusinessInsider.com:
Toyota is recalling 3.8 million cars, due to faulty floor mats. The Department of Transportation calls it an “urgent” matter:
Car Connection: Two weeks ago, the company ordered dealers to inspect all cars for mismatched floor mats after a fatal crash in late August, in which an occupant of a runaway 2009 Lexus ES called 911 to report a stuck accelerator pedal and non-functioning brakes.
Four occupants died when that car subsequently crashed, rolled over, and burned. The cause of that crash was suspected to be an accessory floor mats fitted at the dealership that were too large for the vehicle.
Here’s the models being recalled:
* 2007-2010 Toyota Camry (sedan)
* 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon (sedan)
* 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (hatchback)
* 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma (pickup truck)
* 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra (pickup truck)
* 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 (sedan)
* 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350 (sedan)
She may be young, but even men admit she knows what she’s talking about.
The young author of Men: An Owner’s Manual, Stephanie Brush gives woman an insight to the man’s brain. Not just any man’s brain, but all of them. She comes to the conclusion that men are basically the same- young and old, rich and poor. Men like to tinker with things.
Read more on Brush’s insight of the male psyche.
From Sympatico.MSN
“Micro cars can give motorists top-notch fuel efficiency at a competitive price, but the insurance industry says they don’t fare too well in collisions with larger vehicles.
In crash tests released Tuesday, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers of 2009 versions of the Smart “fortwo,” Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris could face significant leg and head injuries in severe front-end crashes with larger, mid-size vehicles.
“There are good reasons people buy mini cars. They’re more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety trade-offs are clear from our new tests,” said Adrian Lund, the institute’s president. Automakers who manufacture the small cars said the tests simulated a high-speed crash that rarely happens on the road.
They also said the tests rehashed past insurance industry arguments against tougher fuel efficiency requirements. The institute has raised questions about whether stricter gas mileage rules, which are being developed by the government, might lead to smaller, lighter vehicles that could be less safe.”
An informative how-to guide from our sister site WatchMojo.com:
How to check your tire pressure -
WatchMojo.com gives you the lowdown:
Proper car care such as waxing will not only make your car look its best, but will also help to protect the paint from harsh environment. In this video from our sister site WatchMojo.com watch and learn how to wax your car which will give it a natural shine.
Before the snow comes, now’s the best time to check your car and get it all ready for the tough winter conditions.
From betteries to fluids, here’s a list of things to check before Jack Frost arrives.
Here is a list of signs to look for when checking out new mechanics. If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to re-think your choice:
1. Your friends have had bad experiences at the shop.
2. The shop requires you to pay before the work is done.
3. The mechanic is not certified by any national association.
4. The parking lot is full of cars that don’t appear capable of movement.
5. The mechanic attempts diagnosis based upon your broad description.
6. The shop has lots of bad reviews online.
7. The mechanic does not appear to have specific knowledge of your make and model.
8. No estimate of time for repair.
9. Time for repair seems unnecessarily long.
10. The shop is very new or has very little history in the area.
11. The mechanic tries to suggest a myriad of other services for you at the time of your repair.
12. The mechanic suggests fixes which don’t add up.
13. The shop tells you you need to fix more things than you came in for, without a thorough explanation.
14. Lack of sufficient explanations.
15. The mechanic gives you a line like “good thing you brought this in, the car probably would not have lasted another 50 miles.”
16. The mechanic suggests one fix first, then when that doesn’t work, claims they “know” what has to be wrong this time.
17. Insisting they are the best in town without awards or recognition from the community to back it up.
18. The shop installs a new part, it fixes the problem but then fails soon after.
19. The mechanic won’t wait on you to call around to other shops or take the car other places to get estimates.
20. The mechanic cannot understand your explanation of the problem and asks you multiple times to repeat or rephrase.
Read more…
If you need to change your oil, check out WatchMojo’s handy instructions on how to do so:
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