DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- Liquidity among automotive-parts suppliers will remain adequate over the next 18 months, but balance sheets for non-investment grade companies won’t improve because cash flow will be weak and easy credit has dried up, according to a report released Monday by Fitch Ratings.Most auto suppliers tapped the leverage loan market over the past two years, improving liquidity and pushing out debt maturities. That helped companies as they dealt with pricing pressure, lower Big Three production, high costs for raw materials and restructuring.But most of those pressures aren’t abating, and credit isn’t available in the amounts and on the terms it was a few months ago, Fitch said.”Operating cash generation from non-investment grade suppliers is expected to remain weak over the near term, with limited capacity for any improvement to balance sheets that have incurred significant incremental leverage over the past several years,” Fitch said in its report. “As a result, refinancing risks may have been simply deferred to later years, rather than resolved.”Fitch analyst Mark Oline said in an interview that some auto suppliers’ balance sheets have “incurred significant damage” over the past couple of years, and free cash flow generation will be limited in the next 18 months.While not a problem in the short term, the companies “won’t have the capacity to repair balance sheets before they face refinancing risks,” he said.Some margin improvement is expected from restructuring, a trend most evident at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL) and Lear Corp. (LEA). Visteon Corp. (VC), meanwhile, “has struggled to demonstrate progress,” Fitch said in the report.”In the event that margin improvement does not take place over the near term, capital availability may be limited,” the report said.Still, Fitch doesn’t see imminent tripping of loan covenants. But if covenants are violated, any resolution, “if available, will come at a steep financial cost.”There is also competition for available capital as several large auto suppliers are looking to arrange exit financing. Delphi Corp. (DPHIQ), Dana Corp. (DCNAQ), Federal-Mogul Corp. (FDMLQ) and Dura Automotive Systems Inc. all are looking to emerge from Chapter 11.The pressures of the auto industry forced several suppliers into Chapter 11 in the past couple of years.-By Terry Kosdrosky, Dow Jones Newswires; 248-204-5532; terry.kosdrosky@ dowjones.com News source: Money.CNN

A recent child safety seat inspection gave Nat Willauer an opportunity to get his grandson’s seat checked while eating at Burger King.”I figure I’d have them check what I’ve done,” said Willauer. “I just want to keep the kids safe.” Marion’s AAA Ohio Auto Club sponsored the child safety seat inspection and a vehicle inspection Thursday at Marion Plaza on Mount Vernon Avenue. Office manager Alicia Turner said it’s a public service while AAA mechanics said it also gives them a chance to look vehicles over and urge drivers to prepare their vehicles for winter. “It’s a convenience world,” said Vernon Hylton, field operations//member relations for Worthington’s AAA Auto Club, talking about how for example the majority of gas stations are now self-serve and have no one checking fluid levels and tire pressure. He estimated in about 50 percent of calls made by stranded motorists the break-down could have been prevented.Stephanie Langley, a Safe Kids-Central Ohio child safety seat inspector, also talked prevention as she checked not only how seats were installed but whether they were on any recall list. She said Safe Kids urges people to not use car seats for more than five years.”Car seats do get tired,” she said. “They get used and abused.”According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 400 children under 5 years old were saved by the use of child safety seats in 2005. An AAA press release stated that car seats have been shown to reduce infant fatalities by 71 percentLangley said there are common mistakes in installation such as seat belt harnesses not connected properly or not tightened enough. The retainer clip on the harness should be near children’s armpits but are often placed too low, such as near their stomachs, she said.She said she urges people to make sure their seats are safe and said many people use second-hand seats, which she advises against.”Car seats are so inexpensive anymore,” she said. “You don’t have to spend $140. You can spend $35-$60. It’s cheaper than the ticket you will get for a first offense.”According to state law, all children who are either under 4 years old or under 40 pounds must be in a properly used car seat that meets federal standards. A first offense can carry a $150 fine. A second offensecan mean $250 plus jail time.Exemptions are public safety vehicles, taxi cabs and vehicles not required by law to have seat belts at the time they were manufactured.Since April 6, all children 4-15 years