Every year, All Hallows Eve – Halloween to the Western world – is celebrated on October 31.  The original celebration was meant as a harvest festival and the masking was meant to “fool” the dead that cross through the thin veil between the living and the dead that comes this time of year.  That was to ward off the “tricks” that the dead would play by not being recognized and offering “treats” to appease them.  Since then, it has become a commercialized holiday that allows for children to dress in costumes and get free candy and for others to create mischief – like egging your vehicle.

But it doesn’t have to be a scary time as far as your vehicle is concerned.  You can do a few things to protect that investment.  Some of the most popular Halloween “bombs” that could hit your vehicle are silly string, pumpkins and eggs.  You have to realize that the acids in those can harm the paint on your vehicle.  So here is what you can do to protect it:

• Put a coat of fresh, protective wax on the vehicle.  There are some brands that guarantee against acid erosion.  You should do that job about a week before the holiday, meaning that if you are reading these tips that should be today.
• If you have a garage or car port, make sure you park your vehicle there if possible.  After all, no one can hit what they can’t get an aim at.  If you have to, move a few things around to make the room to protect what is yours.
• Newer vehicles usually have paint that is more resistant to these types of attacks, but if your vehicle takes a blow, you should be sure to clean off the residue as soon as possible.  Then get your car washed, either on your own or through a commercial service.  That will remove the acids that can harm the paint.
• If you are opting to clean up the mess on your own, be sure to use a soap that is meant strictly for washing cars.  Don’t use dish soap or laundry detergent since they can remove the wax that you applied, leaving your vehicle paint exposed to those acids.  Mix the soap in a spray bottle and use a soft cloth to clean the affected areas.

Remember that the best protection is prevention.  After the scare is over, treat your vehicle to wash and shine and enjoy “your baby” – at least until the next scare comes along.

It’s not a good time for Ford right now.  There is yet another recall (the third one) on the Escape.  This on the back of two recalls that were announced last week for the 2013 model.

General Motors has issued a recall for 6,006 of its Chevrolet Corvette Coupes. A total of 5,755 of the recalled Corvette Coupes are located in the US, and 217 are located in Canada. The vehicles being recalled were models that were manufactured between January 24, 2011 and September 1, 2011, and include both 2011 and 2012 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued a statement saying that the Corvettes’ rear hatch hinges don’t meet federal weight capacity requirements. The Corvette’s hinges are not in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 206, which mandates standards for “door locks and door retention components”.

According to General motors, the Chevrolet Corvette coupes have rear hatch hinges that could fail in the event of a crash. Some of the hinges that support the rear hatch assembly have the potential to break, causing the rear hatch assembly to come loose from the vehicle during a collision and leading to severe injury.

General Motors said that they’ve discovered the cause of the problem. The automaker traces the flawed hitches to a roll of steel that was used in their manufacture.

Owners of Corvette Coupes will be notified of the recall by the dealerships that sold the vehicles to them. Dealerships are also responsible for inspecting the Chevy Coupes, and they will be required to replace the hinges at no charge. The recall goes into effect on October 7.

To date, the National highway Traffic Safety Administration has not received any reports of crashes or injuries involving the hinges on the Corvette Coupe; and here have not been any customer complaints regarding the faulty hatches. The model year 2011 has 4,064 vehicles that are being affected by the recall, comprising the largest group, and there are 1691 vehicles from model year 2012 that are being recalled. There’s no word on what percentage of all vehicles are affected.

For more information, call Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438. The national Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline will also provide information at 1-888-327-4236, or on the Internet at HTTP://www.safercar.gov. General Motor’s safety recall number is 11258.

Gas prices just keep climbing—and that means that fuel economy is an important issue. It is possible to take back some control over how much you pay for gas, though. You can reduce fuel consumption by 45% by taking a few simple steps, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

Here are five ways to increase your fuel savings:

Go Lightly!

Drivers who have a lighter foot on the gas can reduce fuel consumption. Eliminate quick stops and starts, drive calmly, and don’t stomp on the gas, and you can cut your fuel consumption by 30%.

Be an responsible driver

Responsible drivers keep up with vehicle maintenance, increasing fuel efficiency in the process. Stay current on car maintenance, use the right engine oil—and change it frequently—and keep your tires inflated to the proper levels. These strategies can increase fuel economy by as much as 40%.

