If you're wondering whether setting your automotive battery on concrete will cause it to discharge, wonder no longer. Today, the type of plastic (polypropylene) used in battery cases is a great electrical insulator. Also, tremendous technological improvements have been made in the seals around the battery posts and vent systems, which have virtually eliminated electrolyte seepage and migration. So, it's OK to set or store your battery on concrete. A battery's rate of discharge is only affected by its age, the temperature outside and the way the inside of the battery is made.

Date codes are engraved into the cover of each Interstate battery at the time the battery is shipped from the manufacturing plant. This is how you can tell the age of your battery.

Reading the date code on an Interstate 12-volt and 6-volt automotive, commercial or marine battery

With these types of batteries, you're looking for a four- or five-digit shipping date code engraved into the cover. This code can only be seen when looking down on the top of the battery. The code is not on the battery's label and it is not on the rim around the cover. The code is usually near one of the corners of the battery. This code tells when the battery was shipped from the factory to the local Interstate Battery wholesale distributor. The additional digits tell where the battery was made.

Has your car been noticeably slow or jerky getting out of the driveway with the cold weather?

"Business increases without fail by over 50% whenever we see extreme cold in the Valley," said Dave Riccio, owner of Tri-City Transmission. 

Transmissions react poor to extremely cold weather because that’s when the transmission leaks show up. If you have red puddles in your driveway, this may be you.

"Never ignore a transmission leak. You can take a simple problem and make it much worse by doing this," Riccio said. 

Don’t automatically think the worst if your transmission is misbehaving with the cold. Minor transmission leak repairs and topping off transmission fluid are everyday business at Tri-City Transmission when it’s cold.

Your car's "black box" or Electronic Data Recorder (EDR) collects information on your speed, steering, braking, passengers and much more. BMW has recently declared that it will not share its customer's data with anyone. What about other manufacturers? Automotive expert Lauren Fix discusses driver privacy with Gerri Willis.

It is that time of the year when many motorists let their vehicle “warm up” or idle before driving. In fact, today’s modern cars are ready to drive in cold temperatures without excessive idling, says the Car Care Council.

“Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.”