old must be in an occupant restraining device such as a booster seat, car seat or seat belt no matter where they are seated. While it is a secondary offense, which means that an officer cannot pull someone over just for that violation, it carries the same penalty as the car seat violation.She said someone should never carry a child in their lap while driving or sitting in the front seat.”That child will probably save their lives,” she said, “but that child will probably die.”Hylton, AAA approved auto repair manager Douglas Dix and other mechanics inspected tires, batteries, fluids and other items on vehicles that stopped for the service. Buckeye Collision Service employee Keith Price helped check batteries and had new batteries available to sell and install through the AAA’s “go don’t tow” efforts to help stranded motorists at the scene rather than tow them to a service garage.Hylton and Price said common problems include low fluids, poor batteries and tires, including spare times, that do not have enough air. News source: Central Ohio

1. All-season tires have better wet-road grip than summer tires. In which season will an “all-season” tire offer better wet-road traction than a comparable “summer” tire? Answer: None. To Southern Californians the seasons are Flood, Fire, Earthquake and Mud Slide: They think an “all-season” tire must be fire-resistant and good in mud. Meanwhile, to those in L.A. (Lower Alabama), the seasons are Summer, Deer, Duck and Turkey. They are appalled that “all-season” tires are not camouflaged. Here’s the truth: An all-season tire trades wet-road traction (among other things) for enhanced mobility in snow and in sub-freezing temperatures. Designing a tire is an exercise in compromises: Improving a certain tire performance, almost always means diminishing another–or several others. (Some more accurately use the term “three-season” when referring to summer tires.) To make things even more complex, switch categories (or even brands) and the results may change: An ultra-high-performance all-season tire may offer better wet grip than a high-performance summer tire or, especially, a grand-touring summer tire. 2. Plenty of tread means plenty of remaining tire life. Humans and tires are similar: Both can reach the end of their lives without having gone far or done much work. Just as a human who has never left his home state or his mother’s house can be ready for the grave, an old tire can be ready for the recycler even if it has deep tread. Some auto manufacturers recommend replacing tires every five or six years, regardless of tread depth. A tire that’s been on a car seven or eight years is much like a 65-year-old human: No matter how fit and healthy he looks, he shouldn’t play rugby against 19-year-olds, as a sharp impact or an aggressive maneuver could have unhappy results. If it’s 105 degrees outside, a simple stroll can be deadly to both out-of-shape older people and poorly maintained old tires. Here’s how you can tell how old your tire is: On its sidewall of find the letters “DOT.” Following that will be a sequence of numbers, which may be in three or four separate windows. The last four numbers tell when the tire was made: “3106” means the tire was built during the 31st week of 2006. While you’re on your knees, check for hairline cracks in the sidewall: That’s a strong indication the tire needs replacing. Deteriorating rubber is a big a problem for rarely driven vehicles, such as motor homes, collector cars, exotic cars, vehicles owned by senior citizens, and vans operated by charitable organizations. (A request: If you have older neighbors, check their tires for proper air pressure and signs of aging. And don’t let them play rugby.) 3. A tire will burst if the “max press” number on the sidewall is exceeded. A new quality tire will not burst even if the “max press” is exceeded by a very large amount. (I could tell you but then I’d have to talk to lawyers.) All bets are off if the tire has been damaged or it’s fitted on a cheap or damaged wheel. Coupled with the “max load” number, which is found near to “max press” on the sidewall, you can know the maximum load-carrying ability of a tire. Know this: It’s air pressure that allows the tire to carry a load. At one pound per square inch (psi) of air pressure a tire can support no weight. To increase its load-carrying capacity, air pressure must be increased. (Imagine a plastic soft-drink bottle: With the top off, it’s easily crushed, but new and unopened it can support a grown man.) However, at some pressure, adding more air to the tire will not provide increased weight-carrying capacity: That’s what the “max load/max pressure” means. 