Most vehicles start out with a “new car smell,” but there are other specific odors that motorists should never ignore. Identifying these suspect smells early on can help car owners be car care aware and avoid the hassle and expense of an unexpected breakdown, says the Car Care Council.

“Unusual smells can be the sign of serious, and potentially costly, trouble for your vehicle. By acting quickly and making necessary repairs, you’ll be able to breathe easy knowing there is no harmful damage to your car,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council recommends a sniff test of your vehicle to identify any unusual smells, including the following six warning signs:

This dream weekend of American car culture includes a massive hot rod show, full-throttle excitement and the country’s top show cars. Its’ all on tap for the Goodguys Grand Finale – the 17th Southwest Nationals Car Show at WestWorld of Scottsdale!

The Southwest’s premier automotive event venue will be filled by a giant Show & Shine, hot rod cruises and a Goodguys All American Sunday celebration for late model American made or powered cars on Sunday, November 16! See over 3,000 ’72 & earlier hot rods, customs, muscle cars, trucks & classics on display, the Street Rod Headquarters “Top 12” cars of the year, Builder’s Choice awards by Dean Livermore of Hot Rods by Dean, vendor exhibits, nightly parties, a huge Swap Meet & AutoTrader Classics Cars 4 Sale Corral, the Goodguys AutoCross racing competition featuring a 32-car field “Finals Shootout”, a model car show, FREE kids entertainment and so much more!

This is it – the closing weekend for Goodguys in 2014! Don’t miss it! Visit www.good-guys.com for complete event details!

Although the check engine light may look scary lit up on the dashboard, there is nothing to fear. A glowing check engine light doesn’t mean you have to immediately pull the car to the side of the road, but it does mean you should get the car checked out as soon as possible, says the Car Care Council.

“Motorists should not get spooked when the check engine light comes on,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “When illuminated, the check engine light usually means that a vehicle system, such as the ignition, fuel injection or emission control, is not operating properly.”

Some common malfunctions that can cause the check engine light to illuminate include a faulty oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, or spark plugs and wires. If the light flashes, the condition is more critical and must be checked immediately to prevent severe damage, which may include catalytic converter damage.

For motorists, the spooky part about Halloween is that little ghouls and goblins often dress in dark colors and in costumes that cover their eyes, and some get so excited they simply forget road safety rules. To help keep trick-or-treaters as safe as possible, the Car Care Council reminds motorists to drive slowly, especially through neighborhoods, to be extra careful when entering or exiting driveways or alleyways, and make sure the vehicle’s brakes and lights work properly.

With three out of four drivers believing that hands-free technology is safe to use, Americans may be surprised to learn that these popular new vehicle features may actually increase mental distraction, according to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This research can serve as guidance to manufacturers who increasingly market hands-free systems as safety features. The good news for consumers is that it is possible to design hands-free technologies that are less cognitively distracting, according to the research.