Latest News From Bumper Radio

"10 and 2" is NO Longer the best way to hold a steering wheel. Learn the best way here, it may surprise you!

Roadside air – especially along busy roads and highways – contains high levels of pollen, dust, soot and smog whose harmful effects are well documented. And children, with “young lungs”, are more sensitive to the effects of air pollution than adults. So if you are taking the kids to school or soccer practice with the windows rolled up the air quality inside a car often can be worse than the air outside – especially in heavy traffic.

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!

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2014 -- Who can forget the Griswold's famous cross-country station wagon trip in "National Lampoon's Vacation"?  While the 31-year-old movie was made long before the days of in-car movies, and the only "portable electronics" available were cumbersome cassette players people carried around, it seems that – interestingly enough – some things have stayed the same.  

The Auto Alliance's latest Auto Index consumer survey found Americans still mostly pass the time on long road trips by looking out the window and taking in the scenery, much like they did in their childhood. In fact, 41 percent of respondents said that's how they spent the road trips of their youth. Today, 40 percent of the public report watching the scenery as their favorite way to pass the time on car trips.

After more than a month of online polling and thousands of votes, Desert Car Care -- a Bumper to Bumper Radio Preferred Shop -- received the 2014 Best of Chandler award in the auto repair shop category. The 2014 Best of Chandler Awards are sponsored by the East Valley Tribune Get Out magazine.

Desert Car Care is a local leader in automotive service and repair with locations not only in Chandler, but in Mesa and Gilbert as well. Frank Leutz and his staff begin with certified professional service advisers and continues with technicians certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

Congratulations from Bumper to Bumper Radio!

Click here to learn more about Desert Car Care.

If you missed it, you can listen online to the official check presentation from the Bumper to Bumper Radio Preferred Shop Network to Phoenix Children's Hospital. The combined effort of the shops resulted in a record breaking effort, raising over $10,300 for PCH this year.

We invite all our listeners to join us in this important effort by signing up to donate any amount.

Every contribution to Phoenix Children's Hospital has a direct impact on our young patients. Donations from caring people like you make it possible for PCH to offer the very best medical specialists, cutting-edge technology, and family-friendly services without regard to the family's ability to pay.

Click Here to Donate Online

{gallery}pch-donation-2014:165:165:0:2{/gallery}

As the days get shorter, lights and wipers play a major role in safe driving, as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen, according to the non-profit Car Care Council.

“With fewer daylight hours in fall and winter, it’s important to make sure your vehicle’s lights and wipers are working properly so your visibility is not compromised and you can be seen by others,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “From the driver’s seat, you may not notice a light that isn’t working, so inspect all of your car’s lights and replace those that are out. Also, inspect and replace wiper blades so you can see clearly when wet weather hits.”

Lights are normal wear items that require periodic inspection and replacement. The lighting system provides nighttime visibility; signals and alerts other drivers; and supplies light for viewing instruments and the vehicle’s interior. In addition to replacing dimming, rapidly blinking and non-functioning lights, the following tips can help keep you safe:

October is Fall Car Care Month, and the Car Care Council reminds motorists that checking their vehicles before the temperatures drop is a sensible way to avoid being stranded out in the cold and the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.

“The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather. Winter magnifies existing problems like hard starts, sluggish performance and rough idling,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Whether you perform the check or maintenance yourself or go to the repair shop, it’s a small investment of time and money to ensure peace of mind, and help avoid the cost and hassle of a breakdown during severe weather.”

The Car Care Council recommends the following Fall Car Care Month checklist to make sure your vehicle is ready for cold winter weather ahead:

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Changes in maintenance schedules due to advanced vehicle and fluid technology have changed vehicle service needs. Most motorists manage oil-change services appropriately but miss other critical maintenance items, according to a survey of AAA's nationwide network of Approved Auto Repair shops.

Eighty-eight percent of repair shops find that motorists frequently skip brake fluid service. Other commonly missed items noted by repair providers include proper battery checks (82 percent), transmission fluid maintenance (81 percent), tire maintenance (78 percent) and engine coolant (77 percent).

"The expansion of onboard maintenance reminder systems – which often cover oil-change services – appears to help consumers stay on track with oil maintenance," John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. "Many important services that are not typically detailed by those systems are often missed by consumers."

In the past, vehicle maintenance needs were relatively simple and consistent across automakers. Today's engineering advancements require less maintenance at less frequent intervals. Examples include oil-change intervals now recommended at 5,000 to 10,000 or more miles, transmission fluids designed to last 100,000 miles and sealed batteries that never need to have fluid added. Even with these advancements, vehicles still require routine services that are important to maintaining the performance and safety of the vehicle.

"Poor maintenance of brake fluid is a critical safety concern. All brake fluid attracts moisture, which can cause the fluid to perform poorly. Lack of maintenance can lead to contaminated fluid, corroded parts and increased stopping distance," says Greg Brannon, AAA's director of Automotive Engineering. "Motorists may not be aware of maintenance requirements for brake fluid, or their vehicle's manufacturer may not recommend a specific interval for replacing the fluid."