4. The “max press” on the sidewall is the proper inflation pressure for your tires. Fewer believe this than the previous item, but the misconception is widespread in the law enforcement community. The proper inflation pressures for tires are determined by the automaker (in concert with, but not by, the tire maker). The government now requires new cars to have that recommended pressure on a placard located on the driver’s doorjamb. On older cars this placard was often on the doorjamb, but depending on the car company, could be on the trunk lid, glovebox door, console lid, or fuel door. If you can’t find the recommended pressure placard, look in your owner’s manual or call your carmaker’s customer service department. Inflating the tire above the car manufacturer’s recommendation may make it more susceptible to damage from potholes and will reduce ride comfort. However, it will likely increase race-track-style at-the-limit performance. (I suspect this is why highway patrolmen run high tire pressures.) Back in the day when I raced showroom-stock cars, the rules required everyday tires rather than the made-for-racing specials now allowed. We always set the pressure far above the vehicle maker’s recommendation. When I ran front-wheel drive cars, I often used extremely high pressure in the rear tires: I was trying to reduce rear grip so the car would turn better in the middle of the corner. 5. Budget-brand tires are as good as big-name brands since they’re built by the same company. As with most products, rarely do you get more than what you pay for. It’s easy to see how this misconception developed. Each tire company has a premium brand upon which it focuses its research, development and testing. In addition, almost all produce other brands. Many build tires for others–such as auto-parts stores–to sell under the store’s brand. As you progress down this list, development and testing quickly drop to no more than legal requirements. The R&D from the premium brand often–but not always–trickles down into the budget brands. So maybe the difference is so small, you can’t tell difference. Or maybe not. News source: AutoMedia

At this time of year, inventories are critical in the auto industry–and I do not like what I see. If there are too many of the old models in inventory (in this case, the 2007s), the dealers concentrate on getting rid of them, which hurts sales of the new 2008s. When inventories are bloated, car companies have to slash the prices on the old models, which also makes it harder to sell next year’s cars for a profit.If inventories are low, the reverse is true. Dealers push the new models and get better prices.On the production side, manufacturers like to pump out vehicles in the fourth quarter to give year-end profits a boost. Companies think short-term, and usually do not worry about the problems they will face in the first quarter if they move into the winter season with sales down and inventories high.These are not speculations. This has happened many times in the past.There are two ways to count auto inventories: The first is by the raw number of cars and trucks held by the dealers. A better metric is to go by the “days’ supply,” which is the number of days needed to sell the vehicles in inventory, based on the daily selling rate in the previous month. A 60-day supply is a number that many industry watchers consider acceptable. Dealers are in a panic when that number gets substantially higher, because those unsold cars do not get more valuable sitting in the lot, and dealers are paying interest charges on those vehicles. News source: Forbes Inventories are a much bigger problem for the domestic manufacturers than for most of the foreign companies. Toyota (nyse: TM – news – people ) and Honda (nyse: HMC – news – people ) (including their luxury divisions) always have low inventories, usually half the industry rate. As of Aug. 1, Toyota has 33 days and Honda 41 days, which is a bit high for the latter. One year ago, Honda was at 31 days, according to Automotive News. BMW and Mercedes, at 25 days and 33 days, respectively, are also in good shape. Other foreign companies are higher, but far from critical. Nissan (nasdaq: NSANY – news – people ) has 58 and Hyundai, 51. Of the foreigners who are struggling, Mitsubishi (otcbb: MSBHY – news – people ) has 80 days’ inventory and Volkswagen/Audi, 89.Detroit is a different story.As of Aug. 1, General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ) had 945,000 unsold cars and trucks, up from 920,000 a year ago, when sales were higher. It is not a disaster, but it is a 72-day supply, compared with 57 days a year ago. GM has been making money on its trucks, but its trucks are piling up in inventory: 223,000 Chevy Silverado pickups, which represents 114 days; and 80,000 GMC Sierra pickups, 120 days. GM also has 90 days or more inventories for the Chevy Avalanche and Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade and its small pickups. Latest reports are that GM does plan to cut some truck production. That is a good idea.Of course, labor negotiations are under way, and there is a small chance of a strike. GM may be using that as an excuse to hold onto some extra inventory.Ford Motor (nyse: F – news – people ) is