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The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, shown, and the GMC Sierra Hybrid were launched in late 2004.

DETROIT — Despite rising gasoline prices, General Motors quietly has dropped the hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.

GM\’s next hybrid pickups are due in about 18 months.

The Silverado Hybrid sold for $30,040 including shipping, about $3,000 more than a V-8 powered Silverado with the same size engine and same trim. The Silverado Hybrid and the more upscale Sierra Hybrid were launched in late 2004. They were GM\’s first gasoline-electric hybrids. But neither truck received… Read the rest of this entry

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DETROIT — With fleet sales accounting for nearly half its total sales, Chrysler is gaining an identity as DaimlerChrysler\’s rent-a-car brand.

Soft retail sales led the Chrysler brand to rely on fleet sales in a big way last fall and early this year. According to an Automotive News analysis of industry fleet sales by brand, Chrysler was the industry\’s top fleet-sales brand from November through February.

For the six-month period through February – the most recent month… Read the rest of this entry

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The 10th-generation Lancer Evolution, built on an all-new Lancer introduced in spring 2007, represents the latest leap for a car with a performance pedigree developed over 30 years of rally racing.

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Evolution will get the Evolution X name in Japan, but Mitsubishi will continue to forgo that designation in… Read the rest of this entry

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Rick Dole

Lovers of sports cars and sports-car racing in particular lost a kindred spirit the evening of April 24 when Robert F. Snodgrass Jr., 64, died at home in his sleep. Bob Snodgrass was the president of Brumos Racing, and president and CEO of the Brumos auto dealerships in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lived for the past 35 years

Cause of death has not been confirmed, but a heart attack is suspected. Snodgrass has suffered from several health problems the last few years, none of them known to have been related to his heart, and… Read the rest of this entry

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Reader Question: Austin,

Thanks for taking the time to review my question. I hope you can enlighten me on the problem.

A friend has a 2003 Dodge Dakota. He called me this afternoon and told me that his AC only comes on in the when the fan is in the highest setting. Immediately, I thought it might be the switch. However, after researching it, I am learning that pressure in the system may also dictate if it will work.

Would the fan come on, regardless on pressure in the system? I would assume (and I use that word very cautiously), that the fan should at least work in the lower settings, but not blow cold air.

Am I right in this assumption?

Thanks again for all your help.

Ed

Howdy Ed,

If I hear you correctly, the AC blower fan only… Read the rest of this entry

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Reader Question: Dear Mr. Davis,

I am having some trouble with my 1994 Ford Taurus. A few weeks ago, I ran over a branch that broke and bounced up into my undercarriage. I parked the car and turned it off only to find that smoke was coming from behind my left rear tire that smelled. The smell was nothing I could recognize or describe.

Later that day I started my car and it was fine- no smoke. About 2 or 3 weeks passed problem free. Then yesterday, while idling at a red light I noticed the smoke again coming from behind the rear left tire.

When I got home, I tried to look and see if I could tell where the smoke was coming from but I could not. I looked at it while in park and while in drive. The smoke does not seem to… Read the rest of this entry

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Reader Question: I have a 2003 Ford Taurus with 63,000 miles on it. It never had a problem. The shifter cable went and is being replaced. The dealership also recommended a transmission flush, which they did.

Now I am hearing that I should not have done the flush. What is your opinion? It has never been flushed before – I think- or if it was it was done at 24,000 miles.

Thank you.

Frank

Hi Frank,

If you were not experiencing a transmission problem, like slipping or jerking when shifting and the flush was performed routine maintenance you are probably fine. Most people cause MORE problems for themselves when they flush the transmission fluid or change the transmission filter when they ARE experiencing a transmission problem.

I am assuming the dealership was just trying to put you back on track for routine transmission… Read the rest of this entry

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Reader Question: My daughter’s car has a Pontiac Grand Prix, which had a heating coil leak last week. The carpet was very wet on the passenger side. Should I be concerned about toxic mold setting up?

What is the best way to prevent mold from growing. The car has been in the shop since the day it happened. I do not want to take any chances of my daughter being harmed and would like to clean the carpet.

What is the best way to ensure that mold is killed?

Thanks for your help!

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

When this happens in our shop, we use a product called carpet and upholstery spray you can buy at your local auto parts store called TUFF STUFF by Simonize.

It dissolves grease and will remove the slick oily residue left over from the anti freeze leak. Spray… Read the rest of this entry

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Reader Question: My car will be driving normally, then sometimes when I start to speed up a little, it will rev high (between 4 and 5) and then jerk into gear.

The check engine light has come on before but then gone off.

Do you think this could be my transmission?

Colleen

Hello Colleen,

Yes, this does sound like you could be facing automatic transmission problems. First things first though, you should get someone to check the transmission fluid level and top off if needed.

If the fluid level is fine, I would consult with a few local transmission repair shops in your area before you did anything else.

Having this transmission fluid \”flushed out\” or changing the transmission filter could actually make the situation worse, so talk to a few qualified transmission shops before you do anything yourself.

If… Read the rest of this entry

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Reader Question: Hello,

I was hoping you would be able to answer a quick question for me. My son was driving quite slowly in traffic yesterday when the person in front braked sharply, my son tried to brake but nothing happened so he pressed harder and the brakes seems to lock and he skidded into the car in front.

No one was hurt and very minimal damage was done but it really shook my son up that the brakes did not respond. Do you have any idea about why this happened and what should he do about it? He just wants an idea so when he goes to the garage he knows roughly, what he is talking about.

I would be grateful for your advice.

Thanks very much,

Tina

Hey Tina,

I am not sure what happened, or did not happen when he stepped… Read the rest of this entry