Latest News From Bumper Radio

CARSON, Calif., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This month is National Distracted Driving Awareness month and, with more than 80% of people owning a smartphone1, the issue of in-car distraction is an increasing concern, so the experts at AutoMD.com are offering Top Ten Tips to help drivers keep their eyes on the road – and away from distractions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10 percent of fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes, and 16 percent of all motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2013 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.2 The FCC has also reported that 11 percent of drivers aged 18 to 20 involved in an automobile accident (and survived) admitted they were sending or receiving texts at the time of the crash.3 It's statistics like these that make this month's Distracted Driving Awareness campaign by NHTSA so critical, and why AutoMD experts are chiming in to get the word out about distracted driving.

The best time to learn about jump starting a battery is before you become stranded and need to know. These instructions should help you become familiar with the process. Once you've read through these instructions, print them and purchase a set of jumper cables. Then, keep these instructions and your jumper cables together somewhere in your vehicle or trunk, in the event you should ever need them.

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.”

Winter storm Juno has the potential to create hazardous road conditions for many drivers. Automotive expert Lauren Fix, The Car Coach appears on The Weather Channel to caution those navigating winter driving.

You may not see them, or know much about them, but engine belts are always working to keep your vehicle moving. Losing a belt can mean immediate trouble for the engine and a breakdown for you. The Car Car Council recommends motorists “be car care aware” and review the owner’s manual to ensure that belts are inspected and replaced at the proper intervals.

A vehicle’s belts are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems of the engine. Serpentine belts are used to turn the water pump, alternator, power steering and air-conditioning compressor. Older cars use V-belts for various accessories and failure of this belt could strand a driver.

Gas Prices Increasing After Dropping to Lowest Levels Since 2009

• U.S. average gas prices have increased seven days in a row for a total of two cents per gallon. Gas prices had declined a record 123 consecutive days to $2.03 per gallon before increasing last week for the first time since September 25.
• “Many drivers are noticing an uptick in gas prices for the first time in months,” said Avery Ash, AAA spokesman. “It is typical to see gas prices increase this time of year due to refinery issues, yet hopefully the consumer impact will be less problematic given how low prices are today.”
• Today’s national average price of gas is $2.06 per gallon, which is about $1.22 per gallon less than a year ago. AAA estimates that Americans are spending about $365 million less per day on gasoline compared to this time last year.
• The national average price of gas reached a current 2015 low on January 26 of $2.03 per gallon, which was the lowest average since March 27, 2009.
• Gas prices have dropped about $1.64 per gallon since reaching a national average of $3.70 per gallon on April 28, 2014.
• The average price of gas in January was $2.11 per gallon, which was the cheapest monthly average since April 2009. Gas prices in December 2014 averaged a much higher $2.51 per gallon, while the average was $3.30 per gallon in January 2014.