traditionally more conservative with its inventories than GM; that is true now. It has 530,000 vehicles in inventory vs. 704,000 a year ago. At that level, Ford has 66 days’ inventory vs. 73 on Aug. 1, 2006. Ford’s truck problem is not as bad as GM’s, with the F Series supply at 79 days.Chrysler (excluding former parent Mercedes) has 465,000 vehicles, or an 81-day supply. That is better than the 560,000 vehicles and 93 days’ supply it had a year ago. It is worth noting that Chrysler has mislead people about inventories before by hiding unsold vehicles around Detroit, so I treat the latest figures with a bit of skepticism.Inventory problems are an old story at Chrysler. A few years ago, though the company was bringing out a new line of minivans in the fall, they over-produced the old models in the spring. When the new ones came out later in the year, the dealers were busy selling the old ones, which caused a slump. Headquarters in Germany fired the American president and German officers took over the company. Chrysler has a new-generation minivan coming out this fall, but it appears that it has whittled down its inventories to manageable levels. A year ago, Chrysler said it had 79,000 minivans in stock; this year it reported 35,000. Chrysler does not want to make that mistake again.In short, today’s inventory numbers are not threatening–at least not now. The total for the industry–3,163,000 cars and trucks–is down from 3,311,000 a year ago. Keep in mind, however, that sales are running lower than last year–GM, for example, was down 22% in July. With the housing market in a steep decline, big problems in the credit industry and a Dow Jones industrial average that is 1,000 points lower than a few weeks ago, there is little reason to believe that consumers will go on a car-buying binge this fall.This is the time to hold down inventories, especially for the Detroit Three.

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor Co. said Thursday that Sync, its in-car communication and entertainment system developed with Microsoft Corp., will cost $395 as an option when it debuts this fall on the Ford Focus, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.Sync, which will be on nine other 2008 Ford models by the end of the year, allows drivers, using either voice recognition or steering wheel controls, to listen to their digital music players and hear text messages on their cell phones read aloud.Consumers provide their own digital players, such as Apple Inc. (nasdaq: AAPL – news – people )’s iPod or Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT – news – people )’s Zune.Developers have said Sync is a platform on which they can build numerous services, such as safety and vehicle diagnostics.They envision vehicles getting software “fixes” through wireless downloads that don’t require communication with the owner, or giving drivers electronic manuals that let them ask their vehicle questions about performance or maintenance.Crew Chief Note: Remember when I said if todays vehicles have as many lines of info as the Appollo then we need to pay the techs more this is just one more reason. News source: Forbes.com

Some women still see car buying as a hassle. CarMax Incorporated released a poll that says women still find difficulty in dealing with which car to choose, however, an improvement was seen compared to the last time it had a poll. CarMax is one among the largest car retailer in the US.Every year, CarMax conducts a survey and this year, more than 12,000 women participated on the poll. They shared their own experiences regarding car buying. According to Donna Wassel, the regional vice president of CarMax, “We continue to see the same trends as women search for satisfaction in shopping for a vehicle. It is essential for women to find a car retailer, such as CarMax, that focuses on excellent customer service, and a hassle free car-buying experience.”CarMax also offered these following tips to help women car shoppers:Women car shoppers should at least visit some of the research websites like the carmax.com to look for more information about tires, makes, options, features and models. At carmax.com, you can see the actual prices as well as the photos of these products. Actual reviews and history reports are just few among the services you can avail if you visit the site.The facts that you get can be printed. This can remind you on what to do just in case you need assistance on buying car parts or car models. You should bring these tips along with your driver’s license, insurance cards and the registration of your current model. Bring the approval letter with you just in case you need your car loans are pre-approved. Look for a trusted car dealer or sales person by asking your friends, relatives and family. Look for a retailer that offers no extra charge on the car parts you want to buy. Get a different kind of purchase from a trade-in to a car purchase. Carmax.com also offers free appraisal. This will help you know the value of your trade-in before you go to shopping. Trust your shopping abilities. If you research and look for more information before you try to buy a product, this will help you stay secure before buying what you need. Ask questions. These personnel are willing to answer all your quires regarding their products. If there are things that bothers you, say it so you’ll find the answers in the end. Always embrace the idea that you cannot find good offers in on store. Prepare to walk away if you think they don’t have what you want. News source: AutoRepairInfo