Choose your vehicle carefully

Instead of buying a large vehicle, consider choosing a fuel-saver. Cars get better gas mileage than minivans or light-duty trucks. A 2011 model year car gets 23.7 mpg, compared to 19.4 mpg for a minivan, 19.2 mpg for an SUV, and 17.2 mpg for a truck. Consider the use you need to be able to get out of your vehicle on a regular basis, and choose your car on that basis. Don’t be tempted to over-indulge.

Choose your path

Whenever possible, take the road less traveled! Find routes with flat terrain and less traffic, and your fuel efficiency will soar. Driving on a flat terrain increases the mpg of most vehicles by 15 to 20% in comparison with driving over hills or through traffic congestion. When you drive on an open freeway, your fuel economy increases by 20 to 40% compared with driving on a crowded freeway.

Vehicle operation

Turn off your air conditioner and increase your fuel economy by 25%! If you use the cruise control function during highway driving, you’ll increase fuel consumption by 7%. Don’t let your car idle more than a minute or your fuel efficiency will suffer.

Times are tough, and a recent AAA survey shows that 54% of U.S. drivers have decided to save money by keeping an existing vehicle instead of buying a new one. Unfortunately, the survey indicates that many also neglect routine maintenance.

AAA Automotive experts stress that a relationship with a full-service repair shop is a good way to save on car expenses. The following ten tips will help consumers locate a reliable shop:

Type of Facility: There are three basic choices:

1. Dealerships – Their technicians are factory-trained. They’re knowledgeable about the models they sell, and know about service bulletins and advisories.
2. Independents – Independent shops are less expensive than dealerships, and it can be easier to form a relationship with the owner. Customer satisfaction is higher.
3. Specialists – Shops that specialize in particular makes can provide quick and efficient service.

Shop appearance: A repair shop should be clean and organized.

Amenities – A good shop should have clean restrooms and a nice waiting area. Some offer pick-up and drop-off services.

Technicians – Technicians should be qualified and receive on-going training. Certifications should be displayed.

Equipment – Equipment should be current, and Internet access to repair information should be available.. Car repair is complicated these days, and a manual can’t hold all the information a shop needs.

Reputation – The Better Business Bureau can let you know about customer complaints and how the shop has dealt with them.

Discounts – Some facilities offer discounts on common services. AAA members should consider paying for repairs with AAA Member Rewards Visa® Card so they can collect reward points for vouchers accepted at any AAR facility.

Warranty – A good shop should offer a 12-month/12,000-mile parts and labor warranty.

AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) –AAR repair shops are carefully chosen and inspected often. AAA offers dispute resolution between AAR shops and AAA customers.

Try it out! – Go to the shop for a minor routine service. Talk to the employees and get a feel for the way the facility is run.

AAA is a not-for-profit leader and advocate for driver safety. Visit them at AAA.com.

The Federal- Mogul Corporation will be introducing their new ignition system atr this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. This new ignition system is a breakthrough in technology when it comes to improving gas mileage, significantly reduces harmful vehicle emissions, and will also extend the life of your vehicle quite significantly. This new ignition system is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and is an exciting innovation that deserves lots of media attention.

Not only will this new technology be saving you money whenever you stop at the pump to fill up your car with costly gas, but it is also cheaper than other ignition system technologies in the World today. Federal-Mogul is known for their commitment to their customer base, and trying their best to provide their customers with the best technology they can offer. They are always looking to supply their customers with new convenient technology that can save them money in the long run and increase the longevity of their vehicles.

Federal-Mogul’s new technology will provide their customer base with energy efficiency, but they are also not turning a blind eye to good ol’ Mother Nature and leaving her out in the cold. You will find that this new ignition system technology offered by Federal Mogul is environmentally friendly. Of course, Federal-Mogul cares most about their customers, so this new technology will also be add to the safety of your vehicle. If there is one thing Federal-Mogul excels at; it is taking care of their beloved customers.

Federal-Mogul has already gone on the record of saying that their new ignition system can decrease fuel consumption by up to 10%, and there is room for improvements in this field. Of course, this is good news for those of us that spend way too much time and money at the pumps. It will be very interesting to see what Federal-Mogul can do with this new technology in the future. Right now, I’m giving Federal-Mogul a big thumbs up for their desire to supply us with superior technology.