Equip yourself with these necessary items before you hit the road. A few basics can help you get back on your way quickly and safely. Get familiar with how to change a tire by referring to the owner’s manual. For minor punctures, a foam tire sealant can be used but is not recommended by tire shops.© Lynn James / Photonica A cell phone can be the most valuable item to have in case of an emergency. Keep a car charger handy and leave the retractable antenna extended when traveling. A roadside emergency can happen at any time, whether your car is new or old. A range of problems can cause it, from a tire failure or mechanical breakdown to running out of fuel. At best, it’s an annoyance; at worst, it can compromise your safety. Being prepared with a basic emergency kit can increase your safety, reduce stress, and help you get back on the road faster. Even if you have roadside-assistance coverage or an automobile-club membership with roadside assistance, you usually need access to a phone in order to contact them and you may have to wait on the side of the road for an hour or more before help arrives. That’s why we recommend that drivers carry certain items in their vehicle, even if it only gets used for everyday, around-town driving. This basic kit can be supplemented with additional items if you go on a long-distance trip or have to deal with winter weather conditions. It’s also important to make periodic checks on the equipment to ensure it’s in working order–that the spare tire is properly inflated, batteries are not discharged, first-aid supplies are current, water is fresh, and food is dry. In addition, be familiar with how each tool works, from the cellular phone to the jack, before you need to use it in an emergency. News source: Autos MSN BASIC KIT This kit is intended to aid you in getting help, signaling your car’s presence to other motorists, and tackling simple challenges. Cellular phone. We don’t recommend that you talk on a cell phone while driving, but in an emergency, this can be the single most valuable component of your kit. Keep a car charger handy. This device plugs into the cigarette lighter or other power point in the car and charges the battery of your cell phone. When traveling, it’s best to leave your cell phone on and, if applicable, leave the retractable antenna extended. This may shorten the time it takes you to reach 911, if necessary. Emergency tip: If you have to dial 911, remember that your location and phone number aren’t always available to an emergency operator when calling from a cell phone. So give the operator your number and any information you have about your location. Ignore any “no service” messages on the phone and try the call anyway. If you have trouble connecting to 911 from inside a car, get out if possible and call from the side of the road. That may help you get a better signal. First-aid kit. Choose one that allows you to treat a range of problems, from small cuts or burns to ones that require major bandaging. We also suggest you get familiar with how to use the kit before you need to. Fire extinguisher. A car fire can start from something as simple as a wiring short circuit or leaking oil. You should get away from a vehicle that’s on fire as quickly as possible. Still, for extra security it’s good to keep a fire extinguisher in the car that can be used in any emergency or to quickly douse a small flame that’s just begun. The quicker a fire can be put out, the less damage it will cause. Multipurpose dry-chemical fire extinguishers are available in a variety of sizes. We recommend carrying a compact unit that’s labeled 1A10BC or 2A10BC. Warning light, hazard triangle, or flares. If your vehicle is stuck on the side of the road, it’s vital that you give other motorists as much warning of its presence as possible, especially at night. Look for a battery-powered warning light that can be placed far from the vehicle. Reflective hazard triangles and flares are also effective and don’t need batteries. Tire gauge. This should be used on a monthly basis to check the inflation pressure in all four tires and the spare tire. Because the ambient temperature affects tire pressure, it’s also advisable to check the pressure after a significant change in temperature. Jack and lug wrench. Almost all vehicles come with these items for changing a tire. Refer to your owner’s manual on where they’re located in the vehicle and how to use them. Models that come with run-flat tires do not have a spare tire. Run-flat tires can be driven a limited number of miles with little or no air in them. They have very stiff sidewalls, which provide support when the tire is deflated. Click here to learn more about the warning signs of imminent tire failure. Foam tire sealant or a portable compressor and plug kit. For minor punctures, a foam tire sealant can get your vehicle back on the road quickly. Only use it in an emergency, however, many tire shops will refuse to repair the tire because of the sticky residue these sealants leave inside it. Be sure to choose a sealant that’s labeled as non-flammable, and don’t consider this a permanent fix. A portable DC-powered air compressor can also be used to inflate a tire–and is especially handy for one that suffers from a slow leak. To fix a puncture, however, you need to have it professionally repaired. Spare fuses. If you experience an electrical problem, your first check should be for a burned-out fuse. These are easy to check and replace by referring to your owner’s manual. Keep an assortment on hand of the proper type for your vehicle. Jumper cables or a portable battery booster. Jumper cables are easy to use as long as you have a second car available to provide a jump. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions. A portable battery booster eliminates the need for a second car. Flashlight. This can be critical at night. Choose one that is bright and weatherproof. In addition, a flashlight with a magnet, flexible mounting system, or a stand will free up your hands for other tasks. Also, have extra batteries and a bulb available. Gloves, hand cleaner, and clean rags. Even the simplest jobs can get your hands dirty. Having these on hand will help keep that dirt from getting on your clothes or your vehicle’s interior. Auto-club card or roadside-assistance number. If you belong to an auto club or roadside-assistance program, be sure you have the necessary information in your vehicle. Disposable flash camera. Following an accident, this lets you record the condition of your vehicle and other vehicles for insurance purposes. $20 in small bills and change. Keep this available for miscellaneous use. And resist dipping into it for a spontaneous ice cream cone on a hot day. Pen and pad of paper. This can come in handy for a range of uses, from leaving a note on the windshield should you have to leave your car to jotting down information after an accident. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR LONG-DISTANCE DRIVING For long trips, especially those through remote areas, add these items to your basic emergency kit. Basic tools. This includes a set of socket and open-end wrenches, a multi-tip screwdriver, and pliers. This should be enough to perform simple jobs such as changing a lightbulb, tightening battery cables, and so on. Even if you don’t know what to do, a Good Samaritan will still need something to work with. Coolant hose repair kit and tape. A leaking coolant hose can sideline your vehicle quickly and possibly cause engine damage from overheating. Often, a leaking hose is a simple fix if you have the right items. They can be bought at any major auto-parts store. Extra clothes and small tarpaulin. Even if all you do is change a tire, these items can help keep your regular clothes clean. Water and nonperishable emergency food. Bring enough food and water to sustain you and any passengers for at least a meal, longer for remote areas or in extreme hot/cold regions. CB radio. If your route will take you into an area where cellular service is spotty, consider a portable or in-car CB radio. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR WINTER DRIVING For the cold, wet conditions of winter, you may need additional items in your emergency kit, especially if you travel in remote areas or in severe conditions. Windshield scraper. Good visibility is your most important safety item, but persistent snow and ice can build up quickly and make it hard to see. A long-handled, soft-bristled brush can also come in handy. Tire chains and tow strap. Familiarize yourself with how to put the chains on your vehicle’s tires or attach a tow strap before you need to do it in cold and possibly dark conditions. Blanket and winter hat. If you run out of fuel or if your battery dies, the vehicle won’t be able to provide heat. A blanket and hat can help keep you warm if you have to wait for a long time in cold conditions. Chemical hand warmers. These small, inexpensive packets are available at ski shops and sporting-goods stores. Small folding shovel. If you get stuck in snow, this can be a vital tool. A folding camping-style shovel will require more digging effort than a longer-handled shovel, but is more convenient to store in the vehicle. Bag of cat litter.This can help provide some traction on an especially slick road surface.

About the only positive result from the current Ford/Firestone situation is that more people are now aware that proper tire inflation pressures can be crucial. Luckily, running the correct pressure is relatively easy–but how do you know what it is? That depends on a number of factors, including vehicle weight, tire specs, air temperature and even personal preference. Newer vehicles have the manufacturer’s recommended pressures on a decal in the door jam or glovebox, but those numbers are for a stock vehicle with a full load. Running the correct pressure is relatively easy–but how do you know what it is? Tires lose pressure over time, so checking the inflation at least every couple of weeks is important. While you have your tire gauge out, you might as well set them at a correct pressure for your vehicle/tire/load combination. One simple method for finding the right pressure for your vehicle is to draw a chalk line across the tread, then drive a bit and check the line. Even wear is good, while the line fading in the center indicates over-inflation. Worst is when the chalk mark wears off at the outer edges (shoulders) first, meaning that the pressure is too low. Under-inflation lessens the tire’s load capacity, can make for squirrelly handling and, most importantly, makes the tire run hotter. Hot tires tend to disintegrate, regardless of who made them. Consequently, it’s better to err on the high side, even if ride quality may suffer and the tire wear pattern could be less than optimal. However, do not exceed the maximum pressure as stated on the sidewall–there can indeed be too much of a good thing.Crew Chief note This chalk trick is a new one but I tried it and it works Just shows you can teach an old tech new tricks. News source: Auto Media Once the lines wear off evenly, note those pressures for future reference. While the inflation must be identical for both ends of an axle, the front tires will often require a slightly higher pressure since they usually carry more of the weight of an unladen vehicle (most engines are up front). Gauging Pressure It doesn’t really matter how accurate your tire gauge is as long as it’s consistent and you use that same one every time. Also important for repeatability is to measure the tires either cold or warm, then stick with that measurement method since tire pressure vary quite a bit with temperature. Last, but not the least, if adding load to the vehicle, don’t forget to add to the tire pressures accordingly. Consider that it’s really not the tires that support your vehicle but rather the air inside them. Correct inflation pressures may suddenly seem more important than you might have previously thought. You’ll need a piece of chalk, a tire gauge, a pen and a note pad. Make a chalk mark across the tread as pictured, on one front and one rear tire, and then drive a quarter mile or so in a straight line. Stop and study the chalk marks and note the pressure readings on the gauge. This tire shows over-inflation, having relatively intact marks at the shoulders while the center of the line is more worn. Ideally, the chalk would have faded evenly across the tread surface. Let out some air and try again.

A short review on flushing.I do not use a flushing T why cut into a perfectly good hose and create another place to leak.Using a piece heater hose and the male end of a garden hose repair kit make a fitting to attach the hose to the water pump inlet. Flush out the system pinch off the vehicles hose (while it is flushing) so it runs through the entire system. Remove the garden hose fitting and attach it to the heater hose and flush again block off the pump outlet while flushing so it backflushes the entire system.Run some water through the radiator. drain and refill be sure the heater blows hot air then you should not have an air lock. If you have a vacuum controlled heater valve use an external vacuum source to open the valve or run the vehicle(with the heater on hot) This is messy. I only use regular antifreeze and chemical flush only in extreme circumstances. I do use a slight amount of water pump lube about half the bottle. One more hint pinch off the water supply to create a pulse effect this seems to help break gunk loose mainly when backflushing.

Am I alone in taking pointed notice of all the tip jars that have blossomed on business countertops? From delis to pizzerias, Chinese takeout joints to barbershops, the word has spread like wildfire: If you put out a tip jar, people will fill it. Well, maybe they will, but I have yet to be shamed (if this is the right word) into casting my coin into the tip jar fountain. Perhaps it is the scientist in me, but I try to reason the situation out like this: I call in my order to the Chinese restaurant. I drive there to pick it up. I pay the menu price. Why on earth would I pay more than they are asking for their product? Doing so strikes me as positively un-American. News source: Money-Central Tipping used to be confined to service-oriented occupations: waitresses, taxi drivers, doormen. Now it has spread to businesses where I seem to be doing most of the work. Attempts at justification Just recently I was in a general store where I roamed the aisles, collected my goods, brought them to the counter and even packed them myself. I paid the cashier $23.97 and then noticed a rather ostentatious pickle jar by the register. It was brimming with coins and paper money. On its face was written, in large red letters so as not to escape notice, “TIPS!” The addition of that exclamation point seemed to push the thing beyond a suggestion toward the realm of subtle demand. Sometimes the tip jar bears an explanation or justification of the recipient’s need for the extra cash, such as the annotation, “For college.” And then there was this cryptic one I saw in a service station: “For unanticipated expenses.” Hmm. Don’t we all have these? All this reminds me of a little incident with an Internet retailer. On the order form after I had added up the total for goods and shipping, was an additional charge of $1, for “immediate replacement of lost or damaged goods.” More from MSNTalk back: Do tip jars annoy you?MSN City Guides: Diners have a bone to pick How to say NO! to anything — or anyoneJust say no to the ‘upsell’10 things your restaurant won’t tell youIs free stuff on the Net really free?There was no way for me to decline or eliminate this fee, so I called them. The pleasant woman at the other end of the line explained that the fee was a bargain because it would ensure my satisfaction with my purchase. “Ma’am,” I calmly began, “if I am not satisfied with this purchase, I expect you to remedy the situation in any event.”She removed the $1 fee.Nobody will notice The moral of this tale is that these companies seem to assume that nobody — except for me! — will notice or care if an additional buck or two is appended to an order. Considering the large customer bases involved, this can add up to a lot of money. I think this is precisely what has spilled over into the ad hoc tipping jar phenomenon we’re now experiencing. If the college student who works at the local taco stand puts out his or her jar and makes an extra $10, $20 or $30 a day, well, why not? It’s not as if people have to cough up a tip. At this point I’m willing to admit that maybe I’m being a curmudgeon about this — or even worse, a cheapskate. But although I don’t contribute to these ubiquitous, beckoning Mason jars, I think there is an insidious effect on the young. Video on MSN Money Successful complainingYelling may feel good, but when it comes to getting resolution to your consumer complaint, there are better ways to succeed.On a visit to a bakery with my son, I had just paid for my bagels when Anton nudged me and pointed to the tip jar. “Dad,” he said, “aren’t you going to tip them?” I looked at the milk-faced student behind the cash register, who beamed at me. “Thank you,” I told him, “and have a nice day.”This didn’t end the conversation. In the car on the way home, Anton asked me how I would feel if I had a tip jar and nobody put any money in. A little classroom experiment No one had ever asked me this before. As a teacher it had never occurred to me to put one of these jars on my desk. And so I decided to conduct an experiment. The next day, when I entered the classroom, I casually pulled a small jelly jar from my bag and placed it on my desk. On the front was a neat label, “Tips.” I didn’t do anything else to draw my students’ attention to it and ignored the low mumble that the act incited. At the end of the lecture, as the students filed out, I’ll be darned if a few of them didn’t throw their loose change into the jar. I gave it all back, of course, but their quiet gestures did lend me a small thrill, a sense that my teaching efforts were worth more than my salary alone. Well, I still don’t put money in tip jars, but I have put one of these jars in my son’s room. Sometimes, when he does something positive or helpful without being told, I throw a couple of quarters in. He appreciates this and looks for opportunities to lend a hand wherever he can. I think that as long as we can keep this under control, I will not have created unreasonable expectations. But mum’s the word.